Activists re-enact gruesome slayings
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A monument erected by the Georgia Historical Society, pictured above, commemorates the 1946 slayings of four black people and an unborn child at Moore's Ford bridge. The slayings represent the last public mass lynchings in the U.S. |
This was a re-enactment of the Moore's Ford bridge lynching in 1946 – a brutal slaying of black residents that remains unsolved to this day. The Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials has sponsored the re-enactment each year to raise awareness about the killings and seek justice for Roger and Dorothy Malcom, their unborn child, and George and Mae Murray Dorsey.
On July 25 of that year, the two couples were dragged out to an open field, beaten and gunned down by a mob of unmasked Klansmen. Dorothy Malcom was 7 months pregnant. The bodies were so mutilated by bullets that relatives had difficulty recognizing the victims.
What motivated the killings is the stuff of legend and speculation – some say a farm owner lured the four to the bridge to murder them after Roger Malcom was released from jail on an assault charge.
What is clear is this: The victims never were charged, or tried or convicted – only executed. The slayings also reportedly represent the nation's last public mass lynching – defined as putting a person to death by mob action without due process of law.
"These unsolved murders played a crucial role in both President Truman's commitment to civil rights legislation and the ensuing modern civil rights movement," according to a historic monument erected by the Georgia Historical Society.
To date no one has been prosecuted. In 2007, the U.S. Justice Department reopened the case to pursue justice for the families. Officials have offered a $35,000 reward for any information pertaining to the crime.
Though some have called for an end to the reenactment, longtime activists such as Ed Dubose, Georgia State Conference NAACP president said the re-enactments play a vital role.
"If we take our eye off the ball on this case, then we've lost the moment of bringing justice to the Dorsey and the Malcom families," Dubose said. "No matter how old [the assailants] are now, we need justice; we are confident that justice will prevail."
Georgia State Representative and GABEO President Tyrone Brooks agreed.
Charges in the case "would help ensure that no one in this country could think that they can ever commit murder or any heinous crime and not have to face the bar of justice," he said.
Brooks, a colleague and follower of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., said it was on King's agenda to focus on these deaths and that the slain civil rights leaders had planned to visit Walton County before his death. The bridge borders Monroe and Walton counties.
"If Georgia really wants to honor Dr. King, we don't need any more ceremonies or programs," Brooks said. "We need to prosecute those persons who are walking around Walton County and living across America who were responsible for the last open public lynching in this country."
In a re-enactment ceremony in sweltering heat, participants from across the country walked a mile in 100-degree weather last weekend to the historic spot at the bridge; singing hymns along the way.
Janice Floyd, a native of Monroe, said her stepfather brought her to the site when she was a child and she praises GABEO for bringing national attention to the killings.
"I've been coming [to the reenactment] for the last 4 years," Floyd said. "I still sympathize with the way things happened and I hope to see justice soon because the killers aren't getting any younger."
Brenda Ealey traveled from nearby Athens to witness the event for the first time and said she was in awe.
"It was very, very powerful," she said. "They know who did it here. When you do it to one of us, you do it to all of us. But God says He has the last say-so."
The daylong ceremony also included a tour of the farmhouse where Malcom was arrested and the old county jail where he was held.
Also supporting the event were longtime activists Joe Beasley, regional director of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition; John Evans, president and CEO of Operation Lead; Rev. Dr. Richard Cobble, president of the Concerned Black Clergy; Elisabeth Williams-Omilami, executive director of Hosea Feed the Hungry, and Sen. Charles Steele.
Brooks and Steele, meanwhile, say they plan to raise money to build a museum that commemorate all lynching victims in the U.S., including those at Moore's Ford bridge.
| July 23 - 29, 2010 |  |
'He taught me how to cry'
Hundreds gather to offer final tributes
to Billy McKinney
By A. Scott Walton
Contributing Writer
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Pallbearers carry Billy McKinney’s flag-draped casket out of Jackson Memorial Baptist Church on Monday after a spirited memorial service honoring the former state legislator and longtime public servant. Photo by A. Scott Walton |
To some, he was a tough-talking, no-nonsense straight shooter who “said what people needed to hear.” To others, he was warm and compassionate public servant who “taught me how to cry.”
