Brandon - good comments. Commend you and your family on your Dekalb family tree. Pretty impressive roots there. Agreed on DC. I know some of their police well - appreciate and respect the heck out of them, but I think we're stretched entirely too thin (speaking for my area). Their waste services are second-to-none (and that won't change).

I appreciate Doc's comments - although he lost me on the on-ramp to the national politics highway.

I would take issue with him painting this debate based off a conversation with a neighbor... irresponsible, in my opinion, to form the argument with the Yes side essentially wanting to look out for their own hide. I think it cheapens a lot of the arguments for the city.

Also, I like his sentiments of looking out for all. That said, I don't think it's selfish to want a fair share of resources reinvested in your area. I don't believe he's being devious in comments about dividing the community, but seems like an angle many are taking. On the flip, a lot of people feel divided and disenfranchised with certain parts of DC already, which is why we get to vote on whether or not we want to change it. I guess that's a two-way street.

How can a city create more value? For one through better zoning and development patterns. Also since a part of the hotel taxes are required to be spent on promotion, a City of Brookhaven could do a better job attracting employers to the area. The area fronting I-85 is extremely underutilized. And while I do not want to see affordable housing pushed off of Buford Highway I think that can exist alongside better use of the numerous vacant lots or half empty retail centers like Northeast Plaza.

Official recognition or adoption of the LCI for its overlay area and application of similar principals to other parts of the city creates long term value and more sustainable development that reduces long term costs, plus it can lead to increased MARTA ridership which increases MARTA's farebox revenues which helps all of DeKalb. The neat thing about MARTA is greater use of one Station necessarily creates more use of other stations and thus more value.

Completing the buildout of the Perimeter Summit which is in the Perimeter CID area also offers a great opportunity for increasing the tax base that will benefit the County and the City.

Others have said it and I believe we will do it, we will elect a Mayor and Council people who are not trying to stick it to DeKalb but instead trying to create a Win Win situation for both. I think this attitude exists in Dunwoody, Doraville and Chamblee City officials and I see no reason it won't exist with the people we elect.

Very true, that lower Buford Hwy corridor has a ton of potential, it is only a matter of time before it is realized.

Dean,
Strip Clubs or video studios?
I just wondered where you are heading with this?

not one of 60 like it or not we have a diversity of opinion in the Proposed City of Brookhaven. And if you want the city to pass you will need a cross section of support. Since there is a cross section of political opinions against the formation of the City.

I happen to find great relevance in many of the thoughts expressed above and in the link http://myownstormypetrelwords.wordpress.com/2012/07/

I also think your other link is total BS. The difference is that's how your guy made his living. And that type of business I believe has not helped our economy in the long run but instead hurt it just so he and a small group of others could make some short term profits.

I think you are crazy to not vote for Obama! And I'm sure you think i'm crazy to vote for him.

But the point is - we don't need to get into national politics or who we want for President. Lets try to focus on the issue at hand.

I also agree in diversity! I certainly don't support the GA legislature on most or many things; but do support spending money wisely in local communities...

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/that-doesnt-make-sense-obama-donor-infuriated-by-presidents-rhetoric-speaks-out/

I voted for obama - and do not support Romney. This time not so much. I just think it is funny that any politcian who has taken large sums of money from any donor makes them more self righteous than another! I don't think your crazy maybe brainwahsed. But hey most americans are. The lessor of 2 evils. I decline to particiapte in that...November 6 - I'll be out of the country - thank god!!

Well I don't want to get into presidential politics on this board - I'll say I hear you and regarding the Blaze article - that's not the message the President is trying to deliver, though its certainly the message the opposition is trying to say he's delivering.

Though unfortunately that misleading recasting of the opponent's message is analogous to what often happens with the Brookhaven Debate.

Agreed and True; But it is important when someone in the public makes a statement about a local issue (using national politics as a basis) as a perspective; when the basis for relevance does not relate whatsoever.

