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Its the little things...

I hate it when people point fingers and complain about things, yet they do nothing about correcting it or even offer solutions. Yet, for the most part, that’s exactly what I did in my last article. I said this is the problem, that’s a problem, but didn’t go so far as to offer any real solutions to the problems within the community.

I’ve always been impressed with the little things in life. A lot of us are, and don’t realize just how much we can and do appreciate them. Shirley Franklin, mayor of the city of Atlanta, taught us that the little things add up big. When she took over the city as mayor, she started small by promising to patch all the pot holes in the Atlanta streets, even if she had to go out and do it herself. Southwest Gwinnett would do well to follow that same rule of thumb. There are plenty of things that they can organize the community to do that would make immediate impact with little to no funding.

Gwinnett Village (aka Southwest Gwinnett Community Improvement District) has already done a great job of obtaining support of over 500 business owners in the area, essentially creating a committee of business owners in the area. The next step is to contact all of the Home Owners Associations within the area and begin the formation of a Gwinnett Village Homeowners Committee. This committee will elect one individual to serve on the Board of Directors for the Gwinnett Village. That is how they will begin to draw support from homeowners and add to their already impressive support from business owners.

Next step, communication, communication, communication. This is the easiest of probably of all the steps. Once they have identified and established a relationship with their audience, they must keep their attention. First thing they need to set up is an email newsletter, or even a blog or both. A newsletter should go out atleast once a month. A blog should be updated a minimum of once a week. Once every quarter, the Board of Directors should meet with each committee separately. On the last Saturday at the end of every quarter, there should be a town hall meeting of the entire community, citizens and business owners alike. This meeting will detail business matters, quarterly progress, and tasks yet to be completed by years end.

Now its time for more action and less talking. Its time to actually have something to show for. The trash has to go. Most of it is just pieces of paper, cups, and cigarette butts. All across the area there are groups that have adopted either a highway, or stretch of road. Churches, civic groups, boy/girl scouts have adopted roads in the past Encourage them and more to do the same. Maybe even hold a contest to see who has managed to keep their adopted area in the best of shape. Reward them. Name them in the newsletters. Maybe even a business owner in the area will step up and donate a prize for the monthly or quarterly winner. Another option would be to encourage the courts to use as penalties clean up and other projects the Gwinnett Village has targeted around the area for those convicted of minor crimes. Repaint the faded yellow and white lines on the streets. Fill pot holes. Paint street lights, and any other similar public structure. Pressure wash the medians and sidewalks.

Add greenery and color. Engage the local gardening club to spruce up some weed ridden and unsightly areas with low maintenance plants and flowers. There is a major home improvement retailer within the confines of Gwinnett Village, I am betting they would love to use this as a marketing opportunity in exchange for such greenery and supplies. If there is not such a gardening club, well this is an excellent opportunity to organize one.

These are examples of the kinds of small things that combined can make a huge immediate impact. More importantly, these are the kinds of things the community can come and do together allowing the Gwinnett Village to put more attention to the bigger issues the region is faced with. It allows the community to actively participate in making a difference. Hopefully that difference leads to the biggest needed change of all. Attitudes. All the cosmetic changes that are planned may be for nothing if we neglect and fail to change attitudes and instill a sense of pride.

SW Gwinnett: Portrait of an Identity Crisis

I consider myself a freshman citizen of this community, only having lived here for a year and a half now. I went on the path to buying a home that was a little rough around the edges and would inspire my imagination, and located in a bustling but charming community. Instead, I feel as if I got just the opposite, a home that really all it needs is some basic updating, and a community that’s rough around the edges and loaded with possibility. I’ve lived in other areas of Metro Atlanta from Stone Mountain/Decatur to Midtown and Roswell to Acworth. These areas of have their own issues to deal with, but they also had some semblance of pride and a community. So far I have not seen that since moving to SW Gwinnett. I drive around town and see homes and buildings in disrepair, trash along the streets and just pure apathy and irresponsibility. When someone drives up 85 or on any of the surface streets what impression do you think people have? Is that the impression you want them to have? Are we a business community? The stereotypical small town American community? The smallest international city? Just a ‘suburb of Atlanta’?

The answer is we are all of those things and more. The problem is there is no tie that binds our community together. Operations like the Southwest Gwinnett Community Improvement District and the Gwinnett County’s Operation Broken Window are attempting to breathe a new life in our community and launch our community into the future. Those operations may have a good start, but it is not enough. They have a larger problem to deal with if they cannot rally the community together and define its identity. The SWGCID must do more to reach out to homeowners more and gain their support, and more importantly involvement, just as they have begun to do with the business community. The county made a great step with Operation Broken Window, but now it is time they put their foot down and say enough is enough. The county needs to be more proactive enforcing existing building code and occupancy violations

This community is not a lost cause. It can be revitalized and reinvented. We are the Gateway to Gwinnett. We should be the mold by which all others envy and follow. Grant Park, East Point and College Park are prime examples it can be done. But it cannot do so without a sense of pride and development of community from its citizens and businesses working together.

