Clayton.Talk

By Oh please

December 1, 2008 12:40 PM | Link to this

Call me optimistic, but I do believe that someday this county will regain its former stature. Sadly, though, it will require the citizenry to stand up for themselves and show the elected officials that we will not tolerate malfeasance on their parts.

By The Truth Is The Truth

December 1, 2008 1:17 PM | Link to this

Good Afternoon Kimberly,

Thank you for blogging on this very important and critical situation that is occuring in Clayton County.

Clayton County is in a very bad and critical situation and there is virtually no hope in sight for its eventual recovery and repair.

As I have stated in the blogs on your last week topic, one of the main problems in Clayton County is that many good, stable, educated, intact families with children who are upstanding students are leaving the county in high numbers and are being replaced mostly by people who are from Atlanta, Georgia from the over 20 housing projects they are closing down who are renters and have no intention of owning a home.

When they come to Clayton County to live, they bring their low-class, negative, lazy, self-destructive, noncaring, criminal minded, apathetic, disrespectful, and sorry values, behaviors, and actions with them.

Because of the many foreclosed homes in Clayton County, many of which are in good middle-class, neighborhood locations, the people with their Section 8 government housing vouchers are able to get these homes because the price is cheap and the people who are renting the homes will take any class of people, even people from the housing projects of Atlanta, Georgia who have no redeeming values because they will get paid with the federal government’s Section 8 vouchers, and once they come in, in a short matter of time, the people will allow trash to accumulate on their property, they will not regularly cut the grass, they will neglect their house by not making the most simpliest of repairs, their dangerous dogs that they bring with them will tear up the lawn, trees, plants, and landscaping on the property, and over time, the once beautiful home and the once nice subdivision community will become run-downed, neglected, blighted, delapidated and will be in a constant state of disrepair and deterioration as more of the Section 8 kind of people move in, the stable families who cared for their property will move out because unfortuately as long as they stay they will fighting a losing battle.

Because the entire look of Clayton County is trashy, nasty, cluttered, filthy, with numerous areas of blight, delapidation, neglect, decay, and deterioration with many run-down, and low-end businesses in a very serious state of disrepair and the apartment homes that line the major highways, streets, and roads of Clayton County are filthy, nasty, dirty, with torn up landscaping with many bald spots and dead or decaying grass looking in some cases worst that the housing projects and ghettos of Atlanta, Georgia that they are presently closing.

All anyone who doubts this or think that this is not so in Clayton County, just take a drive on the major highways, roads, and streets throughout Clayton County such as for starters, Clayton’s most prominent and well-known street Tara Boulevard as well as Upper Riverdale Road, Old Dixie Highway, Frontage Road, Forest Parkway, Mount Zion Road, Battlecreek Road, Flint River Road, Webb Road, Garden Walk Boulevard, Old National Highway, East Garden Walk Boulevard, Highway 85, Highway 138, Highway 139, Highway 42, Fayettevelle Road, East Fayetteville Road, Thomas Road, Valley Hill Road and you will see this and much much more for yourself.

The many people from all over Metropolitian Atlanta, Georgia who travel Clayton County’s main roads such as Tara Boulevard, Highway 85, and National Highway, and Highway 139, which not goes through the heart of Clayton County, but also goes through the heart of Clayton County’s other cities such as Forest Park, Riverdale, Lovejoy, College Park, Lake City, and Morrow and they see first hand all of this filth, nastiness, clutter, run-down businesses with their overflowing dumpsters of trash in the front of the businesses and not in the back of the building, low class businesses that consist mainly of check cashing places, pawn shops, liquor and package stores, beauty shops, car rim places, laundromats, dirty and nasty low-end strip retail areas, extended stay motels and hotels, glut and proliferation of apartment homes, town homes, and mobile home and trailor home parks that for the most part are not clean, attractive, appealing, or desirable places to live or shop.

The people who see this every day and see that each and every day that Clayton County is a county that is in a state of major decline and is on a very serious and unstoppable downward spiral with virtually no hopes of reversal or recoverly would never move in a county in such terrible and awful shape.

This county was put in the shape it is because of approval of massive spot zoning, massive amounts of low-end cluster housing, apartment homes, massive amounts of low end strip retail malls, with virtually no approval of upscale, luxurious, beautiful, spacious, high-class high-end like you find in Clayton County’s only high-class neighborhood Lake Spivey and all throughout Fayette County by the previous Chairman of Clayton County Board Of Commissioners Crandle Bray, and previous Commissioners Gerald Matthews and previous recent Commissioner and previous Chairman of Clayton County of long ago Charlie Griswell.

The majority of all of the approval of this dense zoning of cluster, row, and three-to-four homes to an acre subdivsions which are very prevalent all throughout the unincorporated areas of Clayton County was approved by all three during the 1990’s and early 2000’s.

This now massive overcrowding, with many from the housing projects of Atlanta, Georgia and with so much rental property in Clayton County with over 63 percent of the citizens of Clayton County being renters and this is not counting many of the undocumented citizens in Clayton County far outnumbering the 35 percent of citizens in Clayton County who are homeowners has led to Clayton County being a county where the people are a transicent group moving from place to place and when you have people like this, they do not care about the look of the county nor care about making the county better as a whole.

They just add to the problem by putting a severe strain on the very limited social and citizen county services with the massive increase of crime, government assistance, code enforcement to clean up the trash, litter, and destruction of personal, private, and business property that they cause through their criminal enterprises such as shoplifting, stealing, robbery, larceny, vandalism, etc.

These and other reasons is why people who have money, great paying jobs, stable families and children will not move to Clayton County while the only people who will basically move to Clayton County are the people, youths, young adults, and teen-agers from the housing projects and ghettos from Atlanta, Georgia with their Section 8 government housing vouchers, people who do not have children because they do not have to concern themselves with our unaccredited school systems, investors who buy up the glut of foreclosed homes to rent out to the people and their children, youths, teen-agers, and young adults from the housing projects and ghettos of Atlanta, Georgia with their Section 8 government housing vouchers, and the transcient people who do not want to live permanently in one place to set down roots and raise a family and who just move from one place to another, and who travel from one county to another.

It is because of the approval of all of this high density zoning of homes, apartment homes, town homes, and small retail strip malls in the unincorporated areas on Clayton County and even in the cities of Clayton County, that this county is massively overcrowded, despite Clayton County being the third smallest county in the state of Georgia.

By Snoring

December 1, 2008 2:14 PM | Link to this

Did you have to write a book? Your blog is longer than Miss Kimberly’s introduction!

By Cammi

December 1, 2008 2:42 PM | Link to this

Wow. While I get the jist of Truth’s post, it is extremely wordy and should have been condensed, especially since many of the same points are repeated numerous times.

Clayton county will get back on track, I think it’s just a matter of when and at what sacrifice to the county residents.

By Steve

December 1, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this

The day you get rid of the same ol same ol’ leaders of the county and its cities.

The day the membemers of the school board act and SPEAK like educated adults…….If you school board member speaks EBONICS…thats a sure sign that you are headed in the wrong direction.

The lengthy post was right on.

You HAVE to get rid of the easy rent apartments….if you build trash…trash will come.

You have to get rid of the eye sores and sleezy businesses

The Woods motel…every check cash spot…every trailer park.

The guy who got killed in Riverdale was selling videos as a front for a gambling operation………..just bulldoze everything south of 138 and rebuild. But worst of all…the citizens don’t care…nobody came out to vote for the board members….that decision was bigger than voting for Barack because the BOE member affect the citizens directly.

I can’t wait to move…I’m just saving up for a down payment…..marietta or fayette or henry..HEAR I COME!!!

By Sammy Ojean

December 1, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this

I put more blame for bring all the Section 8 Housing here in Clayton Clayton in th Clayton County Housing Authory, because all the board members are appointed into these positions by the Clayton County Board of Commissioners, the Clayton County Housing Authory gets more funding from us the taxpayers and also by these Section 8 Apartments and you can see that on their own website.

Clayton County Housing Authory is like any other Goverment Board like a County Commission Board, Plaining and Zoning Board.

As it states in their minutes that the Clayton County Housing Authory main goal is to help find and support Section 8 persons to find housing in Clayton County.

SHAME ON YOU CLAYTON COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORY.

By jacksmith

December 1, 2008 4:14 PM | Link to this

WE HAVE MORE TO DO:

Democrat Jim Martin is in a runoff against Bush Republican Saxby Chambliss for the Senate seat from Georgia. Bush’s Saxby Chambliss voted against spending a few measly dollars to provide health care coverage for Georgia, and Americas needy children. But he supported wasting hundreds of billions of your dollars, and the life BLOOD of Americas finest on an unnecessary war in Iraq.

