Duluth.Talk

By Katie

May 8, 2008 9:06 AM | Link to this

There’s too much building going on everywhere. There’s too many people. We need to stop building. There are plenty of homes, condos, apartments and retail space available, WHY do we need to build more???? Have you ever noticed all the empty buildings?? Businesses AREN’T coming yet we still build the structures anyway. We should be planting more trees.

By Norcross

May 8, 2008 9:35 AM | Link to this

Amen Katie….although I know the term might offend you.

More Trees. There is a retail center on Buford Hwy that has been empty since it opened and developers want to ADD more. Now the center I am talking about actually looks good, its near the corner of Old Norcross and Buford Hwy, but what about the nearly empty strip center at Simpson Circle, or next to the gray hound station in Norcross. There are those 3 strip centers with 90% empty space within about 2 miles.Just off the top of my head. What about the completely empty Pinnacle Point Office complex in Norcross.

Katie our side of town is under served with Parks…so the solution…build a ugly gas station next to a day care center. Or allow people to pave their driveway to allow more cars to park there, or allow cars to park over the side walk so people can not use them..

Amazing…simply amazing.

By Katie

May 8, 2008 9:50 AM | Link to this

Norcross, you know me well. I will not take offense to the ‘amen’, this time.. :)
The closest green space to me is a little pond/walking trail at an industrial park. All the benches are broken and there’s trash, literally, everywhere.

By Katie

May 8, 2008 9:52 AM | Link to this

Norcross, that’s it. Pinnacle point, that’s the pond/walking trail I mentioned..

I’ve seen hookers there and many very weird men, I always feel uneasy walking there. I try to stay on the opposite side of the pond from everyone and often will change directions to avoid people.

By Tim

May 8, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this

There are plenty of places where Success Doesn’t Live. Move there. You can have all the Green Space you want in over 140 counties in Georgia. You communists can stop overbuilding a few ways. 1. Stop having kids. 2. Stop being successful. 3. Make laws that require businesses to move into old dilapidated buildings sort of like how it works in 3rd world countries. We have more trees, a cleaner environment, and a better system of government than any place on planet earth. Bedwetting Liberals that want to subdue free enterprise is what we need less of.

By ^^^^^^^^Look up

May 8, 2008 11:21 AM | Link to this

Moron above, alert alert, Moron above.

By Katie

May 8, 2008 1:44 PM | Link to this

Actually, Stone Mountain has a lot more KKK than anywhere else in the Atlanta area. They used to have clan rallies at the top of Stone Mountain. I didn’t learn that until I moved here.

who knows, perhaps they still do…

By Chuck

May 8, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this

Hey, don’t knock Chairman Bannister. He’s often sober for BOC meetings, and he’s a really likable guy. Developers and low-lifes everywhere adore him - check out his campaign entourage some time. Rumor has it that the U.G.C.A. (United Gay Coalition of Atlanta), in conjunction with NAMBLA of Greater Gwinnett, will be backing him for re-election - how could that be a bad thing?

By Jais

May 8, 2008 6:38 PM | Link to this

I know chuck, what are we missing here?

By Bruce Wilcox

May 8, 2008 9:23 PM | Link to this

Duluth, hard to build up one site while the others die. I couldn’t believe it when I stopped by the hospital between Pleasant Hill and Peachtree Industrial, nice, newer buildings and an empty shopping mall aross the street?

The mall at one time held a chain market, a great Italian rest, a Chinese rest., the hair clippers. the nail clippers and the dry cleaners. Empty? It is now the perfect location for the businesses with the staff and visitors from the hospital just across the street.

Who approves all this, why the same party that has controled the people of this county since 1985.

Jais AAA Duluth, Democrats are tree huggers remember, kind of desperate there to blame Democrats for the mess the county is in when it’s been controled by the other party for over twenty years.

Laughable, but a nice try.

By Katie

May 9, 2008 7:53 AM | Link to this

Usually building is based on demand for it. With all the empty retail space I think it’s quite obvious that there isn’t a demand. Why build just to create jobs for people (illegal or not)? Let them seek jobs elsewhere. We shouldn’t keep building just for the sake of building. This isn’t a political argument, being a democrat or republican doesn’t matter. It’s using your brain and making the right choices.

By Sam

May 9, 2008 8:36 AM | Link to this

Jais -

If you’re complaining about DULUTH then the County commissioners have ZERO to do with the issue. The responsible parties are the members of the Duluth City Council and the Mayor.

Shirley has been mayor for 14 years - and the City is way, way worse off than when she arrived. Now she says she wants to do the same thing for district 1 that she did for Duluth? Are you kidding? That’s the last thing we need!

By One Man's View

May 9, 2008 8:42 AM | Link to this

It would be nice to know what are the plans of Duluth planners. I agree that Duluth is very difficult to navigate. The Hwy 120 jog is a mess. Let’s face it, Duluth was a po-dunk town on a railroad track for most of its history. It’s hard to overcome that.

Regarding tree-huggers, liberals, Democrats, and Repubs. The old-time Democrats of Gwinnett were hardly tree huggers or liberals. They were about as corrupt as could be - commissioners getting rich during office. But the Repubs may be worse. They don’t even try to hide their pandering to money. And its all legal. There is not a conservative bone in their bodies.