Fair enough. And I maybe wrong, and I'm not saying he intentionally was doing this, but who loses if all the Yes people start arguing against the wisdom of addressing the deficit issue by returning the tax rate on that portion of adjusted gross income over $250,000 to its Pre Bush but still historically low levels (now that's spin EzE). I don't think its going to win Republican support from those Republicans against the city. But it might turnoff some of us we're hipper, better and cooler because we're ITP folks. If that makes sense.

By the way speaking of your earlier comment about being Brainwashed - George Harrison had a great song on his last album (that he recorded during the last month of his life - cancer) called Brainwashed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSB4gtFFwy8

Brainwashed by our leaders
By our Kings and Queens
Brainwashed in the open and brainwashed behinde the scenes

God God God
Someone turned out the spiritual light

Brainwashed by the Nikkei
Brainwashed by Dow Jones
Brainwashed by the FTSE
Nasdaq and secure loans
Brainwashed us from Brussels
Brainwashing us in Bonn
Brainwashing us in Washington
Westminster in London

Well, at least we agree on the wisdom of George Harrison.

Eric: approximately 50% of your 2:01p 7/12 post focused on the national issue!

Sure Dr. Jeff, its more than 50% of that one post that was in response to the links and I walked away from all the other posts because as I said I don't think we don't need to get into national politics or who we want for President when discussing the Brookhaven issue. I apologize for making a comment about the two links 60 posted.

And yes I agree while I see the Dr.'s point (and I guess this was a Huffington Post article? odd) I think he's wrong about the reasons and benefits of Brookhaven and I thus I think he's wrong to introduce national policy issues into the decision to be against the City of Brookhaven and I think its a no win for those who want the city to debate the national issues here.

As a long time small business person, that 'raising taxes on businesses' argument always makes me laugh!

Eddie... guess this means you'll more than step up to the plate to make a larger tax payment on your AGI of at least $ 250,000 or more. Thank YOU!

Please let us know how we can assist you to drive your small business results to $500,000, $1,000,000 or more. Because the more you make the greater your tax liability, which of course is no concern to you because you'll remain so successful.

By the way, we'd need to know information on your business to give you the business. Care to share?

Well alright I'm again violating my desire to keep all this about Brookhaven, but I need to ask, don't most small businesses pass through most of their income so that they avoid incurring taxation of the businesses profits?

By passing through I mean large payments to a SEP IRA, Lease Payments, Capital Investments in the business and salaries/bonuses?

If what you mean is the extra 2% the small business owner has to pay on his personal income he pays himself above $250,000 then ok, Though I'd suggest the people hit hardest in that scenario aren't small business owners but the professionals and managers working for large businesses or partnerships who aren't able to shelter large portions of their compensation through their small business. Such as running a car lease through the business, cell phone costs, generous health insurance and larger retirement contribution deductions, or numerous other perfectly legal and recognized methods.

This is the smartest post on the subject by anyone!

And demonstrate for me any incorporated area that has mastered the mythology you assert for longer than 10 years and done so during the bush Depression and the downward spiral in the General Assembly since 2003?

http://www.qcitymetro.com/faith/articles/black_churches_break_with_top_dems_on_gay_marriage033527761.cfm

Local Democrat does not equal National Democart! Sorry Eddie!

not much,
Don't think of me as a 'local Democrat' because I doubt you would find many people farther Left than myself.
But you continually show your 'Jacobshaven' streak (you know the city limits sign motto, 'Sullen, Selfish and Strapped) so I have to take it with a grain.

http://www.asla.org/uploadedFiles/CMS/Meetings_and_Events/2011_Annual_Meeting_Handouts/TUE-A1%20Transect%20Planning_Reconciling%20Environmentalism%20and%20Urbanism.pdf

Why wait?
LEAVE NOW and find that 'shangri-la' if you are so displeased.
Don't project that discontent you carry on your shoulder to your neighbors.

Eddie we could say the same about you projecting your discontent against change on your neighbors.

I too would like a better parks connectivity and land use patterns.

But we don't need to go there, because we have active debate and we will have an election to settle the matter.

