CrossRoadsNews, October 25, 2014 by CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

ELECTION

FINANCE

EXPO

Valarie Wilson, the Democratic candidate for state school superintendent, lands an endorsement from the Republican she hopes to replace. 3

Acuity Brands Inc. will spend $11 million to retrofit the former Lithonia Lighting building for its new Engineering and Technology Center. 7

Thousands of people descended on the Mall at Stonecrest on Oct. 18 for the 2014 Seniors/ Baby Boomer Expo. Photos, p. 12

Surprising thumbs up

New lease on life

Information celebration

EAST ATLANTA • DECATUR • STONE MOUNTAIN • LITHONIA • AVONDALE ESTATES • CLARKSTON • ELLENWOOD • PINE LAKE • REDAN • SCOTTDALE • TUCKER

October 25, 2014

www.crossroadsnews.com

Volume 20, Number 26

Ellis’ fate unknown in the wake of mistrial By Ken Watts

The fate of suspended DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis continues to hang in the balance in the wake of the mistrial declared by DeKalb Superior Court Judge Courtney Johnson on Oct. 23. The mistrial came 11 days after the 12-member jury began deliberating. Members could not reach a unanimous verBurrell Ellis dict and Johnson declared a mistrial on the charges of criminal attempt to commit theft by extortion (counts 1-4), theft by taking (counts 5 and 6), coercion of

“All I wanted was to see a fair trial. We tried but couldn’t come together.” Susan Worthy

other employees to give anything of value for political purposes (counts 7 and 8), theft by extortion (count 9), and bribery (counts 11-14). Through press time Thursday, neither District Attorney Robert James nor Ellis’ defense team had filed any motion to retry or dismiss the case.

would have come back to office right away. If he had been found guilty, he would have had the right to one appeal while remaining suspended.” Ellis was re-elected as DeKalb CEO in 2012. There are two years, two months and one week left on his current term. Ellis and the county now wait to find out what James will do – retry Ellis, offer him a plea deal or drop the charges. The panel of 12 women told Johnson on four occasions that they were deadlocked before she declared a mistrial shortly after 4 p.m. on Oct. 23. In their final note, jurors told Johnson

DA spokesman Erik Burton said that they were still under the gag order imposed by Johnson and cannot say anything about the case. The 2010 law under which Ellis was suspended on July 16, 2013, with his $153,000-ayear salary requires him to be acquitted for him to return to the CEO’s office. DeKalb County press secretary Burke Brennan on Oct. 23 said Ellis is suspended “until the final disposition of his trial or until the end of the official’s term,” and interim CEO Lee May continues in the job until the same time. “There is no ‘final disposition’ in the Ellis case because of the mistrial,” Brennan said. “If he had been found not guilty, he

Please see MISTRIAL, page 2

Churches mobilize for Souls to Polls drive Four more early polls will open on Oct. 27 in DeKalb, and for the first time in the county, voters will be able to cast ballots on Sunday on Oct. 26.

Members urged to cast ballots early, on Sunday By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

A number of South DeKalb churches are encouraging their members to vote early in the Nov. 4 general election and to take part in the county’s historic Sunday vote on Oct. 26. Churches in Decatur, Lithonia, Stone Mountain, Ellenwood and Atlanta are supporting the national Souls to the Polls initiative and the faith-based Freedom Sunday 2014 campaign that kicked off in September in more than 2,000 churches nationwide. The Rev. Dr. Mark Lomax, pastor of First Afrikan Presbyterian in Lithonia, said that all elections are important and this one more than most because of issues such as health care, minimum wage, women’s rights and Mark Lomax charter schools. “Because of these issues, this is one of the most important elections in a long time,” he said. Lomax says he considers voting in the African-American community a sacred act. “People literally gave their lives so that we have the right to vote,” he said. “We can’t really call ourselves being invested in this country if we refuse to vote.” He said we must not only vote, but that we must hold our elected officials accountable when they get into office. His church encourages people to vote early or on Election Day. He said he also will encourage those who haven’t yet voted to go on Sunday after the worship service. Through Oct. 22, after eight days of early voting, 21,990 DeKalb voters had cast absentee and early ballots. Secretary of State Brian Kemp said

Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews

207,674 people had voted statewide through Oct. 21. Other churches supporting Souls to the Polls and Freedom Sunday initiatives include Beulah Baptist Church in Decatur, Pilgrim Cathedral in Atlanta, and New Life Baptist in Decatur. Josephine Handy, who is coordinating Beulah Baptist’s voting efforts, said they began in September encouraging unregistered church members to register to vote before the Oct. 6 deadline. Once early voting began, she said they have provided information, sample ballots, applications for absentee ballots and transportation to the polls for those who need help getting there. Because of the push, Handy said many of Beulah’s members have already voted, including the 25 to 30 people they gave rides to the polls.

“And when we get to the polling station, we see other Beulah members who drove themselves,” she said. “We give ourselves a high-five and they say, ‘We got the message.’” For the first time in DeKalb County, voters will be able to vote on Sunday on Oct. 26. The Sunday polls will open noon to 5 p.m. at the Gallery at South DeKalb in Decatur, the Chamblee Civic Center in Chamblee, and the DeKalb Elections Office in Decatur. Handy said Beulah Baptist has up to six buses ready to drive people to the polls at the Gallery at South DeKalb after Sunday service. She said at least five members with SUVs also have volunteered to drive people to the polls in their own vehicles if needed. Handy said her pastor, the Rev. Jerry

Black, reminds members all the time that they are their brother’s keepers. “He encourages us to vote to let our voices be heard,” she said. “He tells us that if we do not vote, we can’t complain. He doesn’t tell us who to vote for, but he tells us we must vote because too many people died for this right.” Bishop Kent Branch of Pilgrim Cathedral of Atlanta said he has been encouraging his members to go to the polls and that Kent Branch after the worship service on Sunday, his church will transport members to the South DeKalb mall to vote on Oct. 26. Please see POLLS, page 2

Community

CrossRoadsNews

October 25, 2014

“Our community and our nation need the best people to deal with education, health care, jobs.”

