Free Speech for 2-23-05

2-23-05

I believe everyone who speaks for or against the Walgreens rezoning issue must have a secret agenda, aka some financial interest in the endeavor. I say let the free market decide. If someone who opposes Walgreens wants to offer more money to keep a church on the corner, then they should buy the property and do so. Otherwise, hush.

I was in the Publix in PTC the other day and saw a “buy one, get one free” offer on bacon. It struck me how analogous this was to the EMS tax district issue. That second package of bacon, even if it came from the same hog belly cost the processor something. It cost Publix to buy it. Publix declared it free, but the cost was still there, they just buried elsewhere in their expense structure. Sound familiar? If, heaven forbid, Mayor Brown should have a severe allergic reaction to that “free” cheese sample in the dairy department and needed medical attention immediately, he and his family would be very grateful that it is Fayette County EMS that responds. After all, as residents of Fayette County, that is what they should expect. If he, as a PTC resident, had to rely on the “free” PTC EMS to respond he would, indeed, be in dire straits, since it would never happen. Fortunately, the county would respond and Steve would be safe in the knowledge that he would get the best of care, and he would not have to worry about who would “bring home the bacon” to the Brown household. Nothing is free in this life, certainly not EMS service in PTC or quality life safety services for all county residents. Drop the nonsense about an EMS tax district and be glad that we have the finest EMS and fire safety in the state available to our residents. There is a world of difference between a service without price, and a priceless service.

Why do readers write in that these submissions are too long? They just have to complain about something, I guess. Must be from the North.

To the Booth parents who were upset that they were not informed about the “to kill” list: Do you think the administration has time to send you a letter everytime they have a discipline issue at the school? If your child was on the list you would have been contacted by the police and the administration. This just made it to the newspaper because it was a little more sensational than the average problem. There is sex, drinking, drugs and violence going on at middle schools everywhere and Booth is not exempt because it’s in Peachtree City. Have faith in your administration to do what they are paid to do and run the school.

Dan Lakly’s Republican primary opponent, Allison Chambers, had one and only one plank in her platform: “local control” for the Fayette School Board. She got clobbered. I hope Rep. Lakly keeps her fate in mind when he has to choose between keeping his friends on the board happy and giving our kids back their summer vacation.

Why is it I never see anything in the newspapers about WWHS, WWMS, East Fayette Elementary? Do these schools not do outstanding jobs? Have outstanding children? Show some articles about their concerts, shows, child’s achievements. I know WWHS has had many, many, advents, shows, etc. I never see anything in there except about the principal, and wrestling.

After Kedron, could you check out Cleveland Elementary?

Why am I not surprised that the Board of Education and school superintendent are more worried about disturbing teachers’ summer schedules than they are about the effect on students and families in Fayette County with our school start dates?

As a Kedron parent who has been at the school for six years, I was disappointed to see that a few parents have chosen to speak for all of us in the unsigned Free Speech forum stating that the FCBOE and school administration has done nothing to solve their problems. On the contrary, I think Kedron is a wonderful, nurturing school where parents’ input is welcome and morale is high. The current administration has worked to serve the best interests of ALL children. Rather than using an anonymous newspaper column, there has to be a better way to deal with your issues. Are we truly modeling the behavior we hope to instill in our children?

Teachers and administrators have some of the most difficult professions in today’s environment. Trying to manage a classroom with 20 kids, many of them who need attention because they don’t get it at home, meet parents’ high expectations and being politically correct is difficult. Their work doesn’t stop at school, with the planning, parent phone calls, and trying to think of creative ways to educate our children. All parents think their kids are the best and nothing can be wrong with them. Education doesn’t stop at the school. Parents have an obligation to work with the kids at home. The people who are complaining should volunteer at school and see what these professionals go through. Quit complaining and get involved. There are many satisfied parents whose kids go to Kedron.

Is it just me or does it trouble parents that, under our new state-mandated curriculum, first graders will be issued calculators to do their math work? If Georgia has turned the corner and we have, in fact, reformed education in our state, then why is it that young people appear [more] well-qualified than they were before our politicians ”reformed” education?

I have to agree with comments regarding the new PTC Amphitheater entertainment lineup. It is the lamest ever, and after 13 years of renewal of series tickets, it is no longer worth it.

It looks like the verdict is finally in. The restaurant at the Tennis Center has now closed and rooms are for rent at both facilities. What a travesty. Looks like the mayor’s trumped-up smear campaign has turned out to be unfounded as no one was ever charged with any wrong-doing by the authorities including Virgil Christian and Tate Godfrey, who were both run out of town on a rail by the local “power play” gadflies. The ‘05 amphitheater lineup is truly pathetic. If you were hoping for Earth Wind and Fire, Marshall Tucker, Garfunkle, or Three Dog Night, you had better think again. Citizens should also note that the ‘05 PTC budget allocation for the operation of the Tennis Center is actually $900,000. This is the same facility which is now purported to be “running in the black.”

This so-called mayor and his newly appointed manager of the tennis center are about to make a another huge mistake, which of course will take all of our tax dollars to repair. So, please, citizens, contact both and let them know that the indoor tennis courts, although “hard courts,” are made from a soft material, which would become damaged if tables and chairs were placed on the surfaces for banquets and weddings. Why don’t you trying learning something about tennis and a tennis facility prior to destroying the tennis center and its once wonderful reputation?

Peachtree City Tennis Center is like a family and a second home to me. I am 14 years old and have been around the tennis center since I was 9. The coaches, members and staff have become family. I am at the center with my friends almost five days a week and each time I go less and less people are there. With Mayor Brown ruining the center, a lot of the coaches and members have left in the past six months. This has been very sad watching them all leave and I feel like the tennis center will be nothing in a couple months. People need to fight the mayor or the center will soon close, leaving players with no good place to go. If I need to play elsewhere, my love for the sport will disappear and I will lose friends. Please help keep this tennis family alive.

Our current City Council and staff say, ”Redevelopment will become a more critical issue.” If they really feel this way, and are not just talking yet again for the benefit of the press without substance and background, why would they approve yet another big box development (the infamous Target store) contrary to the village concept, contrary to the big box ordinance, contrary to the concept of creating a downtown, contrary to supporting existing local business, contrary to any desire to keep green space? They certainly do not have the backbone to make the right calls for the long term. Buy the land. Preserve it. Or, put in village-sized shops. Put in something for the next generation, not another empty big box full of flea markets and empty parking slots.

There is not one time that I have driven through Fayetteville and not gotten upset over the pitiful excuse for a fountain that is displayed in the square. It is embarrassing to bring visitors past there, especially after seeing the fountain that J&R Clothing has built. I am sure that we have someone in this county with some better sense of design for such a prominent area that we Fayette Countians can be proud of. Even the Peachtree City library’s fountain is more appealing than ours. I would rather see it removed than to keep it running the way it is.

To the person who feels we proud Southerners need to “get with it” and offer fish during Lent: Have you tried the Famous Fish Co. in PTC or Captain D’s in Fayetteville? I will bet a year’s salary that you can get your fish on Friday or any other day of the week. I was in my neighborhood grocery store this past Friday, and I bought fish. So I’m sure those roads you traveled on in 1997 to make your move South can still take you back up North where you came from. You don’t see any Southerners trying to push grits and country ham on your old Northern neighbors, do you?

