Buckhead CID executive director to address BBA

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Jim Durrett, executivedirector of the Buckhead Community Improvement District (CID), will speak atthe Buckhead Business Association’s Weekly Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, July12, at the City Club of Buckhead.
“Jim Durrett comes tous with a wealth of expertise in transportation, land use and creative livablecommunities,” notes Catherine Cattles, 2012 president of the BBA.  “Welook forward to hearing from him about his mission to make Buckhead a morewalkable and liveable urban environment, including his plans for improvements tothe transportation network and public realm that connect people and placeswithin the Buckhead community, despite limited resources.”

Jim Durrett

Prior to joining theBuckhead CID, Durrett was founding executive director of the LivableCommunities Coalition, a not-for-profit organization formed in 2005 to promotesmart growth development in the Atlanta region.  Prior to that, Durrettserved for five years with the Urban Land Institute (ULI), an organizationdedicated to land use and real estate development issues, as the foundingexecutive director of ULI's Atlanta District Council. 
Durrett formerly waswith the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce as the vice president ofEnvironmental Affairs, and was the senior vice president and chief operatingofficer of The Georgia Conservancy. 
He began hisprofessional career as a hydrogeologist in the DeKalb County office of GolderAssociates, an international geotechnical and environmental engineeringconsulting firm.
Durrett is activelyinvolved in the community and currently serves on the following boards: MARTA board of directors (which he chaired in 2011); Livable CommunitiesCoalition board of trustees; Project Interconnections advisory board; and VSAArts of Georgia board of directors.  He is a member of LeadershipAtlanta’s Class of 2013.
From 1998 to 2005,Durrett was a member of the Georgia Environmental Advisory Council, appointedby the Governor to advise the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, theGeorgia Environmental Protection Division and the governor on environmentalpolicy matters.  He was a member of the inaugural class of the Institutefor Georgia Environmental Leadership and a participant in the RegionalLeadership Institute. 
Durrett chaired theadvisory committee for Georgia For a Lifetime, an initiative of the GeorgiaCouncil on Aging.  He also has served on numerous collaborative committeesand task forces working on growth management, affordable housing andenvironmental issues in the state of Georgia.
An Atlanta native, Durrettattended the Westminster Schools in Atlanta and earned a bachelor’s degree inEconomics from the University of Virginia and a master's degree in Geology fromthe University of Georgia.  He completed post-graduate work inhydrogeology at the University of Texas.  He lives in DeKalb County withhis wife, Pat.  They have two sons, James and Ryan, both attendingcollege.

Councilwoman Felicia Moore to co-host 2012 Business Growth and Opportunity Meeting July 27

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Atlanta City CouncilwomanFelicia Moore in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration,Invest Atlanta and the Atlanta Advisory Committee for InternationalRelations will host the 2012 Business Growth and Opportunity Meeting inDistrict 9 on Friday, July 27.

Felicia Moore

The meeting will takeplace from 10 a.m. until 12 noon at facility of Empire Distributors, located at3755 Atlanta Industrial Parkway. Atlanta Industrial Parkway runs off of DonaldE. Hollowell Parkway, just west of I-285 in Council District 9.
Moore, who alsorepresents a portion of the western part of Buckhead, said professionals willbe on-hand to inform businesses of tax credits and small business incentiveswhile doing business in Atlanta. Businesses will have an opportunity to receiveuseful information regarding programs to support the diverse needs of smallbusiness owners.
She encourages allbusinesses to attend. To register for the meeting call 404-330-6044 or email fmoore@atlantaga.gov.
Every year the U.S.Small Business Administration and its nationwide network of resource partnershelp millions of small businesses start, grow and succeed.

Fulton Commission to discuss millage rate increase

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The Fulton County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to discuss apossible increase in property tax millage rates at its meeting Wednesday at 10a.m. at the courthouse in downtown Atlanta.
Under consideration is raising county propertytax rates from 10.281 to 10.791 mills to help balance the $605 million generalfund budget, which funds the day-to-day operations. However, the rate hikemight not increase taxpayers’ burdens.

“It is expected the new rate will generate thesame amount of billing as last year,” county Finance Director Patrick O’Connorsaid in a released statement. “In other words, the revenue-neutral millage rate[of 10.791 mills] is the rate that will be used to offset the decline in valueof existing properties.”

He said the county will earn only $455 millionin income if the current rate stands, due to a $2.2 billion decline in taxdigest value for 2012 as received from the Board of Assessors’ office. That is anet reduction of $74 million, or 14 percent in county revenue.  

Zone 2 reports violent crime down, arrest successes

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The Atlanta Police Department’s Zone 2 Commander Maj. Van Hobbs told theboard of Neighborhood Planning Unit B July 3 “We look good in violent crime” inBuckhead. “We’re down in homicide, rape, robbery and burglary,” he said. 
Maj. Hobbs said aggravated assault is up fromlast year but added it currently is dropping. Buthe emphasized the major problems are burglary and car larceny. 

