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.

"Why can't you get delivery problems in the Northridge area straightened out? Our papers are usually late or are not here at all. Not worth the bother to have a subscription."

"What ever happened about the video guy that was living at Starbucks in the RV? Is he still camped out there?"

"This is ZO. I saw this in Newton Citizen and agree. More of same partners think this way. too. Put on your virtual hoods now and see what your taxes do. 'If you are a conservative who hates taxes: Do not use Medicare. Do not use Social Security. Do not become a member of the U.S. military who are paid with tax dollars. Do not ask the National Guard to help you out after a disaster. Do not call 911 when you get hurt. Do not call the police to stop intruders in your home. Do not call the fire department to save your burning home. Do not drive on any paved road, highway, interstate or bridge. Do not use public restrooms. Do not send your kids to public schools. Do not put your trash out for city garbage collectors. Do not live in areas with clean air. Do not drink clean water. Do not visit national parks. Do not visit public museums, zoos or monuments. Do not eat or use FDA-inspected food and medicines. Do not allow your children on public playgrounds. Do not use sidewalks. Do not apply for educational or job training assistance when you lose your job. Do not apply for food stamps when you can't feed your children. Do not apply for subsidies for not growing crops on your land. Do not use the judiciary system for any reason.'"

"I'm seeing a lot of comments about the BOE having too big of salaries during this large budget cut going on in Rockdale. With that thought I should mention something that gets ignored too often and that is funding the arts. I will focus on visual arts as that is where I know more about. It is the principal's responsibility to set aside per pupil allotment funds for the art teacher to buy supplies with. Last I checked there are a lot of schools in the county where the principals refuse to give funds to art. Other departments receive funds from their department heads from the county to buy supplies. Not art. They have to beg their principals to support their consumable products in order to have a great art program. The problem with most people is they assume that art is just a novelty class where you just sit down and draw all day. Not many realize that art is discipline-based. It focuses on art production, history, criticism, and aesthetics. The core classes of math, reading, social studies, and science are also incorporated into the curriculum, as well. To have a successful art program there has to be a financial support to it. As the teacher does not get the financial support, they are left to beg for money from a school that is over 60 percent free or reduced lunch (even though the students come to class with $80 shirts and $200 shoes) or just pulling from their own pocket as they don't want their program to suffer. The arts are important to students! Check the research, they help your child excel in their core classes!"

"Hi: I have been reading in the phone poll about people requesting the Citizen to print a copy of the upcoming election sample ballot. I just wanted to let people know that you can go into the elections office in the old Maxell building off Parker Road and get one anytime after the early election time has begun. They also may be able to tell you what district you are in if you ask them and that will also help you narrow down who you will be asked to vote for. I always go get a sample ballot and google each person on the web before I go back and vote. This always tells me pretty quick if it is somebody I would want to have leadership over me or not. Also, a lot of people may not know this but anybody in the county can go into the old Maxell building and vote early at your convenience. You no longer have to have a reason for doing so. I have found it is so much easier than waiting to voting day. Just look for the signs out at the road saying, "vote here"."

"It is 6:00 on Sunday and still no poll..."

"Anyone who watches Channel 23 will no doubt have noticed a sharp increase in the number of times the "Message from the Chairman" airs. How is this not a violation of campaigning laws? If Oden is going to run a "message" about what he is allegedly doing and how allegedly wonderful those things are for this county, why are his opponents not given equal time an equal number of times a day to tell us what they would do to improve Rockdale? Channel 23 might be the government station, but it shouldn't be Oden's personal self-aggrandizement tool."

