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DEL.ICIO.USWhat are the major issues in the Norcross election?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Norcross City Council runoffs set for Tuesday have been the subject of strong sentiments within the community. Here, Norcross native Robert Buck provides his view of one of the races. What do you think the major issues are in the city as it approaches the election?
TUESDAY RUNOFFS WILL SET THE COURSE FOR NORCROSS
My children are the sixth generation of my family to live in Norcross. My great-great-grandfather was one of Norcross’ first preachers. My great-grandfather was one of our first pharmacists. Today, four generations of my family live on the same street. It is fair to say that I care about our city’s history, as well as its future. The run-off election on Dec 5 is going to have a great impact on where Norcross goes next. The Norcross City Council consists of five voting members. Three votes define everything that does, and does not, happen in our City government. Many voters don’t realize that currently three of our city council members, Mike Lovelady, Charlie Riehm and Terry Bowie, hold and exercise in unison the three votes it takes to get anything done. These three council members also are involved with an organization known as the PDC (Progressive Development Committee), which I see as somewhat of a shadow city government — a body that unduly influences city decisions. As the former chairman of the Norcross DDA (Downtown Development Association) and as a concerned citizen I have attended city council meetings and observed what I believe to be the PDC’s influence in action. It’s motto seems to be “if it ain’t broke — break it” and then take credit for “fixing” it. Rather than open government, these members of the council have actually advocated limiting public participation at city council sessions. Earlier this month, Mike Lovelady went as far as to suggest that citizens should not be allowed to speak at City Council meetings unless they first notify the City Clerk, three days in advance, about the topic they wish to be heard on. It would seem that our city’s future is no longer forged by a representative government with public input, but rather over coffee every Wednesday morning at the PDC meeting. What makes the current runoff election on Dec 5 so important is that Mike Lovelady is in a tight race against Jeff Allen, who defeated Lovelady in the general election. I am not impressed with Lovelady’s record. I disagree with his handling of a city annexation study, amendments to the 2006 city budget serving to cut police department funding for previously approved patrol cars, equipment and other expenditures (some purchases were later restored using special location option sales tax funds) and the city’s diversion from plans to build a replica of the Old School House as a community center. I am concerned that longterm city employees have left the government during Lovelady’s tenure, and I am unhappy with his performance as acting mayor when Mayor Lillian Webb was recovering from a broken hip. Norcross has a choice to make on Dec. 5 that is relatively simple: elect Jeff Allen and return city hall to the people, or continue a course under the undue influence of the PDC. ROBERT BUCK Norcross
Comments
By Keith Lynch
December 4, 2006 01:56 PM | Link to this
Ladies and Gentlemen of Georgia. I have received thousands of letters and e-mails from people all over the Georgia region asking that I return for book-signings, interviews, and speaking engagements. For months I have been posting the publishing company’s Web site www.kllundypublishingllc.com on AJC blogs. The publishing company site contains the names of law enforcement and officials of Dekalb County, Decatur, Georgia. The injustice that has befallen my family and me at the their hands is not new and has happened too many of Georgia’s citizens. The support that I received is overwhelming my book, “Dirty Justice-Who Killed Mommy” have doubled in sells in the state of Georgia, which leads me to return when proper security is provided at several of the locations. I have received several death threats if I were too return to Georgia.
By Keith Lynch
December 11, 2006 10:22 AM | Link to this
Dear Georgians, it makes my heart happy that people have are responding to my web site www.kllundypublishingllc.com and have sent me letters from around the world concerning the injustice that has befallen my family and me at the hands of law enforcement and public officials of Dekalb County, Decatur, Georgia. I can only print one of letters from a lady by the name of Kelley.
Hello I just came upon your website today. Unfortunately it isn’t altogether shocking after I have heard the recent news of police shootings and corruption in that county.
I used to research and read to discover the hidden key to get justice. There doesn’t seem to be an bold face answer to that. So in the last couple years I have taken a new approach. I research what has failed and see WHY it failed.
Sometimes this helps. Attempts in County Superior Courts cost so much time, money and emotional/mental anguish for people like Mr. Lynch. My question is this, has there been any attempt or filings in the federal district court of Georgia for either Mr. Lynch’s criminal case or the juvenile case for his children?
It seem like such a slow and impossible task to try to give our god given constitutional rights handed back to us through the use of federal civil rights filings but at least in that, I have been able to still try to hold onto some hope for justice and the end of torture to our families.
Thank you for your time and my sincerest prayers for him and his family and his children.