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Yep! It's Mail Fraud All Right!
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One of the common complaints I get as a HNA volunteer is about all the commercial "mail" pieces attached to or stuffed into HillsDale mailboxes. Well, here's what you need to know about the relevant regulations ...
Postal regulations state under Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), section 508.3.1.3, "no part of a mail receptacle may be used to deliver any matter not bearing postage, including items or matter placed upon, supported by, attached to, hung from, or inserted into a mail receptacle. Any mailable matter not bearing postage and found as described above is subject to the same postage as would be paid if it were carried by mail."
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Posted by kim on Monday, July 14 2008 @ 13:06:10 CDT (826 reads)
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July 15 - Procrastinator's Lifesaver by HNA
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If, like me, you are working on a backlog of todos about 80 items long, you might not be ready for tomorrow's important vote in DeKalb County and around the State. Among other important selections, you will be responsible for choosing the next CEO of DeKalb County. If you are not aware of this fact, the CEO of DeKalb County has a role more akin to an elected dictator than anything else. With control of the Commission agenda, the budgetary process, the executive control of all operations of all major county departments, the CEO pretty much calls the shots. Also, there is an important Homestead Exemption referendum on this ballot tomorrow. So, even if you are late in meeting your responsibility to be informed, get ready with this HNA provided crash course of reference material ...
An Ballot "Wizard" by the DeKalb League of Women Voters published by the AJC.com - a great resource! You can have your hand held through the entire ballot in 20 minutes or less. The service allows you read briefs on election items, to make notes, and to make your choices - all of which you can print out to take with you to the Polls!
DeKalb League of Women Voters Ballot "Wizard"
A sample of the Democratic Ballot
A sample of the Republican Ballot
A sample of the non-partisan Ballot
No more excuse my fellow procrastinators - go vote! And don't forget to take a picture ID to comply with the new voting laws!
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Posted by kim on Monday, July 14 2008 @ 12:59:25 CDT (495 reads)
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State Legislators Target DeKalb County Controversies
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The AJC is reporting today that state legislators are proposing laws that target DeKalb County controversies and government structure.
Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur) filed legislation banning the sale of beer, wine and liquor for on-premise consumption from 2:30 am to 9 am. This, in effect, steps in where the DeKalb CEO vetoed the Board of Commissioners on a similar ruling.
Rep. Kevin Levitas' (D-Atlanta) proposal would give the DeKalb County commissioners the power to set meeting agendas, run commission meetings and provide more oversight. The county's CEO famously has the dominate power to run the business of the county.
Keep an eye out for these and other similar efforts to come to a head in the 1st quarter.
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Posted by kim on Monday, December 17 2007 @ 15:01:58 CST (499 reads)
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AJC: TAD Passed by BOC for Sembler Project Area
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By TY TAGAMI, PAUL DONSKY, KRISTINA TORRES
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 12/11/07
In a surprise move Tuesday, the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners approved a special tax district for a congested area in north/central DeKalb, perhaps paving the way for a controversial $1 billion complex of stores, homes and offices.
Note: Thank you Max Rodrique for sharing this article!
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Posted by kim on Tuesday, December 11 2007 @ 12:59:02 CST (489 reads)
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by Mike Jacobs
Does it really make sense for every aspect of local governance in every neighborhood in DeKalb County to be controlled from Downtown Decatur?
This is one of the issues we will discuss during my town hall meeting on local government reform to be held this Thursday, November 29, at 7:00 p.m. in the Talmage Room of the student center at Oglethorpe University, 4484 Peachtree Road, in Brookhaven. The student center is best accessed using the side entrance to Oglethorpe located off of Woodrow Way. Another issue that will be discussed is reining in the excessive power of the DeKalb CEO via House Bill 899, House Bill 894, or Senate Bill 52 (click for more information on each bill). Please tell your neighbors. I hope to see you there.
Note: The area referenced in this piece includes HillsDale. Stay informed!
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DeKalb Commissioner Asks Your Opinion on Police Staffing
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DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson (District 3) has put together a survey asking citizens how many additional police officers they think we need in DeKalb County. Go to the site below to fill out the survey that would help the Commissioners make a crucial decision for the police department and the community.