By Chuck

May 9, 2008 8:54 AM | Link to this

Interesting - Shriley and Charles Babnnister appear to be connected at the hip on their campaign activities. Sure smells funny, doesn’t it?

By Chuck

May 9, 2008 8:58 AM | Link to this

Almost forgot - Chuck’s long time business partner and political advisor Bill McKinney is still in the picture as well.

By Bill Allen

May 9, 2008 9:01 AM | Link to this

Geez, Jais, you’ve been holding that in for a while, haven’t you? :-)

I think you’ve just written a synopsis for a book on how a Southern train-rail city meets the 20th/21st century. Old Democrats/New Republicans are essentially the same - keepers of the master’s mansion. No racial overtones intended. They profit from things that make the plantation bigger, tell the workers that it’s all in their best interest, and when the soil has given its nutrients to the crops, he buys more land and leaves the old plot(s) barren.

I know exactly the shopping center of which you speak, Mr. Wilcox. I’ve thought exactly the same thing. There used to be a sandwich shop - Deli Boy Subs - that was awesome! I’d brave the traffic for a lunch meal there. How perfect it would have been for the construction workers building the hospital, for the doctors, nurses and visitors getting away from hospital food and eating there. Stop at the grocery store on the way home, have visiting relatives eat dinner after visiting a patient….

Instead, there is nothing but an empty, brick building. Granted, these are tough economic times. Still, the poor planning was evidenced long before oil shot up, before…. Too much, too soon? Or too little, too late?

Abandoned office parks. sprawled development. The oak tree is more than symbolic, I think. It’s a sacrifice of what made the area unique by replacing it with empty brick, low paying jobs, lots of apartments but fewer homes.

Corrupt politicians? I won’t say that. I will say that many actions and decisions benefit a few, not many. I hold us as citizens equally, if not more, accountable. We vote. Or don’t vote. We don’t contest, we let them run unopposed, and when we do oppose, we’re more interested in digging up salacious stories than we are in developing a plan. Be mad Kennerly, Green, Lassiter. But hold us equally accountable.

It’s easy to point out what’s wrong, but it takes effort to fix it. It’s easy to blame politics, but it’s hard to change the voice of the arguments. It takes time and effort, and we have either been convinced that we don’t matter, or we are simply too lazy to pick up a shovel and dig. Too, it’s easy to lump in the good people with the “bad” bunch.

Sorry folks. Got long winded. I do see what is good about this area, I see how it can be great. I do think that it’s important to identify the problems (easy) before we can formulate solutions (difficult).

By Jerry Robb

May 9, 2008 9:29 AM | Link to this

jaisAAA must not know the same Shirley Lasseter that I know, and I went to school with HER, not her son.

I would think if you went to school with her son, you might even know how to spell her last name.

Duluth is a great little town in a rapidly growing urban environment. When Gwinnett Mall was a field, Pleasant Hill Road was 2 lanes.

As far as the Duluth Police, everyone should wish to have such a great outfit! I’ve lived here since 1979 and only know of two shooting incidents. Don’t speed though!

Maybe you should try Norcross. The traffic is a LOT better on Jimmy Carter!

By Norcross

May 9, 2008 9:41 AM | Link to this

Ouch…..very very ouch.

By Mighty Mouse

May 9, 2008 9:46 AM | Link to this

In response to some of the issues, it is important to shed light on things like jurisdiction and authority. The City of Duluth has little to no input into the plans for traffic management on most of the major roads in the city limits. Why? These roads are county or state maintained and planned. There are efforts within the city to create a plan to help bring the adjacent to the town green Buford Highway corridor into the downtown in regards to both access, services and design. However, this is not a city maintained road, so that presents difficulties. In addition, it is often forgotten that property is, for the most party, privately held. A city planning department can only go so far in saying what happens with a certain property without stepping on the rights of private property owners. This has been tested time and time again in many Supreme Court cases.

Unfortunately, urban planners in America are often taking the role of only advisors to the lawmakers in most communities. The lawmakers of each community will decide where to go with the recommendations of their planning staff. While this is certainly the democratic way, it does present some barriers to getting things done. Most of all, it places a large political barrier in the way of planners in which little is often accomplished. Anyway, that’s the reality of the situation.

By jodi

May 9, 2008 10:31 AM | Link to this

While downtown historic duluth does have it’s traffice issues, the big picture has been left out of this entire story. The worst Duluth traffic problems aren’t in historic downtown. They are on Satellite Blvd - they are on Pleasant Hill Road where it will literally take you 30+ minutes to drive one mile during rushour (IF you are so lucky!). Overdevelopment is an understatement. In my 15 years in this city, I’ve seen it go from a calm suburbia, to miles of run down abandoned strip malls and any brick home along the main roads demolished for yet MORE strip malls that sit empty. STOP BUILDING! Pleasant Hill doesn’t need an 8 story condo/mixed use complex! You can’t even drive down that disaster of a road anymore as it is. Fix the traffic, more greenspace, and start getting companies to either demolish OLD strip malls then build new on that site, or spruce up what is already there. Before you know it, Duluth will not be a place where people go on weekends to shop with their families.

