Clayton.Talk

By Kimberly Allen

December 15, 2008 1:18 PM | Link to this

Tonight is the final Board of Education meeting for 2008, as well as the swearing in of Pam Adamson (District 1) and Charlton Bivins (District 9).

The swearing in ceremony will begin at 6:00pm and the meeting will begin at 6:30pm, both held at the Clayton County Public Schools Administrative Complex, 1058 Fifth Avenue, Jonesboro.

By Black Woman In Clayco

December 15, 2008 2:05 PM | Link to this

We don’t have any children yet, but yeah our habits changed, although they have been changing for years now. This year we’ll only buy gifts for a couple of special children in our lives (and I will donate to Kinship as well), no adults and not even each other. Thank God we don’t “need” anything and must say I feel like a weight has been lifted this Christmas! No rushing around, no crowded shopping malls to deal with, although I did go to Macys this weekend and noticed how empty the mall was so think a lot of people are finding the “real reason for the season” this year, even if its forced due to the recession.

By My story

December 15, 2008 2:30 PM | Link to this

I worked for the same company for 12 years. I was in mid level management. I was laid off in the spring of 2007. It has been all downhill since then. I lost my home to forclosure in Forest Park, I’ve sold everything of value including my wedding set to keep from going in foreclosure, and now me family lives in an efficiency lodge in Stockbridge. My husband worked at Ford before they closed. He now workes at Waffle House as a night cook. I did get a job at the new Wal-Mart stocking shelves. My husband earns about $340 per week but brings home half of that because child support from his first wife get 50%. He brings home about $480 per month after taxes. I bring home about $217 per month. Between both of us we bring home about $700 per month. Our rent on our hotel is $218 Per week or $873 Per month. We are busting our butts and hearts just to keep the roof over our head. We both been looking for jobs but the fact is there are no out there willing to pay anything near what we were earning. Our conbined income was $ 98,000! We had the stable family and all the luxuries of any middle class working family. It’s all gone! My husband is dealing with Diabetes and failing kidneys because he went so many months without insulin because we could not get medicaid for six months. That six month wait took it’s toll on his body. The prospect of dialysis is scary! Each treamtment cost $ 460 and medicaid only covers 60% If we can’t cover the remaining balance, he will have to go without. We were both offered COBRA healthcare benifits but they were extremely expensive. Our monthly payment shot up to $1.267 per month! That wiped out my severance money. Child support wiped out about 70% of my husbands severance. We were flat broke in less then six months. We are currently receiving $ 438 in food stamps and medicaid and $237 in cash assistance but that will end this month because we both have jobs.

I pulled in 40K plus and my husband pulled in 50K plus per year when we were working. I never thought in a million years we would be receiving welfare. in fact, I loathed those who were receiving welfare. I thought they were lazy welfare queens but now I have a new perspective. I have a bachelor’s degree in Human resources and my husband has a Master degree in injecting mold engineering. We played by the rules, payed our taxes, made sacrafices when neccessary and were responsible about how we spent our money. I have been on numerous interviews but they don’t pan out because the companies want young workers who they can pay a fraction of what I was eaning. (I’m 46) I used to say to myself why don’t those people just go get a job? Well, I’ve found out it is not as easy as “Just go get a job” Jobs are hard to come by in 2008!

I read this blog and wanted to say to everyone to be thankful for you do have. Clayton County is sickening because of the attitudes people have towards others. Share prayer and constructive thoughts towards each other. As bad as our situation is, I’m thankful that we’re not living under a bridge or a homeless shelter downtown. I’m grateful my husbands kidney’s are holding up, I’m gratful that we have our jobs at wal-mart and waffle house, I’m gratful that there is a food stamp/medical assistance program. The layoffs have devstated our lifestyle but we pray that it will get better. Stop being so nasty on here and start praying for each other. Many of you are one paycheck away from my situation. Lord knows we have been humbled by this experience.

