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Rockdale Citizen Phone Poll April 22

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Staff Report (8556)

As of Friday, April 20, 2012
© Copyright 2013 Rockdale Citizen

The Citizen Poll is a weekly compilation of reader comments on subjects of local interest. The Citizen publishes as many comments as space allows. Comments, which may be edited for space or content, are published anonymously on Sunday. To submit a comment, call 770-483-7108, ext. 402, email poll@rockdalecitizen.com or complete the online form at www.rockdalecitizen.com.

"Heaven gained a wonderful angel on Thursday, Libby Poynter. Everyone knows Libby is in heaven and is dancing with Randy."

"Sadly, I have to report that the Conyers Police Department truly have a dislike for African Americans. Tuesday there was a major traffic jam on 20 west from Wesley Chapel (fire) back to Sigman Road. The interstate had become a parking lot as I observed headed 20 east toward Conyers. I had notice DeKalb Police had started blocking off Evans Mills and Turner Hill on 20 west as the traffic was backed up almost to Sigman. I called 911 and asked had they heard and maybe they could start closing off exits and assisting with traffic like DeKalb. I exited on West Avenue and then went and parked at the top of the entrance on to 20 West. I began to notify drivers that it was a major fire and 20 West was a parking lot and they might want to find an alternative route. I was thanked by so many for warning them. About 30 minutes later a Conyers Police officer shows up. He had me produce my ID, which he called in and then made me get onto 20 West in all that traffic. I asked him why you run my ID when I'm the one who called 911? And why you making me get in all the traffic when I'm right here at the top of the entrance? He hunched his shoulders and told me to go. Now here I was stuck in the very traffic I assisted so many in avoiding. Come on Conyers Police give us black folks a break; we all are not bad."

"Cannot believe that the situation at the Rockdale County 911 Center continues to get worse, I just didn't think that was possible. It seems that now they are involved with officer/fireman safety discrepancies as they have an old faulty radio system. This system is dropping transmissions from the field. This is the lifeline to those officers! It seems that needed parts to go digital with the radio system have arrived but have not been installed. Why you ask? Good question. It seems that the new fire chief thinks it's more important to upgrade the fire stations than to allow Motorola to upgrade the main tower. This should be unacceptable to all officers who rely on the dispatch center to know where they are should things go horribly wrong. It should also be unacceptable to the citizens of Rockdale County when the ambulance, fire engine or deputy needs further information but is unable to transmit that request. This is piled on top of many additional problem areas. Rockdale County, your dispatchers are now down to one day a week off! This is deplorable. Not only is it an almost impossible work schedule adding to the stress of the center but allows very little time for family. ...."

"Perhaps the next time Oden goes to Washington to drum up 'interstate beautification money' he can request some for the Quonset hut the state erected on I-20 in front of Office Depot ... boy isn't that a welcoming site to see. All that money spent on placing rocks and plants at the 138 exit and the state took one month to destroy it .... Richard, call some of your friends in Atlanta (or Washington) and see what kind of cash you can round up to 'beautify' the Quonset hut. It is spring and we have to look at this years' unused snow gravel for 10 more months ... go get 'em ..."

"Rockdale School System please don't take the hot lunch out of the kid's hand when checking their lunch card to find no money on it and replace with a sandwich. What grown up would like for someone to take back something out of their hand. Just think how that child feels when the hot lunch is taken from them in front of everyone. Maybe you all should check lunch cards first before serving them the food."

"I noticed a job posting for a project assistant for the neighborhood stabilization program and it looks like it's an attempt to lighten the workload for the director of the program, since Mr. Oden wasn't able to put through an $18,000 salary increase for the director. It appears they are trying to lighten her workload. I would be very interested in how long it will be before the program assistant has an assistant. Second subject, Clerk Ruth Wilson. Apparently she provides a great deal more service to the county than several other people, including the chief of staff. So perhaps the Board of Commissioners can do something about his salary to bring it more in line with what he provides to the county."

"I just want to say how disgusted I am that the county will spend money fixing a park at East Fairview and 138 for people to walk instead of caring about our children who need extra teachers, they need extra help in schools, they need supplies in schools. That's what our money should be going for, not a park."

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Comments

heresyafacts 1 year, 1 month ago

To the person who thinks CPD doesn't like black people: you were "at the top of the entrance on to 20 West" -- in other words, you were endangering yourself and others by parking your car in an area where no cars should be parked. What about all of the other cars who were waiting to get on I-20? Should they also be able to park where you parked? No, because that would tie up an intersection and put even more people in danger. You have no special rights to park in a no-parking zone just because you called 911. You should have pulled into a nearby parking area and waited. Thank you for being a good citizen and alerting others, but don't place blame on police for doing what they are supposed to do. I'm getting sick and tired of people claiming racial bias when their own behavior is to blame.

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Frustrated 1 year, 1 month ago

Darn you beat me to it. Well said!!

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tstrail414 1 year ago

I was thinking the same thing, heresyafacts! Instead of screaming racial bias, did you ever think that CPD was doing this for your protection, as well as the protection of others? I wonder why many of our youth in this county have no respect for authority, i.e. police, adults, teachers, etc. Sadly, it is becoming more and more a learned behavior.