However he was perceived, everyone agreed on one thing: Billy McKinney was one-of-a-kind.
More than 700 friends, relatives and Atlanta-area activists gathered at Jackson Memorial Baptist Church on Monday to pay final tribute to the former Georgia State Legislator, who died last week at age 83 due to cancer complications.
The three and a half hour memorial service for James Edward “Billy” McKinney was punctuated by several impassioned speeches honoring the longtime activist, including one by his daughter, former U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney.
After criticizing the “special interest media” who often portrayed her father as an off-kilter – even anti-Semitic – character, Cynthia McKinney broke down sobbing immediately following the utterance: “He taught me how to cry.”
She wasn’t the only speaker to weep while honoring McKinney, a passionate activist who served for 22 years as an Atlanta police officer and for three decades in the state Legislature. Several of the 22 invited speakers offered tearful tributes that lasted as long as 15 minutes.
Friends and foes alike described Mr. McKinney as a selfless and outspoken man intent on seeing justice served to the downtrodden.
During his early tenure on the police force, for example, McKinney gained notoriety for picketing alone and in uniform to protest discrimination against black and minority officers. Years later, he was one of a groundswell of minority politicians across the country who gained access to seats of power in the early 1970s.
In 1989, Billy and Cynthia McKinney became Georgia’s first father-daughter duo of elected state Legislators.
Former U.S. Senator Wyche Fowler, who defeated McKinney in three local, county and state elections, said McKinney rarely bit his tongue.
“Billy, as a public official, didn’t say what people wanted to hear. He said what people needed to hear,” Fowler said.
Gubernatorial candidate and Georgia’s longtime Attorney General, Thurbert Baker, agreed:
“Billy always told you what he thought. You didn’t ever have to guess where he stood,” Baker said. “He would tell you exactly where he was on an issue, and that was refreshing in the legislative arena. We need more voices like his.”
State representative and recent gubernatorial candidate, Randal Mangham, said he valued and appreciated McKinney’s “boldness and bravery.”
“He did not capitulate. He did not compromise with a lot of people,” Mangham said. “Many people would jockey politically, but he wouldn’t. ‘Stand. Stand. Stand.’ That was the best advice he gave me.”
Principled action and blunt speech were key McKinney traits, many speakers said, frequently delighting supporters and aggravating detractors. But one speaker said the man known fondly as “Billy Mac” was prone to small acts of kindness that rarely got the kind of attention that his calculated antics on the state House floor received.
“Billy was never too busy doing something that he wouldn’t stop and give money to a homeless person,” said Henry Barbour, who lived across the street from McKinney for decades in Collier Heights. “And if you were riding with him, you can bet he’d make you reach in your pocket to give them a dollar or two, too.”
In a spirited tribute to his father, McKinney’s son, Gregory, sang an emotional rendition of the Frank Sinatra classic, “My Way.” Several people were spotted in the crowd wearing red shirts and denim overalls, reminiscent of the late poor peoples’ champion, Hosea Williams.
Fourteen-term state representative Tyrone Brooks said McKinney still expressed an interest in civil rights activism even in the final months of his life.
“The last time I talked to him, he asked, ‘When are we going back to the (Moore’s Ford) Bridge?’ in Monroe,” Brooks recalled, in reference to the site of a vicious lynching 64 years ago. Brooks said the 6th sixth annual re-enactment of the unsolved mass lynching will take place Saturday July 24 “in tribute to him.”
Fulton County Commission Chairman John Eaves said McKinney’s passing leaves a huge void to fill.
“It’s now important for the middle generation to come forward to receive the baton and do what we can our way, based on our experiences, in terms of doing what’s right and advocating for justice,” Eaves said.
Fulton County Commissioner Emma Darnell may have issued the greatest challenge to mourners when she posed a question that briefly stunned the crowd into silence:
“Who cares?” she asked.
Comparing McKinney’s commitment to that of Harriett Tubman and Rosa Parks, Darnell said, “Billy’s greatness stems from the fact that he really cared. It wasn’t his head, it wasn’t his tongue. It was his heart.
“If you want to honor Billy,” she concluded, “stand for something other than yourselves.”
| July 16 - 22, 2010 | |
Candidates for governor running final lap
By STAN WASHINGTON
Senior Writer
Days before the July 20 primary elections for governor, candidates are lining up last-minute endorsements in hopes that high-profile support will lead to Election Day joy.