By Bill Allen

May 9, 2008 11:07 AM | Link to this

Mighty Mouse - excellent input. Thanks for the info. My only thought would be that it would have been nice to have it worked out before the construction, but I understand the difficulties of working through such issues.

jodi - You get a gold star. I will talk about Pleasant Hill in a subsequent blog. I will say that the Gwinnett Place CID is doing some work on the area. Kudos to them for trying. Send an e-mail to Joe Allen (no relation) at the CID. He’d be very happy to hear from you. That said, you took the words out of my mouth. You’re right - 30 minutes is generous. I was running out of word space, that’s why Pleasant Hill is later.

By Bill Allen

May 9, 2008 11:09 AM | Link to this

Mighty Mouse - excellent input. Thanks for the info. My only thought would be that it would have been nice to have it worked out before the construction, but I understand the difficulties of working through such issues.

jodi - You get a gold star. I will talk about Pleasant Hill in a subsequent blog. I will say that the Gwinnett Place CID is doing some work on the area. Kudos to them for trying. Send an e-mail to Joe Allen (no relation) at the CID. He’d be very happy to hear from you. That said, you took the words out of my mouth. You’re right - 30 minutes is generous. I was running out of word space, that’s why Pleasant Hill is later.

By Jais AAA Duluth

May 9, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this

Fair remarks, Bill. I want to point out to bruce wilcox that I’m not trying to go partisan on this one. I mentioned two republicans in that rant =)

I see this one way: if you are a politician or hold office of any kind…you are either WITH US or AGAINST US. It becomes quite clear who they are in their first two weeks of office. This ‘Greene” lady was all about our cause, until she got elected. Now she’s just another of these unabashed soft-money w******* who looks the other ways while rich white men line her purse. It’s people like this and antics like these that make this world imperfect. Isn’t anything sacred anymore? Aren’t there any boy scouts left? WHERE HAVE ALL THE COWBOYS GONE?!

Back in the founding times of this city, comraderie was LIFE. By god you respected your neighbors and did what was right, because back then you might just get attacked by a bear or have a serious problem. Better to have friends and be honest than to squander it and be turned away into the cold wilderness. In my opinion, we should shun butt-heads like Lassiter and anyone else who doesn’t live here but postures as if they care. Nobody who lives outside this town could give a damn. There should be a law stating city council members must live and work in the limits of the town they run in. Lassiter lived in a rich, affluent area most of her life. This town was little more than a political springboard for her sleazy career as a bought-and-sold mayor.

Back when people mattered, this would have been a huge issue. some big-city government lady comes to duluth and spends 14 years milking it for cash at the expense and inconveniance of the citizens probably would have warranted a lynching. It would have gotten her run out of town by gunpoint at the very least.

The thought of a city council who would DARE think about tearing down the Strickland house, paving over Strickland springs or digging up graves to widen main street makes my blood boil. It aint always the best solution- but where I’m from if you do this you get smacked around pretty good.

By Bruce Wilcox

May 9, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this

Sam why the commissioners are part of the problem in this is by allowing over-development. Hard to open a business in downtown Duluth and expect people will go out of their way to get to you.

What made/makes Norcross is the great restaurants, people will go out of their way for a great meal. They carried the other businesses till they took off?

Now the big question is how do you get a dining spot to invest in a risk. There are enough empty store fronts on the major roads to limit the risk.

Atta Boy Chuck, does the campaign pay you by the word or the entire comment?

By Katie in Duluth

May 9, 2008 11:46 AM | Link to this

I live very close to Duluth’s downtown and town green but have only been there a handful of times because I don’t want to deal with the traffic congestion. I recently saw something from the mayor addressing a new parking garage but that still won’t get me there because of the traffic. The worst part is that most of the traffic is people who commute from the other side of Gwinnett to Fulton County for work. We also have that same issue on Pleasant Hill. We need to find a way to alieviate commuter congestion so that people who want to spend time and money in downtown aren’t apprehensive about going there.

By Jais AAA Duluth

May 9, 2008 11:49 AM | Link to this

jerry rob- back then her name was Fanning =) And she was just as haughty and snide back then as she is now. I must say the only thing I feel I shouldn’t make fun of is how she treats her kids. Jhonny Fanning is one of the biggest a***** I know, because his mother just throws money at him instead of be a real parent. He constantly bullied smaller boys, lipped-off to the police because he knew he couldn’t get in trouble, talked back to his teachers and regularly broke the rules just to do it. One particular occasion we all got pulled over in his camaro going home and he told the Duluth officer who stopped us to “Go home”, and promptly drove off before even identifying himself. I’m sure when the officer ran the plates he knew what was up.

God, how many nice things can I say about Shirley? Jeeze where to begin? Let’s start with her racist, blood-born Georgia mentality. She refers to working class blacks as ‘Niiuguhs’ (even the way she says it is disgusting, like she’s a slave master’s wife) She lies, she’s two faced, shes a shameless oppertunist and a backstabbing gossip at this. Every bad trait in a woman you can think of she has, save for MONEY. That is the only reason she has any ‘friends’ at all, she’s rich. Maybe this broad was nice to you when you were little, but I hate to break it to you- times change.

