Violation of Citizens 1st Amendment Rights Places DeKalb County in National News
Violation of Citizens 1st Amendment Rights Places
DeKalb County in National News
By Viola Davis, July 11, 2016
Memorial Day gives honor to our fallen soldiers that risk their all to protect our Constitutional rights against all enemies, both foreign and domestic. Who would ever guess that DeKalb County would make national news for violating one of the most important Constitutional rights of them all, the 1st Amendment (Freedom of Speech).
DeKalb County Board of Commissioners in Georgia instituted a new rule prohibiting citizens from using the names of commissioners during the public comment portion of the county meeting.
This rule carried little weight with Ruby Bozeman Davis, co-founder of the Unhappy Taxpayer and Voter ministry. Davis appeared at the May 10th Board of Commissioners meeting to speak during the public comment to simply state the board members’ names. Her first attempt to call the name of the Presiding Officer, Commissioner Larry Johnson, was met with an episode of chastisement.
The interaction was televised throughout our nation, particularly on CBS stations and made national news to include:
1. Conservative Tribune article titled, “County Leaders Get Brutal Surprise After Ordering Voter to Keep Their Names Secret” at link -http://conservativetribune.com/county-leaders-names-secret/
2. The Blaze.com article titled, “County Commissioners Prohibit Citizens From Saying Officials’ Names During Public Meetings — the New Rule Doesn’t Go Over Well” with 673 shares – http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2016/05/18/county-commissioners-prohibit-citizens-from-saying-officials-names-during-public-meetings-the-new-rule-doesnt-go-over-well/#
Taxpayer Ruby Davis told WGCL-TV, “That’s my First Amendment right of freedom of speech.”
DeKalb Co. commissioners ask for names not to be mentioned at public meeting. @MurphyCBS46 > http://bit.ly/1qsrcZ6
By Adam Murphy
✔@MurphyCBS46
Taxpayers blast #DeKalb commissioners for prohibiting them from mentioning their names during public comment.@cbs46
9:49 AM – 17 May 2016
“They forget that they’re supposed to work for the taxpayers,” Davis said. “They believe the taxpayers work for them.”
“You’re getting an ethics complaint, each of you, on violation of our freedom of speech,” said taxpayer Jerry Jackson.
During a meeting, taxpayer Jeff Long noted that “the county’s own written comment policy does not address using a commissioner’s name during public comment time.”
“If you don’t want your name mentioned during public comment time, then stop doing outrageous, offensive, illegal and, quite frankly, stupid things,” Long said.
Also during a recent meeting, taxpayer Beth Long said, “With this rule, the message that you’re sending to us the public is that you hold yourselves above our constitutional rights,” adding, “We the public are the ones who put you in those seats.”
(Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton Picture)
WGCL noted that one of the commissioners — Sharon Barnes Sutton — found a creative way to avoid hearing her name at the meeting: She arrived two hours late.
Read entire article and view the video at the link:
http://www.cbs46.com/story/32329960/70-million-allegedly-missing-dekalb-taxpayers-demand-audit
Reasons to Elect New Leadership for District 4 Commissioner and Vote against Stan Watson
Reasons to Elect New Leadership for District 4 Commissioner and Vote against Stan Watson
by Viola Davis
Anybody But Sharon Barnes Sutton
When in Doubt…Vote “Incumbents” Out!
Why?
12 Reasons to Vote Against Sharon Barnes Sutton
• Sharon Barnes Sutton, her two sons and two of her staff members received free YMCA memberships for years, including during a time when Sutton voted for a deal between the county and the YMCA according to Channel 2 Action News. The money exceeds $20,000.
• William Perry of Georgia Ethics Watchdogs said the arrangement between Sutton and the YMCA was a “clear violation” of conflict of interest in DeKalb’s Code of Ethics.
• Sharon Barnes Sutton paid her boyfriend, Warren Mosby who is now running for the 6th District Commissioner, more than $34,000 in consulting fees financed by DeKalb County taxpayers in a report dated 2015.