At a time when 47 million of you have no health insurance coverage, and over 100 million of you with insurance are just one major illness away from complete financial destruction. Bush and Saxby Chambliss voted to make the heart break of bankruptcy relief even harder for all of you to use.

You see, Bush and Saxby Chambliss, and his family don’t have to worry about their health care coverage. They have the finest health care coverage your tax money can buy for them. Courtesy of you. The American Tax payer. In fact, no one but the super rich can afford the health care coverage you the tax payer provide for Saxby Chambliss, and his family for FREE! with your tax dollars.

He supposedly works for you. But he doesn’t think you and your family should have access to the type of taxpayer supported FREE health care that you provide for him, and his loved ones for FREE!. Doesn’t that just make you BURRING MAD!

Vote for JIM MARTIN for US senator from Georgia. Vote for JIM Martin who will be on your side. Vote for JIM MARTIN who will work with President Obama and a majority congress for you. Vote for JIM MARTIN most of all for your-self, your family’s, friends, and loved ones. Vote for JIM MARTIN for a better America, and a better World.

Don’t let Saxby Chambliss make a chump out of you by tricking you into voting against your own best interest. Saxby chambliss is NOT! on your side. He’s not one of you. He is on George Bush’s side. And we all know what a catastrophe the Bush Chambliss administration has been the past 8 years.

Contact all your family and friends and do every thing you can to see to it that JIM MARTIN and GEORGIANS! take that senate seat back for Georgia, and America. No matter where you live in America. This is important to you. President Obama will need all the help, and power you can give him to try and fix this catastrophic mess that the Corrupt Bush Chambliss administration has created.

As I said before you will have to vote in overwhelming numbers to overcome the Bush Chambliss “Let Them Eat Cake” vote fraud machine. Vote early if you can. Then help everyone you can get to the polls and vote for JIM MARTIN. You and your loved ones don’t have to be Saxby Chambliss’s victims anymore.

I know you will get it done. Just like you did for President Obama.

God bless all of you

jacksmith - WORKING CLASS… :-)

By New Horizon

December 1, 2008 4:37 PM | Link to this

Unfortunately it will take two election cycles in two and four years to put us on track.

By time for a REAL change

December 1, 2008 5:05 PM | Link to this

You can talk about change all you want, but as long as you keep voting in these corrupt and STUPID democrats, things will never change.

The Libertarian Party is organizing an affiliate in Clayton County. This is a REAL alternative to what we have now.

Check it out at http://lpgeorgia.com/

I’m sure it will offend many your sensibilities, for those that believe more government is the answer. Well, you get the government you deserve. And more of the same … is that what we want?

By Bubba man

December 1, 2008 5:06 PM | Link to this

When the county starts filling up with Hispanics and the Black-flight starts, that is when it will start to change.

Bye the bye - Martin will lose! Your votes are not coming back now that they got Obama - all their troubles are gone.

By Concerned oldtimer

December 1, 2008 5:55 PM | Link to this

For the school board: I see real promise with Pam Adamson. She was a good instuctional coordinator in CC and great to work with. She is educated and sensible. She would be an improvement we need to guide the board in the right direction. I am a retired educator

By Mandingo Sensible

December 1, 2008 6:46 PM | Link to this

To: The Truth Is The Truth , You are absolutely correct in saying your “Former Clayton County Commission, previous Chairman of Clayton County Board Of Commissioners Crandle Bray, and previous Commissioners Gerald Matthews and previous Chairman of Clayton County, Charlie Griswell sold this county down the “Sewage Drain”, starting from about the mid 90’s up until recently.

Elgrin Bell tried to emulate those old boys, but this time with the so-called “Townhouses”. The only reason building stopped is because of the “Economy”. These Townhouses will not sell and will only turn into “Project Neighborhoods” in the long run with no buyers and Sec. 8 vouchers.

The School System may receive its accreditation back soon, but the “Urban Sprawl” has begun for this county. With this downward spiral of the National Economy the Urban Sprawl will overcome Henry and Fayette Counties within five years.

The Truth Is The Truth your only hope now is to move to South Spalding, Butts, Pike, Lamar and Upson counties. Then and then will you avoid the “Urban Sprawl” for at least another 15 years.

By Mandingo Real

December 1, 2008 6:53 PM | Link to this

The white folk in North Georgia, flight back to the inner city has had a trickle down effect of Clayton County. It’s just like you guys has explained earlier, you said 20 or so “Housing Projects” has been token down.

That group of the population mainly landed on Riverdale Road on the MARTA Bus Line; those with cars have landed in your neighborhood in other parts of the county. The white folk run Georgia, just like they run everything in this nation, however some of Clayton’s poor whites on this blog “Don’t understand impact of “Cause and Effect”.

NOTE: The county won’t see any sufficient “CHANGE” for at least two to four years or at least when Elgrin Bell is GONE!!!

By Mandingo Worldwide

December 1, 2008 7:02 PM | Link to this

The Republicians Locally, Statewide, and Nationally have successfully “DESTORYED” the ENTIRE NATION and most of the world!!!

Don’t Believe me; look at Nation’s situation!!!

By jacksmith

December 1, 2008 7:33 PM | Link to this

WE HAVE MORE TO DO:

Democrat Jim Martin is in a runoff against Bush Republican Saxby Chambliss for the Senate seat from Georgia. Bush’s Saxby Chambliss voted against spending a few measly dollars to provide health care coverage for Georgia, and Americas needy children. But he supported wasting hundreds of billions of your dollars, and the life BLOOD of Americas finest on an unnecessary war in Iraq.

At a time when 47 million of you have no health insurance coverage, and over 100 million of you with insurance are just one major illness away from complete financial destruction. Bush and Saxby Chambliss voted to make the heart break of bankruptcy relief even harder for all of you to use.

You see, Bush and Saxby Chambliss, and his family don’t have to worry about their health care coverage. They have the finest health care coverage your tax money can buy for them. Courtesy of you. The American Tax payer. In fact, no one but the super rich can afford the health care coverage you the tax payer provide for Saxby Chambliss, and his family for FREE! with your tax dollars.

He supposedly works for you. But he doesn’t think you and your family should have access to the type of taxpayer supported FREE health care that you provide for him, and his loved ones for FREE!. Doesn’t that just make you BURRING MAD!

Vote for JIM MARTIN for US senator from Georgia. Vote for JIM Martin who will be on your side. Vote for JIM MARTIN who will work with President Obama and a majority congress for you. Vote for JIM MARTIN most of all for your-self, your family’s, friends, and loved ones. Vote for JIM MARTIN for a better America, and a better World.

Don’t let Saxby Chambliss make a chump out of you by tricking you into voting against your own best interest. Saxby chambliss is NOT! on your side. He’s not one of you. He is on George Bush’s side. And we all know what a catastrophe the Bush Chambliss administration has been the past 8 years.

Contact all your family and friends and do every thing you can to see to it that JIM MARTIN and GEORGIANS! take that senate seat back for Georgia, and America. No matter where you live in America. This is important to you. President Obama will need all the help, and power you can give him to try and fix this catastrophic mess that the Corrupt Bush Chambliss administration has created.

As I said before you will have to vote in overwhelming numbers to overcome the Bush Chambliss “Let Them Eat Cake” vote fraud machine. Vote early if you can. Then help everyone you can get to the polls and vote for JIM MARTIN. You and your loved ones don’t have to be Saxby Chambliss’s victims anymore.

I know you will get it done. Just like you did for President Obama.

God bless all of you

jacksmith - WORKING CLASS… :-)

By The Commentor

December 2, 2008 7:46 AM | Link to this

Clayton County will not get back on track and care about and pass ordinances and bills that for the best interests for the citizens of Clayton County because its elected officials which are virtually all African (Black) Americans do not care to do the right thing and work in the best interest of the majority of the citizens of Clayton County who are over 65 percent African (Black) Americans because they all are self-serving, care only about themselves, are only looking out to enrich, profit, and get what they can get, even if they hurt, harm, and virtually destroy Clayton County in the process.

Chairman Eldrin A. Belll is the main example of this. Even though he is entering his second fourth year term as Chairman of the Clayton County Board Of Commissioners, he has not shown strong, proactive, smart, intelligent, caring leadership in his supervision of all of the Department Heads and Directors of many departments of the Clayton County Governments.

Even though he is a full-time chairman and is suppose to work full-time for the citizens of Clayton County, he has not been doing his job, he lets his department heads do as they please, he does not adequately supervise them, he does not know what is going on in this county nor does he seem to care, and Clayton County is essentially without a leader, without a vision, without hope, and is just a county that is in very bad shape, in very bad decline, in a negative freefall, on a downward spiral with virtually no hope of recovery, repair, positive correction for the better, or hope for a better, brighter, and great future for its majority African (Black) American citizens and other citizens for that fact no time soon.