I personally like the idea of Kathrine Harris much better. She sees the corruption in the police department, she KNOWS about the mexican illegals they refuse to deal with around city hall. She UNDERSTANDS that mayor Lasseter is a career politician who didn’t give a damn about this town. She is aware we are fed up and wants to help. There is a school in Duluth named after her father and she’s lived inside these city limits all her life. I will listen to what she says, anything Lasseter says is garbage. Nice lady or Bish lady- you decide. I’m going with nice lady.

By Norcross Katie

May 9, 2008 1:11 PM | Link to this

I will call myself Norcross Katie. I agree with you Duluth Katie.

By withheld

May 9, 2008 4:40 PM | Link to this

jais aaa- may i suggest you spend some time fact finding before continuing your completely untrue rant and smack talking our community leaders? while you are at it, i’d like to see your list of positive, notable contributions to our community. something? anything? hmmm…didn’t think so.

By withheld

May 9, 2008 5:04 PM | Link to this

jais - who’s Kathrine? Our new mayor’s name is NANCY. case in point about getting your facts straight.

By AJ Sain

May 10, 2008 7:37 AM | Link to this

I agree with you about the congestion. However, Duluth citizens were right to fight Walmart. The proposed Walmart would have certainly worsened the congestion problem in Duluth.

By Katie

May 10, 2008 8:36 AM | Link to this

People shouldn’t even be shopping at Walmart. Almost everything there is made in china. The best thing Americans can do is to look at where products are manufactured and pay a bit more for products that are American made.

By Jais AAA Duluth

May 10, 2008 12:24 PM | Link to this

withheld- I have all of my facts straight. I suggest you do the same.

By Justin

May 10, 2008 8:28 PM | Link to this

Jais AAA, You truly show your ignorance with the mean spirited diatribe you always spew. It is also comical that you can’t seem to get names right and when you do you can’t seem to spell them right. Give the keyboard back to your momma and get back to 8th grade classes where you belong. Finish that education and you might become a more intelligent happier person.

By Justin

May 10, 2008 8:30 PM | Link to this

Jais AAA, You truly show your ignorance with the mean spirited diatribe you always spew. It is also comical that you can’t seem to get names right and when you do you can’t seem to spell them right. Give the keyboard back to your momma and get back to 8th grade classes where you belong. Finish that education and you might become a more intelligent happier person.

By FinanceBuzz

May 11, 2008 12:28 AM | Link to this

Lucky to have the Duluth PD??? If Shirley wants to bring that outfit to Gwinnett as a whole, that alone is enough to keep her in Duluth! That outfit is little more than a massive revenue machine. Look at the size of that police department that looks fairly new. How many tickets are they writing???? I have long said something has to be done about the fee-grabbing city police departments. If the state would decouple the financial benefit from traffic enforcement, you would find out in a hurry how many of these city departments are doing this massive traffic enforcement for safety. In fact, I think if a city is not more than a certain size, they either should not be allowed to have a separate PD OR at least not be allowed to operate laser or radar. Something should be done about the abusive enforcement practices of the these city departments. It’s not just Duluth, but Duluth was what was mentioned.

By Bubba

May 11, 2008 8:45 AM | Link to this

Careful what you wish for, Buzz. No radar means more tailgating, more tickets at 47 in a 45 downhill, 38 in a 35 downhill. Radar means they can drink their coffee in peace, instead of forcing you into commiting a vie-o-lashun. Get caught with a radar, you got it coming. Get caught on a tailgate….

By Tim

May 11, 2008 10:48 PM | Link to this

Bruce Wilcox, Just a couple of facts to present. Fact 1: Norcross is now, and has always been a crap hole. A couple of restaurants in old town can’t make up for the Liberty Heights type of blight that has plagued Norcross for 50 years. Fact 2: NO Democrat lead government in the Metro Atlanta Area has any success in the area they Govern. Vernon Jones has been accused of Rape how many times? The City of Atlanta sent Bill Campbell to prison, then put themselves right back into an 82 million dollar deficit. Gwinnett County has had THE HIGHEST BOND RATING AVAILABLE for how many years? You bedwetting liberals confuse the pains of success with the pains of dumbass Democrat lead government. Wilcox, maybe you can name 1 Democrat led government in Georgia that is not the laughing stock of the financial world? Lithonia? LOL Atlanta? LOL DeKalb County? LOL Clayton County? LOL Face the facts: If it is Democrat, it is led by and for the less than 80 IQ crowd.

By Jais AAA Duluth

May 12, 2008 10:05 AM | Link to this

I don’t know about democrats much, but I could tell you that in this state they are a hopeless bunch.

By Bruce Wilcox

May 12, 2008 11:49 AM | Link to this

Tim the Democrats haven’t been in control in Gwinnett since 1985. Being that you seen to be the expert on political parties, how much debt was the county in under the Democrats in 85’? How was the traffic, schools, crime back then?

This county replaces some real losers with more losers from the same party expecting a different result, so I ask you Tim, who are the real droolers?

Speaking of droolers, we were talking about downtowns, not surrounding areas.

