Can Clayton lure new businesses?
A few new businesses are trickling into Clayton County. At a time when much of the attention is focusing on problems in the school system, it’s refreshing to learn new jobs are being created. Read my latest blog entry on Wordpress
Home > Clayton.Talk > Archives > 2007 > May
May 2007
Would you break the law to get your child an education?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Last week, a Cobb County mother was acquitted of falsifying legal documents to put her children in a school outside of the district in which they resided.
Most parents want the best education for their kids but for various reasons, we all can’t live in the districts that seem to provide the best public school system. Parents who can afford private school at least have an option, but parents without options can get creative — which sometimes involves breaking the law.
Henry and Fayette county residents complain their schools are overcrowded and resources stretched thin due to an influx of DeKalb and Clayton students, as well as children of illegal immigrants (whose parents may not be paying taxes at all), illegally attending their schools. Taxpayers in these and other Metro Atlanta counties believe their children’s education is suffering and do not appreciate paying taxes for out-of-district students.
In 2006, Fayette county public schools removed several students from their system, the majority of whom resided in Clayton county. Like Cobb, Fayette attempted but failed to convict those parents. Nevertheless, Henry county taxpayers would like to follow their lead and see an attempt at prosecution.
Like many counties, Clayton has good and bad schools. Jonesboro High just won the National Mock Trial Championship (not including their State Championship win for the second year in a row and fourth time since 2002!).
Oliver Elementary and North Clayton Middle won the MathFest in five different grade levels back in March. I’ll bet there are other good things happening at CCPS but unfortunately the good never gets as much publicity as the negative does.
But the bottom line is, should a child be denied the best education available based on the parental decision to live in a certain area? Would you risk prosecution to ensure your child gets a good education? Could you jail a parent who risked it all to get their child the best education possible?
Permalink | Comments (28) | Categories: Kimberly Allen
Police and code enforcement: A good thing?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Thanks to the efforts of Commissioner Michael Edmondson, our county’s Code Enforcement is now a branch of the Clayton County Police Department.
This union will help in several ways. The average citizen will show more respect to a police officer than they would civilian code enforcement personnel, thereby generating more resolved violations. The CCPD has access to more resources and technology, giving code enforcement officers the ability to accept incoming complaints more efficiently. This should make response times and follow-up to code violations faster and easier. Under the stand alone department, follow-up was virtually nonexistent, as was getting someone to even acknowledge a complaint had been made.
Finally, this merger will cost taxpayers nothing more than some time and the cost of a telephone call to report violations.
Commission Chairman Eldrin Bell worries this merger could put further strain on our police officers, but this pairing also gives the CCPD an inside track on some unknown criminal activity. Those who don’t care about violating county codes could be breaking other laws as well. Since the departments joined forces on May 7, several non-related arrests have been made while police assisted in code enforcement.
This merger can only improve our county’s overall image and quality of life. Effective code enforcement will result in cleaner streets and roads and more well-kept homes. A great start to raising property values here and a win-win for Clayton residents.
Do you see this merger as a good thing for Clayton? Does the merger encourage you to report code violations more often?
To report code violations, call 678-610-4755, 7:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
Go to http://www.co.clayton.ga.us/municode.htm for a list of Clayton’s code ordinances.
Permalink | Comments (22) | Categories: Kimberly Allen
Is your property worth what Clayton County assessed?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Got our 2007 assessment notice and I’m not happy.
Including the anticipated increase, Clayton County has appraised our home for an amount almost triple to what we paid in 2004. Yes, we are appealing.
That being said, I am slightly torn on this. Of course, we don’t want to shell out more money but when property taxes are raised, I would hope (actually, I expect) that county services will improve. I hope more money will go to the police and fire departments as well as improving the public school system, among other things. Most people will endure higher taxes if the money is well spent and we can actually see some results.
The bad is some people could get priced out of their homes, as many chose Clayton because of its low property taxes. Some residents don’t believe this possibility to be a bad thing as higher taxes could weed out negligent, irresponsible homeowners.
A higher property tax base has done lots of good for other metro Atlanta counties. Perhaps Clayton could have similar results.
Were your property taxes raised? Could you sell your home today for what the county has assessed it to be worth? If not, do you plan on appealing?
If you were sure tax monies would go towards upgrading county services, would you mind paying extra? What services would you like to see improved in Clayton County?
Go to www.zillow.com to see what homes in your immediate area have sold for. Go to http://www.co.clayton.ga.us to search Clayton’s Real Property Records to see what any home in this county has sold for.
June 11 is the last date your appeal can be postmarked!
Permalink | Comments (23) | Categories: Kimberly Allen
Is Clayton County Atlanta’s dumping ground?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
An article was sent to me from an Atlanta publication recently. It discussed how the Atlanta Housing Authority will evict public housing residents who do not have a job or are not attending school. They must leave their home by June 2007 and if the AHA has their way, all public housing there could be destroyed by early 2008.
Mayor Shirley Franklin and the city of Atlanta have done a decent cleanup job to make the area more appealing to tourists, businesses and residents alike. Too bad Clayton county seems to have suffered because of it. Gentrification at its best … or its worst, depending on which end of the short stick you’re on. Based on what I’ve repeatedly been told since moving here, Clayton’s decline began when the 1996 Olympics came to town. At that time, some Atlanta housing projects were razed to make room for Olympic-related projects. Apparently that is when many ousted residents moved to Clayton County.
Although a healthy mix of cultures and economic classes is good for any community, many believe Clayton got more than its fair share of residents not interested in making positive contributions to society. Those who want to help make Clayton better and contribute positively should be welcomed regardless of where they come from, but the last thing we need is anyone else’s problems moving here for us to solve.
Unfortunately I have no answers as to where they should go but as a property owner, I hope the less than stellar citizens consider other counties for relocation. Am I wrong for that? Guess that depends on who you ask. Clayton’s problems may never get resolved if the same mistakes continue to be made.
Did you live in Clayton county prior to the 1996 Olympics? If so, talk about changes you’ve seen and experienced since then. Is this an issue the commissioners or our other elected officials can somehow work out for their constituents?
Permalink | Comments (39) | Categories: Kimberly Allen