Judge ends duties, releases jurors from gag order in Ellis case MISTRIAL,

from page

they saw no hope for a unanimous verdict on all the felony counts against Ellis, who was accused of strong-arming vendors for donations to his 2012 re-election campaign in exchange for continued business with the county. Ellis denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty on all counts. Faced with the fourth note from the jury room, Johnson asked prosecutors and defense lawyers for their feedback before she ended the six-week trial without a verdict. Ellis lead defense attorney Craig Gillen said it has been 15 days since closing arguments. “The jury did their best but it’s time to

let them go,” he said. James said he would defer to the judge’s judgment. When Johnson officially ended their duties, she released them from the gag order, but only the jury forewoman, Susan Worthy, spoke with the media. “All I wanted was to see a fair trial,” Worthy said as she left the courthouse. “We tried but couldn’t come together.” She said that the closest the jury came to a unanimous vote was on count 9, the theft by extortion charge. She said the final vote on that count was 11-1 for guilty. On the other charges, she said jurors were split and it was apparent that they were not going to change their minds. DeKalb NAACP President John Evans,

who attended the trial, said the mistrial was not the best possible outcome but reflected the honest feelings of the jury. “You’re innocent until proven guilty,” Evans said. “After the facts and evidence presented in court, the jury couldn’t come together. Regardless of what I think personally, that’s their prerogative and I support that all the way.” Joy Williams of Lithonia, who also sat through much of the testimony, said she is hoping James drops the case. “If he goes and tries this again, it’ll be bad because he’ll be spending good county money for nothing,” Williams said. Dr. Thomas Coleman, also of Lithonia, said he attended every day of the trial and didn’t believe there was a strong case against

Ellis. “I don’t believe Ellis was guilty of any of those charges,” Coleman said. “I was hoping for acquittal, but the jury did the best they could with the evidence they were given.” During three weeks of testimony, the jury heard from officials of Power and Energy of Austell, National Property Institute of Ellenwood, and tech consultants Ciber Inc. that Ellis tried to coerce them into giving money to help retire a $150,000 campaign debt. Prosecutors said Ellis instructed unindicted co-conspirator Kelvin Walton to withhold county business from companies that did not contribute to his campaign. Walton, the county’s former purchasing and contracting director, was the prosecution’s star witness. He secretly tape-recorded

More early polls open on Oct. 27 ‘Too many people died for right’ Four new early voting polls will open Oct. 27 in downtown Decatur, Stone Mountain, Brookhaven and Chamblee as the election season enters its final week. The new early voting locations are: n The Clark Harrison Building, 330 W. Ponce de Leon Ave. in Decatur. n The Berean Christian Church Community Center, 2440 Young Road in Stone Mountain. n Brookhaven City Hall, 4362 Peachtree Road N.E. in Brookhaven. n Chamblee Civic Center, 3540 Broad St. in Chamblee. They join polls that opened Oct. 13: n DeKalb Voter Registration & Elections Office, 4380 Memorial Drive in Decatur. n Tucker Recreation Center, 4898 LaVista Road in Tucker. n The Gallery at South DeKalb, 2801

Candler Road in Decatur. All of the early polling locations are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Oct. 31. In addition, early polls will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Voter Registration & Elections Office and the Tucker Recreation Center and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Gallery at South DeKalb. On Oct. 26, polls will be open noon to 5 p.m. for first-ever Sunday voting at the Gallery at South DeKalb, the Chamblee Civic Center and the DeKalb Voter Registration & Elections Office. On Nov. 4, Election Day, all precincts are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. To find your polling place and see your sample ballot, visit My Voter Page at www. sos.state.ga.us or www.dekalbvotes.com. For more information, call 404-2984020.

POLLS,

from page

“We always support voting,” Branch said. “This is the norm for us because our community and our nation need the best people to deal with education, health care, jobs, crime prevention and to end foreclosure.” After its 11 a.m. worship service on Oct. 26, New Life Baptist Church’s Souls to the Polls initiative will transport DeKalb residents who haven’t yet cast their ballots to the Gallery at South DeKalb to vote. Member Marinese Solomon said volunteers also are driving individuals to the polls during early voting and on Election Day. And for the fourth consecutive Sunday, she said members are given information about early voting sites and are encouraged to vote or to apply for absentee ballots. The Rev. Calvin Skinner, a Freedom Sunday organizer and associate pastor of Monu-

mental Baptist Church in Philadelphia, said black churches must raise their prophetic voice in the fight for freedom. Skinner, who is helping organize churches in Georgia, said people who don’t vote don’t count. He said black churches are well-situated to organize a massive black voter education drive and encourage their members to vote. “When we don’t vote, we jeopardize programs like Social Security, Medicare/ Medicaid, the Affordable Health Care Act, food stamps, Head Start and child care tax credits,” he said. Pastors also are being encouraged to preach a sermon on “What’s at Stake for the Black Community,” to create a phone tree and have members call members to schedule Election Day transportation teams for Nov. 4, and to share their efforts at FreedomSun days1@gmail.com or http://bit.ly/Freedom SundayEvents.