"This was a good comment but it was jumbled up last week and shoved in with another comment. So here it is again: 'In recent history, I have seen movements banning things that are unhealthy in our country. Georgia has banned smoking in public places. San Francisco is trying to ban Happy Meals because they are unhealthy. Now New York is trying to ban big sugar drinks in order to fight obesity through portion control. I can sort of see the logic behind these things but how does alcohol get a pass? Are you telling me that Happy Meals and big sodas are ruining more lives than alcohol? How many idiots drink a big soda and then go home and beat their kids? How many people crash their car and kill innocent families because they were under the influence of a Happy Meal they just ate? How did the children's rights groups in San Francisco decide that the biggest thing hurting the children there is Happy Meals? Are you kidding? Not the drugs, alcohol or almost total lack of morality among it's citizens ... it has to be the Happy Meals! Who decided to put sodas and Happy Meals on their to-do list instead of liquor? If anything in this country needs more regulation, it's alcohol. We need to stop pretending that lives are not ruined daily by the abuse of this substance.'"----

"I've got a copy of a flyer that indicates that ESG Operations, Inc. ("ESG Operations provides full-service operations and maintenance of Rockdale County's entire wastewater utility operations") sponsored a fundraiser at the Commerce Club in Peachtree Tower in Atlanta for Richard Oden this past May. I think everyone should know about that. I find it very troubling that a company doing business with Rockdale would sponsor an event like this (what business is it of anyone in Atlanta who we elect? What business is it of Eldrin Bell and Shirley Franklin and other members of the 'host committee'?), with "suggested minimum contribution" of $250 and host contributions of $1000. How much was raised by this fundraiser and what other businesses are sponsoring similar events for Oden in Atlanta and other surrounding counties? Why is this Atlanta 'host committee' so anxious for Oden to win? Is it because the former Atlanta Chief-of-Staff now Rockdale Chief-of-Staff Pridgeon stands to lose his job in November? If that is so, does Pridgeon also have close ties with ESG?? Perhaps this is politics as usual, but considering the recent troubles reported between RWR and the Water and Sewerage Authority, Oden's (and Pridgeon's) apparent close ties to ESG are worrisome, to say the least."

"CRCA rocks!! The Abbey Road Live concert at the pavilion was exceptional. What a positive, fun event for our community! More events like this could change the direction of our city. Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"I would like everyone in the county to know that the staff of the Conyers-Rockdale Library was not included in the round of bonuses that were given to county employees. Though many residents believe that the library is a county department, it is officially designated as a nonprofit funded by the county, therefore, not entitled to receive the bonuses. Yet, like many other county workers, library employees have not received pay raises in years. The county's budget woes have necessarily meant either a reduction or (at best) no increase in the library budget, despite increasing costs and usage, particularly by the many job seekers, small business owners, students and others who rely on library equipment, materials, and staff assistance to meet their goals. The staff works very hard to make the library a pleasant and useful place for all of Rockdale's residents and for many visitors who choose this county's library over their own local libraries, so the exclusion from bonuses, though expected to some degree, was disappointing and somewhat demoralizing, to say the least. The majority of library staff members are Rockdale residents; they care about the well-being of their neighbors and community, and many have remained loyal to the library rather than leave because they care about Rockdale's library. It would be nice if, in the future, the BOC would understand and appreciate their value, and reward their work to the same measure they have seen fit to reward all other county employees."

"Is it illegal to sell postal stamps for more than what they cost at the post office? I bought two postal stamps at a certain gas station on West Avenue. They were sixty cents each. I was stunned and questioned the owner and he said in a thick accent, "Yes, they are sixty cents. They are less at the post office but we have to run a business here." I went ahead and bought them but vowed not to go there again. I had bought some four or five months ago at the same location and I don't remember them being as expensive as they were this time."

"I just want to say thank you to the Flat Shoals Elementary PTA. They do so much for the staff and students at the school."

"To the woman in the Mercury Mountaineer with the 'Jesus Saves' sticker on her bumper: Jesus isn't driving your car. Please check your rearview mirror before changing lanes. You're going to cause a wreck."

"In my 55 years of life, I have lived in 13 different places in four states, the east side of Atlanta being 10 of those places. Rockdale County, Georgia is the place where I have encountered the absolute meanest, most hateful people in my entire life. All races, all religions, all nationalities, all cultures. If I had the money to move out of here I would! What is wrong with you people?"