• Sharon Barnes Sutton and her aide, Judy Brownlee, spent more than $75,583 on their purchasing cards since 2011 to include a $130 traffic ticket.
• Sharon Barnes Sutton has a history of not answering Open Records Request in the years dated 2014-2016. The request had to be forwarded to the Georgia Attorney General’s office, Sam Olens.
• Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton’s trail of apparent financial mismanagement goes back nearly 20 years and includes bad checks, late taxes (such as property taxes), and garnishments. This is the second time in a year a court ordered that DeKalb County garnish the commissioner’s salary.
• In the fight for the District 4 Commission seat, incumbent Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton has not attended any of the forums hosted by civic associations and other groups, and in the District 6 Commission race, Warren Mosby, who is challenging incumbent Commissioner Kathie Gannon, has not attended any forums as published in CrossroadsNews.
• The mayors of Stone Mountain, Avondale Estates and the former mayor of Clarkston say Sharon Barnes Sutton doesn’t return calls. Former Clarkston Mayor Emanuel Ransom, who was defeated in the 2013 elections, told Dan Whisenhunt with Decaturish.com that “She’s (Barnes Sutton) one of the worst commissioners we’ve ever had in the fourth district”. (January 2014)
• Sharon Barnes Sutton retaliated against private citizens that volunteered for the 4th District Community Council. She removed members despite the fact that over six vacancies existed on the community council.
• Sharon Barnes Sutton retaliated against a county employee who refused to lie about the fact that she worked on Barnes Sutton’s fundraiser during county work hours. After signing a memorandum restricting county employees from working on elected officials’ fundraisers, Erica Williams experienced a hostile work environment and harassment when she would not help with the cover-up.
• Sutton filed a lawsuit against the Board of Ethics proclaiming the board was unconstitutional. She questioned the authority of the board to sit in judgment of officials’ behavior, arguing that it undermines the fundamental due process rights.” Viola Davis with Unhappy Taxpayer and Voter said, “Despite DeKalb voters approving the new ethics law by 92 percent back in November 2015, Sharon Barnes Sutton delayed the ethics board hearings which ultimately denied the public justice.”
• Sutton often complained of complaints being political. However Sutton denied that the special treatment she received from DeKalb County School System that permitted her to be late 24 times and out 46 times in a 3 month period during 2009 and late 78 times and out 100 times in a 9 month period in 2010 had nothing to do with her being an elected official.
View the entire list of reasons at: http://www.voteincumbentsout.org/anybody-but-sharon-barnes-sutton-why/; http://www.voteincumbentsout.org/anybody-but-sharon-barnes-sutton-why/
Update: New news and video on Channel 46 CBS by Adam Murphy titled, “Candidate Mails Controversial Flyer in DeKalb County Days Before Election”…
Anybody But Stan Watson
Why?
When in Doubt…Vote “Incumbents” Out
9 Reasons to Vote Against Stan Watson
• 30 Producers with Comcast allege that Stan Watson worked in collusion with another Comcast worker to cheat them out of money paid to place their program on Public Access Television.
• Researchers discovered over $5,000,000 (5 million dollars) in Comcast payments to DeKalb County using a state law co-sponsored by Stan Watson that removed Public Access Television. Where did the money go?
• Stan Watson secured programming for his “private show called The Stan Watson Show” while “locking out” other producers (majority black producers) at Comcast. Watson looks after “self” first!
• Stan Watson was found guilty of ethics violations because he had a conflict of interest when he voted twice to give his employer a county contract.
• Ethics complaints allege Stan Watson violated Georgia campaign fundraising laws when he used more than $90,000 from the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce accounts.
• A jury ruled against Stan Watson and stated he must pay a $150,000 verdict resulting from Watson falsely accusing two women of stealing his wallet. The dispute led to one woman being handcuffed for an hour.
View the entire list of reasons at: http://www.voteincumbentsout.org/anybody-but-stan-watson-why/; http://www.voteincumbentsout.org/anybody-but-stan-watson-why/
I want to go on record as endorsing Lance Hammonds for County Commissioner for District 4. In my years (over 15 years) of working as a government watchdog and with statewide government watchdogs, I have found Lance Hammonds to be trustworthy, ethical, community-oriented, a change agent and an independent spirit. If you want to see honest people in government, join me in supporting Lance Hammonds for the 4th District Commissioner.
