Ms. Annie, sometimes folks just have to be community oriented and take things into their own hands and do a little clean-up. I have been known to clean up right-of-ways in my area and cut weeds/grass on the ROW of older folks in the area unable to negotiate the terrain. Four years ago there was extensive growth and vines on the ROW behind houses that back up to Windsor between Osborne and Mabry creating a traffic hazard. Too big for me to deal with, I contacted Rader’s office and in days a crew was out and did an excellent job clearing the ROW one morning.

But that is just me. Some folks had rather just wine instead of being pro-active.

However, I did some homework for you: That block is owned by two different investors and has been for some time. One lives on Ragley Hall and the other lives on Breton Circle. Why don’t you contact them directly? As for the sidewalks, if your new city passes, one of the first laws passed will to demand property owners pay for their installation and repair, saves taxes that way.

Anything else Ma’am?

Just enjoying the charcoal smell . . .

I do organize with my community group and the owners do not care to fix the area, and the County's code enforcement does little as to complaints in north DeKalb. In addition to work with civic groups, I also cut the grass and clean up my local park because despite the 250,000 in bonds the county had us approved with promises for us, nothing was done. Your implication that I'm just another hamburger eating lazy American is misplaced. Maybe you need to clean your grill from all the County grime obstructing your view.

Ms. Annie, well . . . Looks like you have another project . . . Cleaning up the property of your Brookhaven Yes neighbors!

I think that charcoal smell is getting to you . . .

Come on Annie - this is Paradise for Hamburger. Dekalb county can do no wrong!!!!

That is so typical of the no-city mantra...

Burger would like you to feel guilty that you aren't out there cleaning it up yourself...HOWEVER, what she fails to mention is that you are already paying a huge amount in your property taxes that is supposed to be used for that purpose.

In Burger's world, you pay the neighborhood kid to mow your lawn, and then when he doesn't show up, you do it yourself...oh and you need to keep doing that every two weeks with the same results and if you get upset with the neighbor kid for not showing up, it means you don't really care about your yard.

Folks...I think Mayor Bill Floyd of Decatur said it best...

"The contention that living in unincorporated Dekalb County offers less taxes is quickly dissolving. Cities by their very nature provide a higher quality of life and a higher level of services than counties. Taxes are much like anything else you buy, if you don’t think you are getting your monies worth they are too high. People who live in cities believe that what they get is worth the cost. Those who don’t live inside a city are beginning to recognize the difference that cities offer."

Mr. William, you miss the point. There is community and charitable work and then there is personal responsibility. By the way, thank you for your part in keeping up your neighborhood. Your yard looks nice.

If you are familiar with the area, this is not a community or charitable endeavor. This is clearly an issue of property owner responsibility. The property owners are very close by and it would be easy to contact the owners, well known in the community, and ask them to clean up the ROW on their property like the rest of us do. If you do not want to do that, call code enforcement, share with them the owners names and partial numbers and they can do it for you. Or, you can continue to whine.

Does anyone know if action was taken along these lines prior to this item being placed in the Patch? Or, is this a good example of community whining?

Please pass the thin sliced onions and pickles!

"By the way, thank you for your part in keeping up your neighborhood. Your yard looks nice."

Ok...that's a little creepy.

There is a big difference between neighborhood clean up and doing the job that you are already paying the county to do. In our 'hood, we have rentals, elderly folks, single moms etc. We all pitch in to help keep those properties clean whether by lending a hand or as a last resort, calling the county code enforcement (typically on the landlords).

We pay taxes for upkeep of the right of ways in this county and for the sidewalks to be built and to be maintained. There isn't even a curb along much of that route...

I don't disagree...the property owner needs to be called to the carpet. However...an honest observer can't look at the sidewalks and curbs in these pictures and at the sidewalks and curbs elsewhere in Brookhaven (or the lack thereof in many cases) and wonder what in the heck the county is spending our tax dollars on.

Contrast that with Dunwoody...which in the short time that it has been a city, has already mapped all the sidewalks in its area (which is 16 to 20% larger than Brookhaven!!!) and has started a comprehensive plan to replace and repair.

http://dunwoodynorth.blogspot.com/2012/05/dunwoody-sidewalks-for-2012-meeting.html

There is no way the county can provide those kind of local services. That's another reason I'm voting yes.