I am a transplanted Yankee Catholic who has lived in Georgia for 21 years and have not had any problems with my meatless menus during Lent. Just about every restaurant including Mexican offers some kind of fish or meatless menu for their patrons. When we eat at home we have simple meatless dishes and if we eat out we support our many fast food restaurants, including one that specializes in seafood. I would also like to invite you to attend our church, St. Matthew’s, on Friday evenings at 6:30 p.m. with us to break bread and soup followed by the Stations of the Cross. For us, Lent is a time of preparation and remembering those who are less fortunate than we.

Every year I get a letter from the Social Security people telling me how much is in my account. After 20 years in the labor force I have put about $30,000 into the program. My employer of course has matched that for a total of $60,000. Between my employer and myself, we contribute about 14 percent of my income. I have been in a 401k for about 10 years, and only put 5 percent of my income (with no employer match), and I have over $80,000 in my account. So with a private account I contribute one-third the funds, and in half the time I have more money. Maybe all Social Security should be privatized.

Is somebody talking about raising taxes again? Guys, it is time to think, what are we going to get by being taxed more? Schools? They are good, but they are not that good. Giving people more money to squander is not my idea of progress or smarts. I feel that we are being taken to the cleaners.

To the person upset with the “moron outfitted in his flashy, sleek-looking tights and helmet”: You said, “There should be a law.” There is, and it is [that] cyclists have just as much right on the road as you. Granted, not on the left as you stated, but maybe he wasn’t able to get to the right, or he was going to turn left ahead. As for seeing cyclists on I-85, there is a law for that as well: ”No pedestrians or non-motorized vehicles allowed.” We are more aware of that than you are of the other. By the way, were you jealous that you couldn’t wear those “sleek-looking tights”?

What is going on with Commissioner Peter Pfeifer? The guy has gone schizophrenic with a new reason for his bad behavior every week. Pfeifer has cheated us at every opportunity with the EMS scandal being his latest effort. The pouting Peter starts screaming and storms out of meetings, taking his ball and heads for home. If brains were taxed, Pfeifer would get a full refund.

It seems like all the folks in Fayette County, mostly in Peachtree City, are a bunch of folks with nothing to do but pick on someone else, and it starts with our elected officials. While they may feel macho, or that they are doing the right thing for the citizens of Fayette County, they are embarrassing everyone. And most of the time it seems they are arguing based on their own hidden agenda versus what is right for the citizens who go to work and support the cities and county everyday. Grow up, and make us proud.

Our former mayor and the current one verbally abusing each other reminds me of when President Clinton was running for office and replied, “I tried marijuana but I didn’t inhale.” He was made to suffer for that to this day. Maybe if the former mayor admitted a few wrong things and the current mayor admitted a few wrong things (won’t work if they don’t) and shake hands, we can proceed?

For the person who thought God was too busy to work on the road from MacDuff Parkway to Ga. Highway 74, please remember Luke 12: 6-7. Jesus said, “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” It is nice to know that the mayor was aware that God cares about all things.

Former PTC Mayor Bob Lenox is willing to have his personal financial statements audited. How about offering your business records, Mr. Lenox? Show us your lease and monthly payments that you paid to PCDC (Pathways) when your corporate offices were located in their building. Mid-term, your corporate offices moved from the PCDC-owned building into a Group VI-built building, sharing the office building with then city attorney Jim Webb. Are you willing to share that lease and monthly payments made when your offices were in that building? Take the bet, Brown!

Steve Brown and Bob Lenox: They deserve one another. Just don’t make us citizens listen to it.

I can not believe an anonymous Free Speecher questioned the brainpower of Darryl “Dar” Thompson. That is unfair. That person should first get to know Darryl “Dar.” Have a few conversations with Darryl “Dar.” Look at the background of Darryl “Dar.” Then that person will have no doubt about Darryl “Dar’s” brainpower.

The best way to describe Dar Thompson’s comments on the Peachtree National Bank situation is outlandish. Either Thompson is truly a harmlessly deranged person lacking in the common powers of understanding and he really does believe that the “great businessmen” on the old Development Authority did nothing wrong, or he is the new silicone-implanted spokesperson for the bad guys. Either way, he comes off an as immediate phony.

Mayoral candidate Dar Thompson boasts about a 97 percent client retention rate at his local health clubs. I am a person who bought out [and] took over someone else’s membership at one of his gyms. This practice greatly distorts membership turnover figures and I’m disappointed to hear that a mayoral candidate is so comfortable bragging about manipulated numbers. I don’t know the man, but I now question his ethics.

We can now add braggadocios, arrogant and irksome to the list we use to describe “The” Dar Thompson, soap opera candidate for mayor. He might actually choke on himself.

Having been at the meeting in which Peter Pfeifer supposedly “stormed out” of the meeting, I would ask those that were present to explain to me how Steve Brown was able to garner the final and last opportunity to speak? Was it not coincidental that Steve Brown, who is supporting the four Democrats who are in the state legislature who want to change the way we vote in this county, was given the last opportunity to speak by Democrat Virgil Fludd? Steve and Virgil want to change our voting structure for one reason, to make it easy for Democrats to control the government. Why? Certainly not because Steve Brown’s a Republican, but because he is in bed with the Democrats. Why was it good for the last 40 years when Democrats controlled the commission, but now they want to change the rules?

Ever wondered where all of those comments supporting Mayor Steve Brown and attacking his opponents are coming from? Since many of these sound as though they were authored by the same person, could it be possible that they are coming from the same source?

Give me a mayoral candidate that will publicly promise to clean up the Peachtree City Police Department and they get my vote.

To the several folks who are upset that the papers aren’t carrying a story about how 14 students were arrested for drugs at Starr’s Mill High School: The reason the paper isn’t saying this is for the simple fact that it isn’t true. Yes, you should be informed as parents, and often that means finding out the truth rather than jumping around every time you hear an unsubstantiated rumor. The fact is that an investigation took place at the school due to allegations of drugs. None were found in the school, but one (that’s 13 less than the rumor stated) student was arrested for having a controlled substance in his car in the student parking lot. Get the facts, people, especially before you go writing to the newspaper about it.

I have heard that several county firefighters have asked for help from the Board of Commissioners in developing a benevolent fund. This fund is not going to cost the county any money and is designed to allow fallen or injured public safety employees to help each other in times of need through payroll deductions. Why has the board not helped these people? It is astonishing that they would not jump at the chance to offer help in any manner they can. Is Greg Dunn too good to help someone? Come on, commissioners, give them some help. Remember, the life they save may be yours.

Why do the conservatives in our government have such a hard time recognizing the difference between tolerance of different lifestyles and “promoting their agenda.” It seems only the Christian Right “agenda” is being promoted. The common sense values found in the 10 Commandments are found elsewhere also. Promote common sense laws, not a specific religion.