Go to http://www.co.dekalb.ga.us/ and click on Commissioner Larry Johnson's name. The other option is you can go directly to the survey.
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Posted by kim on Tuesday, October 30 2007 @ 23:18:46 CDT (533 reads)
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Water, Water Everywhere...Except Here
Depending on which news outlets you follow, North Georgia and a large swath of the southeastern United States are in the throes of a drought that is "exceptional" (the official National Weather Service terminology for it), "unprecedented," "historic," or "epic." All of these adjectives are fitting.
 | Meanwhile, every day the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers releases more than three billion - with a "b" - gallons of water from Lake Lanier, a major water source for Metro Atlanta. Lake Lanier is now fifteen feet below its full level. That level continues to drop. The water is sent downstream on the Chattahoochee River to cool a nuclear power plant in Alabama, support Florida's oyster industry where the Apalachicola River (into which the Chattahoochee flows) meets the Gulf of Mexico, and sustain mussels and sturgeon that are protected by the federal Endangered Species Act, among other purposes. |
Note: Mike Jacobs is our representive in the Georgia House, District 80. This is a reprint of a recent email newsletter from his office.
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In an attempt to find middle ground with the late night hospitality businesses, CEO Jones and other opponents of the proposed, more restrictive pouring hours for DeKalb Co, our Commissioner, Jeff Rader, has proposed another ordinance regarding pouring licensing for the County.
Under the proposal, a business with a standard pouring license could operate Monday through Saturday until 2 AM (as opposed to 4am, presently) and Sunday until 12 AM. A "Late Hour" License that would allow pouring until 4 AM Mon-Sat and until 3 a.m Sun is conceived under Rader's new proposal.
To apply for the proposed, additional license, a business would have to send a notice by mail to voters within 1500 ft of the premises. The majority of the registered voters would be needed to sign a supporting statement giving their consent to the requested license.
While I support Jeff Rader's intentions in these matters (I believe that the "peace and tranquility" of residential areas is in question), I believe that this new proposal could lead to many challenges and, in the end, miss the mark. If you've got the stomach for more discussion of this topic, grab a drink and read on!
Note: Registered members of www.HillsDaleNeighborhood.com, post your comments below and I'll pass along to Jeff Rader's office.
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Today and tomorrow are your last opportunity to affect the outcome of a planned vote at the DeKalb Commission regarding the cut-off times for on premise (restuarants, bars, clubs, etc.) sale of alcohol. The ordinace supported by our commissioner, Jeff Rader, proposes to close establishments that serve alcohol 2 hours earlier each night. Presently, DeKalb allows pouring until 3:55am Mon-Fri and until 2:55am Sat/Sun. The proposal would shorten the cut-offs to 2am for Mon-Sat and midnight on Sun.
Note: As a follow-up note for readers, I placed my own calls today to all of the contacts mentioned in the article. Since publishing this article, I have heard back from CEO Jones. Mr. Jones expressed many concerns about the proposed change and supporting arguments. A few I noted are: 1. Mr. Jones stated that clubs/bars are among the most secure retail establishments in DeKalb and that area malls are more of a security problem (He posed: "Should we close malls earlier because of the associated crimes committed on their premises?") 2. He is concerned about the employment impact to DeKalb residents. 3. He felt that negative impact to sales tax revenue could lead to increase property taxes.
I asked specifically about the mini-controversy around this debate in which some have implied Jeff Rader has racist motivations and Mr. Jones said, "Jeff Rader doesn't have a racist bone in his body."
Here's an 11Alive report I found on this topic.
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Our District 80 Rep Switches to Republican Party
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Mike Jacobs, the Georgia House District 80 Representative, is switching from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party. Hear his thinking on this subject in his own words in the phone interview below:
Interview with Mike Jacobs
- Length: 11:28 minutes (5.25 MB)
- Format: MP3 Stereo 44kHz 64Kbps (CBR)
See source blog site at: Good Will Hinton
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Posted by kim on Tuesday, June 26 2007 @ 18:30:03 CDT (249 reads)
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