Viola Davis – Co-Founder of Unhappy Taxpayer & Voter – agreed to write the endorsement for voters that support Lance Hammonds.
Joel Edwards with Restore DeKalb agreed to speak for supporters of Steve Bradshaw.
We have two excellent candidates that will serve Commission District 4 and help restore public trust. Our community deserves representation with honesty, ethics, integrity and respect for taxpayers and voters.
CONTACT:
For more information, comments and/or questions: Dr. Curtis Thrasher Phone: 404-284-9984 or Viola Davis Phone: 770-256-0034; View the reasons to elect anybody but Sharon Barnes Sutton and Stan Watson at http://anybodybut.org; http://anybodybut.org, (reasons, articles and video) Email: anybodybutstan@gmail.com or anybodybutsharon@gmail.com
Dr. Curtis Thrasher leads a coalition of citizens to move DeKalb County in a new direction with new leadership. Dr. Thrasher has identified two elected officials that need to be removed from office in order for DeKalb County to recover from the cloud of corruption and restore public trust.
We have submitted documents to the Board of Commissioners that show missing money from franchise fee and peg fees with Public Access Television and over $70 million dollars missing from Public Works/Watershed. Ask your Commissioners for copies under the Open Records Request and demand an audit (forensic audit) of these departments. Sharon Barnes Sutton and Stan Watson were on the Public Works Committee 5 of the 7 years the committee existed. Jeff Rader and Kathie Gannon were on the committee 3 of the 7 years. Lee May and Elaine Boyer were on the committee 2 of the 7 years. Nancy Jester was on the committee less than 1 of the 7 years.
TAXPAYERS & VOTERS ARE THE “EMPLOYERS”
Our Vote – Hire and Fire Elected Officials
Our Tax Money – Pay Elected Officials Salaries and provide Money for Budgets
These two facts define us as “Employers” of the elected officials
NEW LEADERSHIP, NEW VISION, NEW DIRECTION
DeKalb County needs to elect new leadership with the courage to move our county in a new direction. DeKalb County needs a new vision.
FREDERICK DOUGLASS QUOTES:
Frederick Douglass/Quotes If there is no struggle, there is no progress.
Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.
It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.
DeKalb NAACP Candidate Forum for Commission District 4 & 6
DeKalb NAACP Candidate Forum for Commission District 4 & 6
Recorded by Viola Davis
DeKalb NAACP hosted a forum on May 21, 2016 at 3015 South Rainbow Drive, Decatur, Georgia from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The candidates for CEO, District Attorney, Tax Commissioner, Sheriff, District 4 Commissioner and District 6 Commissioners that attended include:
Chief Executive Officer:
Joe Bembry
Connie Stokes
Michael Thurmond
District Attorney:
Sherry Boston
Tax Commissioner:
Irvin J. Johnson
Susannah Scott
Sheriff:
Geraldine Champion
Ted Golden
Kyle Jones
Michael Williams
District 4 Commissioner:
Steve Bradshaw
Lance Hammonds
District 6 Commissioner:
Kathie Gannon (Incumbent)
The candidates that did not attend include:
District Attorney:
Robert James (Incumbent)
Tax Commissioner:
Stan Watson
Sheriff:
Jeffrey Mann (Incumbent)
Harold Dennis
District 4 Commissioner:
Sharon Barnes Sutton (Incumbent)
Willie Willis
District 6 Commissioner:
Warren Mosby
I want to go on record as endorsing Lance Hammonds for County Commissioner for District 4. In my years (over 15 years) of working as a government watchdog and with statewide government watchdogs, I have found Lance Hammonds to be trustworthy, ethical, community-oriented, a change agent and an independent spirit. If you want to see honest people in government, join me in supporting Lance Hammonds for the 4th District Commissioner.