By Downsized

December 15, 2008 4:24 PM | Link to this

I know your pain. I was downsized this past summer and have had four interviews. I’ve sent out over 400 resumes to no avail. My savings is drying up and if I don’t find something fast, I’m in big trouble.

My home is one month behind in mortgage payments. They are working with me. I’m a single mom of two. I was not eligble for unemployment because I received a small severance package of $ 2,021. I have to deplete that money before I can receive unemployment. Then the Department of labor says I have to deplete my savings account. I don’t understand it? Why do I have to go all the way in the tank before I can keep from going all the way in the tank?

My background is in Social Service for the disable.

By Melanie Lee

December 15, 2008 4:59 PM | Link to this

To the last 2 posters:

Social service jobs are still in demand. Check your county DFCS and state agencies as well as Hospitals (DeKalb Medical and Emory). DHR is still hiring nurses and DFCS case managers.

Good luck!

By Why'd you ask

December 15, 2008 5:13 PM | Link to this

Ladies, I am very sorry for your troubles. I’m afraid that’s going to be the tone of many comments to this blog of Kimberly’s. I’m thankful that I no longer have small children and the two adult children I have understand that I am not able to do much of anything this year. But all in all, it’s not the presents that count - at least once you’ve reached a certain age - it’s the spirit of the holiday that matters. I pray that you both find a way out of your circumstances - that is my holiday wish for you.

By Maggie in Clayton

December 16, 2008 9:18 AM | Link to this

I want to send prayers and blessings out to all who posted about their troubles. I hope you find work soon. And reading this I do feel blessed that so far, no one in my family has been laide off or lost their job and pray that that don’t happen. Although we all like giving and receiving gifts, Christmas in my opinion is for the children, although i’m not sure I will donate to this particular cause I’ve already donated gifts to Toys for Tots, every child should feel special not only on Christmas but every day. I can’t imagine growing up in this time period. If I can I will donate to this cause as well because kids, especially Clayton’s kids this year, have gone through so much.

By Sarah Palin 2012

December 16, 2008 10:40 AM | Link to this

Personal responsibility? Your in this situation because you chose to be. Now my tax dollars are going to feed your lazy, non working a*. You should not have had children if you could not afford them. Go tade in your gold teeth, suv with spinners and your childrens designer threads. You people make me sick!

By phred schwartz

December 16, 2008 12:11 PM | Link to this

Sarah Palin 2012: You are one pathetic individual. I pity you, as should everyone else. Take your racist bigotry somewhere else. BTW I’m white and used to live in Clayton County. As much as the county does suck, it’s no reason to slam those that are down on their luck, especially at this time of the year. I pray for all of you and even sorry a$$ Sarah. Merry Christmas and God bless you all.

By Jill

December 16, 2008 2:39 PM | Link to this

What else did you expect on the Clayton blog?

By Yeah, okay

December 16, 2008 3:02 PM | Link to this

Nobody knows for a fact if the people writing on here live in Clayton county or not, so stop making assumptions.

By Clayton man

December 16, 2008 5:45 PM | Link to this

SP 2012 is just blogging for blog sake to try to rile up the good and just people of Clayton. This person is obviously a fool and moron just trying to get a reaction.

Our thoughts and prayers do go out to those in need. GOD Bless you and Keep you.

By Lovejoy

December 16, 2008 6:11 PM | Link to this

Have you heard the latest from the idiots that run the Clayton County School system? They are going to ask Obama for money to replace all the funding they were to stupid to receive and because of their stupidity lost. Yea Right,, Obama could care less about Clayton County. Hey Sarah Palin is a thousands times smarter than anybody in Clayton County theses days. Her state is not totally screwed up like Clayton County. Every day Clayton County is getting worse , Ha ha

By Oh please

December 17, 2008 8:23 AM | Link to this

The person blogging as Sarah Palin 2012 is just a democrat hoping to generate bad feelings and bad PR for the republican hopeful!

By Yeah, okay

December 17, 2008 9:35 AM | Link to this

LOL! Sarah Palin’s generated enough bad feelings and PR all by hereself, she needs no help from Clayton for that. I hope she does run again, that should all but guarantee Barack Obama a second term in office.