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pressman7 1 year, 1 month ago

Please allow me to complain about something I have always thought of as an unthinking misuse. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. 911 is for emergencies, use the regular phone number for this sort of thing.

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Zo 1 year ago

Sounds like this guy has a good point. I remember that traffic jam on 20. Did the 911 center get any calls regarding the citizen helping out in a negative way? You all sound like the helping citizen was doing something wrong and if so, why didn't he get a citation? And if the citizen was doing this for over 30 minutes and there wasn't any traffic jams and/or any other negative things then that citizen did a good job. Also, I the citizen mention how thankful others were of his good deed. I think this was handled incorrectly...Conyers Police need to extend an apology to that citizen. You guys are critical never heard of good citizenship going unrewarded unless you..........

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ClaytonBigsby 1 year ago

He could have rightly gotten a citation. I-20 is a "Limited Access" highway, and pedestrians are prohibited. There's a sign posted to that effect on each ramp.

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AJK 1 year ago

So, it's OK for John Q Public to play law enforcement officer and direct traffic and/or block traffic....I'll keep that in mind the next time you come up behind me in a hurry....I'll slow down to the exact speed limit and when you try to pass me, I'll call 911 on you.

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ctownslimm 1 year ago

It is the responsibility of the parents to feed their children and put money in the account. It is not the lunch lady's fault if the kids account is empty it is the parent's. But you want to change the whole procedure around because parents are not doing what they are supposed to. The parent needs to handle their business or their children will be embarrassed. We all know this to be true in life. The parent needs to say to themselves, " I need to keep money in the account so little suzie is not embarrassed." They do not need to think, "The school needs to change the way the do things when I drop the ball"

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Zo 1 year ago

No child deserves to be embarassed, especially when it's caused by an adult. People are so harsh these days...God love the children and so shall we. I guess you never been poor & didn't have. There is a such thing as the working poor. And the crazy part is once they take that lunch tray back from the child they throw the food in the trash because the kid touched it. Another tax dollar wasted, at least I know my tax dollar went toward a child having lunch not in the trash.

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ctownslimm 1 year ago

Listen Zo, If I was the lunch person, I would do it differently but this county is being ruined by people not putting the blame where it truly lies. On the parents. The truth is, the kid is getting lunch without paying for it even if it is a pb and J so they arent starving. You seem to be more worried about the child's feelings than his nutrition. The lunch lady is in charge of nutrition, and the parents are in charge of the child's feelings. I would have more respect for you if you were bashing the parents who send the poor child to school with no lunch or no money for lunch. It is the parent's responsibility to feed the child. Not the government's. Wake up and stop being so weak.

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LEVESTERSMOM 1 year ago

So, we waste tax dollars by throwing food away?? By law, once food has been handled by the public, it MUST be thrown away. As far as embarrassing the child, I would be at the School Board Office filing a formal complaint if it were my child. Please, I dare anyone, to say they have never forgotten to do something in their lifetime! So glad to hear there are "perfect" adults in this world!

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VPublicola 1 year ago

A school lunch account is allowed to go into the negative several meals before 'hot' lunch may be refused. That is, this is not an automatic when the account hits $0. In fact, the parent receives advance notification of low balance alerts prior to zero or deliquent balance alerts.

I don't think anyone is asking any adult to be perfect. There is a difference between being responsible and being irresponsible, and one of them is as close to perfect as one can get.

RCPS should have a policy that refers these deliquent lunch accounts to a collection agency after a set period of deliquency (e.g., 30 days), but also places a freeze on the lunch account after 10-15 days. Further the adult responsible for the account should have to pay all costs for collection.

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VPublicola 1 year ago

What is it when the 'working poor' have enough money to ensure their hair and nails are done but then refused to pay a $35 lunch tab because "that's too much and I am not going to pay it." If you are working then you are not poor. People are 'poor' because they make irresponsible financial decisions and yet they are entitlement slaves who demand the government steal money from the responsible workers to pay for the luxuries to which they feel they are entitled. Soon, the entitlement population, who are slaves to misguided political miscreants, will outnumber the responsible workers and taxpayers. When that occurs one of two things will happen: 1) a revolution accompanied by panic and riots during which the 'working taxpayer' will defend their property and resources vigorously; or 2) the job creators and 'working taxpayers' will leave this country and the 'entitlement slaves' can live in blissful anarchy. For the record, if you work and receive all or more of what was witheld from your paycheck then you are not a 'working taxpayer' as used herein. Getting your nails done, hair done, having a cell phone, having direct TV or cable, having shiny rims and low profile tires, having a nuisance stereo system in your car, adorning bling, and all that other non-essential waste are luxuries and not entitlements owed to any person. When someone places their nails and hair above paying their kid's school lunch tab, the actions speak volumes.

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Zo 1 year ago

I agree with you if that is the case. What if it is a hard working family that has conservative values, but has hit hard times? My point and the person who submitted this about embarrassing kids is that the system need to revisit how they handle children who do not have their lunch money. Taking a lunch tray out of kids hand, especially elementary kids, should be unacceptable to us all. That kid can't control and don't have the mentality to now their parent isn't being responsible. You and the rest of you fake name buddies need to drop off your conservative and borderline racial perspective and get in touch with reality.

