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 am I not surprised that the commissioner's friend's business in DeKalb County was used and paid for by MY tax dollars for a "retreat." I guess nothing in OUR home county was available.

"Ya'll will LOVE this. Cut and paste to your browser and see our fine BOE members and others yearly salaries http://ajk.rockdalenet.com/BOCWatch/BoESalTravRpt2010.pdf"

"For those who complain about blacks voting for Obama because he's one of them, I'd point out that he had one white parent as well as one who was "black." The days when 1/64th black ancestry condemned you to slavery or second class citizenship are gone. Aren't they?"

"Just read a "School Crime report" in the Newton Citizen. I wish we did the same in Rockdale county. Please try to get that done. It would be great to have a retro-active report for the whole year. We would like to know what our kids are being exposed to. Thank you."

"How is the new coroner doing? Has anyone heard? I know there have been a few deaths this year so far. I was very concerned about his ability to do the job because he has never been a coroner before. I also heard he lived in another county and was wondering if that affected response time."

"Obama promised no increase in taxes to the middle class. Has anyone else got their paychecks this year? He lied."

"Who is paying for the construction of extra lanes on Hwy. 138 for the new Dollar Store near the Ebenezer Road intersection?"

----"Dear Rockdale Citizen: I wasn't referring to a red light at the intersection of 138 and Parker/Miller's Chapel. I was referring to a LEAD light, a left turn only signal."

"What is with all these people walking around in the county? I understand during the day to exercise on sidewalks but this is at night especially on Sigman Road. Are the police not looking into this? There are friends of mine that live in the city limits and random people come up to their house a lot mostly to see if they are home. With all these home invasions our police need to be more aware of this situation. Our town is starting to look like Boulevard in Atlanta. Also in the Milstead area there are a lot of kids just wandering around on the streets late at night. I know there is a curfew, but it looks like these parents aren't enforcing it and neither are the police."

"Thought all delivery truck drivers should know. There is a new policy in Atlanta of a $1,000 fine for trucks with tires touching the sidewalk. Yes, that is correct $1000.00."

"Friday was the second Friday in the month of January. That means that just about every American has now received their first paycheck of 2013, and just about every American has howled about how much money is missing from it. Anyone who didn't listen to the Republicans during the election and who thought the tax increases would hit only the richest 1 percent is getting a rude awakening, as the payroll tax reverts back to its pre-2010 level. And this is only the beginning: the heavy cost of Obamacare will be the next big bite. Many companies are already scaling back raises or staff. These guys want all of our money."

"There are a lot of people at my church getting tattoos of Christian symbols and Bible verses. I wonder if any of them will get Lev. 19:28 tattoos. It's the verse that says we shouldn't get any tattoos. I wonder how they will explain that to their children: "I know it says it in the Bible kids but we don't really have to do everything it says in there. We can pick and choose." What about Leviticus 19:29? Should we ignore that one too? I'm not trying to be judgmental. I just want to send a little clear-headedness out there in case anyone is listening."

"Dear new school board members. Please do us all a favor and review discipline records of high schools and middle schools. Look at offenses committed by students and actions taken by administrations. Ask yourself, "How much is enough?" If you want scores and grades to increase, you will do something about all of these problem students who are getting away with terrible behavior. If you want the good families of this county to let their high scoring kids go to these schools, you need to make the schools safe and remove the disturbances. It will take guts and brains. And the school system attorney usually advises against both from what I can tell."

"I'm not sure whose brilliant idea it was for trail crosswalks across busy roads but they are a pain. I understand the ones in Olde Town but why should a road that is 45 mph have to stop dead for a bicycle or jogger that wants to cross the street? Someone is going to get hit because I saw it just about happen a few nights ago. Just like everything else in this country we are catering to the minority (that's not race-based by the way). One person needs something? Okay, we'll make everyone go out of their way to accommodate them. Just stupid."