Dear Editor: A quick shout out to our District 5 Councilwoman Natalyn Archibong, and her hardworking crew. They organized the 12th annual Focus Upon Senior Services Saturday at Drew Charter School. There just is no better, hands on, effort, that I know of, that directly connects our senior neighbors with so many of the services and resources available to them. We have a very special person as our council member for District 5, and I am thankful for the many creative ways she shows her leadership because it makes us better and stronger every day.— Kyle Caldwell, East Lake
Dear Editor: I live in Grant Park and this morning I read your article (Broken Sidewalks Build Pathways to Controversy, Feb. 8, 2013) about sidewalks in Ormewood Park — Grant Park's close neighbor — that the neighborhood association posted to its Facebook page. Ironically, this is an issue that my friends have heard me complaining about a lot in the last week. On Feb. 5, I tweeted Mayor Reed and posted pictures of the sidewalk on my street. I asked him why we are funding a new Falcon's stadium when I watch women with babies in strollers walk my street every day to bypass the horrific sidewalk…
Dear Editor: Here's my sidewalk at 833 Gilbert St. The city says it needs $1,000 in repairs, and the curb needs $3,000 in repairs, and it needs to be done in 45 days, or they'll fix it and send me the bill. (Broken Sidewalks Build Pathways to Controversy, Feb. 8, 2013). The sidewalk is in good condition and the curb is buried underneath layers of pavement, courtesy of Public Works. When has Public Works gotten anything done in 45 days? — Ken Boff, Ormewood Park
Dear Editor: Four children tragically lost their lives in a fire in Conyers, on Tuesday, Jan. 8. Despite a quick response from first responders the home was fully engulfed in flames when emergency personnel arrived. Courageous rescue efforts were made but sadly the children aged 9, 7, 3 and eight months did not survive the terrible blaze. The children’s mother desperately tried to save her children but was burned severely and was only able to rescue her 6-year-old son. Reports show that the home did not have working smoke detectors according to fire officials. In a similarly devastating story…
Dear Editor: I did not go to that party [Did Gay Slur Spark Stabbings? - Jan. 2, 2013], however I know the hosts and lots of people that were there. I feel that it is safe to say that there was no gay hatred among anyone I would know that would be at that party. Some of the residents perform drag at Mary's for God's sake. I wouldn't characterize this as a homophobic party to say the least. Yes, it is Reynoldstown. I live in Reynoldstown. I don't think we deserve to be characterized as a gay-hating community. This is one of the more progressive areas of Atlanta. I feel that the Patch should …
To the Editor: Last night outside of Asylum (parking lot across from Midway) several cars got broken into. It seems that this happens A LOT in EAV. So, I’m reaching out to all media in the area to raise awareness that this is happening in OUR neighborhood and right under OUR noses. I’m not really sure what can be done about this. I am searching for ANY suggestions and help. I would like to have signs posted in the parking lots warning people of the break-ins. I know more serious crimes are committed in Atlanta, and this may seem minor, but for the persons involved, it’s a horrible situation. …
Dear Editor: I am writing as both a parent of students who attend a charter school and a teacher who works at one. The school I speak of is Pataula Charter Academy (PCA) located in Edison, Georgia. This is one of the controversial schools that was created by approval of a state commissioned board rather than the local school boards. Now we are in danger of having our doors closed unless an amendment to the constitution is approved in the November election stating that it is legal for a state commissioned board to approve charter schools when local boards refuse. I am urging everyone reading …
Dear Editor: I do not work in the DeKalb County School System, but I am privileged to much of what is occurring. Everyone who works in the school system and has children in the school system should be alarmed and pay close attention to the decisions the Board of Education and the superintendent, Cheryl Atkinson, is making and will be making in the coming weeks. A couple of their goals are to reduce salaries and make demotions. Everyone in DeKalb doesn’t make the large salaries you hear about in the news. There are employees who have been with DeKalb for many years who have earned their pay. …
Dear Editor: My Dad is doing well, handling all this that happened to him on Saturday afternoon. I thought I'd pass on some information that might be helpful to your readers in the area. My Dad said the thugs who took his car were already there when he got out of his car. It is believed that they were actually after the neighbor's Honda and were waiting for them to come out to ambush them when my Dad drove up in his 2008 Honda. It is also believed this was the same way they acquired possession of the other black Honda that was taken earlier in a nearby area, where police shot one suspect! I …
Dear Editor: A small group of residents in the Fourth Ward Alliance area began investigating the potential for starting a privately funded public safety organization in 2009. As the group met with other neighborhood public safety organizations to learn about how they got started and how they managed their efforts, the group became increasingly confident that such an organization was needed in the Old Fourth Ward and that it was feasible to do. Old Fourth Ward residents Kip Rupp and Dana Brownlee continued to move forward with the effort and started the Old Fourth Ward Patrol in early 2011. …
