From Sandy Springs
To the editor:
I was at breakfast with a friend from Brookhaven last week. He was telling me all about
the upcoming cityhood vote on July 31.
Without prompting, I told him just how much Sandy Springs, my city, had improved the
parks, police patrols and roads in the past couple of years since Sandy Springs became
a city.
My sons play baseball, which means I get to see and compare the facilities at many
parks around greater Atlanta. I can say without a doubt that Murphey Candler Park,
maintained by DeKalb County, seems to invest less in maintenance and improvements,
resulting in worse fields, maintenance and amenities compared to Sandy Springs and
most others we visit. It is reminiscent of where Morgan Falls was before Sandy Springs
became a city.
I told my friend that the proposed city of Brookhaven could have a real
jewel if the effort was made to improve and maintain the park. When my friend told me
that DeKalb County only spends roughly $331,000 on these parks, and that
Brookhaven proposed to spend $1 million or more on Brookhaven parks alone, I said
“what a huge difference that would make in the quality of those parks.”
I told my friend that I see police patrolling my neighborhood as never before prior to
becoming our own city of Sandy Springs. It’s evidence of more local control, more local
input and better listening by the elected officials.
Lastly, it had been years since a road had been paved prior to cityhood. But since
Sandy Springs became a city and made its own decisions about paving priorities, many,
many roads and streets have been paved, sidewalks added and improvements made to
the areas bordering roads.
As we were leaving the restaurant, I said to my friend “just tell it like it is about how
much better things are now”, and he encouraged me to write this letter of support. I
hope for the residents of Brookhaven’s sake that the vote is yes on July 31.
Peter Bielan
Sandy Springs
]
From Peachtree Corners
To the editor:
Just north of the Brookhaven area now debating cityhood is our fledgling city of Peachtree Corners. We are now the largest city in Gwinnett, with 38,000 residents. We cover a large portion of the western side of the county. Much like many of the neighborhoods in the proposed Brookhaven borders, most of the communities in the new Peachtree Corners never viewed themselves as part of the Peachtree Corners community, but are now part of this city anyway.
The Yes-men of Peachtree Corners made a lot of the same promises the Yes-men of Brookhaven are making: 1. Inexpensive government with low taxes 2. Local voice and control and 3. Better services. So how are the Peachtree Corners Yes-men doing? Not very well. On all fronts, they are falling woefully short of their promises.
- Inexpensive government and low taxes – The Yes-men touted the Carl Vinson [Institute] feasibility study liberally during the campaign. This study estimated $761,000 per year to run the limited services city. It claimed that property taxes would probably not be required. Now, the new city government is estimating that the new city will cost nearly $3 million to run and require the full millage tax rate allowed under the city charter. Bottom-line, be very skeptical of the feasibility analysis for Brookhaven. You will be left holding the tax bag.
- Local voice and control – The new city council and mayor have made a point to be silent on issues. All the promises of town hall meetings with council persons, blogs by same said councilpersons, and transparent government have turned to smoke under the legal guidance of lawyers and consultants. Ideas are quickly snuffed by prevailing state or federal law. These new city politicians are shocked by how many of their actions are dictated by state law. It turns out there is no such thing as common sense government or local control. Just endless regulation and bureaucracy,
- Better services – The Yes-men spent much of their time during the campaign touting how they could do better than the county. Now that they are in control, their tune has changed. They spend much time gathering information and advice from the county. Adopting county ordinances and regulations. The mayor has gone so far as to say, “God Bless Gwinnett County,” stating that their knowledge and expertise will hopefully help the city do as good a job as the county has. What!?
Please don’t blindly follow the yes-men, or the no-city camp either, for that matter. Please read the proposed city charter. This document will be what you live under, not the promises or propaganda. How easy it is to manipulate, change, or otherwise control will dictate the course of the city. Not the wishful thinking of some or the propaganda of others. Be informed, read it for yourself. Know what you vote on. Your future depends on it.
Ali Stinson
Ali Stinson is a member of the Peachtree Corners Ballot Committee – a city watchdog group dedicated to providing reliable and factual information on the government of the new City of Peachtree Corners and ensure it stays true to its ‘limited service’ promise. www.peachtreecornersfacts.com and on Facebook at facebook.com/PCBCommittee