By FYI

December 2, 2008 8:02 AM | Link to this

Sonya Singleton and Michael Edmundson are up for reelection in 2009 I believe. If you live in their districts, think about what they have done for your district and the county in general before automatically voting them back in. From what I’ve seen, Edmundson in particular is a waste of space, although I do believe its good to have a mix of races and political parties (altough that probably won’t hhappen here anytime soon becaues these residents don’t research candidates, they just vote the party line) in any government group. Eldrin is only back because his competitors were worst options, particularly Lee Scott who realy would have destroyed this county. Wole slipped through the cracks because Angela Redding’s husband worked for the sherriff’s dept. and most people didn’t trust anyone connected to Victor Hill (rightfully so I think). It’s time to hold our local officials feet to the fire. Its actually way past time to do that.

Vote Jim Martn today, Saxby hasn’t worked in years. Although it doesn’t matter if Jim wins or not really. there are enough borderline republicans in the senate for Obama to still get some things done I think.

By The Commentor

December 2, 2008 8:50 AM | Link to this

The bottom line is that as a whole, the African(Black) Americans do not and will not hold the majority African(Black) Americans that they elected to public office in Clayton County from the Clayton County Board Of Commissioners, the Clayton County School Board, the Clayton County Senate and State House Of Representatives Delegation to the State of Georgia’s Senate and House of Representatives and others accountable and responsible like they should.

The apathy among the good African(Black) Americans who vote and live the right way in Clayton County is shocking.

Even though we pay our taxes and do the best we can in Clayton County, because we do not hold our elected officials accountable, answerable, and responsible for the decisions that they make that for the most part, are not in our best interests, and the decisions they make have harmed, hurt, and set Clayton County backwards and not forwards, we also with the Section 8 people that have come to Clayton County to live which has brought Clayton County down to essentially a second class, low-end, low-class, “third world” dirty, nasty ,filthy, and unclean where no one of well-to-do means of any race, ethnic class, or high socioeconomic status want to move here to live, work, play, and raise their families are at major fault also and also bear responsibility to the sorry, negative, dreadful, and disgraceful state of Clayton County.

By Pi$$ed Off

December 2, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this

The time has passed to get a new Commission! The only reason Bell won again is because the options were worst than him. Singelton, Edmondson are on deck. Let’s give em the boot! They have not done anything to move this county out of the ditch!

By Melanie Lee

December 2, 2008 10:34 AM | Link to this

Clayton County lacks diversity and leadership. Until we get more Whites, Asians, Republicans, Independents and Libertarians in charge, nothing will change. This county will continue to spiral down as there are less and less decent folk living and moving in - just TRASH. Soon all the Section 8/Project rejects is all we will have left. Everybody wants the govt. (or Obama) to ‘save them’. Nobody can save you but Jesus. The rest is up to YOU.

I’m moving…..

By Why'd you ask

December 2, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this

I lived in Clayton County before I-75 was built. As a matter of fact, as a child, I played on that field of dirt as it was being transformed - very late 60’s. Living in Forest Park at that time, life was pretty darn good. Eventually moved to Jonesboro, graduated from Jonesboro High School in the late 70’s. Clayton County has turned into a sink hole of bad will. White flight had something to do with that, bad county management had something to do with that, the Olympics had something to do with that. Then comes the illegal’s and the Asian’s - they brought their band of gangs with them. Are all Hispanics and Asian’s bad people - NO - but the majority living in Clayton County are poor and uneducated. You had corruption in the county government and management. Then you had black empowerment when black political leaders were voted in and then it became a race game - let’s have all black people sitting as chairman, commissioners, sheriff, school board, etc. When you voted by color, you stopped voting by ability and experience. Now, the county is worse than ever. The majority of good and able black families are being outweighed by the gangs and low life’s that have taken over. Your children’s education in this county means nothing any longer. So what will be left in Clayton County when all of the “good” has moved away? Not any place that I would want to live. I pray for this County and pray that the right leaders are put in place – stop voting for someone because their skin color matches yours. Vote for them because they are the right person for the position. Then you might see change – real honest to God positive change.

By bs

December 2, 2008 11:49 AM | Link to this

hey…how bout those yellow jackets

By Jborodawg

December 2, 2008 11:49 AM | Link to this

Kimberly, to answer your question; ‘no’ Clayton County will probably not get back on track. Low voter turnout just about ‘splains it all. Yes, we need better zoning. We need better schools. We need to beautify. Businesses along the major thoroughfares should take it upon themselves to keep their properties and the rights of way clean and neat. Planting shrubs and flowers could be of great benefit; they have to all join in the effort. We don’t necessarily need to raise taxes. We could cut back on the admin at the CCSC and hire more teachers; thus a better student to teacher ratio. We need parental involvement to vastly improve before we raise taxes. See if any of these ‘simple’ steps are taken/implemented, then we’ll see if the county is ready to get back on track.

By bs

December 2, 2008 11:57 AM | Link to this

Merry Christmas everyone.

By the candy man

December 2, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this

I think the problem with clayton county is there are no good candy stores. remember back in the old days everyone would go to the candy store and sit around getting jacked up on sugar.. and just have a good time. Well now everybody including our goverment officials are getting jacked up on crack because there are no good candy stores anymore.

By the candy man

December 2, 2008 12:07 PM | Link to this

yep, bring back the candy stores and get rid of mass transit…thats the answer

By taylorallen

December 2, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this

whats wrong with clayton county?

I have a nice little piece of land thats nearly paid for, my property taxes are low, the area I live in is quiet, traffic isnt nearly as bad as it is on ga 400, 75 or 85 north. I dont have kids in clayton counties school and most of the kids in my area are good kids. I always have plenty of fresh water, gas and eletricity. We have some pretty nice parks and rec centers…

again whats so bad about clayton county?

By Bubba man

December 2, 2008 12:31 PM | Link to this

WE HAVE TO DO THIS: Republican Saxby Chambliss is in a runoff against Obama-giddy for the Senate seat from Georgia, Jim Martin. Democrat Jim Martin voted against making it a felony for solicitation of a minor for prostitution. And against making it a felony to sell drugs near schools. It was Martin at the wheel when the DFACS melted down and our most needy children were at risk. But he supported wasting your dollars on his expense account, and the make worst the lives of Georgians by trying to tax us to death. You see, Obama, Pelosi, Barney Frank, Harry Reed and their families and live-in lovers don’t have to worry about their health care coverage. They have the finest health care coverage your tax money can buy for them. In fact, no one but the responsible adults can afford the health care coverage you the taxpayer provide for Obama, Pelosi, Barney Frank, Harry Reed, and their family for FREE! with your tax dollars. They supposedly work for you. But they do think you and your family should have to pay thru much higher taxes for the supposed FREE health care that they want to provide for everyone as long as they can ask – citizen – non citizen –illegal alien – terrorist. No such thing as FREE - you will pay thru the nose for everyone else’s care – no matter their habits – their lifestyle –their actions. The govt has shown they cannot run a program without extreme waste. Doesn’t that just make you BURNING MAD! Vote for Saxby Chambliss for US senator from Georgia. Vote for Saxby Chambliss who will be on your side. Vote for Saxby Chambliss who will work with President and congress for you. Vote for Saxby Chambliss most of all for your-self, your family’s, friends, and loved ones. Vote for Saxby Chambliss for a better America, and a better World. Don’t let Jim Martin make a chump out of you by tricking you into voting against your own best interest. Jim Martin is NOT! on your side. He’s not one of you. He is a Pelosi/Reed/Barney Frank liberal. And we all know what a catastrophe – and low rating the Congress has had for the 2 years the Dems have had control – with an approval rating usually half of that of George Bush. Contact all your family and friends and do every thing you can to see to it that Saxby Chambliss and GEORGIANS! Keep that senate seat for Georgia and America, not for radical liberals. No matter where you live in America. This is important to you. Help Saxby Chambliss to fix this catastrophic mess that the Corrupt Clinton administration and the radical-left Democrats led us into. As I said before you will have to vote in numbers to overcome the Obama “change for sake of change –no matter who gets hurt” vote fraud machine – remember ACORN. Vote if you can . Then help everyone you know get to the polls and vote for Saxby Chambliss. You and your loved ones don’t have to be the Democrat’s victims anymore. I know you will get it done. .

By FYI

December 2, 2008 12:33 PM | Link to this

I’ve felt like a victim of the republicans and George Bush for the PAST 8 YEARS!! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!

VOTE JIM MARTIN!

