Dunwoody Election Season Starts, DeKalb Supt, Twitter, Dragoncon, GPC Town and Gown, and Economic Development

Six people registered for the November 8th elections with registration closing on Friday.

A divided DeKalb school board selects Atkinson A divided DeKalb County school board ended its two year hunt for a new school boss Monday and hired Cheryl L. H. Atkinson to become the next person to take over Georgia's third largest school district. Maureen Downey,  Mike Jacobs, DeKalb County School Watch Blog,

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Labor Day Weekend in Atlanta: Dragon Con with Kids Sue Rodman explores Dragoncon for Kids in the link above and this parade is by far my boys favorite parade in Atlanta. Below is video I shot in 2009 and am guessing I will be back on a curb Saturday morning near Peachtree Center.

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Mayor Wright has nominated me to serve on the Dunwoody "Town & Gown" Committee where the City works closely with Georgia Perimeter College to work out issues. I am looking forward to meeting the other new member who will be a high school student who is attending classes at GPC.  Does anyone know such a candidate?  Though I have yet to attend my first meeting, I am staying informed by reading the GPC Student Newspaper, The Collegian. I learned that GPC is in transition whereby they are morphing from a two year school to offering four-year baccalaureate programs. I learned that GPC President Dr. Anthony Tricoli has received a prestigious award by the the American Association of University Professors and that his wife, Robin was just named the President of Hiwassee College in Madisonville, Tennessee.  I also see that the school Rugby team is playing a little ball at Brook Run and could use a few members to join in the fun.  At one point the Atlanta Renegades (several Dunwoody residents) were also looking to obtain regular use of Dunwoody park fields but had to go elsewhere because of the lack of availability.

Finally the City of Dunwoody invested in itself late last year by hiring Mr. Michael Starling as our Economic Development Director who has worked tirelessly in selling Dunwoody as the premier corporate office location in the Atlanta Metro Region to potential corporate clients looking for office space. Dividends are now paying off with more to come.  Keep up the good job Michael!

Dunwoody Teacher, Ms. Jan Jordan's drive to help those affected by summer tornados.

Did you know that Chesnut Charter Elementary School has it's very own SuperStar?! That's right -- Ms. Jan Jordan, first grade teacher, is a true hero. Over the summer, Ms. Jordan made a one-woman trek to help families in Alabama recover from the tornadoes that destroyed their homes. Originally, Ms. Jordan was moved by the news reports of the tornados in Joplin, MO. She sprang into action, collecting water, diapers, clothing and other items from all over Dunwoody, Tucker, and Decatur. She organized this drive in just a few days' time... and filled an ENTIRE Penske truck. By the time she was ready to drive out to Missouri, Joplin was overwhelmed with donations and didn't have room to accept new ones -- but that didn't dissuade Ms. Jordan at all. She redirected her trip to Alabama, where she found many deserving families and organizations that were still taking donations after the tornadoes that blew through Birmingham.

It's a rare event when ONE person is so moved by a tragedy but then actually steps forward to make a difference by helping others.

When she got back, Ms. Jordan was full of thanks to all the people who helped make her journey possible – untold numbers of families who contributed items to donate to the families who’d lost their possessions, the Dunwoody Police Department, Georgia Perimeter College, and Dunwoody City Councilman John Heneghan, who all allowed people to drop items off at their locations (in Mr. Heneghan’s case – his driveway!), and to all who made phone calls to help spread the word about what Ms. Jordan was doing.

She had special words for everyone who might have an idea like this in the future: “Go for it! I never thought in the beginning that I would get as much help as I did, but each time I needed something, someone always stepped forward to help.” She continued, “There were times when I thought I would have to call the whole thing off, but I got support that I never looked for from places I never would have thought of… people really came together, and in the end, I really felt that it was a team effort much larger than myself.”

Ms. Jordan is a perfect example of the Chesnut spirit – she is generous, and she stuck to it until she got it done! We should all feel so lucky to have such a special person teaching our children in Dunwoody.   For those connected to Chesnut Elementary please give Ms. Jordan a warm smile and maybe a hug or two the next time you see her!

