Any Day, Most Of The Day

Want to see what is rotten in the state of Dunwoody? It is really very, very easy to do. Just go to the intersection of Roberts and Chamblee-Dunwoody, stand right next to one of the "No Trucks" signs that clearly indicate that trucks are not allowed on either of these roads north of that intersection. And truck drivers don't even need to be literate because these signs include the comic book version.

And just what will you see while you're standing there? For years now you'd see all manner of illegal truck traffic making deliveries to daVille. But now? You'll see convoys of illegal dump truck traffic. There are many times you will have three or more of these trucks within view. And this starts before 7AM and continues pretty much all day. 

And they're not moving slowly. They barrel past Austin and blast through the village. In fact they're not going to the village proper they're actually going much closer to I-285 than to the Northridge GA-400 exit. That's right. They could exit from I-285, a closer exit and be legal. But they don't.

If you stand there long enough you might even notice a Dunwoody Patrol SUV. What you will not see, not ever, is that police officer  enforcing the law and ticketing these offenders. They've been told to stand down.

Not all that long ago Dunwoody's Top Cop sent a complaining resident an email (so it is discoverable) basically saying there were not enough violations to justify the cost of enforcement. So much to unpack, but let's revisit. Suppose a patrol officer has a W-2 salary of  $52K per year and the burdened cost is three times that. So the city is paying $3K per week for a patrol officer. That's $600 per day. Now if you stand at that intersectiton for just an hour you will see 15-20 violations and if only $100 per violation our Top Cop is making a hefty profit. Maybe enough to pay for another junket to the Holy Land. 

So this isn't about the money. This is about a city hall filled with bureaucrats who disrespect the residents and their own ordinances. They only care about one thing: the developers and business to whom they are beholden.

Now THIS Is A Crime

Click on over to this Smart City's website, poke around a bit and you may well run into this road apple of incompetence:

Couple of problems with that. First the browser in use is Chrome and HTML5Test gives:

You may be confused by "ECMAscript" and it does sound like a skin disease, but it is an International Standard of which Javascript is an implementation. You will find that V8, the scripting engine used by Chrome (among others) is pretty complete, even 100% with some of the later releases of the standard:

Now, you may be an apologist who thinks it is really difficult to properly determine that a browser is running Javascript or you may even believe that the F&F crew who set up this half-arsed website are justified in using non-standard features of their fave, probably outdated, browser. You'd be so, sooooo wrong:

And it comes from a land down under. Maybe they have better F&F mates.

What is it about government IT that cultivates cronyism, incompetence and waste? Remember all the networking gear lying about at APS? For years. But we need look no further than our very own IT Cluster Eff down at city hall. Seems they bought something that cost more than $50K (amazing that some IT bozo is allowed to spend <$50 w/o council approval, but then that is the nature of the disease) and forgot to put it before council. Now city staff are patting themselves on the back for a "good catch" and the item appears on the agenda for council's back-dated rubber-stamp thereby condoning staff's abundant incompetence. In fact, if you read closely, you'll notice that the purchase was in the amount of of $86,971.04 but council will approve $100K. For a flash-only backup storage controller. Yes sir, not one of the more economical yet perfectly adequate hybrid systems because when you're spending OPM and making friends in the vendor community the sky is the limit.

You just cannot make this up and as long as this city hangs around you'll never need to try.

On Review With Direction Uncertain

So says "Captain Obvious" (AKA Moody's Investor Service) regarding the financial train wreck that is DeKalb County Schools. After all this is an organization yet to adopt 20th century accounting practices (like accrual) and it IS the 21st century. On the upside this may be just what it takes to 86 the notion of a general obligation bond since DeKalb simply cannot comply and Moody's will drop the hammer. And the credit rating.

Though some will feign shock it should come as no surprise to anyone as those who've been "reviewing the situation" know all too well this system is foundering with direction towards most certain collapse. For decades DCSD has been a cesspool of incompetence and corruption with the only remaining question not why it still exists but why anyone makes any child swim in it.

