The CITIZEN's REVIEW
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TheCITIZEN’S REVIEW Vol. 26 Newsletter of the Mt. Paran-Northside Citizens Association, Inc. March 2010 FORBES MAGAZINE FULTON COUNTY NAMES ATLANTA 3RD TAX ASSESSORS NEWS EMPTIEST CITY IN U.S. Fulton County homeowners will From the State Legislature, Edward receive a $25,000 homestead exemption that is applied to the value of their Lindsey reports that Georgia faces property in the calculation of property tax some of the toughest challenges of his year 2010, and by 2011 the basic home- lifetime: 10% unemployment and stead exemption will increase to growing; the state ranks FIRST in the Bruce Morton $30,000. Page 16 nation in bank failures; and FIFTH in Yolanda Adrean, left, sworn in to her first term mortgage foreclosures. Here in as our 8th District City Council Representative Buckhead, many of our newer along with Felicia Moore, District 9. Page 4 buildings sit largely empty and Forbes City of Sandy Springs: magazine named Atlanta the THIRD Financially Strong emptiest city in the country due to the EFFORT TO CHANGE extreme surplus of vacant residential ETHICS LAWS Mayor Galambos is sworn in for another and commercial properties. W h a t ’ s DRIVEN BY SCANDEL term, and the City continues in its important is what it means to the bottom sound financial condition, with a property line and how that affects you. Page 6 Bill Bozarth speaks for all Georgians tax rate of 4.731 mills, which is among who believe we have the right to demand the lowest in the metro area. Although the highest standards from those who serve reduction in some revenue sources has in public office. Page 7 hit Sandy Springs as in other local governments, the City of Sandy Springs has a sufficient cushion to absorb Vandalism – the cuts and maintain the high level of services of the past four years. Nothing Petty About It Page 6 For several months, yards throughout the neighborhood have been intentionally J Rau driven over and damaged. This fundamental THROUGH THE EYES OF Two of the four nearly vacant Buckhead office lack of respect for other people’s property AARON FINK buildings that have business leaders talking the has got to stop. Page C2 most: Alliance Two and Phipps Tower. My wife and I had occasion to visit the famous elephant seal rookery, which is just north of Cambria on the California FINDING A HOLOCAUST coast (near Hearst’s castle). Thought to be extinct, they’ve SURVIVOR AFTER 63 YEARS made a remarkable comeback. J Rau Page 14 In 1941, Dovid and Taiba Base Konvoij lived in Kaunas, Lithuania together with their six children – Zelda, Moishe, Zelman Councilwoman Clair Muller (Jerry), Jeshua, Reize, and Yehuda. and the Atlanta City Council The parents, along with the two youngest children Reize and Yehuda, Honored the Fire Station 27 did not survive the Kovno ghetto. Jerry, Moishe, and Jeshua ended up in Task Force for its Efforts in Dachau and Zelda in Stuthoff. While in the Renovation of the Station Dachau, Jeshua disappeared one day, was never seen again, and was assumed with a City Proclamation. killed. Page 8 Page 2 Aaron Fink IN AND AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD CLAIR MULLER & CITY COUNCIL The HONOR TASK FORCE WITH PROCLAMATION President’s Corner By Marci Vincent Harris Trail I am thrilled to have been elected President of the Mt. Paran-Northside Citizens Association for 2010. Our former President, Yolanda Adrean, ran a successful campaign for Atlanta City Council and was elected to serve District 8 for the next four years. We thank Yolanda for her years of service Photos: Bruce Morton to our neighborhood and wish her success in her new position. From Left: Cleta Winslow, Carla Smith, Anne Fauver, John Feeley, Clair Needless to say, I have large shoes to fill for our community. Muller, Ann Warsham, Yolanda Adrean, Marci Vincent, Howard Shook, Although 2009 was a very difficult year for many, it was Lynne Moscow, Ivory Young, Ceasar Mitchell, President Lisa Borders, a year of major successes for our Neighborhood Association. Felicia Moore, Jim Maddox, Joyce Sheperd, Mary Norwood We celebrated our 25th anniversary at our annual meeting on October 13th. The program featured a Candidate Forum Presented November 16, 2009, The Proclamation Reads: that was informative for the nearly 200 neighbors who attended. Whereas, The “Fire Station 27 Task Force” (The Task Force) was In early October, we enjoyed our Annual Neighborhood organized in 2008 by concerned and dedicated volunteer members Party at the lovely home of Brenda and Dick Smith. A great of the Mt. Paran-Northside Citizens Association whose mission is time was had by all who attended! Our Web Site to improve the living and working conditions for the men and women (www.mpnca.org) has broken the 500-member mark and who serve Atlanta Fire Rescue at Fire Station 27, located at 4260 continues to offer outstanding information about our community. Northside Dr.; and Our Treasurer, Cameron Adair, reports that we ended Whereas, After discovering unacceptable living conditions at the the year with a balanced budget, despite the recession. 