8 minute read
Criminal justice takes center stage at Fulton County town hall
By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Two North Fulton County commissioners led a town hall meeting at the county tag office in Alpharetta March 30, addressing a slew of questions from a packed house.
District 1 Commissioner Bob Ellis and District 2 Commissioner Bridget Thorne were joined at the information session by Sheriff Patrick Labat, Chief Appraiser Roderick Conley, Public Works Director David Clark and other county officials.
Ellis began the forum by providing a brief history of county initiatives and investments that have been made in North Fulton, like the new tag office on Maxwell Road in Alpharetta, where the meeting was held.
“One of the things that’s unique about this building is it’s the only facility in the state that has a joint tag office and driver’s license office, so, this particular facility gets a tremendous amount of traffic,” Ellis said. “And I’m super proud that it sits right here in North Fulton.”
Ellis said that similarly, over the past few years, Fulton County has spent the better part of $1 billion on water infrastructure projects in North Fulton.
“The county does a lot of things that the state or the cities don’t want to do,” he said. “Some of the stuff is not particularly sexy. I mean, we’re touching everything from grease traps, STD testing, to wastewater treatment.”
Thorne, who took office in January, told residents she “hit the ground running” during her first months in office, working hard to learn everything needed to represent District 2 correctly.
“I didn’t realize it was gonna be a 24hour, seven-day-a-week process,” Thorne said. “It’s supposed to be a part-time job and it’s been far from that.”
Thorne said she was immediately “shocked” by the spending habits and attitude on spending, displayed by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners. She also applauded Ellis for his stance on lowering the county budget and fighting overspending.
“One of the first things I had to do, right out of the gate as a new commissioner was vote on the budget, a $1.3 billion budget, which at the meeting increased by 30 million,” she said. “Some commissioners think that we can just pull money out anywhere, there’s no ceiling on the millage rate. So, I really appreciate the battle that [Ellis’s] been in and he’s been fighting for a really long time.”
After presentations from commissioners and other county officials, the event launched into an hour-long question-and-answer session with the audience.
Questions of decorum
Community question topics varied wildly, from the performance of the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office and how mental health issues are being handled in North Fulton, to budget concerns and the closing of local hospitals.
But most attendees who raised questions at the meeting, appeared to have come specifically to support Thorne, and question Ellis on certain alleged mistreatment of her by other members of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners.
A Milton resident who spoke first asked Ellis about the rules governing commissioners’ meetings and the “hate speech” Thorne has faced at certain meetings.
“That woman (Thorne) has been attacked three times by county commissioners talking about white privilege and race issues,” the resident said. “And no one has raised a hand, not even you.”
Ellis said he is limited in what he can do about the actions of other commissioners, beyond arguing with facts and logic, and trusting the guidance of officials like Fulton County Manager Dick Anderson.
“The Fulton County Commission is not a place for the faint of heart,” he said. “But you’ve got to figure out a way to go back, use your logic, use words and fight back for your citizens, so you are able to get things done and not turn it into a personal battle.”
Criminal justice concerns
Another big topic raised at the forum dealt with the county’s continuing struggle with criminal justice infrastructure and procedures. Officials, including Sheriff Lebat, said Fulton County is dealing with an enormous backlog of court cases, overcrowding at the jail in downtown Atlanta, and jail infrastructure on the edge of collapse.
Estimates are that it will cost billions of dollars to make the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta feasible once again, Thorne said.
“The jail is at the end of its useful life,” Ellis said.
One resident asked how the commission can look back at failures to ensure that history doesn’t repeat itself, like the situation they face with the county jail and court system.
Ellis pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic as a “flashpoint” for many of the problems the county’s criminal justice system is facing, like the increase in inmates and backlog of court cases. He said the county just didn’t have adequate data to prepare for the problems until they reached emergency levels.
“I am not comfortable that we’ve had the best mechanisms in place to be able to not only show our elected officials, but certainly our citizens, whether or not our justice system is working as it should,” he said.
Thorne said the County Commission is also tasked with working with other elected officials in the field of criminal justice, like the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office, and they don’t always share their ideas and opinions on how things should be done.
“We’re working with elected officials, with the DA, who’s elected and makes it clear to us we can’t tell her how to manage her caseload,” Thorne said.
Delivering Readers Award-Winning Newspapers
2022 Georgia Press Association
1st – Health Care Advertising
1st – Serious Column
1st – Investigative Reporting
1st – Food Advertising
1st – Signature Page
2nd – News Photograph
2nd – Feature Writing
2nd – Food Advertising
2nd – Service Advertising
2nd – Special Issues/Sections
2nd – Business Writing
3rd – Business Writing
3rd – Page One
3rd – Locals News Coverage
3rd – Spot News Photograph
3rd – Breaking News Writing
3rd – Lifestyle Feature Column
2022 Association of Community Publishers
1st – Orig. Editorial Photo Sports
1st – Orig. Writing Opinion
1st – Orig. Writing Sports
2nd – Feature Article Layout
2nd – Front Page Special Section
3rd – Orig. Editorial Photo Feature
3rd – Food & Drink Single Ad Color
3rd – Grocery/Liquor Single Ad Color
3rd – Special Promotion/Section
Stand-Alone Gloss
Lemonade Days
What: Begun in 1999, the first Lemonade Days was held as a relief effort for those families affected by the 1998 tornado that tragically destroyed entire Dunwoody neighborhoods. It has since grown into a five-day festival with something for everyone that has historically attracted more than 30,000 festival-goers. This year’s Lemonade Days will again feature full-scale carnival rides, food-and-beverage vendors, pony rides, a petting zoo and the Dunwoody Idol contest.
