VOLUME 23 NUMBER 1
FREE
APRIL 1, 2017
Published Since April 1995 Serving DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale Counties • www.facebook.com/ocgnews
MARTA: Crime down, 10,000 suspended for violating riding rules
Keith Parker
Wanda Dunham Photos by Glenn L. Morgan/OCGNEWS
MARTA Police say the department has seen a 27 percent decline in crime, attributing the drop to several safety initiatives and its “Ride With Respect” program. MARTA officials gave an overview of those initiatives at a March 29 roundtable
with media representatives. MARTA Police Chief Wanda Dunham said the “Part 1 crimes,” the tier that includes murders, rapes and assaults, were lower than the department has seen in the past five years, despite four homicides this fiscal year.
Dunham said suspects had been arrested in all four of the homicides. A big part of the success in lowering crime, Dunham said, has to do with the 10,000 cameras watching every move on MARTA’s buses and trains. In January, for example, detectives were able to quickly track down and arrest the rider who stabbed a panhandler who had asked him for money after reviewing surveillance from cameras. The installation of the cameras, which began in 2014, was completed last year. The $22 million program was funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security and MARTA. Dunham said a greater police presence and MARTA’s app, which allows riders to use their cell phones to report suspicious activity and disturbances, also are deterring crime. Dunham said the app has had more than 26,000 downloads so far. Additionally, through the Ride With Respect program, 10,049 people displaying what CEO Keith Parker called “knuckle-head” behavior have been suspended from riding MARTA since the program was launched in 2013. About half of the suspensions, officials said, were due to fare evasion. Parker said he hopes to
send the message that bad behavior will not be tolerated and “If you commit a crime on MARTA, you’re going to be caught.” Parker said the steppedup safety initiatives have made MARTA among the safest transit systems in the country. Parker said he cares deeply about customers’ safety because his own family members use MARTA and he believes in listening and responding to the community’s needs. “We want everyone who rides MARTA to feel safe,” said Parker. “We want this region to be one of the worst places to commit a crime.”
Lary sworn in as Stonecrest mayor, Clanton and Cobble take oaths for City Council
J
ason Lary was sworn into office as the new mayor of Stonecrest on March 27 in a private ceremony at the Stonecrest Library. The ceremony was held immediately after the DeKalb Board of Elections certified the results of the elections that same evening. Judge Ronald Ramsey performed the swearing-in ceremony for Lary as well as the two who were elected to the Stonecrest City Council on March 21: Jimmy Clanton, the winner of the District 1 race, and Jazzmin Cobble, who was elected to represent District 3. Lary said plans are under way for a public swearing-in ceremony that will include himself, Clanton, Cobble and the three run-
off winners. Runoffs will be held on April 18 for City Council seats 2, 4 and 5. Lary defeated Charles Hill and Doug Favors in the three-way race with 52.20 percent of the vote. Hill placed second in the contest with, earning 39.4 percent of the vote while Favors came in third with 8 percent. Lary said he is formulating community commission committees that will be responsible for providing leadership in several areas including beautification, Veterans Affairs and other needs. “I want to continue the work that we started before the referendum was passed by Jason Lary is sworn in as his wife, Debbi, holds the Bible and looks on. engaging citizens in the city,” Lary said. Photo by Glenn L. Morgan/OCGNEWS More photos available at www.ocgnews.com
Steen “News Lady” Miles passes
Aug. 20, 1946- March 29, 2017
By Valerie J. Morgan The Atlanta community is mourning the loss of Ollisteen “Steen” Miles, a former state senator and well-respected journalist. She died on March 29 at
the age of 70. She courageously fought cancer, sharing her journey through a Facebook support group, “Cancer, You Picked the Wrong Chick.” Miles was a former reporter for WXIA-TV and The Champion newspaper. Miles worked as chief media relations officer for MARTA in 2001, and in 2003, she hosted the talk show, “Faith in the City Forum,” bringing together leaders of diverse faiths to discuss public policy and current events. Miles, a Democrat, was elected state senator for District 43 in 2005. She ran for DeKalb CEO in 2000 and 2008. She was a candidate for Lt. Governor in 2006. In 2014, she ran for the U. S. Senate, according to her biography on several Internet sites. Rockdale County Tax Commissioner Tisa Smart Washington remembered Miles as a mentor. “Throughout my years of know-
ing her, she was always willing to pour into young women. She was a giving person. She was always very professional and polished,” said Washington. “When I decided to run for office, she was very encouraging. This was special to me. When you’re a woman and decide to run for office for the first time, it’s amazing what women who have walked that path have faced. The thing that I admired most about her is that she was always concerned about what she could do to make the community better.” “Steen Miles was already a legend when I met her,” Elaine Nickens Davis, former chair of the Rockdale Democratic Party, shared in a Facebook post. “I was amazed at her ability to absorb information and to feed it back in a way that let you know right away that she “got it.” A true professional, it may be awhile before we see her special
kind of “light” again.” Publicist Angela Moore, who said she made sure that Miles was honored recently at DeKalb Commissioner Gregory Adams’ Hidden Figures Awards program, said she was thankful that she and Miles were photographed together at Miles’ 70th birthday party. “It’s funny, I have taken pictures with presidents and kings, First Ladies and queens, and all in between from hither and beyond, but the people closest to you, you never think to take precious memories with. If it were not for Kellie, Steen’s daughter taking a selfie at her 70th birthday bash just 7 months ago, I would not have this... This will have to suffice as my treasure of all time,” Moore said. Miles lived in Decatur. She is survived by two daughters, Kellie and Heather, as well as two grandchildren, William and Kellea.