Elect

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Early Voting Is Now Under Way A Trusted Candidate for State House District 83

Fred Holley is Uniquely Qualified • Born June 19, 1948 • Served in U.S. Marine Corps during Vietnam Conflict • Retired from City of Atlanta as a Sr. Construction Inspector • CEO of Group of Trinity, LLC - Land Developer and a Licensed Real Estate Broker • Earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Biblical Education from Beulah Heights University • Earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Strayer University • Developer & Real Estate Broker: Build up scalped homes in South DeKalb in Promised Land Subdivision

Fiscally Responsible • Fred has a passion for building up stronger families and communities. He wants to change the family law structure with a stronger focal point on the roles of fathers. • Stop putting deadbeat parents in jail over child support; it is cheaper to find them jobs. • He wants to keep Obamacare, and make changes where necessary. • He is committed to helping restructure the current education system to give our children the tools necessary to excel in the future. • He will be a watchful eye over how the government spends your tax dollars. PAID FOR BY FREDDY HOLLEY CAMPAIGN FINANCE COMMITTEE, INC. • WWW.ELECTFREDDYHOLLEY.COM

CrossRoadsNews

October 25, 2014

Election

“It took a lot of courage for him to step up and back Wilson. We need less partisanship and more collaboration.”

Republican Barge endorses Democrat Wilson for superintendent By Ken Watts

Valarie Wilson, the Democratic candidate for state school superintendent, landed a big endorsement on Oct. 23 when John Barge, the Republican she is seeking to succeed, endorsed her for the job. Wilson is in a tight race with Republican Richard Woods, but Barge, who was state school superintendent for four years, said Wilson is the best candidate for the job. “Valarie Wilson is the only candidate in this race for state school superintendent who understands the real issues facing our public education system in Georgia,” Barge said at a joint press conference with Wilson in front of Tucker High School in Tucker. “She knows what initiatives are working and knows where changes need to be made to allow teachers to teach. She also understands that education in Georgia is headed in the right direction with gains in student achievement on all national indicators.” Wilson said she is honored to accept Barge’s endorsement, 12 days before the Nov. 4 general election. “This means more to me than you can ever imagine because he has set the bar high to demonstrate that we must focus on what is best for little boys and girls,” she said. Wilson is one of five African-American women seeking statewide office. Three of them, including Wilson, who lives in Decatur, are from DeKalb County. The others are Connie Stokes, former state senator and DeKalb commissioner who is running for lieutenant governor, and Doreen Carter, who is seeking the secretary of state office. The other two are attorney and former state Rep. Robbin Shipp, who is running for state labor commissioner, and businesswoman Elizabeth “Liz” Johnson, who is seeking the

Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews

Former State School Superintendent John Barge said he and Valarie Wilson share many views on educational policy. She is among five African-American women seeking statewide office Nov. 4.

office of state insurance commissioner. Shipp lives in Rockdale County and Johnson is from Statesboro. Barge said Georgia now ranks higher on every indicator than it did four years ago and Wilson knows teachers have been faced with significant amounts of transition over the past several years and more change would be frustrating to teachers. Barge challenged Gov. Nathan Deal in the GOP primary. He lost. His endorsement of a Democrat angered Woods, the Republican who is seeking the office. He said that by accepting Barge’s endorsement, Wilson is endorsing four more years of pursuing many of the failed policies of the state Department of Education. “My opponent is endorsing the continuation and expansion of a failed testing model,

a teacher evaluation tool that overburdens our teachers and overemphasizes test scores, a broken relationship with the governor and General Assembly, and a top-down approach to educational decision-making,” he said in an email. An Oct. 14 poll by SurveyUSA says Wilson and Woods are tied at 46 percent. Despite their different party affiliations, Barge said he and Wilson, a former Decatur City Schools School Board chairwoman, share many views on educational policy. “Education is not partisan,” he said. “Democratic children and Republican children need a strong education. The state school superintendent should be a nonpartisan race.” Barge said Democrats and Republicans stereotype each other and often miss oppor-

tunities to come together on budgeting and legislation to improve the schools. “All of these faulty character traits cut across party lines,” he said. “That’s why it is essential for the voters of Georgia to use their God-given brains and research the candidates and make up their own minds for whom they should vote, which is what I’ve done and is why I’m supporting Valarie Wilson for state school superintendent.” Wilson, a former president of the Georgia School Boards Association, said she and Barge had been working on school improvement initiatives since he was elected. “While Dr. Barge and I come from different sides of the aisle as it relates to political parties, we agree on where we stand with public education,” she said. In his 2010 run for the office, Barge defeated Woods. He said that Georgia was 48th in the nation in SAT scores and 37th in ACT scores when he took office. “Today we are 45th … and 30th,” he said. “Today we rank ninth in the nation in the percentage of students passing Advance Placement exams and earning college credit while still in high school.” Wilson said Georgia public schools have many challenges but are improving. “We have seen in this state in the last four years, under Dr. Barge’s leadership, the greatest growth that we have ever seen in public education in the state of Georgia,” Wilson said. “I look forward to continuing on the path that Dr. Barge has set for us.” Sid Chapman, president of the Georgia Association of Educators, which also endorsed Wilson, said he was encouraged by Barge’s call for nonpartisanship. “It took a lot of courage for him to step up and back Wilson. We need less partisanship and more collaboration.”

GET HIS BACK Republicans have made it clear that they want our President—Barack Obama—to fail. If you• don’t vote this 4,a strong they win. I want to change the family law November structure to make fathers focal point • I think it’s cheaper to find jobs for deadbeat parents, than to jail them for not paying child support • I want to keep Obama care & make changes where necessary • I am committed to helping restructure the current education system to give our children the tools necessary to excel

S T a n d

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PAID FOR BY THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE DEMOCRATS.ORG

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CrossRoadsNews

Community 2346 Candler Rd. Decatur, GA 30032 404-284-1888 Fax: 404-284-5007 www.crossroadsnews.com editor@crossroadsnews.com

Editor / Publisher Jennifer Parker Staff Writers Jennifer Ffrench Parker Ken Watts Graphic Design Curtis Parker Copy Editor Brenda Yarbrough Advertising Sales Kathy E. Warner Billing Clerk Catherine Guy Circulation Manager Jami Ffrench-Parker CrossRoadsNews is published every Saturday by CrossRoadsNews, Inc. We welcome articles on neighborhood issues and news of local happenings. The opinions expressed by writers and contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher, nor those of any advertisers. The concept, design and content of CrossRoadsN ews are copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the written permission of the publisher. Advertisements are published upon the representation that the advertiser is authorized to publish the submitted material. The advertiser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless from and against any loss or expenses resulting from any disputes or legal claims based upon the contents or subject matter of such advertisments, including claims of suits for libel, violation of privacy, plagiarism and copyright infringement. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement.