When: April 19 through 23, times vary
Where: Brook Run Park, 4770 North Peachtree Road, Dunwoody
More info: dunwoodyga.gov
The Lone Bellow Trio With The Watson Twins
What: The Lone Bellow casts an indelible spell with finespun songs of hard truth and unexpected beauty, frequently delivered in hypnotic threepart harmony. For their new album, “Love Songs for Losers,” the trio departed from their previous model of working with top producers such as Aaron Dessner of The National and dreamed up a singular sound encompassing everything from arenaready rock anthems to the gorgeously sprawling Americana tunes the band refers to as “little redneck symphonies.” The Watson Twins join the trio on this tour.
When: Thursday, April 20, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Byers Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs
Cost: $26.95-$144.25
More info: citysprings.com
Sandy Springs Farmers Market
What: Shop for fresh produce and artisan foods every Saturday morning until November 18, where more than 30 vendors set up shop around the City Green, many bringing their farm to your table. Other vendors offer artisan foods, and many participants offer pre-orders.
When: Saturday, April 22, 8:30 a.m.12:30 p.m.
Where: City Green, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs
More info: citysprings.com/ farmersmarket
A NIGHT WITH DADS: COMEDY SHOW
What: Stage Door Theatre and Dad’s Garage, a comedy improv theater, team up for an improv comedy show.
When: Saturday, April 22, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Stage Door Theatre, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody
Cost: $18.95-28.95
More info: stagedoortheatrega.org/ dads/
Hershey Felder As George Gershwin Alone
What: Hershey Felder’s exploration of George Gershwin’s short but extraordinary life has played to audiences worldwide for more than 3,000 performances from Los Angeles to South Korea, and spotlights Gershwin’s work as a master tunesmith whose work shaped a distinctly American style of music.
When: Saturday, April 22, 8 p.m.
Where: Byers Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs
Cost: $48.50-$75.40
More info: citysprings.com
Dunwoody Food Truck Thursdays
What: Scheduled to run every Thursday through October, Dunwoody Food Truck Thursdays features a variety of food trucks and music.
When: Thursday, April 27, 5-8 p.m.
Where: Brook Run Park, 4770 North Peachtree Road, Dunwoody More info: facebook.com/ dunwoodyfoodtruckthursdays/
CITY GREEN LIVE: BETTER THAN EZRA
What: Playing as part of the City Green Live series, Better Than Ezra is an American alternative rock band based in New Orleans. Formed in 1988, the band has been playing continuously since then, and are best known for their 1993 multi-platinum album “Deluxe” and the 1995 single "Good,” which reached No. 1 on the Billboard chart.
When: Friday, April 28, 7:30 p.m.
Where: City Green, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs
Cost: $60-90
More info: sandyspringsga.gov
Smigglesfest
What: Join Pontoon for their second annual Smigglesfest at the original taproom in Sandy Springs. Smigglesfest is a day filled with beer releases, contests, music, food and more. "Smiggles" was originally coined by Pontoon Brewing in the spring of 2020 with the release of a Berliner Weisse called Rainbow Smiggles, a fruited sour with Skittle candy, Trix cereal, strawberry, pineapple and vanilla.
When: Saturday, April 29, 12-7 p.m.
Where: Pontoon Brewing, 8601 Dunwoody Place, Sandy Springs
More info: pontoonbrewing.com
MONARCHS & MARGARITAS
What: Join the Dunwoody Nature Center for a farm-to-table meal, live music from The Bourbon Brothers and a live auction under the stars. There will be unlimited signature margarita and a selection of beer and wine. This year, there will also be a curated tasting of tequila from Don Cosme. The Bourbon Brothers will perform the music, and there will be a gallery of artwork made by local artists. Proceeds allow the Dunwoody Nature Center to continue inspiring a love of nature and cultivating greater environmental awareness and stewardship.
When: Saturday, April 29, 6-9 p.m.
Where: Dunwoody Nature Center, 5343 Roberts Drive, Dunwoody Cost: Price varies
More info: dunwoodynature.org/ monarchs2023
‘AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY’ PRESENTED BY ACT3 PRODUCTIONS
What: A vanished father. A pill-popping mother. Three sisters harboring shady little secrets. When the large Weston family unexpectedly reunites after Dad disappears, their Oklahoman family homestead explodes in a maelstrom of repressed truths and unsettling secrets. Mix in Violet, the drugged-up, scathingly acidic matriarch, and you’ve got a Pulitzer Prize-winning play that exposes the dark side of the Midwestern American family.
When: Until April 30, days and times vary
Where: Act3 Productions, 6285 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs
Cost: Adults are $23.71, seniors are $19.40 and students are $19.40
More info: act3prod.org
FEATURE YOUR EVENT ONLINE AND IN PRINT!
It’s even easier now than ever to promote your event to hundreds of thousands of people, whether online, through our newsletters or in the Crier and Herald newspapers.
To promote your event, follow these easy steps:
1. Visit AppenMedia.com/Calendar;
2. Provide the details for your event including title, description, location and date;
3. Click the red button that reads “Create event”
4. That’s it! Submissions are free, though there are paid opportunities to promote your event in print and online.
The Georgia Politics Podcast focuses on all things under the gold dome. Show host Preston Thompson covers the most noteworthy updates to the legislative session of Georgia’s House of Representatives and State Senate.