Mr. William, that certainly is nice. Dunwoody is rewriting their city codes so maybe you can answer this: Who will be footing the bill for this work? Is the city paying or are property owners being assessed a pro-rata share based on street footage? Additionally, who is responsible for future maintenance and repairs? Nothing is free.

“There is no way the county can provide those kind of local services. That's another reason I'm voting yes.”

That is funny . . . You did see my previous link to DeKalb County code regarding sidewalks, right? Did you read it?

Please pass the yellow mustard!

Burger-

I couldn't agree more...nothing is free. In fact, in the case of DeKalb county....Nothing Costs A Whole Lot!!!!

Folks, this is so typical of the No City crowd....

"It must be your fault the county isn't doing its job."

Burger, I appreciate that you feel the 20 or so homes along Hermance should pony up the costs of building the sidewalk so that our children & pedestrians will be safe walking there now that there is a huge commercial development on it. In fact, I have jogged on that street on several occasions. The sidewalks are atrocious. The curbs are non-existent. If I'm not mistaken, I think they stop and leave a good several hundred yards between the Path Academy and Town Brookhaven without any pedestrian access.

And your answer is to have the homeowners on this street PAY MORE to the county???

This street is in included in Sub Area II of the Brookhaven LCI overlay. It has a college and a public school on it. Yet, when the county, in its brilliance, permitted the building of Town Brookhaven as part of a walkable, urban village, they didn't think people might actually want to walk there on sidewalks.

There is absolutely no excuse that sidewalks are not built along that stretch as part of the Town Brookhaven project....we pay enough taxes for that to be done. Of course, the county was too busy trying to give Sembler another tax break!

A simple thing like building sidewalks in the LCI doesn't happen because the county doesn't care what happens to our tax dollars. And your answer is..."Well, the folks on that street should just pay more???" No thanks. Yes City!

Utterly lost any shred of credibility on sidewalks. Wow, getting tired, been a long, daily grind for you, eh?

1.) Hugely unpopular and potentially dangerous to complain to anyone to clean up their property...That is an easy way to get sideways with neighbors... Any urban/suburban adult knows that.

2.) The two new sidewalks that I use are budgeted and paid for from City funds, not homeowners.

I am curious do you know where I live, what I drive, my email, ISP addy, and SS#?

Mr. William, misquote me all you like, just check out the DeKalb Code link I posted and read about funding under sidewalks. It clearly states how they are funded and exactly who is responsible. This is the second time I have suggested that you read it. Makes me wonder if you understood what you read when you read the Vinson study and HB 636?

As for sidewalks on Hermance, there is about 30’ east of the school that could be placed. Otherwise, the road is side walked from Windsor to Peachtree. By the way, the sidewalks on both sides of the road in the vicinity of TB were the responsibility of the developer.

Mr. Max, don’t want to talk to a property owner? Call code enforcement as I previously suggested. Are you also having reading problems like Mr. William? You may want to read the cited code section as well. I am not interested who you are . . . Unless you are running for office in the new city!

Special hamburger?

Burger-

The developer did build sidewalks...all the way up to Crosswyke Forrest. They even put in a cross walk....of course, it is a cross walk to no where because the county hasn't connected it to sidewalks!!! And again, try walking down those sidewalks when they are busted up and at street level with no curbs!!!

First, the county failure is our fault for not calling them.
Then the county failure is the neighbors' fault for not paying for new sidewalks.
Now the county failure is the developers fault?

When is the county's problems ever going to be the county's fault??

No accountability. No responsibility. No solutions. No thanks!!!!

Brookhaven Yes!

By the way, genius, the Article you cite (Chapter 23, Art V, 90-94) is for Residential Sidewalk Districts.

Those are special sidewalk districts in residential areas where residents can apply to have sidewalks put in and pay an extra cost AND pay maintenance fees. They are OPTIONAL sidewalk programs for residential areas.

General sidewalk maintenance and installation is done by the Transportation Division of the Department of Public Works.