Viola Davis – Co-Founder of Unhappy Taxpayer & Voter – agreed to write the endorsement for voters that support Lance Hammonds.
Joel Edwards with Restore DeKalb agreed to speak for supporters of Steve Bradshaw.
We have two excellent candidates that will serve Commission District 4 and help restore public trust. Our community deserve representation with honesty, ethics, integrity and respect for taxpayers and voters.
Update of New Video: Newly formed Political Action Committee (PAC) endorsing candidates in DeKalb County…
CONTACT:
For more information, comments and/or questions: Dr. Curtis Thrasher Phone: 404-284-9984 or Viola Davis Phone: 770-256-0034; View the reasons to elect anybody but Sharon Barnes Sutton and Stan Watson at http://anybodybut.org; http://anybodybut.org , (reasons, articles and video) Email: anybodybutstan@gmail.com or anybodybutsharon@gmail.com
Dr. Curtis Thrasher leads a coalition of citizens to move DeKalb County in a new direction with new leadership. Dr. Thrasher has identified two elected officials that need to be removed from office in order for DeKalb County to recover from the cloud of corruption and restore public trust. We have submitted documents to the Board of Commissioners that show missing money from franchise fee and peg fees with Public Access Television and over $70 million dollars missing from Public Works/Watershed. Ask your Commissioners for copies under the Open Records Request and demand an audit of these departments. Sharon Barnes Sutton and Stan Watson were on the Public Works Committee 5 of the 7 years the committee existed. Jeff Rader and Kathie Gannon were on the committee 3 of the 7 years. Lee May and Elaine Boyer were on the committee 2 of the 7 years. Nancy Jester was on the committee less than 1 of the 7 years.
TAXPAYER & VOTER ARE THE “EMPLOYERS”
Our Vote – Hire and Fire Elected Officials
Our Tax Money – Pay Elected Officials Salaries and provide Money for Budgets
These two facts define us as “Employers” of the elected officials
NEW LEADERSHIP, NEW VISION, NEW DIRECTION
DeKalb County needs to elect new leadership with the courage to move our county in a new direction. DeKalb County needs a new vision.
FREDERICK DOUGLASS QUOTES:
Frederick Douglass/Quotes If there is no struggle, there is no progress.
Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.
It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.
Top Nine Zip Codes for Section 8 Housing in DeKalb County, Georgia
Top Nine Zip Codes for Section 8 Housing in DeKalb County, Georgia
By Viola Davis, May 11, 2016
Red Dots – Section 8 Housing in DeKalb County…Glenwood Road, Covington Hwy, Redan Road, and Rockbridge Road…
We have the top nine zip codes for Section 8 Housing to include:
Dekalb County Zip Code; Total Section 8 Housing
1. 30032; 906
2. 30058; 878
3. 30034; 677
4. 30083; 503
5. 30035; 443
6. 30038; 400
7. 30088; 343
8. 30021; 333
9. 30319; 215
Red Dots – Section 8 Housing outside City of Atlanta around Candler Road, Glenwood Road, and Columbia Drive
Thank You to District 1 Office in 2012 for Section 8 Stats
What Defines Criminal Activity in DeKalb County?
What Defines Criminal Activity in DeKalb County?
By Viola Davis, May 9, 2016
A coalition of activist, organizations, business owners, etc. have joined together to demand transparency, ethics and accountability from DeKalb County government. We search for the “truth” that will remove the “cloud of corruption” and restore public trust by demanding the following request:
• A special prosecutor assigned by a federal or state agency
• A forensic audit of the Watershed, Purchasing and Contracting Departments
• Expansion of the Public Integrity Unit beyond the District Attorney’s Office with federal oversight
Why?
The coalition is making these requests due to the recent article published in the AJC in the month of April, this year, concerning the grand jury report. This article stated that District Attorney Robert James made the following statements:
• James told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution he’s completed a review of the grand jury’s findings, and not enough evidence exists to bring charges against nine people highlighted in the report. He declined to discuss three others named in the report. While the special grand jury uncovered serious concerns about inappropriate behavior, the conduct wasn’t necessarily criminal, the district attorney said.