I didn’t bring up Democrats, hard to tell where your drool is coming from.

By Bubba

May 12, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this

I think Tim doesn’t mean to say “Democrat.” I think he’s lookin’ for a PC way to say somethin’ more ethnic in meaning.

By Tim

May 12, 2008 3:21 PM | Link to this

Bruce, The “real” droolers are with the Democratic Party. Period. It is the only party that will consistently vote to give money to people who won’t work, and demonize Corporations who give out the work. The only party that demonizes Success, unless they are talking about their own Gulf Stream Jets, their own $4000.00 electric bills, their own 5 SUV’s per family, that is ok. But all of their subjects should ride the bus. Which is fine, because 80% of all Democrats can’t afford a car. Don’t forget that EVERY SINGLE LOCAL GOVERNMENT RAN BY DEMOCRATS HAS A LONG LINE OF JAIL INMATES. DeKalb County gets at least one new jail inmate every election cycle. Gwinnett County government has 0 people in jail for corruption. Which is easy to figure out, because Gwinnett is ran by Republicans. Bruce, you need to look at the financial mess that any local government in the metro area has gotten itself into uder Democrat leadership. Not to mention, can you even watch the news anymore without Clayton County having a meltdown, Lithonia, DeKalb, etc. No, the Democratic Party is solid knuckle dragging droolers for sure.

By Bruce Wilcox

May 12, 2008 10:18 PM | Link to this

I think Tim is more foaming at the mouth than drooling, still can’t make the connection of rebuilding local downtowns with the rant?

Tim who would investigate Gwinnett Government, DA Porter, Sonny and the gang under the Gold Dome or some other Republicans?

By Jim Swill

May 13, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this

Katie, American-made products are virtually non-existent these days. Why pick on Walmart? Nearly everything you buy at Target, K-Mart, Eckerd, Walgreens, Macy’s, JC Penny, American auto-dealerships, or __ (insert store of choice) was manufactured in China or another foreign country. Even the fresh fish you buy at Whole Foods was shipped in from China or South America. Sad, but true.

By Katie

May 14, 2008 6:17 AM | Link to this

Jim, you’re right. It is very hard to find American made products but I think we should do our part and at least make an effort to find items that are. Even my Chevy isn’t American made, I know that. But Walmart is a terrible company, even if they have cheap stuff and offer convenience. They are rotten to their employees and are anti-American. But, this is just my opinion. I think I should get down off my tiny little soap box now. I could keep going and going about the mistakes this country is making.. I have my own little perfect world in my head and I need to remember that not everyone lives in it. :)

By Steeledawg

May 14, 2008 10:01 AM | Link to this

In Danger of overbuilding? We are about 15 years to late for this discussion. I am a life long Gwinnett resident, DHS alum (91), and there is no one that would like to see Downtown Duluth suceed more than me, but I just don’t see it happening.

Until the city gives people a reason to drive down Main St. to get to Buford Hwy. the retail and restaurants will never come. I would guess that a large percent of people that drive the 120 zig zag have no clue that there are shops and restaurants 1 block over.

I wish the city could purchase the equip rental business on the corner of Buford Hwy, and the Red Clay Theatre and demolish the buildings. It would provide both parking and visiblity to the town green.

But whatever the failings of Downtown Duluth, it still looks 1000% better that it did 20 years ago. So kudos to the city for at least trying to improve things.

By Jais AAA Duluth

May 19, 2008 11:15 AM | Link to this

20 years ago this joint was a flashing green light between atlanta and buford. It’s kinda hard for it not to look better after that long…it’s mostly osmosis.

By AR

May 19, 2008 2:11 PM | Link to this

I just have one thing to say….I love Duluth and I love Gwinnett. I have lived my entire life here and I still think it is one of the best places to raise children. I’m 40 by the way so I do think I have the right to say something good for a change. People are so negative. I get tired of reading all the negative comments. Oh, and the by the way…I think the City of Duluth Police are awesome! Good for them for giving tickets. Some of us do abide by the law and therefore do not have to worry about getting them!

By JR

May 19, 2008 3:30 PM | Link to this

The comment about a discussion on overbuilding being 15 years too late is exactly right. We moved to Duluth in 1980. Pleasant Hill was a 2 lane road with a trailer park on one side and a truch stop on the other side of I-85. The closest mall was 30 minutes away. Peachtree Industrial stopped in Norcross. The Parsons family had the majority of the retail in downtown with the hardware store (with people that knew what they were taling about) and a grocery store where, if need be, you could order your groceries over the phone and they would deliver to your house. Downtown Duluth, for the most part was pretty rundown. Today it looks great. Times were pretty good. Then Gwinnett Place Mall opened and that is when things began to change. There’s nothing wrong with change, unless it goes unchecked, which is pretty much what happened. Overbuilding, county commissioners seeing more and more tax revenue, developers basically running the county, until you end up with what you have now. Lots of empty buildings, gridlock almost 24/7 and crime increasing at alarming rates. Finally, after taking 50 miutes to get to work (used to take 15), seeing gang activity work its way up Buford Hwy from Norcross and the development continuing unchecked, we moved after 23 years in Duluth. Too bad because times used to be pretty good.