Sidewalks in a city of Brookhaven would be capital improvements that could be considered expenditures in the Public Works budget or in the Capital for Roads/Drainage budget in the CVI that totaled just over $6.5 Million. Of course, I beleive capital improvements such as sidewalks could be funded out of the HOST revenues that the city of Brookhaven would receive (which is estimated at over $5M, by the way, and is so large because over 15% of the AV residential is located in the 12 square mile footprint of Brookhaven...something those crying that 'we aren't Dunwoody, such as yourself, often overlook).

What was that about me not being able to understand your citation or the CVI study, Ham-genius?

If you understood 5% of what you claim to, we'd be together in voting yes.

No Answers! No Accurate Information! No need to listen to them anymore!

Brookhaven Yes!

Mr. William, were we not talking about residential sidewalks? Regardless, nice to know you finally read the code.

Now you have morphed the conversation about a yet to be created city with no specific laws. No one, not even you, can talk intelligently about this new city until the initial elected officials start creating laws and developing code. As for the Vinson study, it is not even mentioned in HB 636 and is just a dream. Where is your information about city of Brookhaven sidewalks located in HB 636?

One last thing, if I can pump up your ego by being someone you can insult and call names, go right ahead. I am glad to give you a little boost!

Please pass me those savory thin sliced onions!

I love it.

Completely called to the carpet and proven yet again to be full of inaccurate information...and yet no humility or desire to accept when you are wrong.

You must work for the CEO.

Endless bureaucracy.

"Endless bureaucracy." ---Dean

And your cure is to add to it.

And you're an idiot...

City Yes.
No I'm your brother. We are ALL sons of the same Father. And I love you.
-g

To: Danny Marshall
From: The City of Brookhaven Charter

LINE 243 (42) - Other powers. To exercise and enjoy all other powers, functions, rights, privileges, and immunities necessary or desirable;

Now that's MY idea of exercise! ; )

Thanks and have a super day!
Bill Charter
HB 636

To: Windsor Parkway & Hermance Property Owners
From: The City of Brookhaven Charter

LINE 169 (24) - Penalties. To provide penalties for violation of any ordinances adopted pursuant to the authority of this charter and the laws of the State of Georgia;

Just an FYI.

Thanks and have a nice day! : )
Bill Charter
HB 636

City Yes....I mean Resident 30319,
It is Brookhaven's City Charter we are talking about here. FYI. It's been around since 2011.

To: Resident 30319
From: The City of Brookhaven Charter

LINE 45 (b) - The powers of this city shall be construed liberally in favor of the city. The specific mention or failure to mention particular powers shall not be construed as limiting in any way the powers of this city.

I can be whatever they want me to be ; )

Sincerely,
Bill Charter
HB 636

Resident 30319, what say you just read HB 636 for yourself? Is that too difficult?

Special hamburger?

FUD is their MO, boilerplate text is veeeerrrry scary.

Mr. Dean, have you actually read HB 636? It is very disconcerting. Of greater concern is just who will be running for elected office. Have any insight? Folks vote “NO” when faced with too many unknowns . . .

Excuse me, could you please pass me some of those thin sliced onions?

Very true 30319.

Folks try it for yourself, for example put in "penalties for violation of any ordinances adopted pursuant to the authority of this charter and the laws of the State of Georgia" into a search engine (with quotes) and see how many hits you get for other Georgia City Charters with the language that is supposedly sinister.

Resident 30319, that is the problem. Folks are not reading HB 636. If they did, they would have not have been so willing to submit to a new city under this bill . . . HB 636 . . .

Please pass the yellow mustard!

I am paying attention to your comments because they make sense.

Keep in mind that pol operatives cannot admit to another point of view or they are breaking their contract to represent... I think that is why from day one certain entities have the professional and uncanny ability to twist the words of those that disagree.

That characteristic is one hallmark of a paid lobbyist.

Resident 30319, I have been there and I have done this before. That is why I moved to incorporated DeKalb. Although I may be replying to you, my intention is not to change your opinion, but those reading that may not yet have a complete understanding of what they will be voting for. Nothing personal and I respect your “YES” vote. If somehow I make you question the new city yourself, well, that is yellow mustard on the hamburger!