October 25, 2014

“There is no greater need than now. Our veterans have given much in the service of our country.”

YMCA to honor six volunteers from South DeKalb Six YMCA volunteers from south DeKalb County will be among 22 men and women honored as 2014 Volunteers of the Year on Nov. 10 for their service to the YMCA of Metro Atlanta. DeKalb Clerk of Superior Court Debra DeBerry is the Volunteer of the Year at the South DeKalb Family YMCA. Maggie Paynich is Volunteer of the Year at the East Lake Family YMCA. Tammie A. Zeigler is Volunteer of the Year at the Decatur Family YMCA, and Chris Culberson also is Volunteer of the Year at the Decatur Family Y. Tamara Rose is Volunteer of the Year at the Wade Walker Park Family YMCA, and Phyllis A. Cole is the Volunteer of the Year for the YMCA Academies of South DeKalb. DeBerry has volunteered with the YMCA for 11 years. She serves on the YMCA’s board and is an active advocate for the “Why It Matters” annual giving campaign, Read Across America and South DeKalb Y’s summer camp. Her YMCA roots date back to the ’60s when her father was director of a youth program in New

Phyllis Cole

Debra DeBerry

York City and partnered with the Y, which was addressing gang issues. DeBerry said the Y offered a place of inclusion where core human values were taught. “The gratification I get from giving is unmatched because the contributions I make today will help with the growth and development of youth,” she said. Paynich, a licensed school counselor and founder of Education Inspires, says teens need opportunities, mentors and activities to help them thrive. “I work directly with middle and high school students and provide them the guidance they need to be successful,” she said. Zeigler, vice president of retail and marketing at the Emory Alliance Credit Union, serves on

Maggie Paynich

Tamara Rose

the Y Golf Open committee that raises money to fund programs for youth. Culberson, a Decatur resident, is president of Emory Alliance Credit Union. He has served on the Decatur Y’s board since 1997. Tamara, a Stone Mountain High School senior, gave more than 300 volunteer hours to the Wade Walker YMCA. She helps in every department at the Y, including scoring youth basketball, soccer, baseball and swimming events; working in the play center and at the front desk; and giving tours and greeting members. She says that volunteering at the Y is comforting. “I learned to open up and speak my mind,” she said. “I meet amazing people who have helped me and given me uplifting advice. The

Lou Walker Center seeks help for vets The Lou Walker Senior Center will donate more than 70 nutritious meals to homeless veterans for delivery to Fort McPherson through its Give-a-Meal Program on Oct. 29. Darryl Blackwell, Lou Walker Center director, said meals from Piccadilly’s will be delivered monthly to Fort McPherson. He said the public can support the program by purchasing a frozen meal for $3.50 at any Piccadilly Cafeteria in DeKalb County and metro Atlanta. The buy a vet a hot meal kicked off in May at the center in Lithonia. Piccadilly provides and delivers the meals in partnership with the center’s Positive Force Coali-

Forum

tion. The purchases are tax-deductible and donors will get receipts for tax purposes. Blackwell said the vets deserve our support. “DeKalb County is renowned for its benevolence and willingness to help those in need,” Blackwell said on Oct. 23. “There is no greater need than now. Our veterans have given much in the service of our country.” For more information and to donate, visit www. louwalkercenter.com/giveameal. The center will host its annual Homeless Veterans Thanksgiving Dinner on Nov. 16 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is sponsored by Disabled American Veterans Chapter 91. The center is at 2538 Panola Road.

YMCA feels like home because everybody cares for and respects each other.” Cole, a DeKalb Schools retiree, serves on the board of the Tammie Zeigler YMCA Academies of South DeKalb and has volunteered there for four years. She is an active advocate for the Y’s early learning academies to ensure children are prepared for school. She said she made a commitment to nurture the potential of children. “Investing in early childhood education builds a prosperous community by providing children and their parents the resources necessary for success in school and in life,” she said. The YMCA’s Annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner takes place Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Cobb Galleria Centre, 2 Galleria Parkway. Tickets are $65 per person. For tickets, email sherees@ ymcaatlanta.org or call 404-2675356.

Thankful, thankful Was 2014 a phenomenal year for you? What obstacles did you overcome? What made the year special for you? What will you be grateful for this Thanksgiving? Email your story of thankfulness to editor@crossroadsnews.com. Please put “Thankful” in the subject line, and include your contact phone number so that we can reach you. The best stories will be published in our annual Thanksgiving issue.

“In my opinion, cityhood plans have provided very little concern for the impact on DeKalb County as a whole.”