By Tim

May 23, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this

Bruce, The fact is, every local government ran by Democrats gets a new jail inmate every election cycle. The rant is due to Democrats trying to force their way into Gwinnett, ruin it, and then blame Republicans for the problems. Duluth and Gwinnett will have growing pains as long as we are successful. Once the Democrats take over, growth will cease, corruption will take over, and everyone will be wanting their free piece of the pie. The absolute lowest life forms in America vote Democrat. The people who can’t, the people who won’t, and the people who will NEVER understand the growing pains of success. The people who demonize ANYONE who makes money, unless they are a Democrat. Then they get a pass. Democrats are the only party to tolerate a murderer (Ted Kennedy)as their representative in the U.S. Senate, and the only party to tolerate a KKK member in the Senate (Robert Byrd). Democrats are morally bankrupt and WILL DESTROY this country if given the chance. Just the fact that an unpatriotic LOSER like Barack Hussien Obama could make his way to the Democratic Candidate for President shows just how far we have fallen. There is your rant Wilcox. Democrats are morally bankrupt and will be the demise of this nation. They are just as poisonous at a local level as they are at the national level. And this is why our forefathers didn’t think it was a good idea for non-landowners to vote. If you don’t own land, chances are you are too stupid to vote, and definitely too stupid to decide whether we are too successful for our own good. Communist B*******!

By Jais

May 23, 2008 11:49 AM | Link to this

Nail right on the head, Tim. I can’t tell you how many people’s lives are difficult because of the Democrat party. Although I think all three candidates right now are WOLVES. We need better options. If they put god dang Lassie up for election with Timmy as his running mate I will sooner vote for Lassie. Hillary is a malignant, morally androgynous heifer who reminds me of the local judge: a haughty, self-important mongrel. I would hit a woman in her case alone.

Obama? Jeeze, where to begin…raised Kenyan, attended anti-white churches, classic detached career politician setup…

Is anyone actually thinking this guy means what he says? For that matter does anyone actually think McCain does? I think McCain will likely try and be too old to accomplish it. He better pick a young vice because he ain’t long for his deathbed. When you remember the horse-drawn wagon days you are too old to be a president, you need to be retired and fishing.

By Bubba

May 23, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this

Democrats, Republicans. Is one really different from the other? Seems to me they care more about promoting the party than they do about governing. They’re more about winning and losing than they are about governing. Hannity whines as much as Pelosi or Reid, Lott as much as Rangle. They sound the same.

The politics of destruction ain’t working. What’s it gonna take to stop bickerin’ and start figurin’?

By Sickntired

May 24, 2008 9:06 AM | Link to this

Gonna have to agree with Jais, Bubba, and Tim here….Things have spiraled out of control, and it seems that none of those in power are actually interested in serving their constituents. Seems that they are in the pockets of the lobbyists who line their pockets and hook them up with nice trips, cars, etc.

What we need, and what I feel we will never have, is a viable thrid party candidate. Not talking about Nader here, but someone who is the voice of the 99.9% of the population who makes under 250,000.00 and is paying huge taxes to support health care for the jobless and illegals.

This nonsense of giving away the farm for votes is ridiculous. Some say, “if we deport the illegals, then who will pick the fruit and do our landscaping?” Well, I say you go down the welfare rolls. Anyone who is CAPABLE of working will by God work, and if they don’t like the job they are given, they can go to friggin school or learn a trade, or whatever. That is the kind of thing that made this country great. Americans figuring out a way to make it on their own, doing what they had to do to take care of their families. Now, we have an entitlement mentality, saying that we will support those who are down and out until they can get back up on their feet again. Bottom line folks, if you give them an indefinite supply of free money, they aren’t going to pull themselves up by their damn bootstraps and recover. They are going to siphon off the welfare state, living what probably isn’t a great life to most, but a free life just the same. Not a bad deal.

And that is the problem. Politicians pandering to those who will give them votes for promises of an easier life. “Vote for me! I will make sure you get more free crap!”. I’m not interested in free crap, and neither should anyone else. There should be a sense of pride in all of us to make it on our own, dammit, without free money and health care. Put everyone to work….it increases tax revenue to help us out of the financial mess we have found ourselves in. Then FIRE (vot out) those who abuse their power (talking about congress here) who are only there to serve special interests and forget about those they serve.

I am SICK AND TIRED of the status quo. And I don’t care who is elected, whether it be Hillary, Barack, or McCain, things aren’t going to change. I love Barack’s campain slogan….something about change we can believe in….Load of bs. I don’t care who is elected president, nothing will really change because the president isn’t much more than a figurehead.

I feel better now.

By Jais

May 24, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this

My sentiments almost exactly. The overbuilding I can deal with. The corrupt, on-the-take career politicians I can NOT. Why can’t people just f’ing be honest and stand up anymore? It gets you an excellent reputation and pulls-in lots of favors from your friends.

By Michael

May 26, 2008 9:36 PM | Link to this

Duluth can blame no one but themselves for their mess. They went out of the way to annex the Pleasant Hill WAL-MART to clog up that road. Gwinnett Co. had denied it!!!! Now that Pleasant Hill is a traffic disaster all the traffic flows through downtown Duluth. Shirley is a JOKE!

