I’ve checked in with all the current commissioners up for reelection in the fall earlier today. We’ve just learned that Mayor Baskett will not run.
Commissioner Drake has also replied to us, confirming that he will run for his northside seat in the fall.
Photo courtesy of Scott Drake’s Facebook page
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Judd
lumpintheroad
FM Fats
GreenTea
Larkspur
Robert Butera
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GreenTea
I don’t know about these Drake’s. Are we sure they are good-looking enough?
The phrase my wife would use is “carved out of cream cheese” ( I don’t know the Drakes at all but I’m sure they are wonderful people; my comment isn’t meant to be disrespectful at all).
I’ve never heard that expression before. It’s funny!!
Drake doesn’t seem to have done a whole lot in his time on the commission, but I admit that this may only be a perception and not reality. He has not been very responsive to concerns in his district.
What concerns do you believe he’s been lax to address? Asking because I’m not recalling the Chelsea Heights neighborhood officially bringing anything before the City Commission in the last couple of years.
We aren’t there yet with the issue; we are in the earlier stages – doing research, exploring options, and gathering support. The response to this concern has been lax.
The issue is not specific to Chelsea Heights. Not sure why you think it is? It affects at least three neighborhoods.
So… not there yet with the issue. But somehow Commissioner Drake’s already dropped the ball? What about Commissioner Boykin? And Baskett?
No deep thought went into Chelsea Heights– it’s your moniker/ neighborhood. Since you didn’t cite an overall pressing concern, makes sense it’s most likely something neighborhood level.
Working on an issue behind the scenes. Boykin has been responsive and helpful. Drake has not been. That’s all. It’s like you are fishing for a big dramatic story that isn’t there.
It seems like my initial comment upset you, and I’m sorry for that. If you re-read it, it’s really rather benign.
Naw, it was just an ordinary follow-up to what you said.
When I read your initial comment, it kinda rang familiar. Sure enough, you were the Coleson supporter who knocked Scott Drake pretty hard last election.
[loud whistle] [flag]
[loud whistle] [GAME OVER] Deanne wins.
The Walrus – um, ok. Thanks for such a thoughtful comment. Do you and smalltowngal really have nothing more productive to do?
You’re welcome.
Just to be clear, CH, I threw a flag on Deanne’s comment, not yours. (And Deanne and I have each been around here long enough that I know she won’t get personally bent out of shape; she might know me well enough to guess why that was my off-the-cuff reaction early this morning and if she doesn’t, we’ll sort it out without resorting to snark–agree to disagree while yet listening to each other and thinking about what we hear.)
smalltowngal- I don’t disagree with the flag. Still glad I did it. :0)
You’re right. Glad to see someone who does her research. I was not a fan of Drake based on my knowledge of and brief interactions with him prior to the election. That’s fine; I’m sure I wasn’t the only person who felt that way.
My one comment was that on a particular issue, now that Drake is in office, we have had responses from and interaction with Boykin. None from Drake, although we have reached out many times to include him. One just doesn’t get a good feeling when a number of ppl working on an issue try to involve a commissioner, and all of the ppl are essentially blown off. Like I said – he’s not been all that responsive. I just don’t get why my innocuous comment is such a big deal to you.
“Glad to see someone who does her research.”
– A touch condescending, no?
Just an observation, but without any context (i.e. not knowing what the “issue” is or will be), it is difficult to evaluate your statement. For ex., 80% of CoD residents didn’t feel the lack of a tree ordinance was an issue, and most would have been happy if our commissioners hadn’t addressed the “issue”.
CH, gotta disagree that your initial comment was harmless. You stated that Commissioner Drake is unresponsive to his district without bothering to back it up. It also seemed oddly subdued as you’re often reckless with your comments. So, it came across as a hidden agenda possibility worth a closer look.
As for what you’ve added, I’m left wondering if the involved neighbors have a good understanding of what our commissioners’ roles are. Yes, they need to provide their take on an issue; however, they’re not supposed to be tasked with hashing out every detail for how to address it (if they agree it needs addressing). That a number of people have reached out many times in the earlier stages of an issue… that kinda sounds like y’all are expecting the commissioners to participate at the same level as a neighborhood committee member does. With umpteen neighborhoods and HOAs wanting attention, major city issues on their plates, FT jobs and families, that’s just not realistic or fair.