Voice your concerns on cityhood movement on Oct. 28 By Rahn Mayo

Generally speaking, I support a community in pursuit of selfdetermination. My reluctance to supporting additional new cities in DeKalb County is based on the lack of cohesiveness with which new cities are often created. In the past, there has been a tremendous disconnect between DeKalb citizens and political leaders driving cityhood efforts. In my opinion, cityhood plans have

provided very little concern for the impact on DeKalb County as a whole. I have witnessed what appears to be “cherry picking” Rahn Mayo of valuable commercial assets by newly formed cities and communities sponsoring annexation plans. Furthermore, there are often contentious boundary disputes

with maps and exclusion of neighborhoods bordering proposed cities, which often feel neglected and without input regarding their fate. Currently, there are several proposals for annexation and incorporation in DeKalb County. I recently requested a feasibility study (on behalf of organizers) from the Carl Vinson Institute of Government for a proposed City of South DeKalb. My current position is to carefully review the feasibility and equity concerns of each cityhood

and annexation plan and consider the overall fiscal impact on DeKalb County as a whole. The members of the state House who represent portions of DeKalb County will be at the Porter Sanford Center on Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. to hear from you on state and local issues. Please join us and make your voices heard. The Porter Sanford Center is at 3181 Rainbow Drive in Decatur. Rep. Rahn Mayo represents District 84 in the Georgia House of Representatives.

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Community

October 25, 2014

“We don’t believe our property taxes should increase until our sale prices do the same.”

South metro area is flooded with ‘underwater’ properties By Wayne Early

We are seeing an increasing number of reports, articles and editorials about the difference between the prices of houses in the north metro area as compared to southside communities. Home prices have been increasing at double-digit rates in metro Atlanta communities north of U.S. 78 while barely increasing at all south of it. The south metro area remains flooded with “underwater” properties, which have been appraised for less than their outstanding mortgage balance. The chart with data drawn from the 2013 HAAS Institute report on the 395 U.S. ZIP codes with the highest percentages of underwater properties confirms the devastation suffered by south DeKalb County. The South DeKalb Improvement Association is working to mobilize South DeKalb residents to take unified and forceful corrective action. We ask that individuals, homeowners associations, communities and local governments in South DeKalb begin demanding fair, market-based appraisals and valuations from lenders and appraisers. We don’t believe our property taxes should increase until our sale prices do the same. It is a common misconception that county tax assessors determine property values. Tax assessors only use historic sales data to determine how property taxes are assessed, not the actual prices for which properties will sell. County and local governments have almost no influence over the sale prices. Sale prices are controlled by the bank-selected appraisers. Regardless of the price a buyer is willing to pay, the mortgage company will only lend a percentage of the appraised value. We are wasting our time if we look to our local officials to correct the appraisal disparities. We must demand that our congressional representatives make constructive changes to federal mortgage lending and underwriting laws enforced by regulators such as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to require appraisals that are based upon true market conditions. We also need to demand that the Georgia Appraisers Board, mortgage lenders and appraisers change their policies and practices so that true market forces of supply and demand, and not subjective opinions, control our home prices. At minimum, we must demand that the wealth minority communities have lost due to unfairly depressed property values be returned by increasing the appraised values of our homes, by reducing our mortgage bal-

“South DeKalb has over 100,000 households. Assuming that, on average, area homeowners have lost $25,000 in equity (a very conservative estimate), the total lost wealth to the community since 2008 has been $2 billion to $3 billion.” Wayne Early

South DeKalb ZIP codes among hard-hit areas Nine DeKalb ZIP codes are among the 50 worst in the nation for underwater mortgages. Percent of Homes Percent Black & Rank Zip Code City Underwater Latino Population 1 30273 Rex 76% 81% 2 30296 Riverdale 76% 89% 3 30274 Riverdale 75% 85% 6 30297 Forest Park 71% 69% 7 30058 Lithonia 71% 95% 9 30294 Conley 69% 85% 10 30035 Stone Mountain 68% 92% 11 30038 Lithonia 67% 95% 15 30088 Stone Mountain 66% 92% 16 30288 Conley 66% 87% 18 30034 Panthersville 65% 95% 33 30083 Stone Mountain 60% 83% 46 30032 Candler-McAfee 57% 91% Source: HAAS Institute report on 395 U.S. ZIP codes with highest percentage of underwater mortgages

ances and/or through cash payouts to those who have been unable to sell or refinance for this reason. Let us pause to reflect for a moment what underwater means. The term really has very little to do with the quality, condition or demand for homes. Being underwater actually is caused by the opinions of mortgage lenders and appraisers regarding what homes are worth and how much they are willing to lend for the purchase or refinance of a property. We can all remember the days before the “Great Recession” began in 2008. Back then, a homeowner could hire an independent appraiser to estimate the value of his/her property. Lenders generally accepted the appraisals and were willing to make loans or refinance mortgages based on them. Federal regulations and bank underwriting policies have changed that. No longer will banks accept appraisals from your appraiser. Now banks select their own appraisers from pools of approved companies. Homeowners and real estate agents almost never meet the appraiser until after the appraisal is completed. Under such circumstances, who do you think the appraiser is working for? Changes in government and bank lending policies predated and were a significant catalyst for the economic and social declines we have witnessed in south-side communities. This has been detrimental to both residential

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and commercial development. DeKalb real estate agents can cite examples of obtaining a sale contract for a South DeKalb house from a ready, willing and able buyer only to learn that the appraiser and mortgage company determined the house was not worth the price the buyer was willing to pay. The lender then states the price must be reduced by tens of thousands of dollars before it will approve the loan. Once that happens, the deal usually falls apart. As SDIA Housing Committee chairman, I have been working hard to educate the public about the harm this practice has caused to communities in South DeKalb. These communities generally have the highest percentages of populations of color. I believe the data strongly show that as the percentage of people of color increases in a community, the home values decrease. The data also show that this trend is not based upon market conditions such as household income, condition of the house or buyer demand for the houses. My research shows the following facts: n Communities north of U.S. 78 primarily have majority white populations. Communities south of U.S. 78 generally have populations consisting of 60 percent to 95 percent black and minority families. n The number of homes sold in South DeKalb within the past seven years has been three to five times higher than the number of sales in the north. The only other area in DeKalb with a similar demand for homes is the Decatur/Brookhaven area. Under normal market conditions, this demand should have caused prices to increase at least as fast in the south than they have in the north. n Despite the high demand for south-side properties, during the past seven years homes in the south have generally been selling for 25 percent to 50 percent the prices of similar homes in the north. Appraised