Zone 2's Maj. Van Hobbs

The major, whotook over command of Zone 2 earlier this year, saidpolice recently caught a suspect that shoplifted and then attempted to breakinto a car as well.  When Zone 2 policecaught the suspect, it turned out he had an extensive criminal historyincluding robbery, burglary, larceny and auto theft. The suspect may beresponsible for many car break-ins in the area, Hobbs added.
“We tracked him back to break-ins in Zone 5,” Hobbs said. “Thearea he was in has not had another car break-in since he was put in jail.”  Hobbs again emphasized the APD’s “Clean Car Campaign” designed to makepeople aware to clean their cars of items that entice criminals--such as laptopcomputers, briefcases, purses and GPS systems—and are “left in plain view whilethey leave cars in parking lots.”

Additionally, he said catalytic convertors areoften stolen out of “large trucks they can get under easily or Element-typevehicles.”
Hobbs turned the floor over to Zone 2 Criminal Investigations Unit Sgt.Scott Ormond to discuss one of the recent successful arrests of a careercriminal thatis responsible for recent burglaries at Frank Ski’s restaurant on PeachtreeRoad in Buckhea and has confessed to numerous similar crimes in the area aswell.
The suspect was caught on video surveillance at Frank Ski’srestaurant and prints were lifted at another recent burglary at a Jersey Mike’ssandwich shop at 391 14th St. in Zone 5, which allowed police to get a name ofthe individual, have a warrant issued and ultimately allowing them to make anarrest.

Zone 2 Community Prosecutor
Tiffany Harlow

Although the arrest was actually made in Zone 5, Ormond said the man wasa commercial and residential burglar who worked both Zone 2 and Zone 5.According to Ormond, the man has confessed to “eight and counting” offenses.  

Zone 2 Community Prosecutor Tiffany Harlow, whois assigned to Buckhead by the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office, said careercriminals are still roaming the streets for a few reasons. “We’ve had a problemwith judges being really lenient,” Harlow said at the meeting. “Our guidelineshave been pumped up.”

She said it also makes it easier for criminalsto get off when victims do not show up to the court hearing, which happensoften. “It’s imperative the victims show and are given the opportunity tospeak,” Harlow said.

Harlow spoke about the importance ofparticipation in the Citizens' Court Watch program, which was created as a wayto include citizens in the criminal justice system.

NPU-B chair Sally Silver said it is just asimportant for the general public to show up during court proceedings to let thejudges know about the public’s concern about crime. “You may not be a victimthis time," Silver said, "but you may be next on the list."


Signsfor safe shopping

Sign by the Chase Bank at The Peach Shopping Center.

Signs like the one inthe photo are posted at points around The Peach Shopping Center, at 2900Peachtree Road in Buckhead, to help shoppers with pointers for making theirshopping a little bit safer. Here is the message to shoppers:
 “Shop Safe. Say and Do Something.
SAY: If you seesomething, Call 911,
DO: Every Visit:Be aware of yoursurroundings at all timesAlways keep your keys inyour handAvoid talking on yourcell phoneBe sure to lock your cardoorsKeep packages andvaluables out of sight
This property isprotected by Atlanta Police Officers. Violators will be prosecuted. A serviceof Accion Security."   

Atlanta airs smoking ban for public parks and more

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If you are one of those golfers at Chastain Park or the BobbyJones Golf Course who might light up a cigarette or take a puff on a cigarwhile waiting for the group ahead to take their shots and move out of range,enjoy it while you can, it might not last long.

The Bobby Jones Golf Course in south Buckhead

Or maybe you enjoy a smoke while watching the youth leagues playat one of Buckhead’s Little League parks or are prone to light up whilerelaxing on a bench in Tanyard Creek or Memorial parks with your dog. Thosedays may go up in smoke very soon.
Smoking could soon be banned at Chastain Park, the Bobby JonesGolf Course and just about every other recreational area or public park inBuckhead if City Council approves legislation now before it.  Oh, and Mayor Kasim Reed says he wouldapprove it.
Dist. 6 City Councilman AlexWan, who now represents a section of southeast Buckhead after the recentredistricting, and Councilwoman Joyce Sheperd are co-sponsoring legislation thatwould prohibit puffing on cigarettes, cigars or pipes in “city parks, athleticfields, aquatic areas, golf courses, tennis courses, hiking/walking/bikingtrails, playgrounds, off-leash areas, and spectator and concession areas.”

Alex Wan

Shepherd chairs the council's Community Development and HumanResources Committee and it will discuss the legislation at its next meeting onTuesday.
Theproposed ban in Atlanta would follow similar moves by Alpharetta, Roswell,Duluth and Clayton County, among other local jurisdictions.
The legislation was written for penalties to be consistent withother park violations such as not cleaning up after a dog defecates in thepark. Depending on a judge’s ruling, such penalties can range up to a $1,000fine, six days in jail plus public service.
The Atlanta Police Department would be responsible for issuingcitations, but Wan doesn’t see police enforcement becoming the real deterrentso much as neighbors and park-goers self-policing one another.
Therules would affect hundreds of thousands of people who come to Atlanta's parksfrom intown or the suburbs for concerts and shows, such as those at theChastain Amphitheater. Piedmont Park alone attracts 3 million visits per year,according to a March 2007 study.