Enough of the nonsense about abortion already. Let’s talk about reality: people get abortions because they want them. Abstinence is realistic, and so is adoption. Give me a break.

Yes, sometimes those taught abstinence may have sex, some of those may get pregnant, and some of those may choose an abortion instead of a life with them or other parents for their child. Pregnancy rates are higher when you are actually having sex, regardless of your method of birth control. Last I knew, you could would not need an abortion if you were not pregnant, and you would not be pregnant if you did not engage in sexual activity.

How do you get someone to take the job of national intelligence czar? You send someone to Iraq to head up the United States’s business there. After six months, the guy wants out of there in the worst way and tells the president that he will do anything to get out of there. Presto, this is how you get someone to take a job that no one else in their right mind wanted.

With the war in Iraq costing billions of dollars, why are U.S. taxpayers picking up so much of the tab? With all the oil in Iraq, why can’t Iraq pay the cost of the multi-national war themselves?

Our so-called “Protection of Marriage” laws don’t protect marriage at all; they just devalue it. They deny marriage to the very group who most needs to be encouraged to stay in safer, monogamous relationships. Do you really think a law could change your sexual identity? Outlawing it didn’t stop drinking. Mothers Against Drunk Driving did a better job of protecting the public than Prohibition did.

Is our local DFACS in as poor shape as many others seem to be? I’m not talking about Atlanta, I mean Fayette County. If we had half the concern for children at risk as we do about abortion, and the fiasco in Florida about the woman who has been on life support for years, our children would certainly be better off. Governor Bush in Florida allows a scandal a month down there to make the news (don’t know how many don’t) but spends enormous time trying to stop removal of tubes and gadgets from a dead person. Folks, this gets votes; children do not.

2-16-05

It appears censorship is taking place again by your newspaper. Free Speech is Free Speech, voice of us taxpaying citizens. We expect articles to be printed.

If our cause in Iraq is so righteous that he can send others’ sons and daughters to war, I wonder if President Bush has urged his daughters to join the Guard or Reserves now that they are out of college. I think we know the answer.

We now pay four times the percentage of our house value that we paid 20 years ago in Fayette County. Sales tax is triple percentage what it was then, except for groceries. Most of this has come about in the last few years. During that time we have gone from a Democratic (liberal) politics to a Republican (conservative) politics. Localities will only raise taxes for more employees, which may mean you have to build more buildings to do so, and the unfortunates among us can do without, especially in the health area.

When is Tyrone mayor and Council going to wise up and realize that Barry Amos needs to be relieved of his duties as town manager? It might happen if all the upset citizens would start coming to Town Council meetings and share their comments under public comments. Unless they hear complaints, they are going to keep him around.

When I hear Steve Brown say something like, “It’s in God’s hands,” with regard to the Wieland West Village annexation proposal, I just want to scream, “Give me a break.” I’m a Christian, I believe in God and His salvation, but I’ve got to think God has a little more important things on his priority list that the PTC West Village annexation. I really wish it was in God’s hands; it appears anything that is in Steve’s hands gets really screwed up.

It’s time to call this battle concerning EMS tax district between Peachtree City and Fayette County what it really is. The county commissioners’ solution is to consolidate services and let them provide the services. PTC residents need to wake up; the county is suggesting that we lose local control and trust them to make decisions even after they acknowledge they have collected money that should have been given back to the city all along. The county should just pay the city residents back for revenues collected but services not provided and let us the residents and the elected officials of the city make the decisions how to spent the money.

Something tells me y’all don’t get vented in the AJC. Behold the art of short and witty.

Can anyone actually bear to read past the first few sentences of these blatherings?

With spring around the corner we will see the golf carts on Swanson Road again. Last summer I saw a man take it across Ga. Highway 74 to Publix at that busy intersection. The light there changes so fast, it took him three attempts to get across. I stopped laughing when I noticed he had small children on board. Not too long after that I again came upon a golf cart on Swanson Road; this time it was dark and it had no lights with a young child on board driving, with the father next to it. Please, if you are that stupid, leave your helpless kids at home.

My daughter attends Booth Middle School. Why did I have to learn of [the student’s “To Kill list”] through the newspaper? Every parent that has a child at Booth Middle School should have been notified immediately. Can someone please explain why the school did not send out a notice?

To the person that was upset because they were not informed of the 14 students arrested for drugs at Starr’s Mill High School. I agree. How do you think parents of Booth Middle School students felt when they read in the paper there was a “To Kill List”? I guess the Fayette County Board of Education does not feel that parents need to be informed. Do you hear this, Booth Middle? Can you please give the parents an explanation?

I think the parents of the Booth student who penned the “to kill list” ought be punished somehow. Here’s an idea: The next time Bob “I’ve got nothing going on in my life” Lenox and Steve “Chubby” Brown get together for lunch, the parents of this child should have to be there, and I’m not talking about just showing up toward the end when Steve is ordering dessert. I am talking about being there from the time Steve orders his first appetizer. And no drinking; this is a sentence they would have to serve sober. I’m not so sure Bob does not have a “to kill list” of his own, with his old lunch squeeze right up on top.

Thanks, Citizen, for informing me about the “To kill list” note found at J.C. Booth. Maybe we missed that memo from the school.

I grew up in East Point, which at the time was a pretty little town. Now, it is the biggest slum. I would not be caught there after dark. Then I moved to College Park. Again I had to move further to Riverdale. The same thing happened at both places. Our first home, which we built, in Riverdale, is unrecognizable. Now, I have been in Fayetteville for 17 of the best years of my life and I hope that we will not have it taken from us and have it changed to the likes of Clayton County.

If Mayor Steve Brown is so positive that he is right, then why didn’t he agree to former Mayor Bob Lenox’s challenge? Or, is holding on to the position of mayor more important to Mayor Brown than establishing who is telling the truth in this instance? Sounds to me like the guy who is willing to put up $100,000 is the one who knows that truth is on his side.

Now Mayor Steve Brown decides to choose the late Tom Farr as someone who profited financially from his years of public service to the community. Unbelievable! At least when the Farr family decides to sue for slander we’ll all know it is Mayor Brown instead of citizen Brown that will have to defend himself, with our tax dollars.

Think about how Tyrone would look now if someone of Mr. Dennis Chase’s background was in office. Next go-round, we need to really look at who runs for office and why. What is their background? What kind of people do they hire and if they know the difference between qualified and unqualified people. It is plain for anyone to see that they are way in over their heads and hired people about the same. It is raining now and we have only to look at our big red mud pie called Tyrone to know that someone is doing a bad job.

Just because some parents think their child is too good for ISS, some parents choose to “in-school suspend” their child at home? Even worse, they are allowed to do so. Isn’t this more like a vacation than a punishment? Are all parents allowed this right? If so, what lesson is it teaching our children? More importantly, why aren’t all children and parents allowed this option/privilege? What exactly does it take to be above the rules?

To the person that questioned Sandy Creek hosting the cheerleading competition: I was there and there were plenty of seats. You must have been too lazy to walk to the other side of the gym.