• “We don’t make decisions based on what things look like,” James said. “We make decisions based on facts and evidence.”
DeKalb District Attorney Robert James and Senior Assistant District Attorney Cynthia Hill presented the findings of their review of a special…
The DeKalb County LSBE vendors voted to make the information public that we gave to law enforcement. The LSBE vendors were very upset that DA James proclaimed that there was no need to investigate issues/people concerning the grand jury report, particularly in the Watershed Department.
We are forwarding information on one particular contract for $1.4 million dollars. After submitting an Open Records Request and receiving Kelvin Walton’s emails, our researchers went through (and continue to go through) over 20,000 emails and hundreds of attachments. We found an attachment that provided the amount of money paid out on different contracts. The contract for $1.4 million paid out over $72 million dollars. Please note that this is the same contract that the FBI indicted two county employees for extortion and bribery in 2012.
I, Viola Davis, personally spoke to the contractor, and he said he did receive the $1.4 million dollars. However, he did not know anything about the $72 million. Our question is, who received the money?
We ask that you review the documents we delivered to District Attorney Robert James. We did not deliver the attachment of documents that involve the $72 million dollars because of the lack of action on former documents presented to the District Attorney’s Office. We are presenting these documents to the public to review and decide if there is enough information to demand action and another outside third party review for criminal activity.
We have the following questions for District Attorney Robert James to answer to include:
1. Is it criminal and/or illegal for the Board of Commissioners to vote on a local contract for approximately $1.4 million then Purchasing and Contracting Department listing the payout at over $72 million dollars?
• See attachment
2. Is it criminal and/or illegal for banks to issue three “bank checks” with the same number to three different people, on three different dates, and for three different amounts?
• LSBE Vendors Request for RICO Investigation due to Fraudulent Checks and other Information: https://www.scribd.com/doc/265964076/DeKalb-LSBE-Vendors-Call-for-RICO-Investigation
Video – DeKalb LSBE Vendors Call for RICO Investigation and Criminal Forensic Audit: https://youtu.be/N4TWHCm_-3E
and https://youtu.be/QW01JwaByJU
3. Is it criminal and/or illegal for DeKalb County to provide an auditor with copies of fraudulent checks for an audit report that states the numbers on the “bank checks” do not match?
• LSBE Vendors Request for RICO Investigation due to Fraudulent Checks and other Information: https://www.scribd.com/doc/265964076/DeKalb-LSBE-Vendors-Call-for-RICO-Investigation
4. Is it criminal and/or illegal to post the same purchase orders for multiple payments to drain money from taxpayers’ coffers and deny a criminal forensic audit to verify if this money was stolen?
• Multiple Payments of the same Purchase Order: https://www.scribd.com/doc/272708108/Commissioner-Sharon-Barnes-Sutton-and-RightThink-Multiple-Payments-Part-1-Summary-of-the-Ethics-Complaint
5. Is it criminal and/or illegal to destroy government documents that are needed to expose criminal activity yet, refuse to neither prosecute the individuals identified or stop the practice?
• Destruction of Government Documents: https://www.scribd.com/doc/288126677/Dekalb-County-Email-Secrets-Attachment-2
Review the following documents before you answer:
• Multiple Payments from the same Purchase Order: https://www.scribd.com/doc/272708108/Commissioner-Sharon-Barnes-Sutton-and-RightThink-Multiple-Payments-Part-1-Summary-of-the-Ethics-Complaint
• LSBE Vendors Request for RICO Investigation due to Fraudulent Checks and other Information: https://www.scribd.com/doc/265964076/DeKalb-LSBE-Vendors-Call-for-RICO-Investigation
• Destruction of Government Documents: https://www.scribd.com/doc/288126677/Dekalb-County-Email-Secrets-Attachment-2
• Debate between DA Robert James and former Solicitor General Sherry Boston on April 12, 2016: https://youtu.be/zBU5AQMYqqs
• Attachment of documents on contracts concerning $72 million dollars; Excel spreadsheet will be made available upon request at UnhappyTaxpayers@gmail.com.