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Former Gov. Roy Barnes readily accepts the endorsement of members of the faith community at a breakfast Tuesday morning. Barnes is the leading candidate in the Democratic primary. (SW) |
Three of the candidates started off the week, with endorsement announcements. Democrat Attorney General Thurbert Baker’s fledging campaign received a much-needed endorsement from former President Bill Clinton, while former Secretary of State Karen Handel won the endorsement of former Alaskan Gov. Sarah Palin.
It is unknown what impact those endorsements will have on their poll numbers. Some of the latest polls have Handel running second to Oxendine, but Baker is back in the pack behind Roy Barnes, the frontrunner who is currently holding at 56 percent of the vote and could win the primary without a runoff.
At a breakfast Tuesday morning, Rev. Timothy McDonald led the cheer of “No run-off!” as Barnes won the endorsement of more than 40 members of the faith community, including prominent ministers Bishop Eddie Long, Rev. Howard Creecy, Rev. Jasper Williams, Rev. Albert E. Love and former U.N. Ambassador Andrew Young.
“I am proud to support Roy’s bid for governor because I know that he has the experience and the knowledge to get our state back on track,” McDonald said.
Barnes thanked the group for their support, and said, “It’s time for sane middle of the road leadership. It’s time to worry about creating jobs and making Georgia work.”
It should not be difficult for voters to determine which political party they want to see in the governor’s seat next year. There is a clear line of division on where the candidates for the two major parties stand on the issues, according to political science professor William H. Boone.
Republicans are centering their campaign theme on stopping illegal immigration by tying it to the job issue and fighting the Obama administration, while the Democrats are focusing on job creation and education, the Clark Atlanta University professor said in an interview with The Atlanta Voice.
“They (Republicans) are running against President Obama in their primary,” Boone said. “They have termed the national healthcare program as ‘Obama Care.’ They seem to be insisting that Obama and the Democrats are pushing a socialist-style of government on to the country.”
“On the Democrat side, they are pushing the question about jobs,” he said. “All are pushing jobs, resolving the job question is a little different between them, but the major theme is getting Georgia back to work and that the Republicans have not done a good job of doing this.”
Although there are three African American candidates in the race, and one – Baker – has won statewide office, “I would be very surprised if Georgia elected a black governor,” Boone said.
The differences were quite clear during a two-hour televised forum last Sunday with four of the top Democratic candidates and four of the top Republican candidates.
The four invited Democrats were Barnes, Baker, Adjutant Gen. David Poythress and House Minority Leader DuBose Porter. The remaining Democrats are Randal Mangham, Bill Bolton and Carl Camon.
The invited Republicans were Handel, Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine, former Rep. Nathan Deal and state Rep. Eric Johnson. Also on the Republican ballot are Jeff Chapman, Ray McBerry and Otis Putnam.
The Democrats
The Democratic candidates appear to agree on what issues need immediate attention. In addition to jobs and education, transportation for ranked a strong third on that list.
All four the candidates agreed that unless the gridlock issue on Georgia highways is addressed, especially in metro Atlanta, growth in the region and the state would suffer. All supported a new comprehensive transportation plan that includes light rail for the metro region and passenger rail service for the rest of the state.
They also support more state funding for MARTA.
They pointed out that there is $87 million in federal funds for a passenger rail service from Atlanta to Lovejoy if the state would commit to match it, but the governor has refused to commit to passenger rail service.
Returning laid-off teachers to the classrooms, reducing classroom sizes and extending the school year back to its normal length are a must, the Democrats said. They pointed out that during the Gov. Sonny Perdue’s administration, some $3.5 billion in cuts have been in education.
All agreed that the local systems all need more flexibility during this recession.
One way to help education in Georgia to is to fund K-12 with a new Bingo program, Baker said.
One of two African Americans in the race, Baker said his program would fund after school programs, pre-kindergarten programs and make kindergarten mandatory.
“We have to prepare these kids to compete in the 21st century, in a global marketplace.”
The Republicans
Unlike the Democrats who favored a continued moratorium on drilling for oil off the coast of Georgia, all of the Republicans favored drilling off the coast of Georgia. “Let’s find out what’s out there first and then let’s go,” Handel said.