Thanks for the tip on the sex offenders in the area. Citizens need to be aware of who is in their community. There is one person in Peachtree City whose picture I saw on the Web site, and I have since seen him at a bookstore in Fayetteville and at a fast food restaurant in Fayetteville where lots of parents take their children. Parents, beware!

President Bush says that the Social Security system is in crisis and going bankrupt in about 40 years, and we better change the system now. However it seems that we have a bigger financial crisis that needs immediate attention. Presently, the United States of America owes more money than it could pay off in a decade. If the IOUs were to be called in, we would be bankrupt, not 40 years from now, but right now. We don’t even collect enough taxes to pay the interest on what we owe, let alone run the affairs of state. Mr. Bush would do well to put the affairs of our annual budget in order first.

I think your reader meant Shamrock Park, but none the less it needs cleaning up.

To the Tyrone Planning Commission Chairperson: You would do our town a greater service by “recusing and excusing” yourself. You are a complete embarrassment to Tyrone.

I’m so glad to hear that Waffle House is giving Tyrone another try. I wonder just what the Waffle House (aka Sonic) Snob will chime in with this time. I bet she will ask Barry Amos if there is any Tyrone town ordinance regarding the songs that will be played on the jukebox. If there isn’t, I bet he will create one real quick.

Am I the only one whose water consumption mysteriously quadrupled after installation of the new meters? I’d hate to know what those who water lawns, fill swimming pools, have daily laundry and several cars to wash would have to pay if they had my meter. Seems 400 gallons a day would show up somewhere in, under or outside my house since any minor leaks in the past have readily shown themselves.

Just saw the lineup for the summer concert series at The Fred and can’t believe that this lineup is a result of the surveys the season tickets holders filled out. Looks to me like two good concerts out of five. Come on, guys, surely you can do better than this!

When I saw that there really was a pilots’ wives club, I laughed my head off.

With over a 100 members leaving, pros quitting, restaurant closing, maintenance person quitting, other management personnel quitting, the first manager quitting, Pro Shop closing and Steve Brown e-mailing a departed pro to see if she or the previous manager would return, isn’t it about time someone reports the story as it really is? The Tourism Authority has destroyed one of the crown jewels of Peachtree City. They don’t have a clue.

I can easily imagine Clayton County citizens seeing reports of the contentious relationship of the Peachtree City mayor with the county commission and telling themselves, Let’s not be like Fayette County!

Commission Peter Pfeifer is a poor excuse for a public servant. His psycho-babble about the City Council of Peachtree City never approaching him about creating an EMS tax district is direct conflict with his previous letter to the newspaper about the council not having their facts right on the issue. How did he know what their facts were if no one contacted him? The fact is that the county is collecting the tax from Peachtree City residents and the service is not being provided. What else does Pfeifer really need to know? Crooked, crooked and crooked.

Thank you to the person that wrote the letter about the Kedron Administration. The FCBOE has been notified time after time about what is going on there and they have chosen to do nothing. Now they are saying that this is a “cowardly” way to handle the problem. I think not. I assume that the writer has gone, as many of us have, to the FCBOE and they do nothing. They don’t respond to calls, e-mails or letters. If you do have a meeting with them, they state, “All looks fine when we are there.” Of course it does, they know when you are coming.

About the Kedron Elementary administration: Why have so many good parents been threatened with having DFACs called on them while other parents are threatened with having their children labeled special education? Also, why has the morale among both parents and teachers plummeted in the past few years? I feel that it’s inexcusable to take unfair advantage of people no matter how powerful the administration may be. Somebody at the Fayette County Board of Education needs to be asking these questions.

People, look at yourselves, you are all so wrapped up in other people’s lives that you have forgotten how to live your own. The residents have become nothing more than shallow, bored individuals who lose sleep if their nails and lawns aren’t manicured just so. Children are over-booked with activities they don’t really enjoy and mothers use their kitchen counters for paper piles. Start minding your own business, pay attention to your children for who they are and start cooking dinners to be enjoyed at the dinner table by the entire family.

Isn’t it interesting that in heavily-Republican Fayette County, a major city has leaders with Democrat leanings? Mayor Steve Brown now claims to be a Republican, and he even attends Republican Party meetings, but his positions on many issues definitely appear to be more Democrat than Republican. And, the same could apply to at least one member of the Peachtree City Council.

Fayette County Health Department simply didn’t order enough flu shots or go out of town to buy more. Most of our doctors and their managers also let us down; some didn’t order any. The problem is the fear of not selling all that they buy. This is what happens when private enterprise has our health in their hands. Wish us luck for the next two months.

Where’s the fish? Yes, another Northerner trying to impress upon you what’s missing in the South. I’ve lived here since 1997, and since then, I’ve yet to come across a Lenten fish fry. Up North, if you didn’t offer fish on Fridays, you might as well be closed. Every restaurant, bar, organizations, the large grocery store chains, and yes, the churches, if they had the facilities, offer fish. I know that the Vatican has said that meatless Friday is a thing of the past, but up North, it’s a matter of taste along with the religious past. So come on, restauranteurs, get with it, offer us some fish during Lent.

The loan from Peachtree National Bank to the old Development Authority must be piling up bills fast. Since that loan was made as a bad loan obviously, probably to people the bank knew and favored, it should not be allowed to become a lawyer’s haven, nor accumulate to even maybe two million, plus fees. They should offer to cap the loan where it is and take whatever the Tennis Center can pay them annually towards its payoff.

Be thankful that we live here in Fayette. What we should be focusing on is not the petty issues so often voiced here, but serious ones, ones that will affect the quality of life we enjoy here. We need to start thinking about how we can save this county from becoming like Clayton. Clayton was once a nice place. Look at it now.

Can’t we move toward a city manager form of government in Peachtree City and just have the mayor as a sort of chairman of the board as many small cities do? Now that politics in this country are totally polarized (Republicans are for everything Republicans do, Democrats are for everything Democrats want) that is what we will have here unless we hire professionals, and fire them also.

I gave Mayor Steve Brown the benefit of the doubt when he was first elected mayor. My concern was that he was all talk and would be no action. Over the last couple of years I have watched him give everyone an opportunity to speak and he worked with citizens on solving their problems. When I witnessed Steve standing at the front of the room taking verbal abuse from Commissioner Pfeifer, who I am now very ashamed of as my representative, without screaming back, it made me proud to have him as mayor. He stood his ground and when the bullying did not work, Pfeifer stormed out of the room. Steve went on to deliver an impassioned talk as to why things need to change and it was well received. He displayed great courage and he has my respect.

I’m so mad I can’t see straight. I was driving on Georgia Highway 74 near Wisdom Road in PTC and just got “flipped” off by a bicyclist. This moron outfitted in his flashy, sleek-looking tights and helmet, pedaling feverishly, and going all of 25 mph was in the fast lane. I honked my horn in disbelief and got flipped off. This is a four-lane divided highway posted at 55 mph. Can’t this nut find any place else in the city to ride? Don’t we have 60-plus miles of paths? What’s next, bicyclist on I-85? There oughta be a law.

Support realistic sex education, not just denial. Abortions are an example that abstinence Only in real life isn’t enough. Give struggling parents the help they need for the children they have brought into this world. No one wants to have an abortion. Help make them unnecessary.