If you agree that there is enough evidence in the documentation we are providing to demand a special prosecutor, forensic audit and expansion of the Public Integrity Unit, please send an email to UnhappyTaxpayers@gmail.com.
Example of an email:
Acting Attorney General John Horn and our local law enforcement have investigated crimes in DeKalb County indicting political officials, government employees, business owners, and police officers. We need to restore public trust, remove the “cloud of corruption” and reclaim our local government.
We, the undersigned, are concerned citizens, activists, organizations, and business owners, etc. who needs our local, state and federal law enforcement to move forward with an action plan that includes the following:
• Special Prosecutor with federal oversight
• Criminal forensic audit of Watershed, Purchasing and Contracting Dept., etc.
• Expansion of the Public Integrity Unit beyond the District Attorney’s office with federal oversight
Signature: _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
Date: ______________________________________________
Dr. Curtis Thrasher, Jr. Request DA Robert James Investigate Complaint Against Stan Watson and Others Concerning Missing Money
Dr. Curtis Thrasher, Jr. in red – Photo from Youtube
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 2, 2016
FROM: Dr. Curtis Thrasher Jr., Founder/CEO
New Life New Hope Center
1711 Donald L. Hollowell,
Atlanta, Georgia 30318
CONTACT:
Phone: 404-284-9984
Dr. Curtis Thrasher, Jr. Request That DA Robert James Investigate Complaint Against Stan Watson and Others Concerning Missing Money
Dr. Curtis Thrasher Jr., Founder/CEO of New Life New Hope Center, hand delivered a letter/complaint to District Attorney Robert James requesting an investigation into alleged missing money involving membership fees, PEG fees, and/or franchise fees concerning the Comcast and DeKalb County division of Public Access Television.
Dr. Curtis Thrasher Jr. called a press conference on May 3, 2016 at 10:00 am to denounce the actions of former Commissioner Stan Watson and others at Comcast that allegedly cheated 30 producers out of approximately $15,000. Dr. Thrasher goes further into questioning missing money involving membership fees, PEG fees and/or franchise fees.
Dr. Curtis Thrasher, Jr. is the past president of the Atlanta Rainbow Push and is presently representing 30 aggrieved producers at Comcast Public Access Television. After appearing at the Board of Commissioner’s meeting and researching the issue, Dr. Thrasher makes the following alleged accusations:
• 30 Producers with Comcast allege that Stan Watson worked in collusion with a Comcast worker to cheat them out of money (approximately $15,000 dollars) paid to place their programs on Public Access Television.
• Researchers discovered over $5,000,000 (5 million dollars) in Comcast payments to DeKalb County, using a state law co-sponsored by Stan Watson that removed Public Access Television. Where did the money go?
• Stan Watson secured programming for his private show called “The Stan Watson Show” while “locking out” the 30 producers (majority black) at Comcast. Despite the producers paying the required membership fees, Watson secured access and protection for himself with the help of Comcast employee, Sue Ann Taylor with Zeel TV.
• The 30 producers were forced to work through Comcast employee Sue Ann Taylor from Canton, Georgia despite the history of her not paying her incorporation fees, questionable business behavior and being involved with two lawsuits (one which involves DeKalb County and Comcast).
Viola Davis and Ruby Bozeman-Davis CrossRoadsNews 2016 Community Kudos Award Honorees
April 22, 2016
Viola Davis and Ruby Bozeman Davis
Founders of Unhappy Taxpayer & Voter
909 Rays Road
Stone Mountain, Georgia 30083
Jennifer Ffrench Parker and Curtis Parker
Crossroads Newspaper
2346 Candler Road
Decatur, Georgia 30032
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Parker:
We wanted to take a moment to extend our most sincere thanks for choosing us to receive the CrossroadsNews 2016 Community Kudos Award. We are writing to express our sincere gratitude to you for a memorable and wonderful evening that will stay with us forever. You have no idea how happy you made us when you handed us the award.