Dear Editor: Many of you have asked, how we feel. Obviously our neighborhood and community is elated and unbelievably grateful to the Atlanta Public Schools board for keeping us open and giving us a chance to show the greater Atlanta area what a great school D.H. Stanton can be. Although we’ve stayed open, we are not done with our fight for an even BETTER Stanton. We have been, intend to, and are already working with our interim principal, Dr. Clara Taylor and all of the neighborhood community organizations, residents and parents to move forward on some of our plans. Not only a better …
Dear Editor: Of course the "All Of It" refers only to the Grady Cluster north of the railroad. It seems the letter writers left out the Grady Cluster schools of Toomer Elementary, East Lake Elementary and Coan Middle Schools from their participant list. Also omitted from the letter writers "All Of It" are Centennial Elementary and King Middle schools. If one is going to claim to represent all of the Grady Cluster of schools then they need to engage and include all the Local School Councils of the Grady Cluster, not just a few cherry picked for homogeneity. — Earl Williamson, Chairman, …
by Earl Williamson The third License Review Board hearing regarding the Kirkwood Bar & Grill alcohol permit resulted in a vote of approval for the application by a vote of 2 for, 1 against and 1 abstained. The application will again go to the mayor for review. The presentation on behalf of Neighborhood Planning Unit-O and Kirkwood was hampered by being restricted to the five points listed in the Mayor's remand letter (which we were not provided or advised of until the start of our presentation). Efforts to use our available material to address the five points were prevented by the Board's …
by Blaire Lynch As a teacher, it’s been difficult for me to wrap my head around the recently proposed Atlanta Public Schools redistricting plans. Although I’ve spent hours watching recorded video footage from various presentations and meetings, and poring over documents APS has uploaded to its website, detailing enrollment forecasts and projected population growth/decline, I still don’t get it. You see, as a teacher, I know that in order to write and enact a successful lesson plan, I need to focus on creating learning objectives that are observable and measurable. And perhaps my background …
To the Editor: We have envisioned a new world. One without foreclosures, bank bailouts, war, corporate personhood, and the state-mandated murder of human beings. A world where the many thousands of homeless men and women in Atlanta do not have to sleep on the cold sidewalks of locked, empty buildings. A world where 15 million children do not die from hunger each year while every plant, grocery store and bakery throw away countless tons of food every single night. We have envisioned a world where the profit incentive is not only void, it is taboo – and the compassion for fellow being and for …
Dear Editor: As leaders in the black community, we are taking accountability for the actions of our youth – teaching them to put down the guns, to stop selling drugs and to stop using crime as a means of creating income and to create business from the ground up at the street level. We turn to the leaders of the other races, to other nationalities and to the leaders of religious communities to do the same - to take accountability for the action of people as well. Hate crimes are increasing and racism is once again showing it’s ugly face. But what is most common in our communities in America is…
To the Editor: I read your article about the perceived snub to John Lewis. I do not think that was right, fair or just. For the record: I did not attend the park gathering and I do not support the cause (because I can't figure out what the real protest is here. I do realize that we are in a very bad economy and that will get much worse), John Lewis has been a good citizen and has all star civil rights record. That last statement is without question! Could the (perceived) snub be from the fact that when John Lewis took congressional office in Jan 1987 the federal deficit was just $2.1 trillion…
Today Occupy Atlanta General Assembly unanimously agreed to invite Congressman John Lewis to come and speak. Occupy groups are governed by procedural rules that allow them to function in chaotic circumstances and to exercise participatory democracy in a large group. These rules are based on the principle of absolute equality and each voice being heard. Anyone may come and speak to or participate in a General Assembly. There is a set order which includes a point where the floor is opened for comments. Anyone present may put their name on the “stack” as it is called and speak. It might seem a …
by Michelle Rice The East Atlanta Strut, an annual parade and party in the Village is seeking participants who'd like to march or showcase their creative floatmaking. Organizers are asking people to register in advance for the parade, which is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Sept. 17. The parade route starts at the intersection of Metropolitan and Haas avenues and ends on Glenwood between Joseph and Brownwood avenues. Registration is $15 but free to those businesses that serve as Strut sponsors.) The money raised goes toward neighborhood nonprofit organizations, such as the East Atlanta Kids Club and…
Editor's Note: A few weeks ago, East Atlanta Patch wrote an editorial about the frequent power outages and what seemed to be the inability on Georgia Power Co.'s part to keep the proverbial lights on. The company has since sent letters and e-mails to its customers to explain the causes of the outages. This has been an unusually active, and at times violent, year in terms of weather. Wave after wave of storms have come through, causing damage across the state and disruption of electric service to many of our 2.4 million customers. Many of our customers, like you, have unfortunately had their …