2-09-05

I live at Starr’s Mill. I work in Atlanta. I commute south on Ga. Highway 74 through the Ga. Highway 54 intersection, which is always congested at rush hour. Tonight was unbelievable. I saw [a] Fayette County marshal pulling a motorist over, blocking traffic, right at the intersection. Hello? Wouldn’t you be serving Fayette County better by guarding the jail?

Forget about Waffle House. Tyrone now has the Sonic Snob. Yes, folks, the Sonic Snob has shown her true colors, and let me just tell you they are not Sonic red and yellow. She even had the nerve to ask the Sonic guys to change the colors for her. Mr. Sears (Tyrone town attorney) brought to her attention that colors are not in the town’s control. You’d think she would know this as Planning Commission chairperson. Good luck, Mr. Sears, cleaning up all her opinionated and rude comments.

I’d like to know more about Barry Amos and this whole Shamrock Park story. Sounds like a huge T-Town cover up to me. I bet Eyewitness Investigation could get to the bottom of this.

I thought the reason Barry Amos was hired in the first place was he is supposed to be an engineer and know that wetlands can’t be used as ballfields without soil erosion. Now the people in Pendleton are paying for his lack of knowledge by having to have their lake dredged. The water from Lake Pendleton continues on into Kedron Lake which is part of the Peachtree City drinking water. Just wait till septic lines in Handley Field spill in. Peachtree City will do what the people of Pendleton should have done: Sue the city of Tyrone and have Barry Amos replaced. But then Peachtree City did replace Barry Amos once before, when he worked for them.

How lazy have drivers in Fayette County become? Do you have to have the closest parking spot to go work out at the gym? Is it not illegal to park without a permit in a handicapped spot at a church? Check out church parking lots during Upwards basketball practices and games.

“A criminal warrant has been issued for a 23-year-old black McDonald’s worker who allegedly raped a 16-year-old white Sandy Creek High School student.” Does this sentence bother any one else? Come on, Citizen, I thought you were above this.

When is the Fayette County Board of Education going to do something about the administration at Kedron Elementary? I read with great interest the note written by the FCHS parent who was speaking of “the good ol’ boy” network in the county. There have been many complaints about this administration and nothing has happened. Could it be that they are such good friends with Kathy Cox? How many students have to leave the school for you all to get the message?

Residential city pride is at an all time high! “We are the most educated … in the state.” A number of demographic studies certainly show this not to be the case. Check your records for areas that compare favorably, as well as above “we.” How about the fact that high school grads outnumber college grads by over half? In any case, much of Georgia cannot show close to a 50 percent education rate, college or high school, and that is hardly a condition of which to be proud.

Integrity: Adherence to a code of values, incorruptibility. Where has it gone? Certainly, our city government leaders do not have this character trait. They may have once possessed it, but they have lost it while gaining political macho power. The Peachtree City Tourism board (including past board members Salvatore and Rapson), City Council, and the mayor need to reassess themselves. They are representing us PTC taxpaying citizens. These officials condone the crass and employee harassing behavior of the PCTA executive director. These officials have forgotten they are employers.

Peachtree City viewed from outer space: Not everyone may have discovered this interesting ”local” Web site so I thought I would pass it along. If you want to get a big picture, look at exactly where the proposed West Village annexation will be situated or if you want to zoom right in on your own backyard, there is some fairly recent, high resolution (0.3 meters/pixel) satellite imagery of our fair city posted on the Internet. (0.3 meters is sharp enough that I can see one of my neighbors standing in his driveway.) You normally have to pay for high altitude photos at that resolution, but these are available absolutely free from the United States Geological Survey. Point your web browser to http://terraserver.microsoft.com and then enter Peachtree City, GA under city and state but do not enter a “street.” Hit “GO” and then click on “Urban Areas.” You can zoom in and out by clicking on the image and you can also pan east, west, north and south by clicking on the edge of the photo. Highest resolution is available by clicking on the largest “Size” button at the top left of the photos. Unfortunately, the southernmost portion of Fayette County was not photographed but most of PTC and all of Fayetteville are covered. Have fun, and next time you’re out in your yard, wave to the camera.

Just seven weeks to go until we pay the increased sales tax imposed by our Republican majority! You’d better buy that new car you’ve been thinking about.

My daughter has always been an A- or B-average student. We move to the Whitewater district, mainly because of the new high school hype. Now my daughter makes straight A’s. Why complain is what we hear, great says Principle Stillions. From my 16-year-old daughter’s mouth comes, “Because it’s way too easy, some teachers don’t grade my papers, other students do their papers on totally different subjects and still get the same grade as others who did it properly. Teachers do not know how to use the ‘Technology’ so what good is it?” Her teacher is a joke, who expresses his extremely liberal views openly and continually with dislike for kids who are “redneck.” This particular teacher came from Fayette High and from what I’ve heard from other parents and kids, the same complaints and reputation came with him to Whitewater. For a serious student headed towards college this is very discouraging. But if you’re headed towards vocational training this looks like the school for you!

It is my hope that one day we’ll have a mayor who does not appear to automatically embrace every annexation request that comes down the road. So far, we seem to be 2 for 2.

Cal’s opinion piece about rezoning hit the mark. It reminds me of the fellow who didn’t want much more land, just what joined his. Let the county build the rest on the west side if they will put the exit road in to Ga. Highway 74 North. Is there any way to shut these politicians, and former politicians, up? Would someone be able to research certain land ownership changing of property over the last 25 years and see just who bought and sold to whom? Other considerations might become evident also during that study. When someone starts calling others names, in a fit of rage, it reminds me of Shakespeare (or somebody like that): “methinks thou dost protest too much.”

Can someone tell me why Peachtree National Bank would loan out all that money if they didn’t expect to be repaid? I find that hard to believe. They’re due the money back.

Peachtree City murders beavers. The beavers were in the stream BEFORE there was a Lake Kedron. The beavers were swimming freely BEFORE there was a Redding Ridge road! How can one homeowner have the beavers murdered? What about the majority (110) who cared about the beavers? Where is the justice?

It’s simple Fayette Countians: No district voting. That is unless you want to live in Clayton County west. There is a reason certain folks want it and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why.

Trial lawyer James Webb took the stage, snatched the amphitheater microphone right after 9-11 and incredibly announced that “we need to try and understand why the Arab world hates us.” Look at the continuing nouveau riche, “ugly American,” displays by your friend and neighbor Bob Lenox and you have a good start on your answer.

Two men went to lunch and one walked away a gentleman. Thank you, Mayor Brown, for serving our city. We elected you once and will do it again.

Shame on you, Steve Brown, you need to give the Farr family an apology for what you said about Tom. How low can you go? I thought you were a church-going man. Guess you need to go to church and have a talk with God. You make me sick and you have no class. Please do us all a favor [and] resign; you are an insult to this city and an embarrassment.