80% 55-year old fire station, The Task Force estimated it would need of our operating budget is for the Security Patrol, which the $250,000 to renovate, Association contracts to provide coverage for the neighborhood furnish and improve the fire station’s interior within our boundaries. Our Security patrol is not a substitute and exterior; and for your own security system, but provides a service and Whereas, The Task acts as an additional deterrent to crime. Force volunteers worked The remaining 20% of our budget covers the Citizen’s tirelessly to obtain Review Newsletters, the Membership Directory and permits and agreements Photo Detail Neighborhood Events. I might add that your Board Members with the city, draw up dedicate endless hours of volunteer time to our community. architectural plans and hire contractors. After raising the necessary This includes maintaining the membership database, website funds, plus in-kind donations from surrounding neighbors, and pet registry, and facilitating neighborhood blast alerts the fire station has been completely renovated and refurnished, for crime and lost pets. including the addition of a second fully equipped handicap accessible bathroom; and Our Membership Drive is in full swing and I hope that Whereas, The Fire Station 27 Task Force is further commended you will join both the Association and the Security Patrol. for their humanitarian example to inspire other communities to And, all dues paying members will receive the Association’s pay it forward; and invaluable Membership Directory, printed in the spring. Whereas, The Atlanta City Council wishes to thank the Fire Now that the Task Force to Renovate Fire Station #27 Station 27 Task Force members Yolanda Adrean, London Andes, has wrapped up the completion of the building, task force John Feeley, Albert Goodgame, Lynne Moscow, Paul Muldawer, member, Al Goodgame, is focused on the final exterior Marci Vincent, and Ann Warsham for their dedication and landscaping, that should be completed in the coming commitment to enhance the work environment for the city’s brave months. Look for a Pancake Breakfast “Open House,” to men and women who protect our families, our homes and businesses. observe the final results of this large project. We are grateful Now Therefore Be It Resolved that, We, the members of the Atlanta City Council and on behalf of the citizens of Atlanta, to all of our generous donors. With their help, Fire Station hereby extend the City’s heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to the #27 now provides decent housing for our first responders. members of the Fire Station 27 Task Force for taking time to care That’s an accomplishment we can all be proud of! so that our firefighters and our city will benefit for generations to I look forward to serving you in 2010. “There is no limit come! to getting better.” 2 25TH ANNUAL MEETING ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND CANDIDATE FORUM ... as held on October 13, 2009. After electing new District 8, three At-Large Posts and the Atlanta officers and board members for 2010, a candidate Board of Education answered questions from forum was held, sponsored by our civic association neighborhood association representatives, like Elizabeth and four others: Paces Civic Association, Peachtree Pritchard and Henry Wyche in photo at left, and the Battle Alliance, South Tuxedo audience. After taking questions about taxes, ethics, Park, Tuxedo Park Civic fiscal responsibility, public safety and getting the Association and Wildwood services we pay for, the candidates complimented the Civic Association. The assembly civic association on a well run forum, moderated by past hall at Northwest Presbyterian president, Brenda Smith. Many attendees expressed the Church was filled to standing belief that they were better prepared to vote as a result of room only with over 200 the opportunity to meet and listen to so many candidates. attendees. Thirteen candidates The civic association provided a sample copy of the for Atlanta City Council, including Council President, November 3 ballot along with other helpful information. Candidate Photos: John Schaffner, Reporter Newspapers 3 our city. Our daytime population is over 1 million while our night GREETINGS time population is about 560,000 residents. While the news is bleak, the silver lining is that it forces us as FROM DISTRICT 8! a community, region and state, to come to the table to find efficiencies, focus on core values and learn to be adaptive in the delivery of services. It is easy to manage during good economic By YOLANDA ADREAN times. During times like these, we all need to do our homework Atlanta City Council Member, District 8 and make the best decisions possible on behalf of beleaguered taxpayers.