A Great Place to Live

Or, maybe not so much.

CNN Money reports on the top 100 places to live and while Dunwoody is excluded from the list due to size, we can compare our fair city-to-be to the list. For more fun, visit the site and compare Dunwoody to neighboring cities.

So how do we stack up to the top 100? Well that depends.

We make more money and live in more expensive houses, but we also pay more in taxes and one might argue we get less for it. In spite of all the development going on around us, we are significantly below the top 100's average in job growth.

We are older, more stressed, more likely to have diabetes and less likely to have a health care plan to take care of any of this. We have more restaurants, fewer bars and air that is hardly breathable and have no plan whatsoever to address any of this.

Ironically we have more libraries, but even in a state scraping the bottom of the education barrel we fall behind the top 100's performance relative to state averages. We don't fund the arts, but we spend more on vacations. Apparently Delta's ready and we are too.

We're more likely to be married and have a small edge in diversity, though it isn't clear how many Dunwoodians consider that a good thing.

The weather is warmer, we get more rainfall and yet have the same percentage of clear days. All in all, the weather is here---we wish we were beautiful. If we just wish hard enough and click our heels three times then someday, maybe, we will be.

TOD

What Do Franchise Fees Buy?

We can learn quite a bit from our neighboring cities on this topic. It appears that Chamblee, which also levies the Franchise Fee Tax, is considering a lawsuit against Georgia Power concerning the location of a substation. Why is this puzzling?

Well, the Georgia Municipal Association, an organization representing the interests of cities (though not necessarily their citizens) claims "franchise fees are not taxes, but are rent paid for the use of city public property by a utility". But if that were really the case, then Chamblee would buy, and own, the property for the proposed substation and would then lease it back to Georgia Power. The reality is that Georgia Power is buying the property they have (unilaterally, as is their right) chosen for the substation and furthermore were that property not for sale, they retain their powers of imminent domain and could force the sale.

Clearly, cities are not maintaining, expanding or controlling the property within their own city limits used by utilities. Once again, it is revealed that Franchise Fees are no more than appropriation of paid for assets and a new and never-ending tax by cities, including Dunwoody.

TOD

Another Legend Passes

Bob Carr, the man behind radio's "Willis the Guard" died Monday. The funeral is 6 P.M. Wednesday at H.M. Patterson and Son Oglethorpe Hill Chapel.

TOD

Dunwoody Hosts Young Aryans

Young Aryans from the suburbs north of Atlanta will convene at a yet to be disclosed location in Dunwoody, reportedly a local private club. Under the auspices of a charity event, groups of well educated, wealthy, white suburbanites will meet for what is publicly advertised as a fashion show---for dolls!

The Other Dunwoody finds it impossible to believe that intelligent adults would spend hundreds, even thousands of dollars on dolls, and furthermore schedule fashion shows and tea parties for these inanimate objects. Yes, you read correctly. Tea parties! Even more incredible is the suggestion that these adults would buy tickets to attend.

Surely the truth lies elsewhere and The Other Dunwoody will not be so easily fooled.

An anonymous source with the organizing group confirmed the event but refused to disclose the location without a ticket purchase. The source denied the rumor that the dolls also require a ticket and suggested in a tone dripping in disdain that this was started by envious members of the community who jealously oppose all such events. When questioned about the propriety of a mono-cultural event when we are on the verge of electing an openly bi-racial president, the source indicated:

"we have the same rights as anyone else, including the right to free assembly." "Plus, anyone who wants to attend need only buy a ticket, and if they don't feel comfortable, well that's just their problem, now isn't it?"

Without fail, the source clung to the story that this was indeed a fashion show for over-priced dolls and their somewhat affected handlers. However, the source refused to directly address the assertion that no one in their right mind would pay that much for a doll given today's economic woes simply saying "some people are recession-proof". The clear implication was that this did not hold true for The Other Dunwoody. At this point it became obvious the truth was not to be found here.

Later, representatives of a well known, but virtually invisible organization were contacted but refused to comment on the true purpose of the meeting. However, they did appear glad to hear about the popularity of such an event and indicated some members just might be in attendance.