I’ve always thought Steve Brown had exposed the corruption of politics in PTC, but I’ve been waiting for some concrete evidence since he has taken office and has access to all the records. But other than more accusations, I haven’t seen anything, and now the former Mayor Lenox offers a $100,000 challenge to find something or resign. OK, let’s take the deal. Mayor Brown, if you honestly have made accusations that are true, then grab the money for Red Cross and be done with it. If it isn’t true, then what about all the other characters you’ve impugned? Let’s get this done once and for all. If it isn’t true, then I’ve had about enough of your act. Put his money where your mouth is, or hit the road. This is the chance you’ve apparently been waiting on for years. Get on with it.

It looks like Dar Thompson is the best candidate that Group VI and the Peachtree National Bank could find. Does Mr. Thompson have a financial relationship with Group VI or the bank? It wasn’t hard for the old Development Authority bunch to find someone who was willing to abandon the city taxpayers and cover up their offenses. Here we go back to the days of backdoor dealing and secret contracts for the power brokers at the expense of everyone else.

Dar Thompson is not a very intelligent human being. We screamed with laughter when he told The Citizen that he would rather pay the $1.5 million of illegal debt from the Development Authority rather than pay around a tenth of that figure in legal fees because he wants to run the city like a business. It is easy to see why Mr. Thompson’s “business” was forced to incur tremendous debt and take on new partners because he was incapable of managing the operation himself. The guy is a bleached blond version of former mayor Fred Brown.

Dear Mr. Dar Thompson, candidate for mayor, ignoring illegal government actions and paying off those who participated in it (you say “fixing it”) is not my idea of good business practice. What is your definition of right and wrong and why would you enable people to disobey the law? Get real.

Mayor Steve Brown’s recent comment about Tom Farr goes way beyond the bounds of civilized behavior. I call on the many friends of Tom Farr, as well as other Peachtree City residents who were outraged by this statement, to come forward and make their views public. I also urge them to remember this incident when it’s time for the next city election.

What is with the concert lineup at the Fred? Thought we paid to have at less one headliner each concert series and I am having a problem identifying which one it could be. Fayetteville has a much better series plus you get the Swinging Medallions free. Guess us season ticket holders are still paying for the tennis center bedlam.

The mayoral candidate that declares change is needed in the leadership of the Peachtree City Police Department will win by a landslide.

I was just wondering what page “Free Speech“ is printed on for the rest of Fayette County? All I ever see is Peachtree City’s problems being aired. I never realized what a screwed up place it was.

My son comes home from Starr’s Mill, and tells me 14 students were arrested on drug charges. Why do these things not make the papers? Parents should know what’s going on in their child’s school.

I would like to give you the point of view of a person who goes to the church that is possibly moving its location. I go to this church and, yes, I was one of the 500 people who voted on this issue. I am not a grownup but still a teenager in high school and an underclassmen at that. My church does have a lot of children in it; I’m one of three in my family. My mother works at the church’s preschool. I do not appreciate all the crude, rude, and unacceptable talk that is being printed on these pages. If you are not affected by this (meaning not a member of the church or a person who goes to my church), I feel it’s really not your place to speak about us and what were are doing. We are a growing church and I feel there is not enough space to expand. If you want a say in this take the advice of a fellow reader and join the church. Sincerely, Troubled Teen.

I don’t know Ray Helton, but I want to thank him for voicing sensible opposition to the ill-advised Lutheran church site rezoning proposal. The issue is not how nice the church members are or how much money the church would make or where it wants to move. The ONLY question our elected council should consider is whether rezoning this prominent site to allow a 24-hour drug store hurts or helps the community. It’s easy to see how it would hurt: traffic (including delivery trucks), light, noise, ruining the pleasant balance of that intersection and setting a bad precedent for similar tracts. How it would help is a mystery since we already have plenty of pharmacies and there are other places for another one that don’t require a change in land use. This case will say a lot about whether Peachtree City’s “planned community” concept has any integrity left.

I just found out we have a registered sex offender (child molester) living in our neighborhood (Fairfield subdivision). I encourage all Fayette County citizens to search their own neighborhoods by visiting the Georgia Bureau of Investigation website at: http://www.ganet.org/gbi/and checking out the Sex Offender registry.

I just happened to return from the cheerleading competitions held at Sandy Creek High School. When I arrived, I handed over the $5 entrance fee and walked into the gym. Once inside I discovered that there was no seat to be found and people were standing along the balcony about five people deep looking over the side. Not being tall, I could not get a view of the competition. Also, as I looked around, I thought to myself, “What would happen if there was a fire in this place?” It seems that Sandy Creek did not have the room to host this event and were probably breaking fire code safely rules with the amount of people stuffed into their gym. I left the building, seriously concerned about the safety of that event and minus $5. May I suggest better planning or another host for this event in the future.

You’re right. How could The Citizen be so politically incorrect? The sentence should have read, “A criminal warrant has been issued for a 23-year-old African-American McDonald’s worker who allegedly raped a 16-year-old Anglo-American Sandy Creek High School student.”

Doesn’t anyone in this town have a sense of humor?

It would be terrible if responders would actually take the time to research the subjects prior to making their comments, not what they “hear” or repeated and take it for the truth. What would we do for entertainment? Thanks for the laughs folks. Keep ‘em flowing.

Juvenile delinquent drug addicts housed in a Fayette neighborhood? Not on your life! Send it to an urban area like Atlanta or Jonesboro. It is a bad move with ulterior motives to set up a drug house for juvenile delinquents in our bedroom community. It doesn’t fit. I don’t mind the Youth Home or the Handicapped Home. But this idea of sending drug addicted youth offenders into a Fayette neighborhood is a bad idea. Somebody like a probation company or some lawyers are probably making money on some government pork barrel.

A well-deserved citation for Hollis Harris. Delta’s loss was World’s gain. Ever wonder what happened?

2-02-05

You people sure are long-winded. I thought these were supposed to be short.

Oh my goodness! Surely the end of the earth is near when the “anonymous” writer hails Bob Lenox as a noble man and the old developer thieves as people of integrity. Since when is trash-talking noble? The Bozo has to hired an attorney to send his e-mails for him. Only the old guard would be mean enough to sue him and he’s on their side. The funniest part is that his attorney is Rick Lindsey.

The stated mission of the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce is to support and address the needs of local industry and to strengthen our economic base. How ironic that board member Bob Lenox moved his company warehouse out of Peachtree City and Fayette County, reducing the local work force. Bob Lenox is also the Governmental Affairs Coordinator for the Chamber of Commerce. I will no longer support any company with the Chamber of Commerce seal on display as I feel he is an embarrassment to Peachtree City as a past elected official and even more so as a current Chamber of Commerce board member.

Unbelievable! Mr. Anonymity, who claims Bob Lenox has integrity, has retained Rick Lindsey (Bob Lenox’s neighbor) to be his filter in submitting items to Free Speech. Mr. Lindsey is the law partner of Jim Webb. Jim Webb unsuccessfully tried to sue Steve Brown and The Citizen Newspaper for exposing his questionable ethics while serving as the Peachtree City attorney in the 1990s (The Lenox regime). I hope The Citizen newspaper will not even open an e-mail from the Webb firm, much less print anything they submit. Of course, the firm of Webb and Lindsey will probably scream lawsuit if the editor chooses to ignore their free speech. Don’t let them bully you again, Cal!

