Community Corner

Recap: Brookhaven Yes Fundraiser Draws Enthusiasm

Leadership urged attendees to start knocking on doors.

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Last night I attended the Brookhaven Yes fundraiser which I'm told by the group's treasurer Chris Elsevier, raised more than $10,000 for its on-going campaign to support efforts to form a new city.

The mood at Pub 71 was celebratory as the casual envionment allowed for attendees to meet and greet with time left near the end for scheduled speakers. Many spoke victoriously about the bill's passage in the House last week and took the 101-57 vote as a sign that the formation of a new city is inevitable.

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Featured speaker U.S. Rep. Tom Price urged advocates for the new city to talk to their neighbors to inform them of the issues and said enthusiastically that this bill would pass with its original name.

"Most folks aren't paying attention to what's going on," Price said. "You've got to knock on doors, talk to them at church, at little league. If you don't you're going to leave votes on the table," he said.

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Price said that while cityhood was a good thing, "It doesn't mean all your problems go away," he said. "What it does mean is that the people you can go to to solve your problems live in your community."

In addition to the usual suspects, including Rep. Mike Jacobs, the bill's sponsor and Rep. Tom Taylor, the bill's co-sponsor and board members of Brookhaven Yes, Dunwoody City Councilman John Heneghan, Chamblee Mayor Eric Clarkson, and County Commissioner Elaine Boyer's Chief of Staff Bob Lundsten made an appearance. Additionally, DeKalb County CEO candidate Jerome Edmondson - a Democrat among a sea of Republican voters - attended the event and was well received.

There were a smattering of cityhood skeptics sprinkled among the more than 100 or so attendees, but the mood kept its upbeat tempo.

The pro cityhood movment seems to be moving right along.


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