values in the south have increased very little since real estate markets have been improving elsewhere. n South-side properties have lost an average 25 percent to 40 percent of their value in the past seven years while most north-side communities have lost less than 5 percent. Some north-side communities have actually increased in value. n Because of the extremely low valuations in the south, many below $30,000 in 2009, home buyers have often not been able to purchase homes because the lenders would not approve such small mortgages. A very large percentage of purchases have been made by investors who pay cash. The average home buyer does not have $30,000 to $60,000 to pay cash for a home. Therefore, they cannot compete with giant real estate investment companies in purchasing homes with depressed values. This trend has transformed many south-side communities into being largely investor-owned. All of these factors contributed to the depressed property values in South DeKalb. Since 2009, most south-side homeowners have been unable to sell their homes at prices that would pay off their mortgages. They have also been unable to obtain a normal refinance loan unless they qualify for the Home Affordable Refinance Program or a similar program, which comes with restrictive conditions and limitations. South DeKalb has over 100,000 households. Assuming that, on average, area home owners have lost $25,000 in equity (a very conservative estimate), the total lost wealth to the community since 2008 has been $2 billion to $3 billion. This is wealth that is no longer available for reinvestment, our retirements or to pass on to the next generation. Just imagine the transformative effect restoring that equity and wealth would have in South DeKalb. DeKalb is not unique. All of the southern metro area and minority communities across the United States have experienced a similar loss of wealth. The harm has not been limited to minority homeowners. White property owners, business communities and local governments in those communities have all been severely damaged. A couple of terms that we don’t hear much anymore appear to apply to this situation. These terms are “red-lining” and “steering” and they both refer to practices of housing discrimination commonly practiced in the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s. If you believe you have been unable to sell or refinance your property because of depressed values, let’s get to work and retrieve our lost wealth. We will be happy to provide more detailed information and include you in organizing actions. If you are an attorney, lender, appraiser or a real estate professional, we also ask for your help and expertise to bring justice and fairness back to the housing markets of DeKalb and America. Contact me at wayne@early-economics .com for more information. Wayne Early is chairman of the South DeKalb Improvement Association’s Housing Committee, CEO of Early Economics Inc., and an associate broker with Solid Source Realty.

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October 25, 2014

Finance

CrossRoadsNews

“We believe that a world-class workplace [and] team-oriented culture will help us continue to attract the best industry talent.”

Acuity Brands to invest $16 million in Decatur, Conyers sites Lighting manufacturer Acuity Brands Inc. will invest $16 million in Decatur and Conyers, starting immediately. The company said Oct. 20 that it will spend $11 million to retrofit the old Lithonia Lighting building at One Lithonia Way into its new Engineering and Technology Center. The remaining $5 million investment will be made in its Conyers campus after the Decatur expansion is completed. The 167,000-square-foot Decatur building in the Panola Industrial Park is a former production facility for Acuity Brands’ Lithonia Lighting emergency lighting products. The building, which has 495 parking spaces, opened in 1990 but has been vacant for more than a decade after Lithonia Lighting relocated to Conyers. It was for sale in 2005 when Lithonia Lighting Co. briefly took it off the market so that DeKalb County government could use it as a relief center for victims of Hurricane Katrina. In the aftermath of the Aug. 29, 2005, hurricane, thousands of residents from New Orleans who sought temporary homes in DeKalb were processed and helped from Sept. 12 to Dec. 15, 2005, at the relief center. Vernon J. Nagel, the company’s president, chairman and CEO, said the building will undergo a total transformation that will incorporate leading workplace design, technology and systems into the new facility. Vernon Nagel “This multiyear investment will help Acuity Brands foster a cutting-edge work environment for our people that will accelerate our collaboration and innovation processes as well as help us retain and attract world-class talent,” he said.

Lighting company will spend $11 million to retrofit its 167,000-squarefoot building in Panola Industrial Park into an Engineering and Technology Center.

The company said the $11 million Decatur project will begin immediately with completion scheduled for mid-2015. Acuity Brands, which has about 7,000 associates in North America, Europe and Asia, is based in Atlanta. It said its expansion goal is to continue to provide and accelerate an open work environment that enhances collaboration, sparks innovation, and helps associates bring new technologies even more quickly to market. Once construction is completed, the Decatur site will function primarily as a research and product development facility and include the manufacturing of electronic components. The company said it will relocate about 200 software and electrical engineers, technologists and support staff to the Decatur facility from its Conyers location on Lester Road. It operates both manufacturing facilities and a corporate campus in Conyers. Starting later this year and over the next several years, the company said it will make significant investments in redesigning and

retrofitting the four main buildings on its Conyers campus to include open workspace design, new infrastructure and enabling technologies as well as new furnishings. “We have great people who have driven our success and made us the industry leader in North America,” Nagel said. “Our goal with these investments is to provide our people with the best work environment possible and the tools and technologies necessary to drive our future success. We also believe that a world-class workplace along with our team-oriented culture will help us continue to attract the best industry talent.” Acuity Brands, which has fiscal 2014 net sales of $2.4 billion, said it will receive various incentives from the state and the counties involved in support of its investment. “We greatly appreciate the support of the state of Georgia and DeKalb and Rockdale counties for their assistance to help make these projects possible,” Nagel said. DeKalb interim CEO Lee May applauded the investment.