By Oh please

December 2, 2008 12:38 PM | Link to this

I agree with taylorallen. Clayton County is not that bad. Politically speaking it is a mess, but it’s a mess that we can recover from if people are willing to try. Clayton is not the first county or the only county in this state to go over-budget. The accreditation issue sucks, but some school year in the future, we will get it back. Now, that Victor Hill has been removed, by some very intelligent voters, there should be a decrease in scandal. Unfortunately, there are so many people in this world that thrive on the misfortunes of others, and they like having an entire county to poke fun at, so they are always looking for something wrong. Well, I don’t think that Clayton County is any worse than any other in Georgia.

By Sadly Concerned

December 2, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this

I am a Clayton County resident, a single Mom of a 16 year old daughter, work in middle management and a home owner for 2 years in Clayton county. I have so many mixed feelings about Clayton County, I hope and pray that it will turn around because I have invested in a home and unfortunatley with the economy and the school problems I am forced to stay. I wish it was as easy to just sell and move but it is not that simple. My neighborhood is good with hard working familes trying to live a good life. I am saddend and embarrased that I live in a community that is on the news every day for crimes…..it over shawdows the good students and families in the county that are doing good…….I do not have an answer but to make sure that when we go to the polls do not think about a Party or the color of the candidates skin but what is best for our children, property value and safety of our community….I have hope for Clayton County.

By Truthstater

December 2, 2008 2:00 PM | Link to this

Unfortunately and sadly, there are no good choices of strong, positive, caring, candidates for the elected positions of Clayton County to choose from that will be a help to the citizens of Clayton County and pass policies that help and work for the best interests of the citizens of Clayton County and right the wrongs that have been done to Clayton County and its citizens by their predecessors.

Virtually, all of the elected officals in Clayton County are either corrupted, “legally stealing” from the county, not ethical nor moral personally as well as professionally, dishonest, do not care, and are noncaring and apathetic themselves.

They do not want to do the hard, difficult, and tough work to make Clayton County right again.

Most appalling of all, they let all of their well-connected friends who gave money to their reelection campaigns and to get elected for the first time campaigns get governmental contracts to do work in Clayton County which for the most part is substandard, below acceptable standards, and shoddy, mainly because these elected officials, once elected just look the other way and let them do as they please because they know that the citizens of Clayton County will not hold them accountable, answerable, and responsible.

By Bo

December 2, 2008 2:15 PM | Link to this

Clayton county is in pretty good shape overall - at least compared to Dekalb.

I think everything will be fine if the people here will take responsibility for themselves and help each other out.

We need to become a true community and and run off the bad elements that prey on our young people. Parents need to be parents and role models and teach responsibility.

May God bless and help Clayton County.

By Mojo Mist

December 2, 2008 2:19 PM | Link to this

To all those “hoping, praying, thinking, and believing” that Clayton County will turn around… Keep it up! But more importantly, we need you to be “DOING”. We are at a crossroads now. Some new leadership we have is for the better, others continue to take us down the same path we’ve been on.

We need more of you, the electorate, to lend your voices, expertise, talents, and commitment. We need you with us in the trenches, at meetings, volunteering, and most importantly exercising your right to hold officials accountable and to recall them if necessary. We also need you with us to congratulate them and tell them they’re doing a great job when necessary.

But we need you physically involved now more than ever. We’ve lost jobs, businesses, money, the middle class, accreditation, seen crime increase, and stand to lose much more if we don’t make things right very soon. The loss of accreditation and mismanagement of county funds by Eldrin Bell and Angela Jackson is only the beginning of what could and is about to happen if we stand and watch. The sad thing is, no honorable individual holding those positions would have allowed this to happen given the current state of Clayton County.

Please participate on Thursday, December 4 at Mundy’s Mill High School (9652 Fayetteville Road, Jonesboro), at 7pm. We all are busy and have commitments. But what greater commitment is there than your children and the communities in which you live? It starts here for us if you really care…

By ARealTrooper

December 2, 2008 2:21 PM | Link to this

It will take years before Clayton once again shines. There is just too much low info, low income ghetto riff-raff here now. Gentrification is the only answer. No one will move here unless they are poor, young, from another state or a single mother. The black chickens have come home to roost!

By Mojo Mist

December 2, 2008 2:49 PM | Link to this

Just cast my vote for Pam Adamson, District one. Good luck, Pam. We need you.

By Oh Boy!

December 2, 2008 3:00 PM | Link to this

Too bad for Jim Martin. Now that the libertarians can’t split the vote, Saxby wins in a landslide. We need diversity in government anyways and Georgia just provided a filibuster-proof Senate. Go Georgia!

By It Is What It Is

December 2, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this

Good Afternoon Kimberly,

I do agree that if property taxes are raised, that they are raised only and only to put more Clayton County Police Officers and Clayton County Code Enforcement Officers on the streets of Clayton County to clean up this crime and street gang infested, crime and gang ridden, crime and gang overrun county and to cite, fine, and close down and condemn all of the blighted, run-down, neglected, decayed, delapidated, and unsightly low-end low-class, nasty, dirty, unclean, unkempt, cluttered, messy, trashy, and deteriorated businesses, apartment homes, trailor homes, mobile homes, town homes, old tire storage facilities that are all in full view and eyesight of everyone who travels down the entire Clayton County portion of Tara Boulevard, the entire length of Upper Riverdale Road which starts off of Tara Boulevard and runs into Highway 85 in the city of Riverdale, Old Dixie Highway which starts at Tara Boulevard and changes to Forest Parkway in the city of Forest Park, Highway 139 which starts at Exit 60 off of I-285 which is the Riverdale Road exit and goes through the heart of the city of Riverdale and ends at Highway 85, and Mount Zion Road which starts at Tara Boulevard and just like Tara Boulevard, is lined with dirty, filthy, nasty, and ghetto looking apartment homes, low-end low class ghetto looking stores and businesses.

By Mr Charlie

December 2, 2008 3:59 PM | Link to this

I think one only has to read this blog to see the problem.

Several seem to think there is not problem, yet a day rarely goes by without the report of another drive-by or home invasion. Your schools are the laughing stock on the united states, but your administrator works part time. Your “leader” spends his weekends at a strip bar owners house. Your are losing federal funds left and right, and you tax base is about to crumble due to all the forclosures.

I guess it is all about what you expect, but with an attitude like that, it will never get better.

By Don't matter ...

December 2, 2008 4:06 PM | Link to this

To Oh Boy! whether or not Jim Martin wins is irrelevant, really. GA may stop the filibuster but with or without Saxby Chambliss there are enough borderline republicans currently in the senate so Obama will get some things done.

By Oh Boy!

December 2, 2008 4:33 PM | Link to this

Don’t Matter,

Then we shouldn’t hear the Democrats for awhile using the Republicans as their excuse for not getting things done and passing their “progressive” agenda.

By NO MORE BOC!

December 2, 2008 4:38 PM | Link to this

DEMAND ALL COMMISSIONERS RESIGN NOW BEFORE WE LOSE EVERYTHING!

By Don't matter ...

December 2, 2008 5:31 PM | Link to this

We’ll see Oh Boy! Republicans are a shifty and shady lot!

By Bubba man

December 2, 2008 5:31 PM | Link to this

I am a racist, inbred idiot!!!!!!

By What now

December 2, 2008 5:34 PM | Link to this

There are also bluedog Democrats that can think for themselves - and not vote lockstep with the Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank minions.

If Obama has anything to fear - it is that he will not live up to the hopes of the far-left liberal Democrats. Those are a real mean vindictive crowd.

By Bubba man

December 2, 2008 5:57 PM | Link to this

You should not use someone else’s blog name - be man enough to use one for yourself when you want to criticize someone. But I guess you are not.

What’s amatter? Can’t take someones play on words from your pathetic diatribe? Yeah- go look that one up.

By You Know Who I Am

December 2, 2008 7:01 PM | Link to this

The once “Proud” people of Clayton County were also the past and current “Stupid” people. There were Never any Manufacturing, Mills or Factories job in Clayton. The once people only worked city, county and state jobs.

Clayton County has never been any “Truck Transfer/Distribution Point” and that’s all it is now. The only problem now is the “Once Proud” have to share those government jobs with the “Once Very Poor and Black. Another thing I can’t believe you “Republicans” were happy paying $5.00 for gas.

Now, you guys are really “Stupid and Prejudice” and will vote for a person “Just because of Race and Political Party”. So, stop trying to tell Mandingo’s People what to do! Your thinking got us G. Bush for 8 years.

By Double Header

December 2, 2008 7:04 PM | Link to this

The once “Proud” people of Clayton County were also the past and current “Stupid”. There were Never any Manufacturing, Mills or Factories jobs in Clayton. The once people only worked city, county and state jobs. Clayton County has never been anything other than a “Truck Transfer/Distribution Point” and that’s all it is now. The only problem now is the “Once Proud” have to share those government jobs with the “Once Very Poor and Black. Another thing I can’t believe you “Republicans” were happy paying $5.00 for gas. Now, you guys are really “Stupid and Prejudice” and will vote for a person “Just because of Race and Political Party”. So, stop trying to tell Mandingo’s People what to do! Your thinking got us G. Bush for 8 years.