In my first comment, I said, “I admit that this may only be perception and not reality.” That makes it pretty clear that it is just my opinion. As you would (and did) say – “subdued” rather than “reckless.”
No one expected Drake to “hash out every detail.” (You’re absolutely right; that’s beyond a commissioner’s role.) It just would have been nice to receive a response when we reached out to him (a few different ppl a few times). It’s really just common courtesy. No one likes being blown off. I don’t think you’d enjoy it, either. A simple, “Thanks for reaching out. I’m unable to meet/help/whatever now, but check back in with me in a few months/when you’ve done some/more research” would have been appropriate. I don’t think that is asking for anything above and beyond. Do you think it is?
Well, now that you’ve reeled it in, I agree that’s a reasonable expectation of what Commissioner Drake should do. And I hope he will. Good luck to all with coming up with a satisfactory solution to address the issue.
(Sorry. I’m kinda late to the topic. Things on Decatur Metro move pretty fast for the over fifty crowd.)
Thanks Deanne and ch. I enjoyed reading your comments.
In my opinion, the commissioners are too responsive to the requests of interests groups. I said as much at the last commission meeting:
“Several weeks ago, I noticed on Decatur Metro the posting “What Capital Improvements is Decatur Planning in Next 10 Years?” and was surprised about the number of comments in which citizens asked the city to consider paying for improvements in their neighborhoods. One poster wanted new playground equipment for Glenlake Park. Another wanted traffic circles. Since that time, there have been numerous requests for for the commission to provide additional downtown park space and special tax exemptions for certain groups. While reading these requests, I was reminded of how some citizens approached the commission several years ago with a very different way to improve “the General Welfare” in their neighborhoods.
I recall that in the not too distant past, groups of citizens, in the Great Lakes neighborhood and Glendale, decided to raise money and purchase land which was later donated to the city as green space. More than fifteen years ago, a group of neighbors in Great Lakes, led as I recall by Mr. David _____, were concerned that a small plot of land near Geneva and Lucerne streets would be developed for new homes. They privately raised the money to purchase the property and then donated it to the city. This area is know known as Gladys Morgan Waddell Park. This also happened in the Glendale neighborhood when ten years ago, citizens raised the money to purchase the area that today is known as the Glenn Creek Nature Preserve. Glendale resident Mr. Neill _____ was instrumental in this effort. Waddell Park and the Glenn Creek Nature Preserve are outstanding examples of how private citizens, acting together, can not only improve their neighborhoods but also the entire city.
My Request: In the future, I would like the commissioners to keep in mind that there are other ways to improve the General Welfare of Decatur besides additional expenditures. When an interest group comes before the commission asking for spending requests that only benefit a specific neighborhood or group, you should ask them, “What have you done as free citizens of the City of Decatur to solve this problem?” Only when they can prove that they have exhausted all private solutions should you consider loosening the city’s purse strings.”
How dare you suggest that citizens come together and use their own money for the betterment of the community!! Raise private funds to purchase new playground equipment? Put my own money where my mouth is? Well, that is just silly, sir.
If I’m agreeing with Chris this early in the morning, I can only assume that today’s gonna be a weird ride. 🙂
Seriously, yes. Government cannot sustain itself by being in the wish-list business. All that does is foster an increasing culture of detachment, dependency and unrealistic expectations on the part of the citizenry. Government, IMHO, should focus (among other things, of course) on expenditures that, at best, foster the community’s ability to come together in problem-solving or neighborhood-enhancing efforts of their own and, at worst, don’t get in the way.
The only push-back I’d offer, Chris, is that your comment kind of suggests this sort of community-generated effort or improvement used to happen and now it doesn’t. But, despite various efforts petitioning our leaders for this or that, there are still all kinds of things happening around Decatur proving that the culture of “git ‘er done” remains alive and well. It’s one of the reasons I love being here.
Agreed all around.
Tacking onto this conversation, I feel like we still have enough reach around here to crowdsource and fund (through money or manpower) projects. Perhaps we should do an open thread at some point soon just to see what sort of projects are out there and within reach?
What do you all think?
All for it.
That’s a great idea.
YES!!! :0)
No deal, Billingsley! I want cool stuff and I want you to pay for it.