We celebrate this week the 100th Anniversary of the creation of our national parks!  I have been fortunate  to recognize this important date by visiting both Yosemite in California and Acadia in Maine--lucky me and a big part of a very nice summer!  I hope you and your family are also enjoying each other and times outdoors. 

And the biggest news of the Summer is the arrival of new family member HENRY!  A lot of trouble but very cute.

My political activities for HD 82 this summer have also been positive, and as always, I ask for your advice and input.  Thank you, and please contact me anytime I may be of help.

Emory Annexation into City of Atlanta

Last week, Emory University announced its intention to petition the City of Atlanta to be annexed into the city limits using the "100% Method of Annexation".  This method of annexation allows a property owner to petition an adjoining city to be included in the city upon a showing that the area to be annexed has a physical link of 50 feet or 1/8th mile, whichever is less.  There is no required action by the voters or by the General Assembly, and Emory intends to complete this petition process and obtain a favorable response from Atlanta by the end of this year.  Emory has drawn a map including its 621 acres, and a handful of other property owners, and takes no residential houses or neighborhoods or schools into its map.  Emory claims this action will not impact residents on the borders of the Emory campus, but the proposed map does include a DeKalb Fire Station located on Clifton Road, and the Emory Point development.  

I attended a meeting of neighborhood leaders and other elected officials called by Commissioner Jeff Rader this week, and have met personally with DeKalb School Board members, other county commissioners, and Emory officials.   There is a great deal of interest and some anxiety about this unilateral and unanticipated action by Emory, and many issues to resolve.  How much tax money will DeKalb lose based on this move from the Emory Point and Emory Conference Center entities, and who will provide fire protection and back up to the Emory police department? And, perhaps most importantly, how will zoning related to Emory's future construction be reviewed and determined?  Important issues need to be addressed and soon.  Stay tuned, and continue to raise your own questions and concerns.  

Ban on Assault Type Weapons Bill

With the encouragement and help of many, I have decided to again introduce legislation to ban the sale in Georgia of assault type weapons and high capacity magazines in the 2017 Session. I am gathering co-sponsors and supporters to this legislation, and making some modifications from HB 731, which I filed during the 2016 Session.  Thank you for your continued  positive interest in the issue of reducing gun violence.  I anticipate meetings and public discussions on this 2017 legislative project and hope you will attend and participate.  

Survey

The State of Georgia is looking to expand to many more counties, the requirement that able bodied adults without children be employed or lose their food stamps.  The AJC reported on this issue, and I was quoted.  Article here

Do you support policy that denies food stamps to unemployed "able bodied adults without children"?

Discussion:  The numbers of Georgians eligible for the federal defined food stamp program has grown and most recipients are working adults with children.  There are unemployed adults who are not employed and do not have children, and receive no other assistance who are eligible for food stamps and the average monthly benefit is $194.  Do you think only employed adults, or adults with children should be eligible? 

Click here to take survey.