“This is one of the first larger dividends we are seeing as a result of the investments we have made into making DeKalb County a global destination for industry,” May said in an Oct. 20 statement. He did not say what incentives were offered to the company to make the investment in the county. County press secretary Burke Brennan said the average salary at the Decatur facility will be about $80,000 a year. Vaughn D. Irons, DeKalb Development Authority chairman, said Acuity Brands’ return “is a positive indicator of the resurgence of this area and a quality environment that businesses can thrive in the future.” U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson called the investment in DeKalb and Conyers “tremendous news for the 4th Congressional District.” Gov. Nathan Deal said that when a successful Georgia operation like Acuity Brands decides to expand its facility and its employment roster, “it’s a win for all concerned, especially for our work force.” Rockdale County Chairman Richard Oden said Acuity Brands has been a strong business partner in Rockdale. “We look forward to their expanded work force here because we know that this wise, strategic move spurs our economic growth in many ways. Their employees will shop, live and work here for many years to come.” Acuity Brands is a leading provider of lighting solutions for indoor and outdoor applications. Its products are sold under brands that include Lithonia Lighting, Holophane, Peerless, Gotham, Mark Architectural Lighting, Winona Lighting, Healthcare Lighting, Hydrel, American Electric Lighting, Carandini, Antique Street Lamps, Sunoptics, RELOC Wiring Solutions, Acculamp, eldoLED and Acuity Controls. For more information, visit www.acuitybrands.com.

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Wellness

CrossRoadsNews

October 25, 2014

“We feel that this will be an important project for a safer future of all of our residents.”

Emory launches online Ebola resource to help others Emory Healthcare has created www. emoryhealthcare.org/ebolaprep as a resource for health care organizations seeking best practices for safe and effective screening, diagnosis and treatment for patients with Ebola virus disease. The site showcases Emory Healthcare Ebola Preparedness Protocols including poli cies, procedures and protocols by physicians and staff to deal safely and effectively with patients infected with the Ebola virus.

challenging for any organization. Since the Ebola outbreak in However, we firmly believe that all West Africa in March, the hospital of American health care needs some has successfully treated four Ameri level of preparedness for Ebola and cans who were infected in Liberia. other types of communicable dis John Fox, Emory Healthcare’s eases that can always impact us at president and CEO, said the health any point,” he said. “Emory Health care system is committed to sharing care is committed to sharing our what it has learned from treating processes and experience on how Ebola patients. to provide safe, effective care for “We fully acknowledge the risk John Fox factors that make this area of health care very patients with Ebola virus disease.”

Grant to explore Clarkston youth violence The city of Clarkston will be the focus of DeKalb Board of Health initiatives to curb youth violence. It is one of nine sites nationwide being studied with funds from the U.S. depart ments of Health and Human Services and Justice. The Board of Health received a grant of more than $350,000 to develop innovative ways to reduce violence among youth. It will create and implement interventions to address youth violence; improve academic outcomes; increase access to public health and social services; and to reduce disparities, negative encounters with law enforcement and violent crimes against minority youth. It initially will focus on the city of Clarkston before expanding to the rest of the county. The agency will work with the Clarkston and DeKalb County police depart ments and the DeKalb Human Development

Department. Countywide, homicide is the secondleading cause of death for all people ages 10 to 18 and the top cause of death among African-American males. More than 70 percent of the young homicide victims in the past five years were black males. Clarkston Mayor Ted Terry said his city is excited about exploring innovative ways to keep its young people safe. “Because half of our population in the Clarkston area is under the age of 18 years old, we feel that this will be an important project for a safer future of all of our resi dents,” Terry said. City Manager Keith Barker said the municipality is looking forward to work ing with the Board of Health, the DeKalb Police Department and the Clarkston community “to continue to make Clark ston one of the safest cities in Georgia.”

The Web site offers guidance on initial screening of patients at all entry points into hospitals and clinics as well as detailed pro tocols including confirmation of diagnosis, treatment, waste management, clinical labo ratories, advanced supportive care, potential complications and discharge. It also includes a detailed description of the components and appropriate use of personal protective equip ment, or PPE; correct methods of donning and doffing; and proper disposal of PPE.

Alzheimer’s study seeks healthy seniors Healthy seniors who are 65 years and older can sign up to participate in a TOM MORROW clinical trial that is studying the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s disease. More than 5,000 participants will be studied by clinical research group Neuro Studies.net in 50 centers in North America, Europe and Australia, including in Decatur and Atlanta. The trial is investigating whether it is

possible to predict the genetic risk for de veloping mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s. It is examining two specific genes, APOE and TOMM40, and will test the safety and effectiveness of an investigational medication in delaying the first symptoms of MCI due to Alzheimer’s. For more information or to participate, visit www.tommorrowstudy.com or call 404-475-0552.

5K walk to raise depression awareness A Journey to Serenity Walk is taking place Oct. 26 in Lithonia Community Park to raise awareness about depression. Registration for the 5K walk, sponsored by the nonprofit Graced Place Inc., begins at 7 a.m. The walk for children and adults kicks off at 8:30 a.m. There will be information booths for healthy living, complimentary breakfast and kids activities. Volunteers, sponsors and vendors are needed. Proceeds will help provide commu nity resources for those in need. Graced Place founder Mechelle Dixon, who has suffered from depression, said that in the wake of actor-comedian Robin Wil liams’ suicide, she decided to take a stand and help those who are suffering in silence.

Your Source for Neighborhood News

“Mental illness hurts so many, not just the person suffering, but the people around them,” Dixon said. The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that major depression is the leading cause of disability for Americans between 15 and 44 and that about 9 percent of adult Americans have feelings of hopeless ness, despondency, and/or guilt that gener ate a diagnosis of depression. At any given time, about 3 percent of adults have major depression, also known as major depressive disorder, a long-lasting and severe form of depression. Lithonia Community Park is at 2501 Park Drive in Lithonia. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/GracedPla ceInc or call 404-287-5335.