TOD

TRANSPARENCY: A Word We Like To Use...

...to get elected. Then it appears our mayor and city council gets amnesia.

The Dunwoody Fan Magazine reports in its latest issue (sure to be in a driveway near you) that an open records request was required to obtain the names of the applicants to become our city manager. For a city council that by and large ran on a platform of open and transparent government to establish such a record of secrecy is reprehensible. We had been led to believe that a city council comprised of our neighbors would be more accessible, more open and more transparent than the distant, demonized county government. (Note: the mayor is exempt because he ran unopposed and never actually claimed to be any better than our county officials.) Apparently that's just one more lie to add to the list.

The mayor and council should be ashamed of themselves.

TOD

Dunwoody Beats Back Poverty

Dunwoody breathes a collective sigh of relief as Kroger pulls its Goodwill store plan. Not since the cityhood referendum has there been this great a cause for celebration, especially for the members of Citizens for a Clean and Pure Dunwoody. Current president Katherine "Katie" Chisolm and past president and co-founder Wendy Vespula were elated:

"This is a great victory, not only for our organization, but for all of Dunwoody", said Katie. "We've got a great community, a great culture with a solid history and now an increasingly bright future. We've come under significant outside pressure in recent years, but with a new city and now this victory, we're ready to move forward building on a solid past that was almost destroyed."

"That's right", added Wendy. "And, this isn't just great for Dunwoody, it is a win-win outcome. Our local church ministries have found that addressing the needs of the poor is enhanced when they are easily located and can be served within a reasonably compact geographic area. Dispersing them throughout other, more affluent communities makes it much more costly to offer needed services."

Katie offered further explanation: "Yes, and that's what Chamblee and Doraville are for. Dunwoody just isn't the place for that kind of operation. It belongs where those people already are and forcing them into this community would just frustrate them. After all, it would make it seem that the next rung up the ladder is out of their reach."

"That's right", Wendy concluded. "This is really the best for everybody."

We in The Other Dunwoody can all sleep better at night knowing that our neighbors, members of Citizens for a Clean and Pure Dunwoody, are watching out for us.

TOD

Dunwoody High School: A Record of Decline

RENAULT: And what in heaven's name brought you to Casablanca?
RICK: My health. I came to Casablanca for the waters.
RENAULT: Waters? What waters? We're in the desert.
RICK: I was misinformed.

If you moved to Dunwoody for the ``great schools'' it would appear that you, like Rick in Casablanca, were misinformed.

If Newsweek Magazine is to be believed Dunwoody High School is far from the best in the area. In fact it ranks outside the top 50 in all of Georgia and no Georgia school could break into the top 100.

But we're improving, right? Well actually, no, we are in steady decline in these rankings.

Year	Ranking
2003	548
2005	676
2006	898
2007	1339
2008	1409

Dunwoody High has never been in the top 500 and is moving rapidly towards falling entirely off the list. And DHS wasn't beaten just by the likes of Walton, Lakeside, Milton and Sprayberry. No, DHS was bested by Tucker, Central Gwinnett, Cambell and Clarke Central, each with close to 50% of students receiving federally subsidized lunches.

You can choose not to believe objective outside measures of Dunwoody's dismal school performance. Many parents do. It is much easier to believe the teachers, administrators and principal when they tell you what a great job they're doing (even though they are underpaid) and what a wonderful education your child is getting (even though their teachers are underpaid).

But sooner or later your children will pay the full price of their lies and your denials.

TOD

Ain't From Around Here?

Forgive me Lewis for the quotes I am about to (ab)use.

Every so often someone goes somewhere, or a recent, yet-to-be acclimated transplant moves here and they inevitably come to the conclusion that we're pretty stupid and we should be doing things like they do in whatever place they just came from. Anytime you get the urge to voice these kinds of observations, ask yourself first "Why don't I just move there instead of living here?"

That said, there are indeed many things to be enjoyed in different places, some of which may even apply here, but they are different places and there are often good reasons that we don't do things the way they do.

A few of my favorites:

I visit Columbia, SC and stay in a walkable, vibrant downtown with a revitalized riverfront. Parking is free on the weekends. Would their raised pedestrian friendly intersections work in the village?