More thin sliced pickles please?

Mr. Max, not everything is a political conspiracy . . . Sometimes a resident has exceptionally strong feelings about issues that impact their life and property.

Watch out, you may make me retell one of my dreams about the rotund golf cart driver in the Silver Lake area that speaks in tongues and his little round cockroach that translates for him . . .

That is simply the best special hamburger I have ever tasted!

"I think that is why from day one certain entities have the professional and uncanny ability to twist the words of those that disagree.

That characteristic is one hallmark of a paid lobbyist."

Even more so, a "lobbyist" being paid by the public for the supposed public service of a Congressman.

"...Even more so, a "lobbyist" being paid by the public for the supposed public service of a Congressman. ..."

You don't know where you live and you cannot articulate, otherwise you are a decent lobbyist.

"I want to work through the system and effect change at the ballot box." ---Stanley

What are doing about offices of the MxGov right here in our neighborhood, our proposed (anchor) city, being provided, having and using our very voter registration forms?

"...Even more so, a "lobbyist" being paid by the public for the supposed public service of a Congressman. ..." ---don Gabacho

"You don't know where you live..." ---Max

Of course I do.

"...and you cannot articulate..." ---Max

Yet again, what are you doing about offices of the MxGov, right here in our neighborhood and proposed city, being provided, having and using our voter registration forms?

"...otherwise you are a decent lobbyist." ---Max

Seeking redress of grievance is not "lobbying."

Holding public officers to their obligations to the Public Trust and very Oaths of Office is not "lobbying."

Protecting myself and fellow citizens from those who would have any election or referendum without first remedying the affront on the very validity of any election or referendum is not "lobbying."

Yet again, what are you doing about offices of the MxGov, right here in our neighborhood and proposed city, being provided, having and using our. voter registration forms?

Just pixels on a page.

Unfortunate you think that way. We are ALL brothers. Let's act like it.

What is truly unfortunate, neighbor, is that instead of addressing common governance concerns, people descend to the convenient pit of making this very political battle about on-line personalities.

This is a thread on a blog about a heated political matter and one should be able to distinguish humor from really mean-spirited comments.

During the Dunwoody fight, I was threatened with an ethics charge, IRS sanctions, and called everything from 'despicable' to 'obstreperous.' Here, I have been called 'unctuous,' by a hamburger!

We live in strange times.

Make no mistake - This is about changing the dynamics of local governance to bring the peoples voice closer to home. Put yourself in my sandals and think about the fact that I opposed incorporation and now see that change is a much better deal for my family.

Thus, I share my experiences with you, my neighbor. Not for manna, not for glory or fame, but as a community servant.

Do your own homework, meet the people and form your opinions based on your own research.

And, as you do your research, make sure you review the events taking place in Peachtree Corners.

Would They Vote “YES” Again?
http://tinyurl.com/7hvb9zp
http://tinyurl.com/7j8k7xp

Understand that the Brookhaven area is not Dunwoody.

Make note that the Vinson study for Brookhaven is based on flawed data and Rep. Mike Jacobs has not come forward with a revision to the Vinson study utilizing current data.

Sir, Mr. HamBurger has as many of his special hamburgers with thin sliced sweet onions and pickles with yellow mustard as you like!

Matthew 5:41-47

If someone forces you to go one mile, go two miles with him. Give to everyone who asks you for something. Don’t turn anyone away who wants to borrow something from you.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you this: Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. In this way you show that you are children of your Father in heaven. He makes his sun rise on people whether they are good or evil. He lets rain fall on them whether they are just or unjust. If you love those who love you, do you deserve a reward? Even the tax collectors do that! Are you doing anything remarkable if you welcome only your friends? Everyone does that!

"When life hands you lemons - Squirt them into the eyes of your enemies."

We are ALL brothers. Let's act like it.

Hamburger - you really are a tool aren't you. Keep bringing up Peachtree Corners, but don't bring up Johns Creek, Milton, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, etc. etc. How many of those folks would go back to Dekalb County? How many? Answer that one.

City Yes, thank you for the complement! How about this, why don’t you check out their budgets and projections and let us know just how well they are doing?