“It would be better than to continue to buy oil from terrorists who hate us,” Oxendine said.
On the hot button issue of illegal immigration, the candidates took a hard line against illegal immigrants and expressed little compassion for the children of immigrants.
“That is truly a federal issue. We can’t solve that (illegal immigration) at the state level,” said Deal. “What we have to do is to try and protect the taxpayers of Georgia.”
Deal cited a report that claims illegal immigration is costing Georgia taxpayers $2.4 billion a year.
“I’m going to enforce the laws that we have and see if we can bring an Arizona-type law to Georgia,” said Oxendine. “But I’m going to take it one step further. I’m going to sue the Obama administration for the money that we use for the detention of illegal immigrants and the cost of social services – schools and healthcare.
“If the federal government had been doing its job,” he said, “Georgia taxpayers wouldn’t be footing the bill for illegal immigrants.”
Johnson and Oxendine both proposed suing the federal government for reimbursement for dollars spent on detaining immigrants.
| July 9 - 15, 2010 | |
Judgment Day Looms for SCLC
Fulton County judge to rule on warring factions
Staff and Wire Report
The question of who will run the historic Southern Christian Leadership Conference remains in limbo.
After months of combative infighting and legal wrangling, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Alford Dempsey Jr. is expected to rule soon on which SCLC board has the legal right to govern the organization.
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Elected nine months ago but yet to assume office, Rev. Bernice King speaks to the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s 70th Anniversary Convention. She made her first comments about the board’s legal battle during a luncheon address. (Pharoh Martin) |
Dempsey, who received the case Friday, did not say when he would rule, but many insiders believe the decision could be announced as early as this week.
Dueling SCLC factions split last fall over allegations of financial mismanagement by the embattled chairman and treasurer, who have refused to step aside pending federal and local investigations. Divided allegiances have created the perception of two SCLC factions conducting the organization’s business independent of one another.
Attorney Charles Mathis, who represents the plaintiffs in the civil case, said the Rev. Wilbert Shanklin – the organization’s compliance officer – is upset that he lost control of the board and didn’t want the board to oust chairman Raleigh Trammell.
“A board of directors of a corporation has the power and the right to decide and manage the corporation and that’s what the board here did,” Mathis said during a break in the hearing.
Mathis could not be reached for further comment.
During last week’s testimony, Shanklin blamed the embarrassing public riff on some staff workers who manipulated board members.
Shanklin, a minister from Ohio, told a Fulton County Superior Court judge that he tried to stop the flow of information between the staff and board members because it was creating chaos in the once-powerful organization co-founded by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
“I began to see we were being manipulated by staff,” Shanklin said. “And I wanted to stop board members from sharing things with staff that they shouldn’t have and to stop staff who were able to sway board members to things that were not in their own best interest.”
In earlier testimony, Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard told the judge that he’s satisfied with the documents that the SCLC has handed over to his office under a subpoena. He said the organization has complied with his requests entirely and met all deadlines he set.
Howard was called to testify in the civil case because he asked a grand jury to review SCLC records after board members ousted Trammell and treasurer Spiver Gordon and accused them of financial mismanagement. The grand jury’s investigation is ongoing.
The lawsuit is being bankrolled mostly by donations from board members and others because the SCLC’s assets and bank accounts have been frozen until the issue of who controls the organization is settled, board member Art Rocker testified. So far, the plaintiffs have raised $30,000 to pay for expenses outside attorney fees, he said.
It is not publicly known how much money the defendants have.
President-elect Elder Bernice King – Martin Luther King’ youngest daughter – broke her silence last week about a controversy which has rendered the organization virtually inept, something that J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI and other right-winged organizations were unable to do.
King was elected nine months ago but has not been able to assume office because of the board’s legal battle. Speaking before the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) last week, King said the controversy represents “a sad state of affairs.”
“Up until now, I have not spoken publicly about the conflict and turmoil currently suffocating, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization of such significant historic importance to the Black community, America and global progress.
