Monday Morning Catch-Up: 3/23
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I have spent the past week battling the flu and associated congestion, so I haven’t felt like writing. As I sort through hundreds of RSS feed entries this morning, I realize how much I have missed.
What is that smell?
No, it isn’t Snellville Council member Robert Jenkins’ toilet flower pot. It is the smell of Council member Kelly Kautz’ attempt to regulate crematory emissions, going down in flames. The state attorney general has opined that state law preempts her local ordinance.
“I don’t agree with the opinion, but I respect it,” said the still wet-behind-the-ears junior attorney. Several months ago, the city attorney had also told Kautz that she was wrong.
Thanks to her, Jenkins and another attorney Council member, Warren Auld, Snellville faces the prospect of having to reimburse Crematory Society of the South owner Chris Nuzum for hundreds of thousands in lost income as well as attorney fees. Nuzum sued the city when the Council revoked the certificate of occupancy for the new Hwy. 78 business.
Here is the bottom line on this: Kautz, Auld and Jenkins caved to the caterwauling of crematory neighbors and beat this in-need-of-cremation horse into a costly lawsuit. If this Trio of Stupidity truly believe that they are correct in their opposition to a legitimate business, they must be replaced at the earliest possible opportunity for the good of the city. If they don’t understand how wrong they are… likewise.
More Snellville Shenanigans
Snellville State Senator Don Balfour, citing the support of the community and poll results, authored a bill to limit the Snellville Mayor’s vote to tie-breaking only. The bill easily passed the Senate and headed to the House where Snellville-area State Rep. Melvin Everson is expected to oppose it, absent positive support from the City Council.
And, if a vote were taken today, it would probably split, 3-3.
To say that Balfour’s bill “passed” the Senate is a bit misleading. SB-258 was on the 3/17 Local Consent Calendar, which means that it was lumped in with numerous other bills affecting local jurisdictions only and approved en masse without a single moment of discussion.
Almost all “local legislation” originates with a city or county. It is highly improper, in my opinion, for the Senator to meddle in “city business.” If Snellville voters perceive a problem, it is easy enough for them to rectify it.
If there is a problem at all. As Everson noted in a 3/13 GDP editorial, 78% of Council votes are unanimous.
“`Gridlock` is not the term that I would use to describe that situation,” Everson wrote.
I do not expect Everson to move this legislation forward, but you can contact him to make sure. Rep. Melvin Everson may be reached at 404-656-0188 or melvin.everson@house.ga.gov.
Bigotry In the State Legislature
Black bigotry, that is. Last week, the House Legislative Black Caucus offered a resolution commending President Obama and making him an honorary member of the caucus. Although resolutions normally pass without objection, House Republicans shot down HR-673. The House voted to give the resolution another shot, but then House Speaker Glenn Richardson sent the measure to a committee for “more study.”
Black Democrats howled racism.
“This is not a new Georgia. This is the same Georgia, just new faces,” said Democrat House Rep. Keith Heard of Athens. He authored the resolution. Republicans say that it has nothing to do with the fact that Obama is black, but that he is a Democrat.
I can think of a hundred different reasons to oppose Obama or any effort to validate his socialist policies that have nothing to do with race. The fact that black Democrats cannot at least acknowledge that is proof that they are more prejudiced than the Republicans they criticize.
And then there’s Snellville Republican Melvin Everson. As one of only two members of the “House Republican Black Caucus,” Everson recently found sufficient non-racial reason to blast Obama.
Just minutes before HR-673 came to the floor of the House, Everson had blistered Obama for suggesting that military veterans should pay for their own healthcare post-service. Obama has now reportedly backed away from the proposal.
I don’t give a rip if the Black Caucus adopts Obama as their own and conducts a week-long orgy of worship and praise. But I am tired of black legislators using race to trivialize and end legitimate debate.
Not everyone is as hung up on race as they are.
The Privilege of Power and Influence
United Community Bank is suing liquor store magnate and Georgia Board of Regents Chairman Richard Tucker. In a rare judicial move, Superior Court Judge Ronnie Batchelor sealed almost every document in the case, saying that the allegations in the suit would cause “embarrassment and annoyance” for Tucker if disclosed.
Ethics activist George Anderson filed a motion demanding that the documents be unsealed.
Bottom line… neither you nor I would have been accorded the same favor.
Coming to a Tax Bill Near You… Higher Taxes
Much has been written here about Gwinnett’s money woes and the prospect of a higher tax rate later this year. I am now prepared to revise my prediction of a 2.06 mill increase.
The tax hike this year will be closer to three mills.
A “perfect storm” of varied influences is brewing this year, the result of which can only be a higher tax bill. In the State Legislature, everyone is talking tax breaks, but all attempts at tax reform are misguided and counterproductive. Measures to limit assessment increases, double homestead exemptions and the like will only pressure local officials to raise the tax rate.
Add to legislative idiocy the sunami of tax appeals filed by Gwinnett property owners. Over 14,000 property owners have claimed lower tax value this year when the normal annual number of appeals is closer to 1,000. While not all of those claims will be honored, enough will be that the tax digest will be negatively impacted, adding even more pressure to raise the millage rate.
Finally, notice must be given to the County Commission’s complete failure to act aggressively to control spending. Even worse, Chairman Charles Bannister apparently used the budget to exact political payback on a fellow Council member.
Earlier this month, Bannister was prepared to adopt his budget which included over $40 million in potential savings, the cuts suggested by an employee panel, Bannister’s budget included token reductions in numerous handouts to community non-profits, but almost $19 million in additional spending. The additional “pork” included $1.06 million for the “Go Green Initiative.”
Hours before the Commission meeting, District 3 Commissioner Mike Beaudreau reportedly informed Bannister that he would present a motion to cut the budget by millions in inappropriate spending. At the meeting, Beaudreau made his case.
Bannister chided Beaudreau for waiting until the meeting day to present his cuts, then voted with D-1 Commissioner Shirley Lasseter and D-2 Commissioner Bert Nasuti to reject them. Bannister then presented some token spending cuts of his own…. most for projects within mere miles of Beaudreau’s residence.
Bannister has squandered an opportunity to react aggressively to the economic downturn, and the taxpayers of Gwinnett will pay for his failure.
Red Light Cameras, R.I.P.
Red light cameras reportedly reduced the number of traffic accidents at monitored intersections, but at a significant cost (about $400 a day for some).
A recent state law change added one second (for a total of four) to the length of the yellow light preceding the red. This simple change reportedly reduced the number of citations issued by as much as 80% in some jurisdictions, making the cameras cost-prohibitive in many jurisdictions. Several Gwinnett cities have abandoned their cameras.
Think about it… there are fewer tickets being issued because fewer drivers are running the red light. Even if the reason is the longer yellow, it still means that fewer cars enter the intersection after the light turns red.
Now, intersecting traffic does not enter the intersection until after the opposing light turns red and their side turns green. When both vehicles are not in the intersection at the same time, the accidents do not happen.
Apparently, an additional second has accomplished virtually the same result that the costly red light cameras accomplished.
I have always opposed the idea of red light cameras, primarily because the human offender can almost never be sufficiently identified, and you can’t put a car in jail. Good riddance.
