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Volume 18 Number 2
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APRIL 15, 2012
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Rockdale’s new business blitz: Facebook, Twitter By Valerie J. Morgan
Rockdale County plans to launch a new campaign, “Shop the Rock,” using social media—Facebook and Twitter— to reward those who spend in Rockdale. Officials say they plan to use the initiative to get more people, especially Rockdale’s own residents, to shop locally. The campaign officially kicks off on May 2. Diane Daniels Adoma, who is helping spearhead the campaign on behalf of the Conyers-Rockdale Chamber of Commerce, said consumers will be urged to tweet about their purchases and post their comments on Facebook for a chance at winning free prizes. “We decided that we wanted to use social media because it is one of the best ways to reach people today,” said Adoma. “Everybody is incorporating social media in their campaigns and businesses—even the federal government. Billions of dollars are being spent on Facebook and Twitter. It’s like the new telephone: Everyone is always on it.” Along with the Chamber, Rockdale County Government, the City of Conyers, Conyers-Rockdale Economic Development Commission and the Rockdale Rotary Club are pushing the Shop the Rock initiative. Richard Oden, CEO and chair of Rockdale County’s Board of Commissioners, has personally gotten behind the effort. Oden and City of Conyers Mayor Randy Mills did a promotional video urging Rockdale
CEO Richard Oden
Diane Daniels Adoma
residents to think local and buy local. “We want residents to just take Photo by Joshua Smith/OCG News time out to Olde Town Conyers is filled with picturesque businesses prime for the new “Shop the Rock” initiative, which kicks off on May 2. spend in the Holy Spirit—attracts 80,000 visitors benefits of shopping locally. They are Rockdale. By a year to the 2,000-acre site in South reaching out to businesses and urging supporting Rockdale businesses, we’re Rockdale. Visitors from around the hem to make special offers to customers helping to increase our revenues and world visit the Monastery to learn how and sign up as sponsors for the Shop build our tax base, and provide jobs,” Monks live, work and worship through the Rock program. said Oden. exhibits at the Monastic Heritage As part of the Shop the Rock Oden said Rockdale, Georgia’s Center. The Monastery sells homecampaign, Rockdale residents will be second-smallest county with just over baked goods, bonsai trees and religious encouraged to spend at least $20 locally 65,000 residents, has plenty to offer, materials to the world. on the 20th of each month. citing its abundance of chain and More information on the “Shop Adoma said the Chamber is family-owned restaurants and shops and The Rock” campaign is available at planning a series of educational top-notch service.s Rockdale’s biggest Facebook.com/ShopInRockdale and workshops for consumers and tourists’ attraction—the Monastery of Twitter.com/ShopInRockdale. businesses to bring awareness to the
Mentoring events set for youths DeKalb County is making its youths, especially young black men, a top priority this month. In the wake of Trayvon Martin, the black 17-year-old Florida teen who was shot and killed in what many say was a racially-charged William Buck Godfrey attack, county officials here are focusing on positively impacting youths. Two initiatives are scheduled to provide mentoring, motivation and life skills specifically targeting young black men to help them build leadership skills. A third event—Youth Day—is being hosted by DeKalb County during the 28th annual National Organization of Black County Officials (NOBCO) Economic Development Conference that will be held in Decatur April 1822. “We’ve set aside April 19 as Youth Day. We want our high school students to join us on that day for several activities,” said Larry Johnson, presiding officer of the DeKalb County Commission. “This is a prime opportunity for all high school students who are interested in careers in government/public service to meet and network with elected officials from around the See DeKalb, page 3
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Campaigns get underway as July 31 transit vote looms By Valerie J. Morgan and Joshua Smith
By now, you’ve seen the commercials. The voice that comes on the air wants to know if you’re willing to do anything to improve Atlanta’s jam-packed highways. The voice wants your attention. The time clock is ticking as the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) pitches its campaign to persuade voters in a 10-county region to pass a one cents sales tax to fund $8.5 billion in road projects. Voters will go to the polls on July 31 to decide on the transportation referendum. Doug Hooker, the ARC’s executive director, is one of the main people urging voters to approve the measure. Hooker has been busy speaking at community gatherings, business meetings, and other public functions about the “ARC Plan 2040—Blueprint For a Brighter Tomorrow.” “We are at a critical time in our history. As our city grows, so does the traffic from commuters,” Hooker told a packed house who attended a Saturday breakfast meeting on Easter weekend that was hosted by DeKalb County Commissioner Stan Watson and several other elected officials from South DeKalb. “Some of you may not know that pain of rush hour traffic. Consider yourself lucky. However, for the thousands of commuters that do know that pain, Plan 2040 may be the remedy. The average metro Atlanta commuter spends $924 each year sitting in traffic. Collectively, these projects would
allow residents to save $9.2 billion by 2040.” Opponents are launching their own campaign. DeKalb NAACP President John Evans says his organizations has printed handbills urging DeKalb to say no to the tax because there is not enough funding in the plan for South DeKalb’s I-20 MARTA rail, a project that would bring not only a much-needed transportation system but jobs and economic development. Evans said South DeKalb residents are upset over paying into the MART system for 20 years and not getting the I-20 rail they were promised. “If we don’t get a contract— something guaranteed in writing that South DeKalb will get the I-20 rail—they can count us out,” Evans said. “We will not support it. It’s as simple as that.” Evans is not alone. DeKalb County Commissioners Larry Johnson, Lee May, Stan Watson and Sharon Barnes Sutton are united in a “Rally 4 Rail Now” campaign to defeat the tax if the $522 million needed for the I-20 transportation project is not funded. “The ads say this act will
benefit the region. However, when you take a look closer, South DeKalb still is not getting a rail system,” said Johnson, who has launched www.rally4railnow to keep voters informed. “The residents of South DeKalb have been supporting MARTA for over 30 years with the promise of rail to serve the community. We can’t support the one-cent sales tax proposal because it does not support South DeKalb.” DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis is urging voters to support the referendum, saying it’s important to “advance the ball down the field” with the $225 million the ARC Roundtable has earmarked to fund park-and-ride transit centers in South DeKalb, rather than lose the funding altogether. The I-20 rail is expected to cost $560 million. MARTA recently approved a Locally Preferred Alternative plan that would include the I-20 rail, but Commissioner May said South DeKalb remains in the same position: “There is no funding. A plan without money is no plan at all,” Lee said.
May to host virtual Town Hall
DeKalb Commissioner Lee May will host a virtual Town Hall meeting using UStream on Monday, April 23, noon to 1 p.m. May will discuss the July 31 transportation referendum
and the impact of the proposed incorporation of Brookhaven (HB636.) The community is invited to login live: www.ustream.tv/ channel/district-five.