By Truth hurts

December 3, 2008 8:51 AM | Link to this

See - I told you that you were schizophrenic. Am not. Am to.

Cannot believe you can say “Just because of Race and Political Party” with a straight face. Knowing that well over 93 percent of black voters voted ONLY Race and Party party. At least all other races and ethnic groups are far more diverse in their political leanings. But blacks - mooooo, mooooo, mooooo.

By Mercy440

December 3, 2008 9:22 AM | Link to this

Just wanted to see if Clayton County had change its stripes and I can see that it has not.

To:It Is What It Is

I lived off Mount Zion and Tara for over 5 years, because that is where my help was needed. I ran program, got involved in my local school and with local government to help keep my community safe.

It Is What It Is, call Chief Tuner and ask him for the crime static’s, you will see that most of these gangs and gang shooting come out of the middle class communities of Clayton County. The people who are working two or three jobs to keep their Escalade or that over size house they can’t really afford all while neglecting to supervise their kid or kids. Do not get me wrong, we had our share of crime on Mount Zion but what do you expect when the County Parks and Rec. offer programs that these parents can’t afford or they build the recreation facilities so far out of the neighborhoods that need them. Mount Zion is what happens when communities are forgotten.

What have you done for Clayton County to make it better?

Kimberly A. that should be your next blog, I would love to hear their comments, that is, if there are any from this crowd.

By Good Vote

December 3, 2008 9:35 AM | Link to this

Well, well. Another striking defeat to the likes of John Trotter, Glenn Dowell and Lee Scott. The voters in BOE District 1 and 9 have handed you all a resounding – WE DON’T NEED OR WANT YOU IN OUR AFFAIRS.

The newly elected will show how Clayton has grown politically. Throwing away the racist bantering by the above mentioned and leading the way to repairing our schools, our county and our reputation. Thank you Clayton voters.

By Melvin Drops A Ball

December 3, 2008 9:49 AM | Link to this

Man, it sure was quite last night at the BOC meeting when the NAACP outed all the Commissioners for having accepted campaign donations from Stephens MDS, the company that’s moving the slave graves. Only Bell admitting to it before his vote, but once that got out, they all looked down (and guilty).

And Mr. Bell having a personal car (2008 SUV) and personal driver (CCPD officer) paid for on the county’s dime. With overtime billed on weekends, lol. Even V. Gray was like WTF? and ‘oh, no she didn’t’.

And trying to blame the Finance Director for their mistakes and incompetance… a new low.

Why is no there forsenic audit in light of all the ‘financial problems’? There were no financial problems before. Where or where has all the money gone?

Things that make you go hmmm…..

By Enough

December 3, 2008 10:50 AM | Link to this

Are you sh!tt!ng me!!

Melvin Drops A Ball: tell me that this is not true?

Did the House Rep or Senator for that area also receive funds?

They should be impeached for corruption, if this is the case. I bet Eldrin Bell suck them all in to taking this money like he did with the school board. I am forwarding this story to FOX News, Hannity or O’ Reilly will eat this up, “Democrats, Money, Corruption and a failing school system. You better hold on to your jobs, the sh!t is about to hit the fan! Clayton County is going National, again.

By The Shadow Knows

December 3, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this

Shame on all our commissioners! They took money from the man whos interest they vote on? Can you say corruption! Did you see the look on Singelton’s face? Shame! Shame Shame!

I will go to the elections office today and pull all their financial records and post them on Give-em-the-boot.com

By Oh please

December 3, 2008 12:38 PM | Link to this

Could someone just think for one minute? That cemetery is in the middle of an airport, a landfill, and a rock quarry. Isn’t it more respectful to the dead to move their graves to a quiet, maintained cemetery where they can have headstones again. Sooner or later, the vibrations from the airport and the rock quarry are going to cause extensive damage to their remains. This company is trying to do the right thing, but because the remains belong to African-Americans whose descendants have long since forgotten about them, the NAACP wants to turn this into a media circus. If this cemetery belonged to caucasians, can anyone honestly say there would be an issue? No. Because moving the graves would be the right thing to do, regardless of whoever was buried there.

By Enough

December 3, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this

If it belongs to Caucasians, it would have already been declare an historic site, but the point is they took money for their vote. Oh please, is that ok for them to do, take money for their votes?

By The Informer

December 3, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this

This is a comment to the blogger “By Enough.”

Yes, the information supplied by “Melvin Drops A Ball” is very true.

I attended the Clayton County Board Of Commissioners Meeting last night also and after the meeting in the public comment section where the citizens of Clayton County can come before the Board Of Commissioners and state their concerns to them.

The very first citizen that went before the board stated her support of the Clayton County Police Department Police Officers and how we need more police on the streets of Clayton County to combat and stop crime on the streets of Clayton County.

She had documented proof that the Chairman of the Clayton County Board Of Commissioners Chairman Eldrin A. Bell had one of the Clayton County police officers as his personal driver and chauffer and this police officer/driver/chauffer had amassed a lot of overtime pay driving Chairman Bell all over the Metropolitian Atlanta, Georgia area even doing off-hours.

She acquired this shocking information legally through a request made as per the state of Georgia’s open records act which by law must be given in a timely manner.

Also another very prominent citizen of Clayton County, the president of the Clayton County Branch of the NAACP went before the Clayton County Board Of Commissioners (Chairman Eldrin A. Bell, Commissioner Sonna Singleton, Commissioner Virginia Gray and Commissioner Michael Edmondson, Vice-Chairman Wole Ralph was not present) and and expressed his profound disappointment over the unaanimous 4-0 vote by the Board Of Commissioners to allow and authorize the Clayton County Board Of Commissioners to grant a request for a permit to Stephens MDS, LP to relocate Union Bethel A.M.E. Church Cemetery which is located west of Forest Park, Georgia and north of Riverdale, Georgia and is specifically situated along the south central boundary of Land Lot 74, continuing into the north central portion of Land Lot 87, in the 13th District of Clayton County, Georgia, Clayton County plat book 29, Page 135.

Before the vote, Chairman Eldrin A. Bell informed everyone in the audience that he had received campaign contributions in his reelection bid for another four-year term as Chairman in which he was successful and also stated before the vote that this would not affect his vote on this matter. Of course, everyone was surprised and shocked at this relevation and obviously expressed disbelief when he said that it would affect his vote on the matter which he did along with the other three commissioners present vote in favor of this Resolution which was Resolution 2008-214.

The president of the Clayton County Branch of the NAACP further shocked the audience when he held up papers which were their Campaign Disclosure Reports which any citizen can obtain from their local election offfice headquarters after paying for copier fees which had the proof and evidence that all four of them (it is not known if Vice-Chairman Wole Ralph received any campaign contributions from Stephens MDS, LP) had received campaign contributions from Stephens MDS, LP at one time or another and that because of this, should have either rescued themselves from this vote or should not voted in favor of it at all.

The Board Of Commissioners was packed with the family members of whos ancestors were buried mostly in unmarked graves there. Some of them spoke during the public comment section after the vote was taken, and they all expressed sadness, anger, shock, disappointment, and basically questioned how the Clayton County Board Of Commissioners could morally, ethically, and without human compassion and sensitivity justify the way they voted in siding with Stephens MDS, LP and not the wishes of the family and community.

Not one of the four addressed nor answered their questions. A few of the commissioners made some eye contact with the family members speaking, Chairman Bell looked down at his papers and virtually did not make any eye contact with the family members nor did he respond to them, nor the President of the Clayton County Branch of the NAACP and the State of Georgia President of the NAACP who also had spoke on the travesty of their vote and how sad, shocked, disappointed, and angered he was.

As he was verbalizing how he felt about this vote and what the NAACP was going to do on behalf of the family, Chairman Bell abruptly stopped his speech, saying that his two minute time limit was up.

This delicate and sensitive vote that went against the wishes and request of these family members and the plight of these family members was covered extensively on FOX 5 News last night at approximately 10:25 P.M. and was also on Action News at 11:00 P.M. (Monica Kaufmann’s news station) and Eric Phillips reported live from the Clayton County’s Administration Building where the meeting was held and also did a very moving, extensive, detailed, and comprehensive news coverage on the family members and their plight with this very unfortunate situation they are faced and dealing with.

This is what our now super-majority African (Black) American Elected Officials in all of Clayton County’s Elected Positions are doing to the majority African (Black) American citizens in Clayton County who elected them to office in making decisions and passing policies that mainly benefit the very few well-connected virtually rich people who not only live in Clayton County, but outside the county also and who contributed heavily to their campaigns and once again, not caring nor do they want to care about, work hard, address, and solve the numerous, massive problems that the citizens of Clayton County are faced, mostly created by the bad zoning decisions that were not in the best interests of Clayton County or its citizens that were passed as policy by their predecessors who were all Caucasian (White) Americans.