Power Play

The City has imposed a six month freeze on any new business activity in the village with one dissenter suggesting this hurts business and hinders progress. But isn't that really the point? Isn't this just siege warfare on the business front? It seems that this City is using this freeze to put the squeeze on business and property "owners" until they line up, vocally, for the changes the non-business elitists at City Hall have in store for the village. Interested in what this will look like? Then take a ride down Peachtree-Dunwoody and start paying attention round-about Hammond. Looks like a faux-reclaimed-industrial gulag, doesn't it? That what the great minds at City Hall have in mind for daVille. Just wait for it.

Please Santa, Don't Get Drunk Next Christmas

I don't want to see a reindeer die.

Now before you get your knickers knotted because TOD posted a bashed bambi, you might want to ask yourself a few questions. How did this happen? Hit by a car? Maybe a truck in the no-truck zone? Was the driver distracted by a handheld screen? Drunk? Speeding? Could be any of these, because none of these laws are enforced. Because that isn't what our cops are for. They are here to serve and protect folks in perimeter center and enforcing quality of life laws that annoy Perimeter Center businesses and commuters just ain't gonna happen. Not with a city government with an openly advertised "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

But it gets worse. Residents near the scene have reported shots fired. Three. They are further reporting that cops came out, shot [at] the deer with a rifle as some form of mercy killing. And then just left it. Even for this city that seems harsh and the only thing remotely believable is that it took three shots for them to hit the [immobilized] deer. Marksmanship. Not.

One thing we know for certain: when this city gets involved bambi-s die.

Emergency PR

The rules state that any purchase of $100K or more made by DeKalb Schools must be bid out and receive board approval. Assuming Dr. Green can read he must surely know that. There are loopholes to these rules with these requirements waived in the event of an emergency. Perhaps Dr. Green is seeing non-stop reports of his systems failure on every front as an emergency demanding some PR triage.

Some are saying we need money put into classrooms and not billboards. What this ignores is that DeKalb Schools have not, cannot and will not find success in the classroom and no amount of money will change that. What the Green Team can do successfully is put up billboards on 285.

Fish Rot First In The Head

And so does this city.

We have a long history of issues with policing: civil rights violations in traffic stops; unsolved double murder; bungled day-care shooting; shredding the US Constitution because it is inconvenient to their sting operation; and the fatal shooting by police of a driver, who had he been black, would have burned Dunwoody into the social consciousness rather than Ferguson.

And what of the head of this fish?

Well, we've had a "Large Truck and Bus Enforcement..." but when one considers the departments institutionalized policy against enforcement of truck route violations within our community it is little but self-promotion. Then we're fed a travelogue twitter-feed that would make Trump blush:

Aside from the cost/benefit aspect one must wonder. It seems as if the city has sent the top cop further and further away things have gotten better without his hand on the tiller. It is as if rudderless is better than the only alternative the Mayor and Council are willing to offer. Until they grow a spine and connect it to a working brain this city is likely best served by increasing the PD's travel budget.

Do You STILL Believe?

Before the fateful referendum, Fran (of Fran and Dan fame) had a conversation with a member of The Other Dunwoody who felt things were moving a bit too fast. Fran ended that conversation by saying "don't you just believe we'll be better off as a City?"

And now here we are. Sure, we got a new parkway. But we also got a rapid slide into a lower level of service, particularly with regards to code enforcement and police presence. It is worth noting that a call to 911 will come up empty on the code enforcement front because that isn't what cops are for. They're shuckin' and jivin' in a lip sync contest.

So Fran, what have you wrought?

The Penzoil Sign (at the right) is STILL Illegal

Moving the sign onto the grass may have opened up the sidewalk but it remains out of compliance with city ordinances. After all, THIS is what we were promised.

Last Work By Norman Rockwell

So, yeah, moving the offending sign allows these folk their promised right of passage. But we are obviously still not paying folks at the City Taj Mahal enough to get the job done. JiffyLube may well have pastured the Penzoil sign but they also offer us this.

That's right. TWO illegal signs. You just have to wonder who is getting a lube job. Oh, and does Fran STILL believe?

Family Feud...

