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July 2008
Woody’s Online Town Hall Debate
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Welcome to my first “Online Town Hall Debate”.
On August 5, Republicans will decide which of the two candidates will (probably) lead Gwinnett County into the future: District 1 Commissioner Lorraine Green and incumbent Gwinnett County Chairman Charles Bannister.
In their own words:
Woody — As you know, there are three Community Improvement Districts (CIDs) in Gwinnett County. How important, in your eyes, are the CIDs to Gwinnett County and how will they play a role in your administration should you be elected?
Green: The CID’s have been valuable in reviving communities and have highlighted the needs of their particular areas to county officials. I envision them becoming an intricate part of the revitalization efforts in the county, particularly in regards to developing new programs and revising existing regulations to spur redevelopment.
Bannister: While in the legislature, I introduced the legislation to create the CIDs. In 2004, I made revitalization a top priority in my campaign. As chairman, I’ve budgeted funding for the CIDs. My opponent opposed CIDs by cutting their funds. I will continue to work to improve all of Gwinnett, including the CIDs.
Woody — Gwinnett was recently labeled as a “hub for drug cartels”. It is also no surprise that crime throughout the county is a great concern to its citizens. What do you feel is the root cause and how would you, as chairman, go about tackling the issue?
Green: The causes are lack of police presence and manpower; an attitude of denial of the problem; and illegal immigrants. I intend to dramatically increase in the number of police officers in the high crime areas of the county and stress cooperation with drug task forces across the metro area.
Bannister: Under my leadership we have added nearly 263 police officers; created the anti-gang and drug task force. I will continue to add more police, increase visibility and surveillance, continue to stem the tide of illegal immigrants, and with funding, create a new sub-station in the southern end of the county.
Woody — As a candidate to lead Gwinnett County into the future, what do you see as Gwinnett’s three largest challenges that must be addressed in the next four years? How will you address them?
Green: The three largest challenges are traffic, crime and financial. I believe that a new tax structure will allow us to deal with the financial crisis ahead and provide additional funding to address the crime and transportation issues. We must balance our budget - but not on the backs of homeowners.
Bannister: Reduce traffic congestion by bringing new roads (i.e. Ronald Reagan Pkwy. Extension) and new transit options (i.e. commuter rail). Further reduce crime by adding new police and continue to fight illegal immigration. Reduce property taxes through the Local Option Sales Tax plan by working with municipal and state governments.
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Election leaves some questions unanswered
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Yea, yea, yea. I know. I saw the results.
In case you missed it, the July 15th primary ballot included questions to both Democrat and Republican voters on whether they would approve a sales tax for MARTA’s expansion into Gwinnett . The tax was narrowly defeated.
Yes: Approximately 13,639 Republicans and 10,713 Democrats or 24,352 total.
People that need to pull their heads out from where the sun don’t shine: Approximately 22,838 Republicans and 4,685 Democrats.
I cannot believe that there are roughly 27,523 people residents who are so blind and insecure as to not embrace the only viable long term solution to the one county on target to be the largest in the entire state of Georgia.
Regardless of what many believe, MARTA coming into Gwinnett is not dead. The question was regarding a sales tax to pay for it - not whether MARTA can come to Gwinnett County.
If MARTA doesn’t find its way into Gwinnett in the next few years, I hope the Feds cut off all transportation funding to the county until it does. Why continue to waste tax dollars to continue applying band-aids and feeding a problem? That makes no sense.
There was one very bright side to the primary. The Tax Allocation District (TAD) Referendum won pretty overwhelmingly in Gwinnett. Now that we have surpassed that hurdle, the TAD vote statewide becomes even more important. Lets hope that the majority of Georgians are as well educated and motivated as the 29,446 Gwinnettians were to put the right measures in place to make Gwinnett (and Georgia) a better place to be.
Along with some of the great work happening in the three Community Improvement Districts (CIDs) in the county, TADs are also very important and vital to areas, such as Southwest Gwinnett, in process of revitalization.
Because there was no clear winner in a few races, both Democrats and Republicans will be treated to a few key run off elections on August 5.
You Democrats have an interesting runoff race between former DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones and former candidate for Lt. Gov. Jim Martin. All I am going to say about this race is, I saw the debate on WSB TV, and based on that, I think Saxby doesn’t have much to be too concerned about come November.
The race to watch in the next few weeks, is between former District 1 Commissioner Lorraine Green, and incumbent Charles Bannister for Gwinnett County Chairman.
In fact, I have already invited Lorraine and Charles to participate in an “Online Town Hall” meeting which will be featured next week. They were each sent the same three questions to answer, and their campaigns will hopefully continue responding to any other questions you may have throughout next week.
Oh, how I look forward to that.
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Time for mass transit in Gwinnett
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It was May 5, 2006, as prices were hovering right around the $2 mark, when a certain blogger suggested those who were complaining about it go to a mirror and point a finger at themselves.
I was laughing then- and two years and nearly two months later - still am.
Many of you would probably beg to pay those prices again right about now. What is happening now is exactly what I predicted, hoped, would happen.
Change.
Not the kind that Obama or any other politician is promising or even has on his radar. Real change. Market reaction is changing people’s habits — how they behave and live.
MARTA’s ridership is up 7% and Gwinnett County Transits ridership is up 17% (from March 2008 to May 2008) according to one report.
This sets up a chain reaction of positive events yet to come.
More and more now accept mass transit across America. That will lead to the expansion of mass transit systems reaching thousands more riders. Which means more and more people off the roads which, of course, will help traffic congestion. That will lead to a decrease in pollution, a better environment and a decreased dependence on oil.
Win. Win. Win.
Drilling for oil in areas such as Anwar or off the Gulf Coast of Florida will not have any immediate impact, nor is it any sort of long term solution. It just feeds into the problem. It’s not worth it.
Promoting better fuel economy and encouraging the production of fuel alternatives is a nice idea, but it also is no immediate nor the long term solution that Americans need.
Widening roads is just a complete waste of time, resources and money.
The solution is to change the way people commute. The one solution no candidate is really talking about.
Current systems already in Metro areas need to expand further into suburbia while at the same time making them more efficient. Metro areas without mass transit, need to step up and get the ball rolling.
Instead of pushing for better car batteries and fuel efficient vehicles.. the candidates should be encouraging Detroit to reinvent itself and develop cheaper more efficient and effective mass transit technology.
It’s time Gwinnett and the rest of Metro Atlanta make mass transit a reality and truly accept a -real- long term solution. Gas prices are not going to go down anytime in the near future - if ever.
No more complaining. Open your eyes. Its time mass transit became a reality in Gwinnett County.
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