By Melvin Drops A Ball

December 17, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this

The Clayton County Board of Commissioners regular business meeting last night was an unmittigated disaster. And all the while the tv cameras were rolling…

Barnum Bailey/Ringling Bros and the Universe Soul crew showed up and showed out! The little men dressed as clowns all tried to fit in a single car and Jerry Springer was the Ringmaster.

By rev al

December 17, 2008 4:55 PM | Link to this

The words for today are very simple, but if followed can really make the day better. “Do everything without complaining or arguing.” (Philippians 2:14). If asked to do something, do it with a smile. Don’t worry about the fact that someone else isn’t helping out. Use your gifts that are given to you by God with a joyful heart. During this season, be happy and welcome each day and opportunity with joy in your heart. Take on the tasks given to you with a positive spirit and find the blessings that will be given to you.

Prayer: Father God, thank you for the gifts that you have given me. Help me to serve you with a joyful heart. Help me to welcome opportunities and tasks with a attitude of “Here I am, Lord use me.” In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

By Sarah Palin 2012

December 17, 2008 6:10 PM | Link to this

I’m not being mean. People are responsible for their own destiny. Do you know how i struggle? I think not. No one is putting food on my table, paying my rent. I struggle to do those things. If i could keep more of my hard earned money, maybe I would not struggle. But I resent my money going to feed and cloth people who are able to work but refuse to. Most welfare queens don’t want to work! Why should they? Everything is givin to them. They raise their babies up to reject education. They only want to be rappers and thugs! you know it’s true. America is all about sinking or swimming. If people put ther priorities in order then they would not have to resort to public aid. The fact of the matter is most welfare queens are black. I’m not being racist, i’m being factual. If we passed a law making it illegal for black women to have children before marriage then we would see the crime rate go so low they could not track it! Some of my best friends are negros. I work with negros. We talk and even then they brag about how they scammed the local dollar store for .13 cent. They are not very bright when it comes to starting business and being self-sufficient.

Obama will not make your situation any better. He is a socialist. He is going to take away our guns and rights as white people and give them to the blacks. Then what? Look what is happening in South Africa? It is a black hole! The negros have destroyed that country sort of like they are doing to Clayton County.

Sarah Palin is the future of America. She is smart as well as articulate. She knows her stuff and she is a maverick. She won’t tax and spend like most negro politicians will.

By Pontificator

December 17, 2008 6:33 PM | Link to this

Lovejoy and Sarah Palin 2012 you pink pork head swine, how do you what’s going on in Alaska? Yea, you don’t! We see you southern swine have love affair with that “Air Head” Sarah Palin-don’t you fell like a “Minority” in America!

Your old country butt, “Never” has been out of Georgia- never been north of the Mason-Dixon Line. However, your republicans’ tactics did work for you in the local elections this year. You frighten the “Dumb-masses” by holding their black children accreditation hostage; to get a few white girls elected.

Now that you have Pam Anderson, Mary Baker, Gail Buckner and the white DA, you may find some comfort for a while, however, short lived. That group’s whiteness and republican-ness will start spilling out for all to see soon and they’ll never get elected again.

Now that you have those few in place do you fell all-inclusive? Are you swine going to give the black kids their accreditation back, “NOW “, or are you swine going to keep standing on the black kids “Neck” until you have a “WHITE” Superintendent in place.

We Black know the “Accreditation Issue” is all about white folk and money in Clayton.

By Dat Right

December 17, 2008 6:38 PM | Link to this

Yeah, Sarah Palin 2012, I love your posts

It’s interesting at that the word “bailout” was used. It’s the right term since most Clayco children are juvenile delinquents aka thugs…These children don’t need any toys, what would that add to their lives? The need lessons in manners and how to dress. The need to learn to speak correctly. Da thugs need a belt to hold dey pants up. Da girls need a comb for dat nappy head.

