Thursday, June 29, 2017

Tale Of Two Roads

Two roads. Two contractors. One City. Same problem.

You may have received an email blast from City Hall bragging about how they're holding a contractor's feet to the fire over newly paved and yet still sinking parts of Chamblee-Dunwoody. Similar problems are cropping up on Mount Vernon. Different contractor. Same problem. And a different approach by the City.

Why? Because the Mount Vernon contractor told the City that their requirements for backfill would result in compaction issues. Which is exactly what has happened. On two different streets with two different contractors. The City's story is the requirement, though non-standard, is not the problem but contractor workmanship is at fault. On two different streets. Two different contractors. Same problem. Same requirements. Same City.

Is it possible that a common problem has a common root cause? Apparently not in this City.

Monday, June 26, 2017

Removing Signs

Neighborhood Services Director Richard Oswald has responsibility for illegal signs within city limits. The city sign ordinance, available online, covers temporary signs which require a permit. In a recent article in the local paper Oswald speaks to the issue of illegal signs.
"If you look at any major intersection, you'll see numerous signs, and we try to get them pulled as quick as possible," Oswald said.

Although it may seem like a lot of rules, Oswald said it's a problem that can get out of hand quickly.

"If we didn't regulated it, imagine how cluttered it would be and them climbing up poles," Oswald said.
If you guessed this city is NOT Dunwoody you would be correct. It is Davenport, IA where it would appear they care about quality of life.

Thursday, June 22, 2017

Ossoff: Handel-ed

Though not nearly as bad as that fateful Wednesday when hordes of women queued up at Goodwill to drop off tear-stained blue pantsuits[1] this Tuesday's results have left them confused, angry and conflicted. Clintonistas whose argument inevitably devolved into "don't you think it is about time we had a woman president?" found themselves battling against sending the first female Republican to Congress instead supporting an ill-qualified rich white guy, a man who's money came from deceased relatives, a man who so loves the district he choses not to live here. But neither character nor logic has a place in personality, gender or party politics. Not then and certainly not now.

What of those who voted for Ossoff to "send a message"? These folks see our representative government as little more than an opportunity to raise the boy scout sign as they screech "read between the lines" to some far off unseeing, unhearing mythical foe. Are they of such an intellect or character that they can accept that a message has been sent? And that it has been sent to them? And what of the outside monied interests promoting an outsider for what is otherwise a local issue in the sovereign state of Georgia? Are they different in kind to the alleged Russian meddlers they blame for the bad press used to excuse their candidate's failure in November? Are the millions of dollars their establishment spent a projection? Does it say "Our votes in Congress are for sale, so we cannot comprehend how we cannot buy yours"? They tried. They failed. They will spin. But at least, for now, we can bask in the benign neglect these coastal elites afford the fly-overs.




[1] While you may have thought your Mexi-Maids had been issued new uniforms the fact is the second-hand market was flooded with blue pantsuits sporting only one wear, no wash and deep discounts.

Monday, June 19, 2017

How To Read The Paper

It is increasingly difficult to read the paper, not because of what is in it but because of what isn't. Back in the day, when newsprint was ink on paper and journalism had some integrity, a basic tenet of competent reporting was to answer the four key questions in the first sentence: who, what, when and where. This slowly eroded to the "get these in the first paragraph" and as that slippery slope got steeper it is uncommon to find these questions answered anywhere in the entire article.

So here is an effective and efficient way to gather information from a "news" paper: read the first paragraph of an article and if all four questions are not answered move to the next article. With this approach you get all the information available in the paper in under thirty minutes of which twenty nine are spent in the sports section covering the last remaining meritocracy in America.

Thursday, June 15, 2017

The Tax Man Cometh

Dunwoody's deceitful backdoor tax increase is about to scoot thru the process in the same kind of "What Happened During Your Summer Vacation" approach used to sneak in the cityhood referendum all those tax increases ago. The city is flogging the propaganda angle:
"No one owning a home when Dunwoody incorporated is paying more for the same property as they did in 2009 with this credit," wrote the city finance department."
Crafty bit of work, that. True enough that if you bought after 2009 your home was marked to market at the time of sale and there is no good basis for comparison but let's not knock the city logician for not understanding that your city tax bill was $0.00 in 2009 if you did not move here until 2012. The deception is a bit more troubling when considering that permitted work is another trip wire filling the city coffers. Their CYA is in the technicality of "the same property" because if you added that sunroom or replaced that drive it isn't considered "the same."

If you were paying Dunwoody taxes in 2009 let's hope you were not fooled into believing that more government would be better government when it is really just more, and growing taxes.

Monday, June 12, 2017

Circus In Village Overlay District




And the ever-present, cold-sore that just will not go away:


And why does the City seem hell-bent on giving Memorial Drive a run for their money as "armpit of the city?" It is by order of the Councilor "representing" this area.

Thursday, June 8, 2017

What Do These Signs Mean?

They mean that the last time any Dunwoody Police were in the area was when the trailer was dragged out and they won't be back until they come back to get it. Basically it says "Speed with impunity--there will be no enforcement." Like that was a secret.

Monday, June 5, 2017

New Day, Same Stuff

Pamela Miller at the AJC tells us that the Smart City is filling the recently vacated community development director position. Before you start thinking "well, it IS so bad it can only get better," take a look at what Pamela has to say.
"In his new position, McLeod will help implement the Comprehensive Plan that was adopted by City Council on Oct 12, 2015, as well as the Perimeter Center Zoning Code draft adopted May 22."
The City certainly needs help implementing almost any plan especially plans that might improve quality of life in daVille. One that has been neglected for over a year should top anyone's list.

Pamela adds:
"The city of Dunwoody's Community Development Department is responsible for managing the planning and zoning functions of the city as well as development regulation, code compliance and sustainability programs. "
Don't hold your breath on the "code compliance" part of the job description in the Village Overlay District. Especially as code enforcement is under attack by at least one council member more beholden to business than the voters. For now. 

Thursday, June 1, 2017

Dunwoody City Schools

Should we or shouldn't we?

The answer to that question lies in the answers to many more. The first being "would the City of Dunwoody classify Dunwoody Schools as a 'sovereign government' exempt from all City ordinances, codes and regulations?" Recent history says "yes." Would these schools be run with the same integrity and respect for the community as we have seen with the City to date? Sadly this is likely a "yes." Would the schools be ring fenced from the City (think DHA) or would it be a Friends-and-Family patronage palace (think CVB)? Do you think this City can resist such a power grab? Really?