By raja

December 3, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this

NAACP wants attention. The families never visit the graves, so how can it mean so much to them. The graves should be remove so they can visit them. The church that relocated in College Park and the families never cared about the cemetary.

By The Commentor

December 3, 2008 1:25 PM | Link to this

I am writing to make a correction in the paragraph on the comment that I made at 1:01 P.M. that starts off “Before the vote.”

I wrote, “Before the vote, Chairman Eldrin A. Bell informed everyone in the audience that he had received campaign contributions in his relection bid for another four-year term as Chairman in which he was successful and also stated before the vote that this would not affect his vote on the matter.”

That statement is true.

When I wrote the next sentence, I mistakely left out the word “not” which should have come after the word would,when I stated “obviously expressed disbelief when he said that it would affect….

The new corrected sentence should read, “Of course, everyone was surprised and shocked at this revelation and obviously expressed disbelief when he said that it would not affect his vote on the matter which he did along with the other three commissioners present vote (should be voted) in favor of this Resolution which was Resolution 2008-214.

I apologize for this initial mistake and have now corrected it so that this sentence now reads properly and correctly.

By Enough

December 3, 2008 1:26 PM | Link to this

Raja is that ok for them to do, take money for their votes?

The Blog should note, raja is a Bell supporter.

By raja

December 3, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this

No, I want Bell recall. They notified the families about relocating the graves, so I don’t think they tried to fool them or anything. It’s a conflict of interst far as the commissioner are concern, but the landfill is already their so why would you want the graves to stay in such poor condition. If the graves are not remove the cemetary will stay in the condition it’s in now.

By al

December 3, 2008 2:53 PM | Link to this

I bet if they were going to move them for a civil rights museum the NAACP would have their shovels out the digging them up theirselves. I remember our dad taking us over to that area as kids, there used to be these caves cut into the rock beside the river where civil war soldiers used to hide out. I wonder why no body ever tried to save the area because of it civil war historical value.

Maybe the NAACP should play the grey and blue card!

By What now

December 3, 2008 3:14 PM | Link to this

If you want the slave graves issue to go away just fork over some money to the families of those graves. That is what this is about for them and the NAACP. In an issue like this it always is.

Check out what Dallas,TX did about 16-18 years ago - in the same type situation - it was handled very well. Freeway construction was stopped for 2 years while the graves were slowly, completely and respectfully moved - with all parties involved and satisfied, including the local civil rights groups, as to how the graves were moved, historical info - as much as possible - was gathered. Of course, in ATL, some people are never satisfied.

By James Searcy

December 3, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this

Clayton County is still in a crisis but we can move up if we really want to. Some of us are working very hard to make this county a place we can all be proud of. I noticed earlier someone mentioned the housing authority in a negative light but in case some of you didn’t know, there are TWO housing authorities in this county. One is in Jonesboro (including Section 8 administration) and the other one is in Forest Park (www.haccga.com). Under the Housing Authority Clayton County (Forest Park) is the newly created Clayton County Foreclosure Resource Center (CCFRC) that’s designed to help prevent home foreclosures and to get people back on track with their finances. We had the first workshop on Nov 22nd and the next one will be Tuesday, Dec. 9th. Please call the CCFRC Hotline at (404) 260-3149 for details on time and location. Pass the good word on to anyone you know who might be in trouble in keeping up their mortgage. GOOD NEWS for Clayton County!

By Semper_Fi

December 3, 2008 3:37 PM | Link to this

Everbody is looking at the leadership and how they failed. We need to look at the voters who put them in place. Voting based on skin color is what got us into our current situation. Do you remember when we just had names on the yard signs and not pictures? We evaluated people on qualifications, experience and historical activities? We didn’t know what they looked like in a lot of situations. How was Clayton County back then?

By Kimberly Allen

December 3, 2008 4:18 PM | Link to this

FYI.

The Greater American Ministerial Association [G.A.M.A.] will host a Town Hall Meeting to announce an economic relief program for distraught homeowners, the working poor and small business owners called F.R.E.D. – which is an acronym for faith-based response to emergency disaster.

This important community forum will be hosted by award-winning WAOK/WVEE News Director Jean Ross.

Atlanta State Senator Vincent Fort, predatory lending expert Bill Brennan, and Pastor Darryl Winston will be our featured speakers.

Our Special Invited guest is Teresa Chappell, Special Assistant to HUD’s Atlanta Regional Director, who will discuss the government’s foreclosure prevention program. We will also have housing counselor’s on hand to assist in mortgage workouts.

WHEN: Tuesday, December 9th, 2008 at 7PM

WHERE: Greater Works Assembly at 1800 Jonesboro Road SE

WHY: It is imperative that preachers of the gospel reach out to help the suffering masses. Our people are hurting,” says G.A.M.A. President Rev. Darryl Winston. “That’s why G.A.M.A. is launching a nationwide initiative to offer churches assistance in providing help for congregants who are facing foreclosure. It is called F.R.E.D. [faith-based response to emergency disaster]. What we are offering is a first-of-its-kind disaster relief plan for our people who are victims of the housing market meltdown, job layoffs and this crippling economic crisis.”

[For more information contact: Maynard Eaton at 404-254-8322 or Rev. Darryl Winston at 678-246-4925]

By raja

December 3, 2008 5:34 PM | Link to this

What Now

You know the NAACP always want black folks to think someones out get them. They should tell the families to take this opportunity to give their loved ones a better resting place. So when they are gone they want have to worry what would happen to the graves.

The NAACP are not progressive thinkers, sometimes you have to look beyond the drama (commissioners) to see what’s best for you. Make Stephens MDS give up alot for this. If they had not brought this up, the family would’ve never done a thing about those graves.

By The Commentor

December 3, 2008 6:14 PM | Link to this

The ugly true is that there is deep and widespread corruption, graft (legal term for corruption), misappropriations and misuse of Clayton County funds, pocketing of Clayton County funds, fraud, possible embezzlement,pilfering and diversion of monetary Clayton County funds for personal use throughout the Clayton County government citizens service centers.

Several Clayton County citizens went before the Clayton County Board Of Commissioners during the public comment section of the meeting yesterday evening and requested that they vote to order that a Forensic Audit be done on the Clayton County Finance Department as well as on the entire Clayton County Government Departments that get Clayton County Taxpayers monies so that public trust and confidence can once again be restored in Clayton County’s Monetary Financial Situation and that the Clayton County Board Of Commissioners and the departments that they supervise are spending our taxpayers monies in the correct and legal way.

As everyone knows, SACS has made the Clayton County School Board Of Education do and conduct a full, forensic audit of all financials by an independent, certified, accounting firm and take the appropriate steps to address the findings of such an audit.

This was ordered by SACS because all throughout their investigations of the Clayton County Public School System done on Wednesday January 16, 2008 and Thursday January 17, 2008 and on their final Report Of The Special Review Team For Clayton County Public Schools by SACS released on Friday February 15, 2008, they found that numerous allegations were made by members of the Clayton County School Of Education, individual staff members, and community representatives that identified serious concerns regarding the financial fidelity of the Clayton County School District. Many of these allegations raise potential, legal concerns regarding financial matters pertaining to the school district (e.g. the land deal controversy, the awarding of government contracts, and the hiring practices of the Clayton County School Of Education).

Much, much, worse is going on with the Clayton County Government Services Department with the Clayton County Board Of Commissioners and especially its leader Chairman Eldrin Bell ignoring, looking the other way, and pretending like nothing is wrong, illegal, criminal, dishonest, unethical, or just plain wrong with how the Clayton County Government and the Department Heads and Directors carry out their duties and reponsibilities (or lack thereof) to the citizens of Clayton County.

If you go to www.google.com, you will find massive amounts of information on what a Forensic Audit is and the purpose and reason that one should do this type of audit.

A Forensic Audit is the financial accounting activity that consists of gathering, verifying, processing, and analyzing of and reporting financial data in order to obtain facts and/or evidence in a predefined context in the area of legal/finance disputes and or irregularities including fraud (it means the use of false representations to gain an unjust advantage), embezzlement ( it means to divert money fraudulently to one’s own use), and missappropriation ( it means to apply or use another’s (taxpayers in this case) monies to one’s own use, or to a wrong use).

A Forensic Audit can also be defined as the financial application of auditing skills to situations that have legal consequences in the gathering of evidence that could be and can be used in a court of law.