You did see the Dunwoody police chief’s memo regarding the need for more personnel and his desired projections with challenging budgets for the next few years? You really need to stay on the same page as the rest of us . . .

Please pass the thin sliced onions and pickles!

"Make no mistake - This is about changing the dynamics of local governance..." ---Max

Yet again, what are you doing about offices of the MxGov, right here in our neighborhood and proposed city, being provided, having and using our voter registration forms?

Moreover, what are you having your State Congressman do?

Hamburger sure seems to know a whole lot about county government goings on...

Mr. Dean, for a DeKalb citizen, does it embarrass you that you know so little about your county government?

Please pass the yellow mustard!

Mr. J. Max, Whew!!! Good thing I am not real! That means that bad dream I had about you riding around in a golf cart speaking in tongues with that little round cockroach translator did not happen! By the way, watch out for the children on bicycles!

Special hamburger?

Hamburger seems to be a wanna-be stalker.

"If you had the courage to publish your own name your opinions would actually be real."

Meanwhile. Get real:

What are you doing about offices of the MxGov, right here in our neighborhood and proposed city, being provided, having and using our voter registration forms?

What are you even now having the State Congressman and---somehow---your fellow in C4ND, Jacobs, do about it?

Mr. J. Max, when you are a part of a community, you just know these things. Just like you know things. Did you really visit with some of your neighbors with “NO” signs and “encourage” them to remove them? Very bold! Now to do something about their votes . . .

Wait, I am not real and neither is the flawed Vinson study that Rep. Jacobs does not want to update with current information . . .

Please pass the yellow mustard!

Others seem to check too, “I just used WhitePages.com to check the residence of the last five of these e-mails that I have received. Every time someone signs the petition, I get an e-mail” that was a city supporter -01/20/12

Enuff Govt Already, LOL, I remember Mike Jacobs posting that. Hey, he is pro-city and gets a pass!

Pass the yellow mustard!

"There are issues where reasonable folks can disagree..." ---Stan

So? Asking what you are you doing about offices of the MxGov, right here in our neighborhood and proposed city, being provided, having and using our voter registration forms is not "reasonable"? Not an "issue"?

Likewise, what you are even now having the State Congressman and---somehow---your fellow in C4ND, Jacobs, do about it?

Mr. Stan, I wonder how you address an opposing opinion in your HOA?

I see if you are “NO” you are quick to be critical. However, if it is “YES” it is OK?

Please pass the yellow mustard!

It's creepy. I've got kids and I don't need the Hamburger making creepy comments about how my yard looks nice even if she is (hopefully) harmless.

Although I do take a little pride in my yard (well, my wife does most of it...her hydrangeas are really beautiful right now).

She also made reference to my workplace here on the Patch, intimating that she would make contact with the president of my company (as if that were some sort of threat). Just despicable behavior

I think Mr. Darnell needs to ban Hamburger. He has crossed the line a few too many times and poses a danger to this forum.

Mr. Dean, you missed the hint. You were posting in the middle of the day quite heavily. The hint was that if posting from a company computer your IT department may have your activities logged. I may not like that you are pro-city, but that is it, nothing more. Jobs are valuable now days, don’t give anyone (like a company looking to make changes) a reason to take it away. By the way, in some ways it is a very small world out there . . .

Special hamburger?

Why do you assume it is a "Mr." Hamburger?

I wouldn't if I were you.

William, could use your help / advice on yard work. For some reason, my grass won't grow in the yard, but it will in cracks on the driveway.

As long as the weeds dont block my shiny BY signs, guess I'm alright. Lots of new ones went up this week in our 'hood. Just sayin'..

Mr. Stan, your accusation of stalking is laughable. You think I am just going to let you ram your city down my throat and me not check out just who these folks are and what their motivation is? Let’s not forget that a poll of 275 people from three precincts north of Windsor and an elected official with a strong hatred of DeKalb County got all this city nonsense started. No one polled the rest of the proposed city. If you have flaws, just like your Vinson study does, I will point them out. Folks deserve to know just who these people are that are foisting their city on us.