“As SCLC’s president-elect and daughter of its founder, I am, of course, deeply troubled and saddened by the strife and conflict the organization is experiencing,” she added. “I was elected to serve as SCLC’s first female president in October 2009 and as soon as I was elected -- turmoil erupted. Amidst the conflict, chaos and confusion, there are some who declare the Southern Christian Leadership Conference dead; an organization of a bygone era.”
Rev. Markel Hutchins, who says he is the interim president, could not be reache for comment.
The Atlanta Voice, Associated Press and NNPA contributed to this report. For the latest update go to: theatlantavoice.com or our Facebook page.)
| July 9 - 15, 2010 | |
Morehouse Medical School named No. 1 in social mission
Staff and Wire Report
Morehouse School of Medicine leads all the nation’s medical schools in a new research category called “social mission,” a new study reveals.
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Morehouse Medical School named No. 1 in social mission |
Morehouse tops all other medical schools in preparing doctors to meet the rising medical needs of underserved and under-insured populations, according to a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
“The basic purpose of medical schools is to educate physicians to care for the national population,” the study’s authors write. “Fulfilling this goal requires an adequate number of primary care physicians, adequate distribution of physicians to underserved areas, and a sufficient number of minority physicians in the workforce.”
Morehouse Medical School officials say the top ranking is a result of the emphasis the school places on primary care and serving underserved communities – a role the study emphasizes as critical to improving overall health care in the U.S.
“This ranking is an acknowledgement of the hard work and dedication of our faculty, staff and students and goes to the very core of what MSM has stood for from the very beginning – building a healthier America by focusing on those communities with the biggest health challenges,” said MSM President John E. Maupin, Jr. D.D.S.
The study’s goal was to develop a ranking tool known as a “social mission score” to measure the performance of medical schools on these metrics: providing a sufficient number of primary care physicians, distributing physicians to underserved areas, and placing an adequate number of minority physicians in the workforce.
“A diverse, equitably distributed physician workforce with a strong primary care base is essential to achieve quality health care that is accessible and affordable, regardless of the nature of any future health care reform,” the authors write.
Lead author Fitzhugh Mullan, a professor of health policy at George Washington University, said the social mission of medicine and medical education “isn’t just about rural areas or just about poor people, it’s about the entire fabric of how we deliver care.”
“As patients are insured through health reform, the first place they will go is the primary care office,” he said. “Medical schools need to be mindful of the nation’s requirements for primary care, for doctors prepared to work in underserved communities, and for minority physicians to help meet the growing and changing needs of the country.”
The study, the first to score all U.S. medical schools based on their ability to meet a social mission, reveals glaring differences among institutions with regard to their production of physicians who practice primary care, work in underserved areas, and are minorities.
The study of 141 U.S. medical schools found that historically Black medical schools had the highest social mission rankings.
In a Top 20 list of medical schools with the highest social mission rankings, Morehouse College, Meharry Medical College and Howard University ranking first, second and third respectively. Many of the institutions generally considered to be the most prestigious medical schools did not even make the Top 20 list.
In fact, many of the nation’s most prestigious medical schools – including Duke University, Stanford University, Johns Hopkins University, Boston University and Columbia University –finished in the Bottom 20.
With medical schools expanding for the first time in over 30 years, the findings bring attention to the role that medical schools play in determining the makeup of the U.S. physician workforce.
“Where doctors choose to work, and what specialty they select, are heavily influenced by medical school,”
Mullan said. “By recruiting minority students and prioritizing the training of primary-care physicians and promoting practice in underserved areas, medical schools will help deliver the health care that Americans desperately need.”
The study was funded with a grant from the Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation.
Staff writer Serena Davis and NNPA contributed to this report.
| July 2 - 8, 2010 | |
City Hall East Redevelopment Clears Major Obstacle
By Vince Rogers
The massive building on Ponce de Leon Avenue known as City Hall East has gone through many changes over the years. Before the term mixed-use was ever en vogue, it has served multiple purposes for more than a century. It was once the site of the Ponce de Leon Springs and Amusement Park. Later it served as a Sears, Roebuck and Company retail store, warehouse and even their regional office for many years. Then it became the much heralded command and control center for the City of Atlanta’s public safety operations. In that time span, it has changed back and forth between private and public ownership. Now the property is slated to revert back to private ownership once again - with a little help from the city government.