The term Forensic itself means “Suitable for use in a court of law”, and it is to that standard and potential outcome that forensic auditors and accountants generally have to work

As the citizens of Clayton County have read in our local newspapers, there is bad friction, turmoil, and troubling and disturbing accusations and charges made by the Chairman of the Clayton County Board Of Commissioners Chairman Bell against Clayton County’s Finance Director and Chief Financial Officer of the county Mrs. Angela Jackson on the severe and serious financial problem and situation that Clayton County is now in with the worst being that the state of Georgia’s Department of Audits and Accounts starting the process to block the county’s ability to receive state-funded grants, due to non-compliance with its Fiscal Year 2007 financial audit report.

In the Clayton News Daily newspaper article in yesterday’s paper on Tuesday December 2, 2008 entitled “State Grant Funding On Hold For Clayton County” written by the paper’s government reporter Mr. Joel Hall, he wrote “Among errors noted in the county’s Fiscal Year 2007 audit report were: 1. Failure to submit an internal control report, which shows that measures have been taken by the county to ensure a speedy and accurate audit process; 2. Failure to disclose hotel and motel tax revenues and expenditures; 3. Failure to provide grant certification forms for two separate grants; 4. Failure to submit a schedule of Special Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) projects along with the opinion of an independent auditor.

Also, Mr Joel Hall wrote in The Clayton News Daily in a newspaper headline article in the Thursday November 20, 2008 edition entitled “BOC Trying To Track Overspending” in which he also wrote that the December 2007 report from KPMG LLP which is the Atlanta-based auditoring firm that was auditoring the Clayton County Finance Department revealed, 1. There is a “control deficiency” in the county’s finance department, which “does not allow management or employees, in the normal course of performing their assigned funcionts, to prevent or detect misstatements on a timely basis. 2. This control deficiency “adversely affects the entity’s abililty to initiate, authorize, record, process, or report financial data reliably.

What I have wrote in the above paragraph is very shocking and alarming in that because of this, any employee, department head, or department director can divert, misuse, or misappropriate any of Clayton County’s monetary funds to virtually any way they see fit and can do illegal and criminal things with these monetary funds without the possibility of being caught or prosecuted.

Again, most shocking and again alarming of all is that in The Atlanta Journal And Constitution newspaper article in its Wednesday November 26, 2008 edition written by the AJC Clayton County Government Writer Ms. Megan Matteucci entitled “State Halts Grants Funding For Clayton, County Failed To Submit Financial Records” Chairman Eldrin Bell stated that he did not know about the problems with the state auditor until Monday November 24, 2008 and is investigation why the letters(letters sent to Clayton County Finance Director Mrs. Angela Jackson from the Georgia Department Of Audits And Accounts on more than one occasion about the serious problems that they found that Clayton County had deficiencies in at least 11 areas of the county’s financial records and their requests for clarification in March of 2008 and how upon no respond from Clayton County, sent another letter in July 2008 but still did not receive a response) were never answered, how he is investigating this, and he most shocking statement, he states that he still does not know Clayton County’s true financial standing.

Chairman Eldrin Bell’s position as Chairman is a full-time position that pays him well over $115,000 (one hundred and fifteen thousand dollars).

It is well known by many of the Clayton County Government Workers that Chairman Bell does not provide oversight nor does he provide strong, decisive, proactive, or good leadership of the over 25 Departments in the Clayton County Government.

Chairman Bell essentially lets them do as they please with no supervision. Some of the Department Heads are professional, intelligent, honest, hardworking, and ethical. Some others are dishonest, ignorant, unprofessional, shady, corrupted, unethical, lazy, shiftless, unmotivated, and take full advantage in a very negative way, the shorcomings, lack of leadership, vision, and oversight that Chairman Bell is supposed to provide.

It is really no wonder why Clayton County is in the sorry, bad, awful, pitiful, and pathetic shape that it is in.

It started first with the Caucasian (White) Americans that made up the entire Clayton County Board Of Commissioners in the 1980’s, 1990’s, and early 2000’s (Note present Commissioner Virginia Gray broke this all-white group when she was elected Commissioners of District 2, in November 1996 and started office on January 1, 1997) ignoring Clayton County land-use plan and voted and approved massive amounts of poor zoning ordinance decisions which lead to Clayton County building massive amounts of apartment homes, town-homes, low-end 100,000 to 150,000 dollar cluster crowded three-to-four homes to an acre subdivisions, numerous amounts of low-end retail strip retail malls and most horrific of all, approved the C-Tran bus system and all of this led to the massive influx of adults, youths, young adults, and teen-agers from the Section 8 housing project and ghettos from Atlanta, Georgia which first started when the city of Atlanta, Georgia started to tear down the housing projects and ghettos of Atlanta when they started to acquire prime real estate property which mostly sat where the housing projects were located. This gave the elected city officials of Atlanta, Georgia an excuse to close the housing project and essentially dump and sent all of these people to Clayton County with our glut and massive amount of apartment homes, town homes, low-cost low-end housing, town homes, trailor and mobile home parks, and extended stay and low-end hotels and motels.

When the elected officials of Clayton County became majority African(black) American in the mid 2000’s with the Clayton County Board Of Commissioners becoming majority (60% African (Black) American with the election of Eldrin Bell as Chairman and Wole Ralph as Commissioner of District 3 in the November elections of 2004 with the both of them taking elected office on January 1, 2005, I though that they along with Commissioner Virginia Gray would make Clayton County great again and make and vote in favor of decisions that work for and in the best interests of the citizens of Clayton County. Unfortunately this was a wrong assumption on my part.

Clayton County is a county that is in serious state of neglect by its past and present elected officials with virtually no hope in sight of eventual recovery.

By Y. B.

December 3, 2008 6:36 PM | Link to this

There is a financial crisis coming to Clayton County because our commissioners have sold us out to the likes of special interest.The People to watch out for are Mike “The Snake” Glanton, Eldrin “Anything for sale” Bell, Sonna “The Rat” Singelton, Virginia “Duh” Gray, Michele “The Puppetmaster” Edmondson and Wole “The forked tounged One” Ralph

By Elllenwod Resident

December 3, 2008 6:59 PM | Link to this

I for one am watching closely what the commissioners will do. Raise taxes or cut services. Which one is it Mr. Bell? Services are already next to none in the county. Are you going to dig deeper in my pocket during a recession? This comission is an embarrasement and a joke!On top of the school board mess now we have to deal with this. Is Angela fired yet? if not, why not?

By Mandingo Told You

December 3, 2008 6:59 PM | Link to this

Beleive it or not, I’ve told you before “People”like Mike “The Snake” Glanton, Eldrin “Anything for sale” Bell are two of the “Main Reason” your children don’t have Accreditation. Now you see how “Phendish they are! Call for a “Federal Investigation” into their actions—then you’ll see!

SEE! They’re still SELLING OUT to the White Man!

By Holy Ghost

December 3, 2008 7:07 PM | Link to this

Ethics, Ethics, Ethics, the AJC always writes the Final Four old CCBOE member were “Unethical” but never show what was unethical about thier actions—(a Power Move”. With these Clowns you see for yourself; they took MONEY!!!!Ethics, Ethics, Ethics, Go to SONNY ASAP!!!!

By Oh please

December 4, 2008 8:04 AM | Link to this

Enough,

No. It is not okay. But I have long since been disgusted by the actions of our commissioners. I am more disgusted, however, by the NAACP and this woman who reportedly is a descendant of the founder of the cemetery. She did not care until they asked if they could move it. The only motives anyone seems to really have here is money. No one really cares about what’s best for the remains of the deceased or having any respect for them at all. She is selling her ancestors out to make a fast buck, and the NAACP just hopped on the gravy train. People like her is what has driven this country (not just county, but country) into the ground and it gets worse every day!

By Mr Charlie

December 4, 2008 10:19 AM | Link to this

I don’t blame the NAACP, I don’t blame the lady, I blame the AJC for publishing such drivel. Nobody cares.

Bell is in bed with a strip club owner.

Your finance director can’t count.

Your kids kill each other.

Drive bys, home invasions, and stray bullets are the norm.

You lead the country in forclosures.

But the AJC feels it is necessary to make the graves issue its feature story.

Some paper.

By Concern Resident

December 4, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this

After reading all of the Blogs relating to the Clayton County crises and the cemetary issues, it seems that Clayton County is simple falling apart and no one in the public offices cares. The neigborhoods are infested with drugs, the gangs are simply out of control, the commissioner is in it only for what he can get out of it and the housing market is just gone to the dogs. What is really happening! the city of Atlanta is getting rid of unwanted property and the unwanted property is moving to Clayton County. I am fed up with all of the drugs, violence, gangs, and other violent crimes that are lurking around within Clayton County. It is time for the commissioners and other officials to make a stand and stop just getting a pay check…….