We are truly humbled and honored you recognized us with your “Making a Difference Award with Dedicated Service”. Once again, we are very grateful for this reward, which is an excellent morale-booster that will encourage us to continue doing our community ministry work. We are also very appreciative to everyone who helped you make the gala a “must attend” yearly event.
Yours sincerely,
Viola Davis
Co-Founder
ATTENTION: Do You Want Radioactive Waste Stored in Georgia?
A US Department of Energy Consent-Based Siting Public Meeting
Place: Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center, 800 Spring Street N.W., Atlanta, GA 30308
Time: April 11, 2016, 12:00 Noon to 6:00 PM
Why: The federal government is looking for places to dump tens of thousands of tons of radioactive waste from the nation’s commercial nuclear power plants. They are looking for volunteer communities who would consent to taking this waste.
Questions: Why would any community volunteer to take this dangerous waste? What does the Department of Energy mean by consent? Whose consent is the agency seeking? Is the waste being managed safely at power plant sites where it’s stored now?
These and many more questions should be raised at the meeting. The US Department of energy is holding a series of meetings at different locations across the country. The meeting in Atlanta is our opportunity to ask questions and give our opinions.
Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League
www.BREDL.org PO Box 88 Glendale Springs, North Carolina 28629 BREDL@skybest.com (336) 982-2691
If we leave the field open to the vision of those who are imposing their way upon us without challenge, we will lose everything.
Environmental Justice
It is important to include EJ specifically and consistently in all our principles, comments, correspondence, position papers and talking points during these consent-based meetings. Why? Because all the communities which have ever been selected for radioactive waste have been EJ communities: African American, Hispanic, Appalachian, Native American etc.
In the South, studies of the locations of nuclear generating plants also reveal disproportionate impacts prohibited under the Civil Rights Act. It is of particular interest to us in the Southeast because of the perennial magnet for nuclear waste known as the Savannah River Site in South Carolina. We have the right to say “NO!”
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in programs receiving federal assistance. This overview provides a foundation for our approach to DOE’s so-called consent-based process:
If a recipient of federal assistance is found to have discriminated and voluntary compliance cannot be achieved, the federal agency providing the assistance should either initiate fund termination proceedings or refer the matter to the Department of Justice for appropriate legal action. Aggrieved individuals may file administrative complaints with the federal agency that provides funds to a recipient, or the individuals may file suit for appropriate relief in federal court. Title VI itself prohibits intentional discrimination.
President John F. Kennedy said in 1963: “Simple justice requires that public funds, to which all taxpayers of all races [colors, and national origins] contribute, not be spent in any fashion which encourages, entrenches, subsidizes or results in racial [color or national origin] discrimination.”
Technology Questions
The DOE should choose the best available technology for radioactive waste storage. This should be based on long term safety, not short-term cost savings as is now the case. The DOE must exceed Nuclear Regulatory Commission standards to avoid radiation leaks and potential explosions. Most of the rest of the world uses thick metal storage/transport casks (10” to 20” thick) and stores them in reinforced buildings. They are designed to be maintained. The DOE plans to use inferior thin-walled canisters.
Rather than consent-based siting, DOE efforts and public meetings should be focused on the storage, transport, funding, and states legal authority issues. It would be folly for any community to consent to the transportation and storage of high level spent nuclear fuel until all these issues are resolved.
Stop Throwing County Employees Under the Bus and Making Them Scapegoats
KWES NewsWest 9 / Midland, Odessa, Big Spring, TX: newswest9.com |
Stop Throwing County Employees “Under the Bus” and Making Them Scapegoats
By Viola Davis, April 5, 2016
I recently viewed several news reports on the Wade Walker YMCA and Roy Wilson with major concern and disbelief because I knew some major facts were not included in the report. I am writing this article in hopes of making some corrections that will remove the appearance of making Roy Wilson a “scapegoat” and/or “throwing Wilson under the bus”. Wilson was not employed with DeKalb County when the decision was made on the YMCA construction.