Joyce Sheperd

Accordingto an article by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Councilwoman Sheperd said ittook a while for the Parks Department to convince her that a ban is a goodidea. But a couple of incidents — adults lighting up near children at a splashpad in her district, and widespread smoking during the Jazz Festival inPiedmont Park over Memorial Day — changed her mind.
"I'ma park person, and I've seen incident after incident where people were smokingall over the place and not being very respectful," she said. "I'mamazed that people will smoke around children and not think twice aboutit."
"Ithink, generally, there will be support" from the community, GeorgeDusenbury, commissioner of the city's Department of Parks, Recreation andCultural Affairs, told the AJC. "People see parks as places where kidsshould run free."
Wan,whose City Council district also includes Morningside and Virginia-Highland, toldthe AJC  the goal is to increase greenspace and encourage active lifestyles. Smoking runs counter to that, especiallyin kid-centric areas like the skate park in the Historic Fourth Ward Park, hesaid.
InJune, North American Properties and CBRE Global Investors announced thatthey would begin enforcing a smoking ban in public areas of Atlantic Station,its mixed-use development located on 17^th Street in Midtown.
Smoking is no longer permitted in Atlantic Station’s commonareas, including the Central Park green space and sidewalks. Non-smokingpolicies may vary for restaurants with al fresco dining areas. Designatedsmoking areas have been placed around the perimeter of the property in order tocontinue accommodating all guests.

ANIMAL RESCUE CORPS AND WILSON COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL RESCUE MORE THAN 100 DOGS FROM A HOARDING SITUATION

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Animal Rescue Corps (ARC) assisted Wilson County Animal Control today in the rescue of more than 100 dogs who were living in deplorable conditions on a property about an hour east of Nashville in Lebanon.
This situation, which started with eight unsterilized dogs two decades ago, devolved into a case of hoarding – the largest ever addressed in Wilson County. When responders arrived at the property, they found approximately 110 medium to large dogs, including various mixes of breeds such as Shepherds, Chows, Terriers, Labradors, and Rottweilers, living in feces-laden ramshackle pens with no doors. The dogs only had dilapidated wooden boxes and rusted-through metal bins to use as housing.
“The temperatures in Tennessee have been brutal lately and these dogs have had no shaded relief from the sun or any clean water, the conditions are extremely crowded and unsanitary, and therefore unsafe.” said ARC Tennessee State Liaison Peg Petrelli. “One dog so far has been found dead and the evidence suggests many have not survived this harsh environment.”
Many of the dogs rescued have been affected by medical conditions such as mange, broken legs, bone disorders, conjunctivitis, and blindness resulting from their living conditions and the absence of daily care and medical attention. Many are also un-socialized to humans and very shy because of their lack of individualized attention. All of the animals were surrendered to Wilson County Animal Control.
“We owe our deepest gratitude to the ARC team; without their expertise, assistance and resources this large scale rescue would not have been possibly.” said Wilson County Animal Control Director Mary Burger. “We are grateful Animal Rescue Corps is finally giving these dogs the care they deserve.”..."  More

The Legal Effects of Hoarding

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by John Terrell

Hoarding is a mental issue that involves an unhealthy collection of items. Sometimes the collection is just an overabundance of stuff that overtakes the home, while other times the hoard contains items that are harmful to those living in the home, both humans and animals.he legal effects of hoarding are one aspect people don't consider until they are faced with the unpleasant consequences. Problems often start when a landlord or neighbor complains about the hoard and initiates an investigation. At this point, city officials and other organizations get involved, as needed.The Consequences on the Family and Children
Hoarding can be taken to the extreme, to the point where the home is inhabitable due to mold, feces, structural damage, or fire hazards. For this reason, Child Protective Services may be called. Children are sometimes removed from the home until the home is suitable for living in. In addition, Adult Protective Services may also be notified and adult members living in the hoard may be forced to move until conditions improve.The Consequences on the Home
Renters who develop a hoarding problem face possible eviction. Landlords have the right to protect their property from the damage hoarding incurs. Furthermore, if the home is in bad enough shape or extents into the yard, city fines may apply. The worst case scenario is that the home is demolished, leaving the hoarder without a place to live.The Consequences of Hoarding Animals
Animal hoarders believe they have an abundance of animals because of their fondness of them. They claim to love the animals. What it really stems from, however, is mental illness. Mistreating animals, including malnourishment, forcing them to live in confined spaces, keeping them in uncleanly conditions or worse is punishable by law.The legal ramifications for animal hoarding may include steep fines up to $1000, felony arrest for animal cruelty or neglect, psychological evaluation and treatment, community service and a ban from owning animals in the future. The punishment correlates between how many animals were harmed and if the hoarder is a repeat offender. Initial jail time, for example, may be a six month sentence, but if the problem continues they may get up to four years in jail.Hoarders often don't realize the legal effects their hoarding can initiate. They are in denial that they have a problem and think that their collection isn't hurting anyone. It's only when authorities do get involved that they are forced to make changes..."  Link