By Sarah Palin 2012

December 17, 2008 6:41 PM | Link to this

You did not lose accredition because of money, you lost it because your elected board was not capable of holding a civilizaed meeting, among other things.

All one has to do is look at Africa to see how blacks operate without the whites influence. Zimbabwe has been under black leadership for 20 plus years, and now can’t even produce fresh water.

Somalia has not have a functioning government for over 20 years.

The list goes on and on, anyone with common sense can see it.

By ,,,=^..^=,,,

December 17, 2008 6:42 PM | Link to this

The white republicans, and primarily Sonny, have raped Clayton’s and Georgia’s school system. Promises were made to improve our schools and all they did was take away money already in the State budget. This has been done for years - schools operating at below budget - and this includes the “good” economic times when GA had surplus money.

Now that the economy is “bad”, of course they want to reduce education dollars even more. For those of you that have the opinion that GA public schools are horrible, YOU should be the most upset.

This is money collected from you for the purpose of education and yet this money was diverted for other uses by the republicans and Sonny. Why do the citizens of GA allow this?

By Free as the wind

December 17, 2008 6:58 PM | Link to this

Since the 1600s, whites have sailed Raped, Robbed, and Stole every country’s natural resources. That why every country have Terrorist looking to “Destroy” whites. You pink head Poker wouldn’t have a clue about a civilized meeting. You can only control the white MEDIA and their projections of blacks. We blacks see right through that. That why you couldn’t get a recall. HaHaHa

By Marinemom

December 18, 2008 9:11 AM | Link to this

The spirit of the holiday is certainly shining through. You can upset the masses if you want with your rambling Sarah Palin, oh, and while your at it, pull out a dictionary and learn how to spell because it is quite evident that your “lack” of education is showing, which puts you right in the midst of all of those “negro” rapper wanna be’s and thugs you write about. Merry Christmas everyone.

By Lovejoy

December 18, 2008 9:37 AM | Link to this

Sorry but blacks have did it to themselves. Africans themselves are the ones that sold their own people into slavery. Its the incompetence of the black leadership in Clayton County that has caused their problems not the Republicans or the Governor . ’ Pontificator ’ when are people like you ever going to take responsibility for your own actions and stop blaming other people for what you do? Pontificator , Far as Alaska I have been there, its a nice place , much nicer than Clayton County. Pontificator You might not understand this but some of us are not getto people like you , we travel and take vacations.

By Sic of it all

December 18, 2008 10:21 AM | Link to this

Only on the Clayton blog can we go from giving thanks for our blessings to ugly!

Way to go Clayton!

This county needs to be nuked!

By jdr

December 18, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this

all of those posts with the extreme views are just the product of the same warped mind - a TROLL, like GD or NH or JT.

Ignore them. They are only looking for attention.

By Yeah, okay

December 18, 2008 10:46 AM | Link to this

Again … none of us knows for a fact that any of these crazy posts are actually from Clayton residents. So stop making assumptions and generalizing.

By Mojo Mist

December 18, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this

To all,

The Man In The Mirror

If you get what you want in your struggle for self And the world makes you king for a day Then go to the mirror and look at yourself And see what that man has to say

For it isn’t a man’s father, mother or wife Whose judgement upon him must pass The fellow whose verdict counts most in his life Is the man staring back from the glass

He’s the fellow to please, never mind the rest For he’s with you clear up to the end And you’ve passed your most dangerous, difficult test If the man in the glass is your friend

You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years And get pats on the back as you pass But your final reward wil be heartache and tears If you’ve cheated the man in the glass

My wish is for all to be friends with the man in the glass. Happy Holidays!

By BOAR HUNTER

December 18, 2008 6:35 PM | Link to this

The Swine In The Mirror

The swine have always done bad deeds and looked in the mirror and saw a greedy nogood swine. Then swine pick up a bible and try to convince himself and you that he was justified in bad deeds and greediness. Too bad the swine can’t see past his dirty nasty snort. Beside that! SEASONS GREETING!!!