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The City of Atlanta will break out the champagne when it finally sells City Hall East on Ponce de Leon. The mammoth complex has been a financial drain on the city’s coffers ever since it was purchased. (SW) |
The reason for the sale is because the City Hall East complex fell woefully short of its glorious expectations. No more than one-third of the 2 million square feet capacity of the facility was ever utilized. The mammoth structure currently sits vacant in the heart of the city as a testament to lofty dreams deferred. Yet the city is now even more jubilant about the future prospects of the massive complex than ever before.
On Monday, June 21st City Councilmember Kwanza Hall announced enthusiastically that “The redevelopment of City Hall East is one step closer.” This proclamation was made after the full council voted unanimously to modify the language of the current zoning conditions. The zoning type, MRC-3-C (Mixed Residential Commercial) will remain the same. However, according to Hall, Ordinance 10-O-0776 was necessary in order to change the language that restricted the amount of retail restaurant and office space to be utilized under the current development plan.
In May of 1990, the city of Atlanta acquired the old Sears facility for $12 million. The facility was intended to be the command post from which thousands of police and firefighters were to be mobilized throughout the city. The balance of the leviathan structure was to be leased to other, county, state and federal agencies. It was expected to be a shining example of the efficient use of municipal resources. At the time, Mayor Maynard Jackson proclaimed the purchase to be “The deal of the century.”
Now that new life has been breathed into the project, Councilmember Hall’s exuberance is just as unbridled. His enthusiasm stems, from his belief that government officials have worked in cooperation with the private sector and community leaders to find an innovative solution to one of the city’s biggest problems.
“I tried to take it upon myself to help the city find a way to close the deal on this property” Hall said. He went on to declare that “Right now we’re in a down economy. This property was identified as the most catalytic opportunity for job creation and economic development in the entire country. Something had to be done to make this deal happen.”
Given the restrictions placed on the development by the original language in the zoning plan, it is doubtful whether private developer, Ponce Park, LLC, would have ever been able to find financing for the property working alone. Hall believes that communities, the public and private sectors must work together to find solutions to the city’s greatest challenges. Hall feels that success was only possible because “We were all involved in the process and everybody was in on the discussion.” Charletta Jacks, Director of the Office of Planning summarized what the successful completion of this development would mean for the city’s future development prospects when she stated that, “This experience serves as a reminder that Atlanta is still ripe for redevelopment and poised to continue its role as an international city cognizant of its historical assets and proud of its ability to protect established neighborhoods at the same time.”
City Hall East is an amazing 2 million square feet in size. The building’s lot is an astonishing 23.7 acres. It is one of the largest buildings by volume in the entire Southeastern United States. The new development seeks to fully utilize the property, by combining traditional mixed-use features with innovative uses such as “telecom hotels” (large digital and telecommunication data centers), senior housing facilities, higher education campuses and much more. Hall envisions that “With two million square feet in play, you can include every good idea under the sun in this project.”
The building was closed to the public on March 29, 2010. However the city has been taking steps to sell the property long before the doors were finally padlocked. According to a press release issued by the Atlanta City Council “In November 2005, the City rezoned the City Hall East property and the City-owned parking lot on North Avenue to allow for redevelopment of the property into a new mixed use complex with residential, office, retail, and restaurant uses. A development team entered into a contract to purchase the properties. At the time, the development team anticipated a predominately residential development.”
After the bottom fell out of the condo market, securing financing for the heavily residential development became a tough sell to the jittery investment community. As time went on, it became quite evident that selling the property to a private developer was in jeopardy. If a deal could not be finalized, the city would be stuck with a hefty bill to maintain and police a multi-million square foot nightmare. Without intervention from Councilmember Hall, the noteworthy involvement of fellow District 6 Councilmember Alex Wan and the assistance of leaders from NPUs M, N, E and F, this project might be on life support for the foreseeable future.
Emory Mosberger of the eponymous Mosberger Group www.morsbergergroup.com formed the entity Ponce Park, LLC to acquire the facility in 2005. The Ponce Park contingent verbally agreed to pay the city $27 million for the entire parcel. However, after three years of attempts to structure a deal to obtain financing, the property remains in the hands of the City of Atlanta. The deal seemed to have hit a permanent stall, until Councilmember Hall took the initiative to find a creative solution to Ponce Park’s inability to further the project.