Augusta, Georgia? Great for a weekend getaway and almost a smaller version of Columbia. Transferable ideas? Not so much.

Go to Columbus and you'll see another river city with an appealing historic district, museum, riverside park and thriving downtown boulevard all within walking distance. Can't we build a small-town storefront boulevard in the village?

Savannah? Charleston? Chattanooga? Birmingham? The list goes on. Get outside of Atlanta and there are lots of charming towns and cities.

So what do these places have that we don't? For one thing, not just a high percentage, but a surplus of indigenous people--folks who are third or more generation. Community leaders whose grandparents were community leaders with a history of commitment to that community and who intend to leave a better place to their grandchildren.

More important is what we have, especially in the technology crescent containing Dunwoody. We have a highly leveraged, growth based economy that draws (demands?) folks who come here from other places. Why do they come? What draws these people away from the wonderful cities and towns of their forefathers? You know, the towns they just can't stop bragging about? Fact is no matter how quaint and family friendly their hometown, the economic opportunity we offer was more important.

This answers the original question, "why not move to that wonderful place?" They came here, they stay here, because they make more money here. They are motivated primarily by what is best for them and this fundamental aspect of their character is not likely to change no matter how long they stay. They sold out what they now say is really important, but they're not quite ready to give back that money.

Since the War of Northern Aggression, it has been the bane of Atlanta that we suffer those who "ain't from around here" who cannot resist telling "us how to speak, how to live, what to eat, what to think and they also want to tell us how they used to do it back in" where ever. We endure this so these other fine places can thrive. That is our sacrifice and in making that sacrifice we are helping create thriving, sustainable communities.

They just "ain't around here".

TOD

New Milton County To Include Dunwoody

On the QT, off the record, and very hush-hush.

Those in the know say key players are close to a decision to include the new City of Dunwoody in the group of runaway cities hoping to re-create Milton County. The primary goal is to remove Dunwoody schools from the faltering DeKalb system and of course keep northern money from flowing south. Said one enthusiastic supporter, "It's our money. It's our kids. It should be our schools, not theirs."

Proponents hope to build on the vision and leadership that led to the overwhelming support for incorporation in recent referenda. A local consultant and former banking executive has been tapped to manage the bidding process and act as interim superintendent while transitioning the current public school services to Edison Schools, Inc. This is expected to result in 25%-30% improvement in education outcomes without a tax increase.

While all parties are maintaining a unified front in public, some have privately expressed concern about a decline in athletic programs. While this is a potential show-stopper it is not expected to dominate public discussions.

Remember, dear readers, you heard it here first.

TOD

Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down

Kick 'em when they're stiff, kick 'em all around

Dirty little secrets, dirty little lies
We got our dirty little fingers in everybody's pie
Love to cut you down to size, we love dirty laundry

We can do the innuendo, we can dance and sing
When it's said and done, we haven't told you a thing
We all know that crap is king, give us dirty laundry

Let it be known from the outset that The Other Dunwoody is no fan of Shrill Jill, but this is beginning to look like a vendetta. With all that is going on in Dunwoody, starting the city, selecting service providers, a mugging at Redfield, murder on Cotillion, assault rifle theft at Perimeter, the Dunwoody Fan Magazine (aka The Crier) wastes a front page headline and significant ink to beat up on Jill Chambers.

It isn't that Representative Chambers doesn't deserve to have these events presented to the public, but it has little relevance to issues confronting Dunwoody today. While Ms. Chambers does indeed live in Dunwoody, she represents only a small area of our fledgling city with most of her constituents residing in Doraville and unincorporated DeKalb. In fact, the ethics complaint does not come from a Dunwoody resident.

All the while there are significant issues with our own city council members that warrant more than a few questions and a better public vetting than they have yet to receive. Perhaps if we had a competent fourth estate on the job we mere citizens would have greater confidence that this city is moving forward without undo influence from self interested individuals and organizations.

Come on Crier, the cause is won. The trophy is on the shelf. The promotions succeeded and you have been selected as an official organ. Now it is time to direct your attention to a new set of politicians that deserve no less scrutiny than any others.

TOD