The future move to build a library at Wade Walker Park also made us very uncomfortable with the manner in which this was reported. Both of these issues involve questionable actions of our local county government of DeKalb and clearly have cost the taxpayers and voters over $100,000. However, it is not right to place the blame on county employees such as Roy Wilson.
I also read the column wrote online and strongly disagreed with blame being placed on Roy Wilson, the Director of Parks and Recreation for the following reasons:
· The Public-Private Partnership agreement that helped with the construction of the YMCA at Wade Walker Park was voted on in August and September of 2008.
· The agreement originated under the administration of Vernon Jones, Chief Executive Officer of DeKalb County. Jones had a totally different staff to include:
o Richard Stogner – COO
o Marilyn Drew – Director of Parks and Recreation
o William Linkous – County Attorney
· The September 9, 2008 Board of Commissioners business agenda and minutes will show that Commissioner May made the motion and Commissioner Ellis seconded, and the agenda item passed 6-0-0-1 to authorize the Chief Executive Officer to execute the Master Agreement with the Development Authority of DeKalb County and the Young Men’s Christian Association of Metropolitan Atlanta, Inc.
· Commissioner Elaine Boyer, Commissioner Jeff Rader, Commissioner Larry Johnson, Commissioner Burrell Ellis, Commissioner Lee May, and Commissioner Kathie Gannon voted in favor of the item. Commissioner Connie Stokes was absent.
· The contact person on this agenda item was Morris Williams. The agenda item was listed under Commission District 5 and 7.
· Marilyn Drew was the Director of Parks and Recreation until CEO Burrell Ellis fired her in 2009. Ellis hired Roy Wilson in 2010.
· The major decisions were made on the construction of the YMCA prior to Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton taking office in 2009.
· I was present during the Board of Commissioner meeting when the issue of the YMCA was discussed.
We are very concerned that placing the focus on Roy Wilson makes him appear to be “guilty” of a serious issue that he has no direct power to control. Wilson is a department head and must report to the COO and/or the CEO. Wilson does not report to the Board of Commissioners unless directed by his superiors.
The questions we are asking involve our legal department. Did anyone in our legal department provide guidance and/or warn our elected officials against building the YMCA in violation of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ restrictions? Where was our legal department during this year’s budget process when the decision was made to move forward with the library?
It is wrong to blame county employees and bypass the “true” decision makers. Did Roy Wilson give the report to Executive Assistant/COO Zachary Williams and/or ICEO Lee May? This would be Wilson’s first course of action. Wilson is not obligated to report to the Board of Commissioners. Zachary Williams is mandated through the Organizational Act to report to both the CEO and BOC.
Furthermore, Mr. Roy Wilson spoke of retiring long before the issue of the YMCA and the building of the Library came to light. It is unfair to make it appear that this was a sudden action Wilson did following these reports.
I am forwarding copies of documents that will provide a better understanding of what happened in 2008 with the construction of the YMCA at Wade Walker Park. Please view the attachment. I hope this will clear up any misunderstandings and restore Roy Wilson’s reputation.
If you have any questions, please contact me at 770-256-0034 or via email at UnhappyTaxpayers@gmail.com.
Unhappy Taxpayer & Voter Founders 2016 Community Kudos Awards Gala Honorees
March 4, 2016
Viola Davis and Ruby Bozeman Davis
Founders of Unhappy Taxpayer & Voter
909 Rays Road
Stone Mountain, Georgia 30083
Jennifer Ffrench Parker
Crossroads Newspaper
2346 Candler Road
Decatur, Georgia 30032
Dear Mrs. Parker:
We are writing this letter to let you know that we have received your notification that we are one of the 2016 Community Kudos Awards Gala Honorees. We are very pleased and grateful to accept the award. We are honored you are recognizing us with your “Making A Difference Award”.
We are very grateful for this reward, which is an excellent morale-booster that will encourage us to continue doing our community ministry work. We are also very appreciative of those who recommended us to you and for the time and effort you have put into this yearly award process.
Yours sincerely,
Viola Davis
Co-Founder
For More Information on Tickets, Please visit: http://tinyurl.com/2016KudosGala
or call 404-284-1888