So now I offer this challenge to the entire community to answer and act on this next question:

What are you going to do to affect change and help our community define its personality and identity?

Lets answer this question – together. Show me that I was right to believe this community has the potential I saw when I chose it as my home. We are bound to reap the rewards when we do.

SCHMASCAR!

Why are we trying to bring that stupid NASCAR museum here so badly? Dont we have enough rednecks to deal with around here? Certainly the $102 Million can be put to better use... like ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh transportation and the sewer system? I dont see that museum being THAT big of a draw or THAT much help to Atlanta.

Casinos... now thats the way to go! Im officially taking up a "Lets Bring Casino's To Atlanta / Support Rob Pitts - Fund" collection. Who's with me? They would do two wondeful things for Atlanta - boost convention business again........... and tourism. Both very high goals for ACVB.

Dear Psychopath-JackAss-In the Teal Green Saturn that was behind me at Jimmy Carter Blvd and Buford Hwy,

I do not know what the fuck I did for you to cuss and scream and flick birds at me yesterday at about 3:45pm yesterday. Which you followed up with trying to get around me in the next lane and almost running into the tailend of a Black Dodge Ram Pickup thats 4 times the size of your car... the you decided to swirve around him in the turn lane.. JUST so you can continue cussing me out and flicking me off and then drive like a bat out of hell and swirving in and out of traffic down Jimmy Carter Blvd and nearly causing about 4 other wrecks in the process.

Please let me know what I did. Because, the next time I see you behind me I will have to do it on purpos this time so you actually HAVE a reason to act like an idiot. Yes, in your case.. I would actually lower myself to that level just to get at you. You actually made me laugh. You see.. normally.. Im the one honking my horn and cussing and flicking people off. But the difference between you and I... they GAVE me a reason to do so. In my case yesterday... I can only go when the person in front of me moves too. And the people in front of me can only do so when that lil set of lights (which btw.. are not there for decoration regardless of what you may think) turns green. When we made it to the light.. it had just turned red. Which means... we stop. I know... your so much more important than everyone else... but your going ot have to come to realize... that if that were that true... you woudlnt be driving yourself.. nor would you still be in the second year production of the Saturn line.

Sincerely,
The guy in the Black RAV4 who blew you a kiss, purely to piss you off even more and nothing more I assure you, as you drove by me cussing, screaming and flicking me a bird for absolutely no reason.

More Pain. Less Comfort.

About a year or so ago, I wrote a very, I guess some would call, disturbing article about the Abu Ghraib scandal. I basically said that those who were involved and charged should get the same treatment that the prisoners effected did. I said that we should be above that. That we should be setting the example. That we are more - civilized- than that.

I'm going to make an exception to that rule regarding Michael Morales, a prisoner on death row for beating and stabbing a 17 year old girl to death. His execution was postponed because some anesthetists complained that it violated their oath to protect life. Their claim stated they couldn't perform the lethal injection because Michael would feel pain. They went on to say that the sodium pentathol may not be enough and that the executionee could wake up as the other two injections (one to stop from breathing, the other to stop the heart) were taking effect.

Fine. They have a point. As medical doctors, their job is to protect life.

However, comfort to this animal should not be a concern. Not considering what he did. While I believe we should be more civilized and set a better example, I also believe what comes around goes around. The 8th Amendment, as Kenneth Starr points out, does not allow for that form of capitol punishment.

I keep thinking, if that were my daughter... would I feel justice was served if I knew steps were being taken to make him comfortable while he passes on while my daughter wasn't given the same courtesy? Does thinking that make me as much of an animal as Michael Morales?

I would want vengeance.
I would want justice.
I'm not sure Terri Winchell or her family is getting either.

Point Two Fingers

I, Gatorrrrrr, am about to surprise alot of people. Take a seat, and prepare yourselves.

I hate guns. I think they are the most vile contraption on the face of the earth. No. That is not the surprise. Ive thought alot about the situation with Dick Cheney and the hunting excursion turned "Honey, I shot my friend!"

While I have complete disgust for guns, I have to look at this situation involving the Vice President as objectively as I possibly can. As I understand the story, Whittington basically walked into the line of fire. VP pulls trigger, gun goes bang and a series of pellets litters the air.. and Mr Whittington.

Yesterday, Mr. Cheney went on Fox News took all the blame. Which, since I have the utmost respect for him, I found very honorable. But, the way I see it, he's not totally to blame. To point blame, youll need two fingers.

One finger to point at VP Cheney for not being more aware of his surroundings before firing. Its safe to assume since he said to Mr. Whittington that "I didnt see you there" that he was in fact.. not aware of his surroundings.

Another finger pointing to Mr Whittington for walking in to the line of fire to begin with to pick up a dead bird that obviously wasnt going anywhere anytime soon. Now.. this is a big time lawyer.. who has made millions. Yet, he didnt have the common sense to know not to walk into the line of fire? Yea, I wont be calling him if I need defending.

I will still hold my stance, that this would never have happened if guns werent involved in the first place. No one should have that much power at their command, regardless of the situation. Including it would seem, the Vice President.