Video Cameras are always welcome at Public Meetings with Government Officials

I have been recording public meetings with public officials for as long as I can remember and with the internet those videos can go straight to the web documenting exactly what happened and what was said.  I have had minor push back from time to time, Vernon Jones & the DeKalb School System meetings are the two that immediately come to mind, but push come to shove everyone knew that I was well versed in the law and that they had to allow me to tape what ever I wanted in the public session.

This Ohio congressman and the policeman that followed his orders are complete fools, whereby if this is not a lawsuit waiting to happen, at the very least it is a public relations nightmare.  The video shows the officer confiscating cameras from members of the audience who are not "Press" and the citizens fighting back with reasonable arguments of transparency.  Very embarrassing.

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Speaking of public meetings, the next meeting of the Dunwoody Chamblee Parents Council will be taking place on Wednesday, September 7th, 9:15 am at the new Dunwoody High School Auditorium with Ms. Ramona Tyson giving an "Update on DeKalb County School System".  Anyone have a video camera?

Dunwoody Football Pancake Breakfast - Sat Sept 24th

Dunwoody Police Explorers Car Show - Sat, Sept 24

More info - click here

Solicitation in Dunwoody - changes need to be made.

Within the last month I have read to many horror stories of door to door solicitors who come at odd hours, are pushy, belligerent and just plain won't take no for an answer.  Today was the breaking point for me after reading yet another neighbors plea for help; I am looking to make the city ordinances tougher as I believe there are a few holes I want plugged.

Please note that the City of Dunwoody already has a relatively tough solicitation ordinance on the books where some of our neighbors do not even regulate the practice.  I do not believe we can outlaw door to door soliciting but we can regulate it within our boundaries by requiring a permit and enforcing the rules of operation.  Dunwoody currently issues a permit which is only good for six months, there is a detailed application process requiring full fingerprinting and law enforcement background check and once approved the solicitor must wear the permit (which includes their photo) and only operate between the hours of 10 am to 7 pm, Monday thru Saturday.

I believe we need to improve the enforcement of the current ordinances and need the revocation procedures to be broadened.  For example in today's example the resident had a "No Solicitation" sign taped above the door bell and yet this solicitor banged on the door like he was trying to break it down, clearly in violation of  Dunwoody code 10-93 (b) which does not permit a solicitor to disturb the resident when such a sign is posted.

I wish the City could revoke this permit for operating outside the hours allowed as well as contacting a resident with a "No Soliciting" sign but the police were not involved in this case, nor was the person cited, therefore there will not be a "conviction" which is needed for revocation and penalty.  I believe we need a process to push the photos of these door to door solicitors (along with some application information) to the web so that residents can easily identify the pushy, belligerent door to door salesman in order to file a complaint which might then initiate a city permit review and revocation process.  We need a system in place to protect our residents from being harassed by door to door security system salesman who purposely make residents feel ill at ease with their hard sell approach and I am just not sure if a regulatory change is needed or just more enforcement of what is on the books?  In reviewing a number of other city ordinances on the subject, I believe both are needed therefore I will be requesting a regulatory review of the ordinance as well as talking to the City Manager and Police Chief about the application and enforcement of what is already on the books.  I do not want to live in a nanny state but based on the complaints I am receiving, something more needs to be done.  If you ever feel uncomfortable because of the actions of anyone who approaches your door, please do not hesitate to call 911.

I would like the following reasons included for revocation.

Conducting solicitation activities in such a manner as to create a public nuisance or constitute a danger to the public health, safety or welfare.

Conducting solicitation activities contrary to the conditions of this ordinance or the permit

I would also like the following Exemptions included.

The following solicitors are exempt from the provisions of this article pertaining to obtaining a license, paying a fee, obtaining an identification badge, and posting a bond:

(1)    Minors under the age of eighteen (18) engaged in the solicitation of donations or the sale of any type of property for the purpose of financing extracurricular social, athletic, artistic, scientific or cultural programs, provided that such solicitation activities shall have been approved by the principal of the school sponsoring such social, athletic, artistic, scientific or cultural programs.

(2)    Political candidates engaged in the solicitation of campaign contributions provided that at the time of such solicitation, each such candidate has formally qualified and is seeking election to a local, state or national elective office.

(3)    Non-profit, tax exempt, charitable organizations and churches.

What other suggestions do you have regarding the matter?

PS: do you need any magazines?