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October 25, 2014

Youth Edwards a finalist for state honor Dr. Phyllis Edwards, superintendent of City Schools of Decatur, is among four candidates vying for state School Superin tendent of the Year. Edwards says it is a tremendous honor to be named a finalist in the competition spon sored by the Georgia School Superintendents Phyllis Edwards Association. “I sincerely thank the Board of Educa tion for nominating me,” Edwards said. “Beginning my 12th year as superinten dent of schools in City Schools of Decatur, I can say that it has been a joy to lead this system of caring and dedicated teachers and staff.” City Schools of Decatur has an en rollment of more than 4,300 students in grades k-12. It also has 345 infants in pre-k classes at College Heights Early Childhood Learning Center. The other 2015 candidates are Dr. Philip Lanoue of Clarke County, Dr. Curtis Jones of Spalding County, and Dr. Randy Shearouse of Effingham County. The Georgia Superintendent of the Year will be announced in December.

Glanton takes helm at SWD Dr. Thomas W. Glanton Jr. is South west DeKalb High’s new principal. Glanton was named principal of the Decatur school in September after an extensive selection process that included an administrative panel interview and input from the Local School Council and the Parent Teacher Association. In in a career span ning more than 20 Thomas Glanton years, the seasoned educator has served as an English teacher, assistant principal of the Burgess-Peterson Academy, principal, and director of Lead ership Development and asset manager. The Redan High School graduate earned bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in education from the University of Georgia. Glanton, who is married and the father of three boys, grew up in South DeKalb and was president of the DeKalb NAACP Youth Council. He is a self-proclaimed instructionalminded educational leader who supports positive student-teacher relationships.

Chefs wanted for Taste of Arabia Local restaurants and chefs can sign up now to participate in Arabia Moun tain High School’s fourth annual Taste of Arabia on Nov. 1. Participation is free to restaurants and caterers – email Ptsa@arabiaptsa.org. The Taste of Arabia takes place from 3 to 7 p.m. It includes music and delicious food selections from local restaurants and chefs and a Chopped and Cupcake Wars competition featuring students from the school’s Culinary Arts program. Tasters will vote on the Top 3 culinary businesses at the end of the event. Taste tickets are $1 each. Discount packages start at $10. Proceeds benefit the Parent Teacher Student Association. The school is at 6610 Browns Mill Road in Lithonia.

CrossRoadsNews

“I can say that it has been a joy to lead this system of caring and dedicated teachers and staff.”

Wadsworth Magnet is Blue Ribbon School Wadsworth Magnet School for High Achievers has been named a 2014 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. The Decatur elementary school earned the recognition for Exemplary High Perfor mance and will be presented with the award at the 2014 National Blue Ribbon School recognition events in Washington on Nov. 10-11 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel. On Nov. 13, the school will host a National Blue Rib bon Award Celebration in its cafeteria.

In a Sept. 30 letter, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan called Wadsworth a powerful inspiration. “Your school is an in spiring example of excellence in education,” he wrote. “President Barack Obama and I firmly believe that we must prepare every student to graduate from high school ready to attend college or begin a career.” Duncan said the nation’s success depends on well-educated and highly effective citizens and he and the president are committed to transforming the education system to

remove barriers that prevent students from accessing a learning environment that fosters high expectations and high achievement. “Schools like yours demonstrate that, with effort and dedication, schools and class rooms can be great places where students engage in the kinds of complex and creative thinking necessary in a global economy,” he said. “By empowering every child to become a lifelong learner and an engaged citizen, you and your colleagues are creating the leaders of tomorrow.”

Ivy Prep, Kittredge Magnet awarded SHAPE grants Ivy Preparatory Academy and Kittredge Magnet School are among 22 schools award ed Georgia SHAPE grants to fight childhood obesity and improve nutrition. The Georgia Department of Public Health and the SHAPE Initiative announced the grants totaling $112,000 on Oct. 9. Ivy Prep in Kirkwood got $5,000 and Kittredge Magnet in Atlanta received $3,000 to improve nutrition programs and physical activity. Fowler Drive Elementary in Athens re ceived the first Dr. Clifton A. Baile Georgia

SHAPE Grant of $10,000. Baile, well-known for public service throughout Clarke County and the state, established the University of Georgia Obesity Initiative. He died in May. Georgia currently ranks 10th in the na tion for overweight and obese children. The state Department of Public Health says research shows that children are much more physically active if they attend schools that schedule, promote and supervise op portunities such as structured recess, short classroom-based activity breaks, and before

and after-school activities. Public Health Commissioner Brenda Fitzgerald says the grants will go a long way toward improving childhood fitness and nutrition. “We must teach our children the impor tance of physical activity and the lifelong benefits of healthy eating, lessons they hope fully will carry with them throughout their lives,” she said. For more information, visit www.geor giashape.org.

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A BETTER WAY FORWARD

CrossRoadsNews

October 25, 2014 Defendant To: Andre Christopher Porch 1200 Fairview Street Decatur, GA By Order of the Court for service by publication dated October 15, 2014 you are hereby notified that on October 3, 2014, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for Divorce. You are required

Legal Notices 10/11, 10/18, 10/25, 11/01

Notice of Petition to Change Name of Adult in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV9841-3++ Carmen DeCarlo Allen, filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on June 4, 2014 to change the name from: Carmen DeCarlo Lamb to Carmen DeCarlo Allen. Any interested party has the right to appear In this case and file objections within 30 days after the Petition was filed. Dated: June 4, 2014 Carmen Allen aka Carmen Lamb Petitioner, Pro se 4415 Riverwood Circle Decatur, GA 30035 (404) 388-9560 10/4, 10/11, 10/18, 10/25