Tucker Trickle
June 13 – It’s Cathy Cobbs with my weekly Tucker newsletter. Interesting phenomenon – as I wrote this on Thursday, it was raining outside my back door and the sun was shining in the front yard. I just cannot.
☔ Let’s move on to more bad news, shall we? This newsletter discusses the latest pickleball twist that came out of nowhere at Monday’s city council meeting, news of an ICE protest gone bad that has Tucker implications, info that your annual residential property tax bill is going up, and, finally, the rain is messing with upcoming weekend events. In good news … I can’t think of anything.
🥾 Stay dry, stock up on Double Stuf Oreos™ (the ultimate mood-enhancer), and think of the time you’re saving by not having to water what’s left of your lawn.
Cathy
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Some are sour on this latest move
😖 The Tucker City Council meeting on June 9 saw heated exchanges between its members regarding a last-minute addition to the agenda to reopen the bid process for a controversial pickleball court complex.
While the motion passed 4-3, the journey on the way to that vote was long and somewhat ugly. At the beginning of the meeting, Mayor Frank Auman proposed that the council discuss the pickleball bid at the end of the lengthy agenda, a conversation that occurred more than three hours later.
The discussion turned contentious as Tucker Council Member Alexis Weaver and Mayor Frank Auman exchanged barbs about whether or not the community was properly involved in decisions about design and location.
There was gavel banging and a few, “That’s-not-what-I-said” exchanges, which were asides to the main story – that the pickleball complex is back on the table and going out to bid with a tentative 2026 build date.
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ICE demonstration turns ugly
🪧 What started out as a peaceful rally in Brookhaven ended in chaos with six protesters arrested during and after a demonstration against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) turned aggressive on June 10.
A release by the Brookhaven police said that around 8:45 p.m., officers noticed several people concealing their identities and loitering behind closed business, which was deemed “behavior inconsistent with the main protest activity.”
The rally organizers further “alerted officers on the scene that the individuals that stayed behind and concealed their faces were not associated with their peaceful demonstration,” the statement said.
After the official protest ended, people started throwing live fireworks (screenshot of the action captured above), rocks and other objects at the police, vandalizing property, and damaging marked police cars.
Why is this important for Tucker? Because there will be a “No Kings” rally Saturday, June 14 at Northlake Festival Shopping Center from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
I stopped by a previous rally a few months ago at the shopping center and it was well-attended and peaceful, with organizers clearly stating what and what was not allowed.
But there could be a few bad apples in the crowd who can ruin it for everyone, like what happened above. And Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr said law enforcement isn’t going to play.
🍏 Read more here.
🔥 Get ready, ATL! Render Fest brings the ultimate Caribbean concert experience on June 13 with Dancehall, soca & reggae with Elephant Man, Alison Hinds & more! 🎶 Get tickets here — don’t miss it! SPONSOR MESSAGE
Not enough roll in that back
💸 Even though the DeKalb County School District is rolling back its millage rate in its upcoming fiscal year budget, DeKalb residents will see an increase in their annual tax bills.
During a series of hearings related to adopting a 2025 millage rate of 22.78 mills – a tenth of a mill lower than last year – DeKalb County School officials said in order to have a revenue-neutral impact on taxpayers, the rollback would need to be 22.15 mills. That action would offset rising taxes generated by increases in property values. But the board did not do that.
For a home worth $400,000, this tax increase would add about $109 to a homeowner’s annual bill. A $800,000 home would see bills rise by an estimated $200 annually.
Side Note: If your property’s value increased, you’ll feel even more pain when you get your tax bill. I have heard a lot of chatter about some homes being revalued to the tune of $50,000 or more.
FYI, before you start blame-storming, it’s not the city’s fault, because it is implementing a true rollback.
🏫 Here’s more about the millage rate changes.
Rain? Really?
🥳 I hear that people who live in Seattle exaggerate about how much it rains to deter anyone from moving there. We wouldn’t be lying if we deployed this strategy.
It’s a great idea since Atlanta is bursting at the seams, but in the meantime, this weather is ruining it for everyone. The Juneteenth Celebration at the Greenspace on Saturday, June 14 has now been partially relocated because of the iffy weather forecast.
Performances will now take place inside of the Tucker First United Methodist Church as well as some vending, according to organizers. In addition, covered seating, food, and remaining vendors will be set up directly in front of the church’s activity center, with inflatables and other activities for children spread out between the Greenspace and outside the center.
😵💫 You can find more information about the event here, which will run from 5:30-9 pm.
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