Ministry
Holiday
Worldrenowned sounds will abound when the Tuskegee University Choir performs at Ousley UMC in Lithonia. 5
More than 400 turkeys will be distributed at the fifth annual “Happy Holiday Turkey Giveaway” at the Gallery at South DeKalb. 7
Golden Voices Choir
Free turkeys
Let’s Keep DeKalb Peachy Clean Please Don’t Litter Our Streets and Highways
EAST ATLANTA • DECATUR • STONE MOUNTAIN • LITHONIA • AVONDALE ESTATES • CLARKSTON • ELLENWOOD • PINE LAKE • REDAN • SCOTTDALE • TUCKER • STONECREST
Copyright © 2017 CrossRoadsNews, Inc.
November 11, 2017
Volume 23, Number 28
www.crossroadsnews.com
DeKalb voters approve sales tax hike, property tax relief By Rosie Manins
DeKalb voters overwhelmingly approved a penny Special Local Options Sales Tax (SPLOST) on Tuesday that will generate some $636 million for road and other infrastructure development over six years. The sales tax passed with 69.9 percent of votes. It and companion HOST and EHOST initiatives were the only county-wide issues on the Nov. 7 ballot. Turnout for the election was 14.5 percent with 66,001 of the county’s 454,803 registered voters casting ballots. Voters also approved the county’s Equal-
ized Homestead Option Sales Tax (EHOST) with 71.4 percent of the vote, and the replacement of DeKalb Homestead Option Sales Tax (HOST) with 76 percent of the vote. All three issues – SPLOST, EHOST and HOST, had to pass for the any to be effective. DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond called the vote a “transforma- Michael Thurmond tive moment” in the county. “For the first time in DeKalb County’s
history, voters have approved a blueprint for success with the passage of the SPLOST,” Thurmond said. “We take this vote of trust seriously and will continue to work with our city partners on a better future.” The SPLOST will increase DeKalb’s sales tax to 8 percent from 7 percent. Groceries and other unprepared food and medication are exempt from the tax. It goes into effect in April 2018. After years of neglect of our roads, District 5 Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson said she is elated at the passage of SPLOST. “It sends a clear signal that the citizens are ready for the repaving of 300 miles of
roads,” she said. “This money gives us an opportunity to improve the quality of life in DeKalb County. I can’t wait until the money starts flowing.” The SPLOST is expected to generate just over $100 million a year. At least 85 percent of the money – about $541 million – must be used for road, transport and public safety infrastructure upgrades, such as repaving, repairing and resurfacing roads, upgrading bridges and maintaining and improving fire and police precincts and equipment. Please see SPLOST, page 2
Sears store at Stonecrest closing in January 63 Kmart, Sears stores closing nationwide
A customer leaves the Sears at the Mall at Stonecrest on Nov. 6. The store, which opened in 2001, is closing by Jan. 28.
By Jennifer Ffrench Parker
Sears at Stonecrest will close by Jan 28. It is one of five stores in Georgia, and one of 63 – 18 Sears and 45 Kmart stores – that Sears Holdings said Nov. 2 will close in 2018. “Sears Holdings continues its strategic assessment of the productivity of our Kmart and Sears store base and will continue to right size our store footprint in number and size,” the company said in a statement. “In the process, as previously announced we will continue to close some unprofitable stores as we transform our business model so that our physical store footprint and our digital capabilities match the needs and preferences of our members.” The Stonecrest store opened in October 2001 as one of five original anchors – Sears, Macys, Dillards, JCPenney and Parisian – for the new 1.3 million-square-foot Mall at Stonecrest. It’s the second original anchor to close and the third anchor store to depart the mall. Parisian closed in summer 2007 and Kohl’s, which acquired Parisian’s space and moved in in March 2008, closed in September 2016. Donald Bieler, the Mall at Stonecrest’s marketing manager, said that they are disappointed about losing a retail staple like Sears and appreciate how difficult this corporate decision was for them to make. “But as developers, we also look at these situations with optimism,” he said. “These changes allow us to search all types of alternative retail and development in order to meet the needs of the city of Stonecrest and our customers.” Bieler pointed out that just last month, the mall and its partner Atlanta Sports City announced the purchase of the former Kohl’s building.
Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews
“This opportunity allowed our partnership to redesign the former department store in order to create Tournament Central, an indoor marketplace, visitors welcome center, a 5,000-square-foot ballroom, team lounge and much more,” Bieler said. “Tournament Central is an essential piece to our plan as we build the mall-of-the-future where retail, entertainment and sports come together.” In its statement, Sears Holdings said that employees were informed of the closures on Nov. 2 and that eligible associates impacted by the store closures will receive severance and will have the opportunity to apply for open positions at area Kmart or Sears stores. The other Georgia stores that are closing are in Dalton, Macon, Tifton and Valdosta. Sears Holdings say that all the stores slated for closure will remain open to serve its members during the holiday season. “Customers can use the store locator
function on our web sites to find the location of their nearest Kmart and Sears stores,” the company said, adding that liquidation sales at the closing stores will begin as early as Nov. 9. A liquidation sale has not yet started at the Stonecrest store but this week, it had signs up for a “Holiday Blowout Sale.” Inside, there were clearance prices up to 60 percent and store associates were informing customers about the store’s impending closing. Still, many shoppers were unaware. Sarah Santoyo, who was leaving the store with her husband Moses and their two children – David, 3, and Elizabeth, 2 – was surprised to learn from a reporter that the store was closing. “I am sad to hear that,” she said. Santoyo said she shops at the Stonecrest Sears store once a month because there isn’t one in Conyers where she lives. “They usually have a lot of great sales
here,” she said. If Sears is not there, Santoyo said she will shop at one of the other Stonecrest stores. “I will probably go to JCPenney,” she said. “I hope it is not closing.” Clara Warren was shopping with her 87-year-old friend and church sister Thelma Hodges. She said she doesn’t like that the store is closing. “It’s convenient and it’s in my neighborhood,” said Warren, who lives three-anda-half miles near Covington Highway and Panola Road. “They need to leave these stores alone.” Warren said she used to go to the store every week, but admits that these days she only gets there about once a month. Maxine Smith, who was shopping with her mother, said she too was saddened to hear of the store’s impending closure. Please see SEARS, page 3