Eric,
Boil it down,
There is nothing about 'connectivity' in the bill charter or the flawed and inaccurate CVI (pay close attention over the next few days and you may find out just how flawed it is). There is funding suggested (in the CVI suggestion) for more and or better parks but there is neither a guarantee nor any likelihood it would ever come to pass (see above).
And as for land use patterns, if you think handing 'land use' off to builders, developers and real estate folks will create some sort of panacea, please let me talk to you about land purchases in west Texas!
Talk to my neighbors, they will tell you....
No MEANS NO!!

Eddie, the City Charter basically the model charter of Georgia, it enumerates powers and thereby is more of a document to limit powers.

Yes the Charter does not guarantee what will happen, how it will happen, or how it will be enforced. And I respect your concerns that the people we elect would not "get it" and would pursue land use and road policies that were worse.

But I have to say Dunwoody, which I think has a more conservative voting base than our proposed city, has taken a far more progressive approach to planning than DeKalb. They've adopted a Complete Streets requirement for their road projects (traffic lanes, bike lanes and sidewalks). And they've proposed a "Roads Diet" plan for Dunwoody Parkway.

And of course I think Chamblee has done some great stuff trying to implement their LCI and the way it did the Wal Mart proposal.

Yes it could be that we get a Mayor or Council that are more concerned about pleasing developers and placing their neighbors second. Personally I think we will get the opposite, though I do think that doesn't mean we won't get more development in appropriate places. And for sustainability of the region I think we need more development inside 285. Not randomly but in the appropriate spots, like at the Perimeter Summit near 285 and along 85. Also the MARTA station parking lot should be developed, not a high rise but something that will support transit.

Eric,
You may be on to something.
The Perimeter Summit area would be a wonderful place to build the 'workforce housing' that was chased out in order to build 'Costco Center'.
A massive 5-8 story complex should do.

Dunwoody may have gotten off to a 'progressive start' but that council has already been replaced. The 'funders' of Dunwoody had a plan in mind and it was clearly not to use public funds to enhance public spaces. Just watch how things unfold there over the next couple of years. Over time you will be happy the Opposed City referendum failed so miserably.

Eddie, trust me I did not support the tear down of that viable workforce housing at Sembler. I've knocked on doors there and it was good solid housing. The promise provided to me and others who asked about this was that they would include affordable housing there, I haven't followed up on but I doubt it was sufficient.

I did not get actively involved in the Sembler project since it was outside my area, had a city of Brookhaven been around I would have gotten more involved, though I have to admit I doubt from an affordable housing protection point of view a City of Brookhaven will be better than DeKalb. After all even I don't necessarily think we should stop private development - however the fact they later got that huge tax abatement does dramatically change that equation. And if a city of B'haven is formed I will actively work to make sure B'haven never gives such abatements. Unfortunately trying to get DeKalb to do that is tilting at windmills. I mean why would a vibrant area like Peachtree Street in Brookhaven ever need a tax abatement to encourage development. Its ridiculous. And its offensive that the abatement was used to subsidize the destruction of viable workplace housing.

Eddie, i don't know about your statement regarding the new leaders in Dunwoody. I know the well funded candidate by businesses for Mayor of Dunwoody lost, though I think from a development and transportation point of view he knows his stuff.

I will admit I didn't like their attempt to get rid of some of their affordable housing by buying out the apartment complex on Peachtree Industrial with the Parks Bond money to build a park on the apartment site. But thankfully that's where the conservatives' dislike of debt combined with the folks concerned about the people living there to thwart the Bond Deal and cause one of the incumbents to lose the election.

So while perhaps that wasn't the intent but we see DeKalb using tax dollars to replace workforce and we see Dunwoody not using tax dollars for that purpose.

And because we successfully lobbied to block the more aggressive subsidy Sembler almost got in Brookhaven (we couldn't stop the one they got since that was able to be done without citizen input) i'm confident the citizenry of a future City of Brookhaven will oppose these tax abatement deals - though with a total possible tax of just .00335 i doubt that's going to be the deal breaker.

Eric,
So you are saying we agree that Perimeter Summit would be an ideal place for a workforce housing complex?
Such a location would certainly help keep the employers and employees close enough to cut the employees commute costs.

Sure Eddie, there are many jobs in the Perimeter Center that don't pay enough to live in the available housing.