By Jais

May 28, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this

The only thing I see going for this town anymore is the huge influx of oriental/asian families pouring into the city. Some of my deadbeat neighbors sold their houses to Korean families and I dare say it was the best thing ever to happen on that street. Now their lawn and house look wonderful, my property value is going up again. The driving is way worse now, however =/

Bill- since this week’s subject has seen it’s limelight, I couldn’t help but raise another subject of concern: The Strickland house.

Apparently, someone wants to tear down this historic sight so they CAN BUILD A GAS STATION or office park. That’s the word around here.(I’m currently sitting here looking at it)

How can they do that legally? It has an iron marker on the lawn from the national registry. Isn’t there some law or code to prevent this? We really don’t need ANY more demolition and construction in this little part of town. Who is the joker involved with this idea and where can he be found to beat him senseless?

That old house is much more than an old house. It is one of georgia’s birthrights. The old place is also a stunningly preserved example of 1800’s victorian architecture. It survived wars, fires, and about three generations of people. Not to mention it survived the classic Georgia white trash that plague everything in this town an illegal alien doesn’t. Now they want to tear it down to add another gas station or liquor store.

Have people no shame? Have they no sense of respect? I beleive the answer is no. Obviously not anymore. Not in this town. can we get a blog on this, too? I’d like to see what’s said.

By Gandalf, the Grey

May 28, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this

No Obla Englais

By Jais

May 29, 2008 11:43 AM | Link to this

It’s “No habla”

By Bruce Wilcox

May 30, 2008 11:15 PM | Link to this

Tim my point is and will remain, when the party that now controls Gwinnett since 1985 has no fear of not being re-elected, they can, have and will do anything they want. So if you vote for them just because of their party, you deserve what you get.

I didn’t bring up Democrats as the answer, matter of fact you did when you went on your rant.

I’m from New York, on the local level you may have had up to six or seven different parties. The two big parties, the Conservative party, the Liberal party, the Green party, the Taxpayer party, the Independent party…and on and on.

So Tim, while I disagree with you that all Democrats are corrupt, I would suggest look at the big picture, it seems corruption hits both parties equally.

What is needed is a mix, a balance to keep power under control. I don’t care what the make up is, could even be a third party. But one party since 85’ who decides who will pick up our trash, decides we need a stadium without any public input, allows uncontroled developement they need to be replaced. You always can do what Gwinnett has done for years, replace them with another Republican.

On the national level, I knew many Congressman who were and still are honest, many do really believe in what they’re doing. It’s the money you need now a days to run that corrupts, you want change on the national level, start with real campaign reform.

By DD

May 31, 2008 12:01 AM | Link to this

Want to stop over development? End developer subsidy SPLOST. Period.

By Bruce Wilcox

June 1, 2008 8:38 PM | Link to this

DD, now that I would agree with.

By Jester

June 4, 2008 8:16 AM | Link to this

Is it time for a new blog yet?

By Jais

June 4, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this

let’s get a blog on strickland house or something more”this week.” Rick Badie has a blog three times a week (mostly because he can’t keep them up without the public crying out for his resignation)

By Jais

June 7, 2008 4:21 PM | Link to this

…………..tumbleweed………..

By Meme

June 10, 2008 9:41 AM | Link to this

I am a ‘60’s DHS graduate. For years, there was talk of builing a bridge over the railroad to help ease traffic in the center of Duluth. Nothing ever came of that. Now I hear they have built a tunnel under the railroad at PHR. Maybe the bridge idea can be revitalized.

By Jais

June 12, 2008 10:06 AM | Link to this

Is the reporter dead or something? THis page hasn’t changed in four weeks.

By resident

June 13, 2008 8:50 AM | Link to this

Very few people have the right to complain about Duluth. In the last city council election somewhere around one-fourth of one percent of the population of Duluth city limits showed up at the polls. Unless you were one of those overwhelming minority, STOP Complaining.

By Jais

June 13, 2008 11:31 AM | Link to this

Resident- where are you getting your facts, because they arent facts. The Duluth city council runs anything possible outside our hands. Just because a few people show up for city hall meetings doesn’t mean they care about our opinion. They are just using this as a pacifier to shut us up. Duluth city council IN FACT is the reason this town is in turmoil. Former Mayor fanning-lassiter is also a big one of those reasons. Vote against her in the coming election, she plans to do worse to the state than she did to this town, which is make the police force corrupt, the builders rich and us poor while our town crumbles away around us. Where is she? SHE’S GOT CAPITOL HILL IN HER EYES FOLKS! Do not support uncaring, lazy corrupt career politicians any longer.

By Peachtree Walk Resident

June 13, 2008 7:23 PM | Link to this

“…she plans to do worse to the state than she did to this town, which is make the police force corrupt…” Sorry, Jais, but maybe you have inside info not available to me. IMHO, our cops are tops!

By Resident

June 16, 2008 11:48 AM | Link to this

Jais - the facts come from public voting records. Why don’t you do some research once in a while. And as far as “The Duluth city council runs anything possible outside our hands”…It is a public election. Everyone inside the city limits has the right to vote. Just because you chose not to does not mean the City Council took it out of your hands. Please go show your ignorance somewhere else.