...you know, as in "Survey Says." Recently someone at City Taj Mahal kicked off just that. Who exactly did this or pushed for it is unknown, about as unknown as details on who actually completed the survey. Online surveys are built like that. And here is a real shocker: the survey says everyone wants the Village Overlay gutted and they really want the area to look like Canton Street in Roswell. Georgia. Just like the mayor has always waxed poetic about. Now it may be that a lot of respondents actually live in Roswell and like it. Maybe a few folk filled out the survey many, many times. Online surveys are built like that. Now if the City really wants to know what we think there would be a referendum on the upcoming ballot. Don't hold your breath.

So the mayor loves Roswell and yet, doesn't live there. Seems fixable.

Nonetheless there is much this city can learn from our neighbor to the north. First would be signs and code enforcement. Up north, you better get your sign approved, apply that sticker, or you are going to get fined. Hefty fine at that. Oh, and this is not just a do as I say, pretty please, these folks really will come to your home or place of business and write you a citation. They also have traffic enforcement. And not just right on Canton Street, but even in the neighborhoods where people live and kids play. Not only do they enforce truck zones they are notorious for keeping a lid on infractions as minor as rolling thru a stop sign. Don't even think about that illegal u-turn. Oh, and those construction sites and trucks? Thinking about tracking some mud on that city's streets, well, think again. Do that and you are going to get a very large fine. So what happens when ordinances are actually enforced? People obey the law. And the city is a nicer place.

So maybe instead of taking dictation from developers who insist on reworking the overlay to look like Canton Street maybe the mayor and council could focus on the important things that actually make a real city. If they focused on that then perhaps what follows wouldn't be just superficial appearances.

Hickory House Returns

Well not exactly, but BBQ is on the way back to the village. And it would appear that the bank that took over the Olde Hickory House location is folding its tent and moving out. Or so one must conclude from the sign being located on that bank's property.

Illegal Seven Ways To Sunday

The sign is clearly in violation of Dunwoody's Ordinances, specifically Section 20-67 regarding temporary signs like the one above. And what does that section say? Glad you asked.

Key elements of the ordinance include:

• "(2) Each board must be located within ten feet of a pedestrian entrance of the sponsor of the board;"
• "(3) Such a board may be utilized only during the hours of operation of the store or entity using it and shall be removed during the hours it is closed.

This sign is located nowhere near any pedestrian entrance to any business let alone within ten feet. Then the sign condemns itself indicating that the business is not yet in operation so therefore "shall be removed" because the business is closed.

Looks pretty bad, doesn't it? Like someone is planning to lower the average IQ in this Smart City of ours. Or, could it be something else? Perhaps this is less illiteracy, ignorance and arrogance and simply a game of "follow the leader." As it happens, at the very same time, the City of Dunwoody put out their illegal sign.

A Blatant Violation Of City Code

To make it even better, the City's illegal sign was to advertise a meeting to go over proposed changes to the Village Overlay. At this point it is worth noting that the sign ordinance the City has violated is not specific to the Village Overlay but applies equally throughout the City.

Rumor has it that a mere citizen pointed out the illegality of this sign as it was being placed and was later informed by a member of council that said council member "disagreed." Can said member NOT read? Or is it a comprehension problem? Or is it simply a capability issue? Regardless, the law is in clear, plain language and anyone who cannot read and understand that ordinance and see that these signs are in clear violation has no place at City Hall. 

Blind Spot

The City absolutely refuses to enforce their ordinances regarding truck zones but they've found a fig leaf to cover their inadequacies. The Police have published their guidance on how citizens should protect themselves from the City's negligence.

DIY Safety--No Cops Necessary

That's right. Dunwoody willingly turns a blind eye to their own ordinances and expects you to deal with truck blind spots even when those trucks are operating in violation of Dunwoody's ordinances.

Wonder if residents can infer the Police think everyone should arm themselves as well. Just in case the Police are too busy. You know, with lip sync contests.

Word Smatter

Or do they? Matter? Well the AJC offers examples where they disagree. Pictures are worth thousands of words and the AJC seems to be on a limited quota.

Random Words

AJC Says THIS Is Sex

Justice Sotomayor Is A Distant Cousin

The AJC Has Uncovered That Our Mayor Is A Guy

Dangerous Rice

RanOutOfSpaces

This has been the first in an observational series on "How Technology Has Eluded The AJC."