Though as you know in Georgia that's a free market decision. DeKalb certainly doesn't make any meaningful effort to promote work force housing near job centers, actually as seen with Town Sembler they do quite the opposite using our tax dollars to subsidize the unnecessary removal of workforce housing.

Though at least to MARTA jobs in the Perimeter Center are more accessible, though I can't thank the current administration for that. As I've said I think the past 10 or 15 years Dekalb could have been a much better partner to MARTA with its planning, zoning and development work - such as protecting the right of way to the Clifton Corridor or adopting the Brookhaven LCI as official guidance.

Legitimate, quality manufacturers of watercraft survived and thrived.
Much like legitimate companies with legitimate products during the tech-bubble.
A good, fat VAT on very high priced goods would MOVE AMERICA FORWARD today!

Fulton county govt is awesome, and Has 5 black members, 2 white yet 50 percent white...or maybe more. Um, they voted 7 to 0 not to raise taxes, inept is inept, soap derbies ad all.

http://www.ajc.com/news/fulton-nixes-tax-hike-1476528.html

They also know Marta and Grady should get State funding, this is why I am voting NO on TSPLOST!

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/13/13121.html

http://www.fultoncountyga.gov/commissioners

Show me: the Brookhaven landscape strips, buffers, bikeways, trails, parks, good development, strong code enforcement, non 4am bar closings, so much more!

Yeah Dekalb would have never given people the power for or against self determination. All of Dekalb should be incorporated, then the County can work on the corruption in the Courts, sheriff's office and downsize to a smart level.

Opinions opinions!

So then why won't Deadkalb even allow Brookhaven township status: open records the contributions to the Commission....can we say developers, zoning lawyers, and not the average hard working citizen. That is what this is about so EPUB: let's be honest OK, let's just be honest!

EPU: however the election goes we'll still be part of DeKalb county's diversity and societal fabric. Only 12% of the total tax revenue paid by 30319 residents will revert from the county to the proposed city. Our schools will continue as they are as well as many other services. It appears your message, as you view the universe, is potentially 12% correct for those of us in 30319, who you claim are either ignorant or racist.

I can hear Arsenio Hall, my most admired comic, "Things that make you stop and go hmmmmmm..."

Dr. Jeff, twelve per cent of our existing county tax revenue will fund the new city? So for twelve per cent of tax revenue we create an entirely new layer of government?

I can hear Arsenio Hall, Dr. Jeff’s most admired comic say, "Things that make you stop and go hmmmmmm . . ."

Those are some of the finest thin sliced onions and pickles I have ever seen!

Hamburger really does not live in Brookhaven, ip address hijack not so hard these days, so he does not reallly want to see the area improved, rather the opposite. Sour grapes!

Oh Hamburgular... Don't be so jealous that I was the first to name drop Arsenio Hall... The green mold on your delicacies does not become you.

And just because you always consume an extra layer of cake at meal time does not mean Brookhaven will be an extra layer. Of course in your pea brain size mind it would because you say the same drivel over and over again.

Next stop - Chin chin - where Hamburgular's are outlawed!

Mr. PP, respectfully, no. My information is not scientific, but this is a small market and precise data will be hard to come by until the final tally at the end of the month.

Preliminary results show that the new city movement has always been below 50% and there is less enthusiasm as the days go by. Understandingly, you ask why, plus a personal observation:

- The Vinson study has not been updated to reflect the most current data.
- The BY crowd pins their support on other municipalities yet does not discuss said municipalities issues.
- Voters are keenly aware that HB 636 and the Vinson study have no connection and as such great trust is being placed on newly elected officials not bound by the Vinson study.
- The entire cityhood idea has not been open and transparent with 2/3 of the area considered for cityhood. As a result, the majority of these folks are not happy.
- The extremely short timeframe for city presentation, consideration, and vote alarms many.
- The Vinson study has not been updated to reflect the most current data, did I mention this already?
- The BY folks have made the classic mistake of treating the voters as ignorant imbeciles.
- My personal contacts with C$ND and Mr. Stan late last year were not open and transparent. Others experience this to date. Exceptionally bad sign for communications for new city development.

It is late, and this is just a fast response to your post.

