AJC > Sandy Springs > Blog > Archives > 2008 > December > 30 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USEpstein: Let’s work together
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Growing up our front yard was the venue for a lot of neighborhood football and baseball games. It was big and flat, with few places to lose an errant ball.
Back then, in the absence of umpires and referees, we settled most disputes with a do-over. Let’s say a ball was hit down what passed for the first-base line. The batter always called it fair, the pitcher called it foul. The end the argument we’d agree to do-over — let the batter have another hack without penalty.
As we grew up we found that do-over’s became less frequent. In the big-people world there was no way to easily clean up a thoughtless comment to a friend, a regrettable one-night stand, selecting the wrong career path — those were part of our personal history forever.
But now our neighborhood and The Epstein School get a do-over. To recap the school wanted to expand its physical plant, add more students and make significant additions to its property. The neighborhood, and I live there, vehemently opposed the expansion plan. It was to have been decided this month by the city, but Epstein has withdrawn its application after discussions with fundraising consultants.
No doubt the school has not abandoned its plans. No doubt the neighborhood will be watching if Epstein re-applies in the future, ready to renew its protest. But here’s the cool part — this sets up both parties for a do-over.
I have no idea where the starting point is but now would be an ideal time for the two parties to sit down and see if and where compromise can be found. Indeed, the city recommended the two parties try and get together to seek some sort of solution before now.
The trick to making compromise work is willingness on both sides. Because while compromise gives all involved a portion of what they want, but it also takes desired things off the table. To get one has to be willing to give.
This has been a contentious period for both sides. Throughout the fall the idea of compromise seemed as likely as my dog Jake being invited to Obama’s cabinet. To date I have not heard anyone from the school, the neighborhood or the city step up with a plan that offers a real measure of common ground. The impasse remains even though the catalyst for it goes into limbo.
So how do the two break the ice? I’m not even sure that a compromise can be reached, but can we all agree that the attempt at a compromise is in order? We did it when we were kids and I always thought age was supposed to bring wisdom. Anybody up for a do-over?
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment | Categories: Jim Osterman
.JPG)
-1.JPG)
Services »
Comments
By A
December 30, 2008 3:33 PM | Link to this
Jim:
Good idea Jim, but you need to take one more step back. Epstein has always committed to working with the affected neighborhoods — both publicly in the various hearings on the plan as well as privately to all of us parents. That held true even as a vocal minority of your neighbors (including posters to this board) did what they could to portray the school as the evil empire and us Epstein families as carpet baggers happily destroying the neighborhood — all unjustly, of course. That willingness holds true today and will in the future. The school has no choice but to continue to be willing to engage in dialogoue with the neighborhoods as long as the school resides there - that is just reality. And in doing so, you know who speaks on behalf of Epstein and where it is. You know Stan Beiner is the head of the school. You know Robert Franco is the President (and when his term is up, you will know who the new president is). What Epstein wants to accomplish is a matter of public record and had been volunteered to the neighborhoods long in advance of the acrimony over the last 6 months.
The problem, Jim, is that there is no defined spokeman / spokesgroup for the neighborhoods. There is only an informal cadre of people (some better informed than others) purporting to speak on behalf of the neighborhoods and a silent majority of your neighbors allowing them to do it — and letting them get away with not being constructive as the goal to date has clearly been to block the plan at all costs. So, who is Epstein supposed to compromise with? And what does the ‘neighborhood’ wish to accomplish other than seeing the school never implement its plans?
So Jim, if you are serious about wanting a do - over, then do something about it. Get the affected neighborhood associations to elect a handful of people authorized to speak on the various neighborhood’s behalf in negotiating with the school. That means each association will have to cede decision making authority to the elected group. And that elected group will have to make hard choices and be accountable to the residents. Stan and Robert are accountable to us. Who is accountable to you and your neighbors today? Who among you is willing to step up and say — “you know what, while I don’t love a lot of the plan, the fact that it gets a lot of cars off the street is a positive thing for us — so let’s ask for more of that.”
Your entire do over premise rests on the notion that there are in fact two sides. That is not right. The neighborhoods need to create a side first. Only then can any attempt at compromise have any chance of being meaningful. Otherwise, it’s just more theater.
By e b knott
December 31, 2008 2:15 PM | Link to this
The Epstein School has never been considerate of the neighborhood or the residents.
I lived on Underwood Drive from 1990 to 1997. The Epstein School parents didn’t live in the area, so they broke the speed limit going down my street on a daily basis. The traffic was awful when I left for work in the morning and whenever they had a school function, the parents parked all over the neighborhood (not always being careful not to block driveways.)
During that time they wanted to expand. When the neighbors began to object because of the increased traffic that would result and the disruption the construction would cause, the school sent out letters accusing the neighborhood of being anti-Semitic.
Accusations like that do not encourage compromise - just the opposite.
By Neighborhood Spokesman
January 3, 2009 10:19 AM | Link to this
Dear A:
The neighborhood had well informed spokesman that tried with all of their might to get the school to compromise. The school wasn’t budging on even the smallest matters. You and Mr. Osterman need to get the facts before spouting off your misconceptions. Even your City officials will tell you the school didn’t listen to them, their attorney, or the neighborhoods!
Mr. Osterman shame on you for not getting the facts
By JS
January 5, 2009 11:46 PM | Link to this
Reading responses from A and Eb reflect a real problem. They state- The school is wrong and didn’t try to do anything. Really? The school would not budge on even the smallest matters. Really? Why would any institution try that strategy? Is it possible that it did try? Maybe they did not go far enough for people but that is different from not trying. Eb-you moved away a long time ago. The school reaches out and is a good neighbor. It hosts events, sends thank you gifts, and is responsive. The painting of one side as evil and the other as good is why compromise will be a problem. Tone down the rhetoric. These are good people trying to do the best they can to educate children. The school has been there longer than a lot of current residents. Maybe the city will step in at some point and try to bring some civility to proceedings when schools want to grow. Thank you, Mr. Osterman for being reasonable. Be careful, any neighbor in your area that has spoken like you has been made to feel like a pariah. It is the Sandy Springs Way. Believe me, I know.