Nice move, former PTC mayor, Bob Lenox. I read where you moved your company out of Peachtree City two months ago to Smyrna, Ga. It’s a shame you don’t love “your town” enough to keep those tax dollars here.

Seen at traffic intersection with sign: “Clayton County lawyer will represent blind and drunk golf cart operators for food.” Fayette County, please help welcome our new neighbors from Clayton.

I just read the article in The Citizen concerning the Fayette County Commission discussion of a special EMS district for Peachtree City. Since I attended this meeting I was surprised at the characterization of commissioners Frady, Pfeifer and Wells as “outraged” as editorialized in J. Frank Lynch’s article. J. Frank seems to think that when someone has a strong opinion on an issue that to be expressive and pointed in their remarks amounts to outrage. Personally, I found Commissioner Pfiefer’s prepared remarks to be exactly on point. The delivery was calm, precise and addressed his position on the issue head on. Commissioner Frady used his long history in dealing with the people of Peachtree City to remind people that the present state of contention between the county and PTC was not the norm in prior years. He could not recall when or why PTC had “opted out” of the county EMS. Pointing out how this arrangement is detrimental to the people of PTC is not being contentious, but informative. Commissioner Wells did not address Mayor Brown directly in any of her remarks despite that fact that (in typical Brown fashion) he plopped himself on the front row so that he could be seen by all in attendance. Commissioner Wells was direct in her remarks concerning the issue. She did not suggest that Mayor Brown secede from Fayette County or that HE take his marbles and go home as J. Frank states. She did say (and I checked) that the attitude displayed was tantamount to someone who would take such actions. It is amazing how that minor omission substantially changes the tone of the statements. Perhaps J. Frank was not as quick on the short hand. I thought her reference to PTC being one of the crown jewels of the county was a reflection of her true opinion of what great place PTC is to live. She was also accurate when she said that PTC could not thrive in a county that was not as supportive of it as is the Fayette County government. Put PTC in Clayton county and see what would happen. Mayor Brown would have you believe that the tax inequity is created because PTC does not receive services for which it is taxed. He needs to remember (as Commissioner Wells pointed out) that if one of his constituents has a heart attack or auto accident in the county, even if it is only 5 feet outside the PTC city limits, it is the county, not PTC, that will respond. It is such circumstances, which occur on a regular basis each year, for which PTC citizens are paying. If the citizens of PTC want to lower their taxes, they should ask the PTC city council why, despite the recommendation of their own independent consultants, they will not even entertain the prospect of consolidation of services with the county. J. Frank, be careful of your hyperbole. It is more important to be accurate than to try to “add fuel to the fire” for the sake of selling a few more copies of the newspaper.

Keep going, Steve Brown. I don’t know how you keep doing it. The bum that announced to run against you thinks you’re making the county government mad. They deserve everything they get for ripping us off on our taxes. We enjoy finally being represented.

It seems to me that Mayor Brown and ex-Mayor Lenox are a little too interested in each other, if you know what I mean, not that there is anything wrong with that.

If Mayor “pudgy” Brown and ex-Mayor Bob “I’ve got nothing going on in my life” Lenox ever get together for lunch, you got to think it will not be a place serving small portions. I am kind of surprised that they need to get together for lunch; one would think they would get to see plenty of each other at the local Mensa gatherings.

When Steve Brown ran for mayor in 2001 his Web site proudly proclaimed: “I have a proven record of defending open government and promoting ethics in government. As an ethics board member, I had to ask myself would I be upholding my duty by avoiding this issue knowing that our ordinances state that even the appearance of impropriety requires action?” According to what I have read his actions regarding the Comcast broadcast certainly have the “appearance of impropriety.” Why is it that he thinks this doesn’t “require action”? Why is suddenly holding him accountable for his actions now labeled “an attempt to cast doubt on [him] in an election year?” Should Steve Brown not be held to the very standards he outlined in his own campaign? The very standards he demanded of others?

Rick Viall, a continuous candidate with no victories, thinks that we do not need principled government. Furthermore, he thinks that the taxpayers should pay for government incompetence, waste and corruption (his words). Mayor Brown was very clear in his State of the City Address on the city’s Web site. He said, “Peachtree National Bank had exhaustive knowledge of the authority’s actions when they released the non-collateralized loans to the Development Authority. They knew about the debt funding of operating expenses. They knew that the DAPC did not have the means to pay the loans back.” If the mayor’s statements are true, I’ll be doggoned if I’m paying the filchers back! Sorry, Viall, move to Fayetteville.

Direct-PAC in Peachtree City is a bunch of disgruntled folks who have seen their candidates get thrashed at the polls in the last two PTC municipal elections. None of the members of the PAC will run for office (because they know they are unlikely to win) or even admit to their identity. I suspect the citizens of PTC can see through the heretofore futile attempts by Direct-PAC to influence elections. Here’s hoping that Direct-PAC members follow the example set by McMenamin, Godfrey and Christian and leave town.

Direct-PAC, where are you? Anonymous “Old Guard” person said in the Free Speech that they have hired Webb and Lindsey lawyers to anonymously collect Mayor Steve Brown stories to use against him in the election. These stories will then be spread anonymously. These are the same lawyers that gave King Bob Lenox the legal go-ahead to give the Development Authority the hotel/motel tax for 50 years. When it came to light, it was ruled illegal. Hey, wait a minute, isn’t this Old Guard/law firm move a political action committee that’s not registered? Yeah, sounds just like when King Bob formed the secret PAC to boost the referendum so he could get the city to make a “Lenox Recreation Center.” Except that he conveniently violated the rules, too. So where is Direct-PAC on either of these violations? That’s what I thought; it’s not about ethics, it’s about making money.

When are you people going to back off and let the church do what they think is best? Mr. Helton goes and speaks of all the rights the church has as private owner. If he were to sell his house, would he want God complaining to everyone in the newspaper about the profit he might make on the deal and his future plans? If not, then maybe he should leave God alone now. He woes the loss of a place to worship. I wonder if the church has record of him ever attending there if it’s that important to him? Perhaps his time might be better spent helping to raise $3.5 million to match Walgreens’ offer and then the church has the money they need to move and continue being a great blessing to PTC and surrounding towns. He can then turn the corner lot into a beautiful park with a fountain. And the other writer then woes less than 500 of the “church membership” showed up to vote. Did you forget that many of those 1,800 are probably children? If you want to have some say in what the church does, then join. The only thing I can give Mr. Helton credit for is writing a real letter to the editor and signing his name.

Cal Beverly’s editorial in the Jan. 26 Citizen was one of the most distasteful columns I have ever read in any newspaper. The general public is getting tired of Cal stirring up trouble with his volatile speech. Next time, Mr. Beverly, please engage your brain prior to insulting a church and making pronouncements that you [know] nothing about.