Please pass the thin sliced onions and pickles!

"Pothole Pete??" Linley and Greg Jones' neighbor, right?? Filling up those local potholes in your neighborhood yourself was a great way to get the situation corrected. "Sunlight is a very good disinfectant" works!! As the momentum grows, I hope everyone remembers a few concepts: "Extra layer" does NOT mean "more" government, we need to solve these issues as opponents not as enemies, and the only real question in front of us at present is if we want a new city or the status quo.--Tom Reilly

While I do not claim to have an unscientific study about the momentum, I do know that Mr. Pete did a great job of handling a challenging situation in his community. It's too bad our county does so little with so much largess and then uses the excuse "well, somebody would need to communicate that with us"... Yeah right, will the 1,000th time do to get our request noticed as at least a communication effort?

The CVI does not need updating. DeKalb county did its own update and found a deficit! Their own biased effort really gave folks who enjoy NO to stand up and cheer for about a day. Then, updated HOST figures were released shortly thereafter clearly demonstrating that IF DeKalb's figures were on target the HOST surplus would eliminate that "deficit" and still allow the proposed city to experience at least a $1mm surplus. And this doesn't even take into account the CVI's generous figures for our expenditures, where additional $$$ may be saved depending on our citizenry's needs.

Anyone who still needs a CVI update should drive to Athens and "make 'em" do it!

Hamburger - So wrong about the polling - right now 60-40 in favor of city in scientfic polls that have been commissioned. 15 days until Hamburger gets charred!

I have noticed the momentum growing.
Over the last few months many of my neighbors and I have been working to learn more about the situation. It seems most have decided (separately and not as a group) to vote yes on July 31st. While a couple are undecided, no one says they currently plan to vote no.

can't wait til aug 1, no more burgers, onions, lame-lays, kona$, cobbs- housewive to Rant lies, fear, lies, fear, lies, and more lies lies lies!

Schall's article - and his article in the Brookhaven Reporter is just another liberal elitist academic trying to push his politics down on folks. Schall doesn't give one reason to stay in the county - beyond the typical liberal trump card of "division" and then throws out the race card. How pathetic. If I am an Oglethorpe student or alum, I am embarrased and I wish my President stick to school issues at hand vs. putting his neck into local politics. Schall isn't even correct in his other gripe in the Reporter where he wants his school to have an "Atlanta" address vs. a Brookhaven address. Guess what Larry? You still can put Atlanta on your mailing address - people in Dunwoody and Chamblee do and magically the mail gets there. If that is as good as you can do, then you have absolutely no argument. Maybe you should worry more about getting Oglethorpe out of the bottom 50% ranking of liberal arts colleges.

“BTW do you have definitive, reliable, tangible proof of my credentials? I certainly do.”

LOL, I bet you do. Although I play the talented local charcutier, the beloved Mr. Hamburger of Brookhaven on the Patch, I am actually King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand looking after just a fraction of my stateside investment portfolio. BTW, do you have definitive, reliable, tangible proof of my credentials? I certainly do! LOL!

Special hamburger and a Cheerwine? Sorry, all I can afford right now, I left my stash of gold back in Thailand!

http://www.asla.org/uploadedFiles/CMS/Meetings_and_Events/2011_Annual_Meeting_Handouts/TUE-A1%20Transect%20Planning_Reconciling%20Environmentalism%20and%20Urbanism.pdf

Immaturity can not be educated out of a person. Thanks for the spell check.

The main opposition group is “No City Brookhaven” but its website does not list a board or any members. It’s leaders are believed to be Historic Brookhaven resident Chuck Konas, an executive of Post Properties, Mary Ellen Imlay, wife of John Imlay, one of Atlanta’s wealthiest citizens, and Jodi Cobb, a long time Democratic activist.

A tabloid newspaper filled with opposition articles and ads recently hit driveways, published by Dolly Purvis, a Democratic activist and most recently campaign manager for Democratic candidate for the state house, Sandy Murray, also a city opponent. Many of the ads were from “Ashfordneighbor.org” an early opponent of the city, run by Laurenthia Mesh, owner of Mesh corners, and her daughter Eugenie Viener.