By Mandingo

December 18, 2008 6:41 PM | Link to this

Those with the means should help all the people they can. This time of year is not the only time of year to help one another. Blessing,Blessing,Blessing,Blessing.

By Maxx4955

December 19, 2008 9:42 AM | Link to this

Does it really matter at this point as to who caused the problems in Clayton County? Ignorant whites, blacks, hispanics, and asians all contributed to its’ demise, so stop worrying and do something about it. Coming on this blog to rant and rave pushing blame and searching for a pity party won’t help pay your rent. Talk to people that can help you. This blog can’t help you by no means because most here are struggling to survive themselves. The racial spewing going on is just a sign of weakness and fear so don’t feed into it. When you a helpless and you can’t help your fellow man, you blame everyone and anyone. Remember, many that blog here live very empty, boring and lonely lives. This blog gives them a sense of power and control. Stop worrying Clayton, Allah is in control.

By Yeah, okay

December 19, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this

Thanks for that blog Mojo Mist!

By Mike

December 19, 2008 6:42 PM | Link to this

The BOC is corrupt. The county will be facing some serious financial problems next month. Commisioners are starting to point fingers and deny responsibility. Chairman Bell is acting as if he has advanced Alzheimers and the other flunkies on the commission are acting as if they don’t have a clue. The entire commission needs to be replaced. They have acted in a way that is inexcusable. WHERE IS THE MONEY! Has that question been answered yet? What is the ramifications of this budget crunch? I want to know where my tax dollars are.

By For Peace Sake

December 19, 2008 6:46 PM | Link to this

Give the black children of Clayton County their “Accreditation Back” Immediately Now all the people in the County see that all their politicians are “All Crooked” none worst than our County Commission; in the “Pockets of the “County’s Rich like Landfill/Dirt Deal man “Stephens.

Now we see that our State Government is “Corrupt and Broke” totally “Mismanaging the citizens of the “Entire” State tax money. 1.6 to 2 billion dollars in debt a “Repub problem” that’s Sonny and he appointed an “Unethical man to the Ethics Commission.

State Schools Superintendent Kathy Cox, have filed for personal bankruptcy, claiming more than $3.5 million in liabilities and less than $650,00 in assets, according to court documents. Then you have SACS Elgart and State Ed. Board Members Bryant and Bostic talking about “Bad Governance and Ethics in Clayton “Pleasssse”.

The only people you will ever see removed from politics for So-called Ehtics, will be Black. There will come a time when the system will stop attacking the least of us, the Black Children.

Now, we all know this “Whole SACS Ordeal” is about “Money and Those Folk” The Lord have places for those that do! Happy Holidays and Season’s Greeting!!!

By 2008 Blog Master

December 19, 2008 7:01 PM | Link to this

The white BOE in Gwinnett is about to “Sidestep and Disregard” State and Federal Law with Sonny’s Blessing. While Clayton County BOE can’t even hire and appoint a “Superintendent” without all the whites here and at the State “Getting in an Uproar”. Now after that if you still don’t think you live in a “REDNECK BACKWARD STATE, you’re really hurting.

By Blast

December 22, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this

Hey Trotter - looks like you are the only blogger for the last two days Dec. 18,19. Guess all the rest of us are concentrating on Christmas with our family. Sorry - bud - no one should be alone at this time.

By ,,,=^..^=,,,

December 22, 2008 6:51 PM | Link to this

Bail Out the Hospital, for heaven’s sakes. The Hospital is just a microcarism of what’s have happened and is still going on over the 8 years of Republician Regime State and National.

The Repubilician “Robbed the Middle -Class” and gave to the “Rich”.

All Elgrin have to do is go ask the “Pink Pony Guy”, to let the county borrow about 40 million Buck.

By Snow King

December 22, 2008 7:03 PM | Link to this

Well I don’t know about Bailing out the Hospital! All you “Folk” working on cleaning out the county and “Gentrification” may want to “Rethink” the “Bail Out”. Never mind one the the county’s largest employer!