Mayoral Candidate Logsdon, can you please provide us with your Web site address so we can better understand your position on PTC issues? In the interim can you please explain what you meant by your statement related to the delays of TDK. “That has an economic impact that we’re losing daily,” Logsdon said. Please elaborate on this statement on how Peachtree City is being economically impacted. I think it may be the developers that want to develop over in Coweta County that may be impacted more than Peachtree City. If anything our infrastructure is going to be impacted by the increased access. You understand that the subdivisions that will be connected by TDK expansion will have access to our cart paths and other facilities. As you probably know the developers will most likely provide the connections just like the connects that have been established into the city of Tyrone and other Fayette County areas. Now there is the potential to extend the access outside our county too. Hmmmm.

I have noticed that while living in Peachtree City for the last several years, the people and the developers have lost the vision of what Peachtree City is all about. While living here I have watched the construction of several buildings. The sad thing about these buildings is the majority of them are banks. How many banks does a city need with a population of about 40,000 people? In comparison with communities in North Metro Atlanta, none of them have golf cart paths as extensive as ours. We have several excellent golf courses as well as one particular course built in the manufacturing or industrial area. So, why is it so difficult to attract more corporate businesses to this area, other than banks? To the mayor, the City Council, and to the Development Authority, please, no more banks.

Harold Logsdon is the Bard of Braelinn.

What is our beautiful little city coming to when two people that are supposed to be pillars of our community (Brown and Lenox) have nothing better to do than lash out at each other in the paper? These guys need to grow up. Logsdon sounds pretty good to me after reading their insults to each other. We need an adult in office.

People have flocked to Fayette County for a multitude of reasons, but most are for the school system and the quality of life. Now we have people that have fled from surrounding areas, areas that have never achieved this same level, and they want us to change. For what possible reason? Of course when logic fails, they throw the ever reliable race card. There is nothing racist about the method Fayette County chooses its elected officials. In fact, racism has never entered the fray until now. When you move to an area to enjoy the good life, sit back and enjoy the good life. Don’t come here demanding changes to fit your desires. After all, where you came from wasn’t good enough to keep you.

You’ll have a parade for other groups, my hindquarters. Your organization isn’t what it started out as. It now stands for “National African-American Complaining Platform.”

Thanks for the advice; however, I do practice what I preach, just not when you want me to. I have in the past, and will in the future respond to issues in the letters section where name is included. The most recent time was last year in response to an article by Cal Thomas and his opinion on affirmative action. Look it up. Can you say that you have done the same? Save your ironic wonderment on why someone would express such mean-spirited comments on a parade for someone who represented peace. What are you and the other writer going to do for the month of February?

If the citizens want a really good laugh, go to one of Tyrone’s P&Z commission meetings. Thursday night the chairwoman told the director of development of Sonic Corporation that their colors were “garish.” Could they possibly not be so “garish”? Gee, they have only been Sonic’s colors for 52 years. They also refused to let a dry cleaner have his business in the South Hampton shopping plaza, because he actually wanted to have his cleaning done on site. They were concerned environmentally. Wonder what’s up with that considering a developer has torn down a house that tested positive for asbestos, which was not demolished properly although according to one resident, she reported the demolition on the day it started to the city. Guess that one got swept under the rug. Same developer overlooked getting a permit, cut a golf cart path from a new subdivision into South Fork; homeowners weren’t aware until the bulldozers were in their back yard. Oh, and the developer bought a house in South Fork so he could cut the easement. And the whole torrid story with the Lake Pendleton fiasco. To the members that are so concerned about the new development and the landscaping issues, could you volunteer your time to clean up Handley Park that is such a eyesore in downtown Tyrone? I think you should clean up your own front door first. And how many signatures do we need to have these members removed and replaced with professional and qualified individuals, along with a few city employees?

I’d like to know more about Barry Amos and this whole Shamrock Park story. Sounds like a huge T-Town cover up to me. I bet Eyewitness Investigation could get to the bottom of this.

We now pay four times the percentage of our house value that we paid 20 years ago in Fayette County. Sales tax is triple percentage what it was then, except for groceries. Most of this has come about in the last few years. Not talking about dollars quadrupling and tripling; percentage of the value only. During that time we have gone from a Democratic (liberal) politics to a Republican (conservative) politics. When it was left up to the states to defend our country, build interstate roads, educate our children, etc., it simply was not getting done. Localities will only raise taxes for more employees, which may mean you have to build more buildings to do so, and the unfortunates among us can do without, especially in the health area. It seems to me that cutting taxes in Washington, especially for corporations and very high wage earners, doesn’t help the majority of our people at all.

Folks, you better hold on to your wallets and purses. They are at it again. The Fair Tax supporters are telling us how much better off we would be to pay a tax of 22-27 percent on every dollar we spend instead of paying that bad old income tax. Think about this. How many people actually pay 22-27 percent federal tax after all deductions are taken? What they are advocating will cost the average American big bucks. Just think, your money that you have already paid tax on and saved for retirement will be taxed again when you spend it. Your Social Security, IRAs and all other retirement savings will be taxed at the same rate. They say that corporations don’t pay taxes anyway so they will just do away with corporate taxes. So, these corporations that don’t pay taxes will reduce prices (because of tax reductions) so much that you will be able to buy their products cheaply enough to actually save your 22-27 percent in lower costs. I want this in writing. Also remember, state taxes will be there to add to the 22-27 percent. As an incentive for us little people, we will receive a rebate check monthly based on the government poverty level to reimburse us for our taxes paid to that level. The only ones I see that will save money from this plan are a few individuals who are already wealthy and just want to get a lot wealthier. These plans sound a lot like the natural gas service deregulation scam that was put over on Georgians a few years ago. Look at your bill. In many months the service fees now exceed what your total bill was prior to this wonderful deregulation. Telephone service is touted as a good example of what deregulation can do for (to?) the consumer. A few years ago, my phone bill was half of what it is now. It included long distance access, unlimited directory assistance, you could make and receive collect calls free of additional charges (other than the long distance fee), the phones and wiring were maintained by the phone company at no charge. Look at what you have now. Anytime you require anything other that a simple phone call, there is a fee added on. Most of these fees are not small. Try to find a list of the fees. Almost impossible! I guess they are ashamed. Or maybe they want you to find out on your monthly bill. We have to start being more vocal and let our politicians know that we are not going to just sit back and let these things happen any more.

Residential city pride is at an all time high! “We are the most educated ... in the state.” A number of demographic studies certainly show this not to be the case. Check your records for areas that compare favorably, as well as above “we.” How about the fact that high school grads outnumber college grads by over half? In any case, much of Georgia cannot show close to a 50 percent education rate, college or high school, and that is hardly a condition of which to be proud.

Integrity: Adherence to a code of values, incorruptibility. Where has it gone? Certainly, our city government leaders do not have this character trait. They may have once possessed it, but they have lost it while gaining political macho power. This is in response to last week’s comments regarding Rapson, Weed and Brown. The Peachtree City Tourism board (including past board members Salvatore and Rapson), City Council, and the mayor need to reassess themselves. They are representing us PTC taxpaying citizens. These officials condone the crass and employee harassing behavior of the PCTA executive director. These officials have forgotten they are employers.


		Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2005