By Lilly

December 4, 2008 11:56 AM | Link to this

I agree! This county is falling apart. The elected officials seem unable to make improvements where needed. Does this county have to hit rock bottom before changes are made. Bell shoots of his thumb at a strip club owners home? What other county would tolerate such behavior? The commissioners vote on an item where the benifactor contributed money to their campaigns? Where else but Clayton county could such actions go unchallenged? It time for all of them to go!

By IWantTheTruthNow

December 4, 2008 3:31 PM | Link to this

Contact the Governor, GA Ethics Commission, AG Thurmond Baker, FBI, GA Commissioners Council, Sen. Isackson and Chambliss, and demand a forensic audit be conducted immediately.

By I Want the Truth Too but ...

December 4, 2008 3:42 PM | Link to this

do you think anybody cares about Clayton County? This is a republican state & Clayton votes democratic all the way all the time. Look how long it took Sonny Perdue to act on the school board stuff. but it is worth a try.

By well

December 4, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this

There is a simple solution to it all. Dissolve the county. Take the power away from the power hungry.

By Kimberly Allen

December 4, 2008 4:36 PM | Link to this

REMINDER at 7:00pm TONIGHT! at Mundy’s Mill High School (9652 Fayetteville Road, Jonesboro), CCPS will kick off a series of Community Gang Awareness Forums. If you have any questions, contact Dr. Anthony Smith or John Walker at 770 473-2760.

By whodidit?

December 5, 2008 8:54 AM | Link to this

Vote in this poll: http://www.give-em-the-boot.com/smf/index.php?topic=2618.0

By Dat Right

December 5, 2008 12:10 PM | Link to this

I live in Atlanta so I don’t really care about Clayton County.

I just want to thank you guys for enticing all these ghetto fools in Fulton County to come down their to Clayton County.

Dey fools!!!

By John Stewart

December 5, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this

Kimberly you asked can Clayton County get back on track? My answer to you is ……………………………………..

YES!!!

What will it take? It will take the citizenry of Clayco to really get involved and hold our officials accountable. For far too long there has been an Kleptocratic form of gov’t running the County with a network of collusion.

Warning - What is said after this point may just plain p** some folk off!!

Lets address the current financial situation.

According to a Clayton AJC article dated 11/25/08 the current commission was warned of bad accounting practices in the accounting dept by a Nationally Prestigious accounting firm KPMG. The board was warned then that they were spending reserve funds. 7 months later in June Ms. Jackson went before the BOC recorded in the mins that the county would have to dip into reserve funds. Lets look at the timeline…………..

Dec 2007 - KPMG states the county has spent 20 million in reserve funds. States that the counties own financial record keeping cannot be trusted.

June 2008 - Angela Jackson tells the county they will have to spend reserve funds.

Nov 2008 - The board only then starts an inquiry into the acct office.

• Commissioner Bell states he didn’t know the state of the counties finances.

• Commissioner Edmonson states that he has seen a financial report since the beginning of 2007*

Ok people in the words of comedian Carlos Mencia…….. Dee Dee Dee!!!!!

How the *ell do you run a county and not know the state of the county finances? We have a full time Commissioner, another Commissioner that is a real estate developer and understands budgets and has been on the board the longest another that deals in small business loans and understands you don’t work with companies unless you see their finances and another Commissioner in banking.

Here are my questions……….

• other than the lawsuit payouts due to walking small which projects caused us to dip into county reserves.

• according to KPMG record keeping was done incorrectly. According to them how long to they estimate its been like this.

• why hasn’t ANY Commissioner asked for reports if they haven’t received any on a monthly basis.

You tell me if I am the only one that is saying to myself things don’t smell kosher.

Clayton citizens if you think this crap started with this current commission then you have definitely inhaled. This crap has been going on too long. Its time for the mothers milk of Clayton county to dry up and those that have been at her breast for years to be cut off once and for all.

It’s time for transparency!!!!!

2 Words - Forensic Audit

By taylor

December 5, 2008 12:59 PM | Link to this

this blog is boring, can we change it please

By Blast from Past

December 5, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this

TO Y.B Y B another Trotter fool - is this Glenn or Noreese - get a life.

TO Mandingo moron - come on John - we are sick and tired of these blogs, just please go away. But I know you DO take great pleasure in others discomfort and in your mistaken fantasy that anyone finds you relavant.

By JDR

December 5, 2008 5:30 PM | Link to this

I’m just going to barricade myself in my house (with ample provisions, of course) until all of the young thugs quit killing each other and the county runs itself into the ground and implodes. I’ll surface once the smoke clears.

By Mandingo Justice

December 5, 2008 6:26 PM | Link to this

You “Suckers” in Clayton County can add all your County Commissioners to that “ole Wig Wearing” Negro State Attorney General Thurbert Baker for “Ethics Violations”. That Uncle Tom Thurbert will prosecute Blacks faster than he’ll whites. If you Don’t Beleive Me read this AJC article. HaHaHaHa!!!

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Tuesday, November 25, 2008 State Attorney General Thurbert Baker on Tuesday fired back at the state Ethics Commission over allegations that his agency delayed moving forward on complaints against politicians, in some cases for several years.

“Any implication that there is a significant backlog of ethics cases in this office is simply untrue,” Baker said. “More importantly, any implication that politics plays any role in the handling or disposition of ethics cases is completely false.”

Baker was responding to a report in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in which the Ethics Commission said only three of 35 ethics cases it has sent to the attorney general for administrative hearings have actually gone to hearings.

The attorney general’s office acknowledges that some cases haven’t gone to hearings yet. But it said the office has taken dozens of other ethics complaints to administrative hearings over the past five years.

Among the cases that both sides acknowledge has been stalled is one filed in 2001 against former House Speaker Terry Coleman. He was accused of misspending and incorrectly reporting more than $50,000 in campaign contributions and expenditures. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Just when members of the State Ethics Commission think they’ve heard it all, here comes Thursday.

First, Rep. Sharon Beasley-Teague (D-Red Oak), was brought up on a complaint that she hasn’t fully disclosed how she has spent thousands of dollars in campaign contributions. When the staff of the ethics commission asked for proof, they were given several receipts, according to my AJC colleague James Salzer.

Included on the receipts, according to the commission, were expenditures for a dog bone, dog food, and a lottery ticket. None of the items are considered by the commission to be necessary to help run a campaign or maintain an officeholder while they are serving in the General Assembly.

Her case was approved for a full investigation. You’ll remember that Beasley-Teague, a 15-year lawmaker just re-elected in November, collected more than $2,300 in mileage from the state last year, contending she took lengthy treks across Georgia.

In one case, she claimed mileage for driving 889 miles in one day —from Fairburn to Albany to Waycross to Savannah to Athens to Dillard and back to Fairburn. Thursday was State Rep. Roberta Abdul-Salaam (D-Riverdale), who allegedly owes $1,200 in late filing fees, and has yet to file numerous campaign disclosure reports.

Her excuse for at least some of the missing reports? Her home was ransacked by burglars and the reports have gone missing. With wastepaper (baled, office) selling for $90 a ton, you can understand why she might have been targeted.

Her case was approved for a full investigation.

NOTE: Tell the “Wig Wearer” move all your Clayton County Commissioners to the “FRONT” of the line like they did your Old Final Four CCBOE members!

By Dirty Dingo

December 5, 2008 6:37 PM | Link to this

Are you telling me Clayton’s State Rep. Roberta Abdul-Salaam (D-Riverdale), who allegedly owes $1,200 in late filing fees, and has yet to file numerous campaign disclosure reports. Is she “UNETHICAL” too. I willing to “Bet” all of the latest Politicians Clayton’s put in office in “Dirty Too”! What a NASTY County in a NASTY State.

By GLAD ITS CLAY-CO & NOT COBB

January 7, 2009 11:52 AM | Link to this

DUMB BLACK FOLKS OF CLAY-CO DONT LOOK FOR THE COUNTY TO RE-BUILD BECAUSE YOU ALL RE-ELECTED CORRUPT DRUG DEALING ELDRIN BELL,HE WAS CORRUPT WHEN HE WAS POLICE CHIEF OF ATL,YOU ALL WERE FOOLED BY THE LIGHTSKIN AND GREEN EYES,BUT DONT WORRY MR. BELL WILL CLEAN EVERY THING UP.

P.S.HERNDON HOLMES BOWEN HOLMES AND BANKHEAD COURT CLOSING DOWN AND THEY ARE ON THE WAY TO CLAY-CO,YALL WANTED THUG LIFE NOW YALL GOT IT,THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GET RID OF VICTOR HILL AND KEEP ALL THE OTHER CORRUPT GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.

OYEAH WHAT ABOUT ELDRIN BELL SELLING OUT THAT OLD BLACK CEMETARY TO A DEVOLOPER HOPES HE AND ALL THOSE CORRUPT PEOPLE YALL VOTED IN CONTINUE TO DO YALL IN!