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VPublicola 1 year ago

I have lived and struggled through hard times without ever taking a hand out from the government. I know what it is like to raise a young family on a salary at or below the federal poverty level. It is simply a divergent path of responsible and irresponsible decisions. We couldn't afford a house, so we rented cheaply. No cell phone; one used vehicle; no cable or satellite TV; simple, basic meals; and no vacations other than visits to relatives' houses. Living life on the cheap. Those struggles and the frugality they demanded have rewarded us well and instilled financial responsibilities that persists - they become principled habits. No, it wasn't easy but I am living proof it can be done. I worked hard and never strayed from the principles taught to me through my parents, grandparents, and Boy Scouts. We saved for more than 10 years until we had $12,000 to purchase a house. Yet, today the progressives have decided that home ownership is apparently a right, so the government will give you up to $14,000, free, to purchase a home. What a load of garbage; it is a privilege to be earned, just like respect.

Today, I can afford to transfer enough money to my kids lunch accounts so that they can have a 'hot' lunch everyday. However, I do not. They get one 'hot' lunch per week and the rest of the week I am awake early enough to make their lunches, which consist of pb&j, pb, pb&banana, ham or turkey sandwich with fresh fruit, water, a snack bar or yogurt. The alternative lunch you speak of is satisfactory for the kid's whose parents can't afford 'hot' lunches or are too financially irresponsible to foot the bill for their kid to have a 'hot' lunch. If my tax dollars are being used for these children, then they can have the alternative lunch so that my tax dollars are stretched to the ultimate. The alternative lunch is not much different than the lunches that I personally make for my children. As for the embarassment, my children are not the least bit embarassed by the 'alternative' lunch that I make for them most school days.

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heresyafacts 1 year ago

Very well stated. I'm just amazed there is actually a child left in RCPS that >isn't< on the free lunch plan. But your point about the effects of high taxation (and accompanying gov't control) is being played out in the UK (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1579345/Biggest-brain-drain-from-UK-in-50-years.html) just as it was in the 70s. In fact, Britain's welfare/free healthcare system is so strained, the gov't has made changes regarding immigration -- if you can't contribute financially, and contribute plenty, they don't want you ( http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2093357/Britain-pick-choose-immigrants-brightest-best-new-clampdown.html ).

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WayBack 1 year ago

Hey, guy who was trying to direct traffic: seriously? How in the world is that a racial thing? You, without a radio or access to all the information available about the traffic situation (other than your eyes) decided to try to direct traffic. I'll grant you, it sounds like you were honestly trying to help, but seriously, did you know everything that was going on? Imagine if everyone decided to try to direct traffic based on their own limited opinions on the right thing to do-- total chaos. The cop didn't run your license because you were black. He probably ran it because he suspected you were an escapee from a lunatic asylum and wanted to see if he needed to detain you so an ambulance could pick you up (Ha ha! Just like in Benny and Joon!!).

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Pinkpetals 1 year ago

To the disgusted citizen upset about the county spending money fixing up the park on East Fairview and 138 and not spending the money on our schools, I am in complete agreement. Education is the most important gift we can give our children. When we adults are having hard times paying the bills, we have to give the extra pleasures in life to provide for our family. When Rockdale County hits hard times they take trips claiming they are trying to help the people of Rockdale. What a joke. The community needs to speak up for our children. Teach children that education is worth fighting for. This goes for all counties. Let's show the children we do care!!

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AJK 1 year ago

The park is being paid for with SPLOST funds.....something we the voters approved of at the polls.

It would be a violation of the law to redirect SPLOST funds to education.

Now, if you feel education needs more funding, all you have to do is stop by Tax Commissioner Dan Ray's office and make your monetary donation. I'm certain he'll see to it the school system gets the money.

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Frustrated 1 year ago

Sounds like Oz.....I mean Zo is using the citizen poll for free campaigning. Cant afford to pay for you own campaign?

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AWOL 1 year ago

Can't be Oz. The grammar is too good.

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Freedom1 1 year ago

Parents should take responsibility for their children's lunch, not the taxpayer. I don't want children "embarassed", and I don't want children going hungry, but if you have those children, they are your responsibility. Education needing more funding?! Are you kidding me?? We pay 83% of our property tax in Rockdale towards education. They have a budget of $137 million for $15.600 students. They get grants from every place but your Aunt Sally, and most of those grants WE the TAXPAYER pay for. Education is the bottomless money pit. We have 63% free and reduced lunch in Rockdale, only 3% of those applications are checked. There are food stamps, and a host of other programs if you are a family in need, let's get our schools back to educating, our teachers back to teaching instead of refereeing fights and policing the classroom, and for heaven's sake, quit treating our children like they are made out of glass. Parents, teach them responsibility, not excuses for making someone else take care of them. People who are temporarily in trouble deserve our help and attention, those who made choices to not take care of themselves, need to be left to themselves, and the schools need to stop trying to make everyone into cookie-cutter citizens without the least idea of how to live independently. Sheesh.

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