By Jais

June 16, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this

I suggest you show some of those “voting records” right here with a link because you cannot and will not furnish any such evidence of fact.

I live very close to city hall and work closer. I have seen and read about every happening in this town out of sheer habit. I am well aware of what happens here to a more acute degree than you or that sheltered “peachtree walk” guy. The cops here in duluth have a track record of flipping out and corruption. They are now being ivestigated again for using rigged radar units.

Wake up and smell the reality, resident. You’re living in it.

By jais

June 19, 2008 10:09 AM | Link to this

YO?! ANYONE OUT THERE? NEED A NEW REPORTER?!

By Resident

June 19, 2008 2:31 PM | Link to this

Jias - Once again you show your ignorance. You can not find voting records on the internet. However, you can walk yourself up to the city hall since you work so close and ask for them. I think there is a $10 processing fee. They are not going to list all of Duluth’s residents and addresses on the web. You really talk a big game for not knowing much.

By Jais

June 19, 2008 10:48 PM | Link to this

I know alot more than you, evidently.

By Jais

June 23, 2008 11:43 AM | Link to this

Oh btw- who the hell is jias?

two: why don’t you walk your happy a$$ up to city hall and find that out for me, post it on imagedump and feed us the link? No? Because you can’t and they don’t even exist? I was right? oh.

you know, people, if you are not involved in this town at all just stfu. that stands for SHUT THE F##K UP!

too many of you white trash imbreds in this town need to be exterminated to better the lives of everyone around you. If you are going to call me stupid don’t be so yourself before speaking. You tend to look like every other redneck around here- willing to start a verbal altercation even though you have no idea what it’s over.

you are pathetic. Someone kill this guy before I KILL MYSELF.

By Resident

June 23, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this

Your profiling is not very good. I am a woman 48 years old. Lived in Duluth for 42 years (originally from the North). I have worked for the city and have personally seen and ordered voting records. Do you really think an election can take place without the government keeping records of it. If that were the case the elections would be useless. There would be no controls.

By Jais

June 25, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this

Who was profiling you? I personally know you haven’t seen any ‘records’ of you would have posted them by now. I can see your police station right from where I sit and have been for seven years.

I am challenging your statements, Resident. I think you’re a silly c** who postures big just like all the other scum in this town.

I DARE you…DARE you to scan even a portion of one of these ‘records’, and post it on imagedump and post the link. You cannot and will not do it because the “information” you mention does not exist.

Duluth city council is notorious for secretly handling their affairs. They involve the taxpayers and citizens maybe 2% of the time. The rest is all handshakes under the table, money changing pockets with construction moguls behind closed doors and over the phone. You know it as well as I, resident.

So, let’s see it. I want to see, I’m sure others do, too. You seem to think you’re g******* smart, hooker- go ahead. Show us all these nonexistant ‘records’ or even what one looks like.

You cant.

By Bewildered

June 26, 2008 10:49 AM | Link to this

Talk about overbuilding.

Have any of you seen the site plan for “Pleasant Hill Village” (MUO-08-002) being proposed by Greene Investments along Pleasant Hill Road just north of Shorty Howell Park?

It’s anything but a “European Village, as it’s being touted. Mixed Use Village my foot, it’s a High Rise Residential Complex masquerading as a “Village” so it can get past zoning restrictions, like having to be in a designated Activity Center.

ARC says it will add 25,000 auto trips a day to the already overloaded 60,000 trips that pass north of Shorty Howell on P’hill each day.

If you’re concerned about overbuilding in the Duluth area, come join us in our fight to oppose this urban monstrosity at the Planning Commission Meeting scheduled for Wed, July 16th, at 7:00 in Lawrenceville.

Democracy works only when people get involved. [Learn more about it here] (http://www.gwinnettcounty.com/departments/planning/pdf/rz200806.pdf).

By Bewildered

June 26, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this

That link should be

http://www.gwinnettcounty.com/departments/planning/pdf/rz200806.pdf

Just cut and paste it into your favorite broswer.

By Bewildered

June 26, 2008 11:07 AM | Link to this

BTW: It was posponed on Tuesday, June 3, 2008 at 7:00 p.m, to July 16th. The agenda for zoning hearings is at:

http://www.gwinnettcounty.com/cgi-bin/gwincty/egov/ep/gcbrowse.do?channelId=-536882163&pageTypeId=536880236

* COME AND HELP US OPPOSE MUO-08-002!!*

By Activist

June 26, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this

JAIS: So I can expect to see your name on the ballot next election? You seem to be an activist. Let’s just see how truly committed you are to improving the problems that you think you see. I DARE you to do it. Otherwise, YOU STFU!

By buyliquorcori

August 20, 2008 8:06 AM | Link to this

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By Cindy

August 26, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this

Today makes 2 months since Bill Allen posted his last blog. Is he ok?

By Cindy

August 27, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this

Hello???? Somebody needs to tell me something (please?)…so I don’t have to sit around and worry about this guy Bill Allen, who I don’t even know…I read where he’d had a stroke previously…and then suffered from depression as a result.

Is he ok?