You and your new city associates you have known for two weeks now that your cornerstone for developing a new city, the Vinson study, is flawed. The hatred for DeKalb County is so great that you will not have it updated with the most recent tax digest clearly selected for the footprint of your city because you know you will lose a lot of support for the new city.

Imagine, the behavior exhibited by the “YES” folks on the Patch exemplifies the behavior we can expect from the leaders of your new city.

By the way, some folks are wondering just how long you are going to let that paint peel . . .

Hungry? Special hamburger?

Burgie-

My assumption is that you have checked out my yard while you are delivering No City signs to my neighbors across the street from me and think you know about J. Max talking to people with No City signs because you are affiliated with No City.

I assume that you, being a true gentlelady, would be kind enough to introduce yourself the next time you are around. I'm certainly available and often in my front yard playing with my kids. If you are truly concerned about our area and want to be a good neighbor, I would hope you would act neighborly and stop taking pot shots from the Internet.

For having such a good education, you certainly don't have a lot of answers.

It seems that it is always about someone else with you. It's not the county's fault. that our sidewalks are terrible, we don't have enough patrols, and our parks are dilapidated, It's the CVI's fault.
It's those people north of Windsor Parkway's fault that we have a giant, lighted billboard in Brookhaven.
Why it must be C4ND's fault that the county doesn't spend on services in Brookhaven.

Laughable.

The simple truth is this...No answers. No accountability. No responsibility. No, thanks!

Yes Brookhaven!

"Whether you support or oppose incorporation is no excuse for stalking." ---Stan

Stanley, didn't J. Max Davis just now extol on his 'stalking' neighborhoods for "No City" signs?

"My assumption is that you have checked out my yard while you are delivering No City signs to my neighbors across the street from me and think you know about J. Max talking to people with No City signs because you are affiliated with No City." ---William

GEEEZ!

How is it Billy that one man's "talking" must be "stalking" while another's "talking" must be just "talking"?

Just where did your crowd learn these tactics anyway?

Pub 71?

I think this discussion has lost context because one no longer sees what I assume was the original post describing the front lawn. I assume it got deleted.

Mr. J. Max, the term “strong armed” was what was used in a conversation describing your actions. Many folks took their sign down just to get rid of you. As for honesty, we all know who you are and there are a lot of things that you and your pro city folks say regarding DeKalb County and the new city that are not true. There is a lot of dishonesty with your robo calls and your mailers.

Additionally, the biggest fallacy of this entire city nonsense is the Vinson study and your refusal to have it updated with the current tax digest. How much longer will you try to hide the truth from the citizens about the Vinson study deficiencies?

Is it true that if you become mayor that you will do all you can to try to get rid of all bike lanes in your new city? Why the dislike for bicycles?

Please pass the yellow mustard!

EVERYONE PLEASE PAY ATTENTION,
IF BROOKHAVEN YES WAS NOT BEING HANDILY DEFEATED WOULD THEY RESORT TO THESE CHILDISH antics? This is a sign that they are losing. And they know it. This is typical John Garst fodder. RISE UP BROOKHAVEN AREA FOLKS AND TELL THESE BULLIES AND POLITICIANS they look like fools.

"The cyber anonymity only feeds into the more base parts of some individuals personality wherein they are comfortable saying and claiming things that they wouldn't normally want to try and defend in public." ---J. Max Davis

Are you claiming non-anonymity excuses you from defending in public just why you are---at best--- doing nothing about offices of the MxGov, in our neighborhood and proposed city, being provided, having and using our voter registration forms?

Likewise and being "a lawyer" yourself, just what you did, or not, to disallow the representative from being a member also of C4ND?

Grieg what childish antics are you referring too?

..geeezzzz...cyber bullies??? and you want to run a govt...............I appaud both sides that present their points using their real or screen names ...but BY is trying to sell the creation of another political entity and when I see BY say diverging view points are not accepted because we can't identify you ...well you lost the sell. BY is seeking "local" power and I for one cast a doubtful eye upon those seeking political "power" office. Govt's, even local gov't of your neighbors only know one thing and that is to grow. The BY movement is essentially a grow more gov't movement. The sky isn't falling and we don't need more gov't.

Stan,
What about J Max Davis? He's a real eloquent master debater.