The Mosberger Group was established in 1991. It is headquartered in Lawrenceville, GA. According to their website, the company established a reputation for innovation characterized by their “Progress Coming” signs that began to appear in the windows of empty buildings that lined the seemingly abandoned Lawrenceville City Square” The company has successfully earned a respectable name in the redevelopment community by bringing much needed expansion to Gwinnett County. However this project is far larger, more urban and vastly more complex than any project they have been involved with thus far. It became evident that Mosberger would not be able to complete the project alone.
Then at the 11th hour, Mosberger brought in the Atlanta based international real estate investment firm Jamestown Properties as a partner. Mosberger had now formed an alliance with a solid firm, with a proven track record of success dealing with such projects. According to a March 11th story in the Atlanta Business Chronicle, the city entered into a deal with Jamestown Properties www.jamestownproperties.com as the new lead developer. Mayor Kasim Reed was quite pleased by Jamestown’s appearance on the scene. “They have taken massive warehouses in other cities, including New York and transformed them into living breathing entities.” Mayor Reed stated. Jamestown Properties is responsible for engineering the much heralded Chelsea Market development in New York City. Jamestown’s subsidiary Green Street Properties www.greenstreetproperties.com is also the developer of the nearby Glenwood Park complex.
Jamestown Properties has agreed to pay the City of Atlanta $13.5 million upfront and another $13.5 million at a later date. This would satisfy the original $27 million agreement. Once the deal is finalized, the city would be able to add dearly needed dollars to its depleted coffers. However, this issue of “at a later date” is somewhat of a specter that looms over the deal.
Upon learning that the deal would not be fully funded on the front end, Councilmember Ivory Young professed in the aforementioned Atlanta Business Chronicle article that “There’s some sticker shock in what we’re looking at here.” However Councilmember Hall believes that accepting the deal as it stands is currently the best option available to the city. “The sale of City Hall East is critical budget filler for the City this year, and its redevelopment will be critical budget filler in the future. The sooner we can creatively combine and layer the funding tools critical to its success, the better.” Hall said. Given the uncertainty of future real estate values, budget shortfalls and scarce job creation programs; this appears to be the prudent course of action right now.
Once completed, the economic impact that would come from this visionary project would be significant. The current development allocates about 600,000 square feet to traditional “work, live, play” uses. This leaves almost 1 ½ million square feet of space to pursue other infrastructure and greenspace improvement initiatives that would benefit residents. The new zoning would allow City Hall East to transfer part of its required open space to Historic Fourth Ward Park. Also, safety improvements such as increased lighting, added security and much needed road improvements would also result from the project. As Hall puts it, “Increased public safety would be another big win for the community.”
However, what excites him most about the project is the potential for job creation. All of these potential new businesses will mean new jobs. Hall believes that “This could be the greatest model for next generation job creation in this country.” His words recall the optimistic statement made by the former mayor some 20 years ago. Yet Councilmember Hall goes beyond former Mayor Jackson’s hopefulness. “In this economy, job creation reigns supreme. This is the ideal project to work with all partners to capture this unique opportunity to build an innovative next generation employment node.” Hall stated. Only time will tell whether this project will signal the new future of innovative mixed-use projects or further intensify the people’s mixed emotions about government’s ability to fix the ailing economy.
The specific changes in zoning conditions that resulted from Atlanta Ordinance 10-O-0776 are as follows:
Reconfigure the size and overall intensity of retail space. The conditions allow up to two individual retail tenants of up to 150,000 square feet, while limiting the overall amount of retail square feet to 390,000. This is similar to the amount and composition of retail space at nearby Midtown Promenade and the Edgewood Retail District.
Allow for the location of telecom hotels – large collections of servers and switches that support various telecommunication and digital industries – in the complex while limiting their size and location, keeping them away from windows and streets.
Allow the City Hall East property to transfer part of its required open space to Historic Fourth Ward Park, a new greenspace south of North Avenue, as was contemplated in the original master plan for the redevelopment of the property. The ordinance includes language reinforcing the requirements for the new streets and open space on the parcel north of North Avenue included in the original master plan.
| June 25 - July 1, 2010 | |
Parking Meters Moratorium Ends
By Vince Rogers
In case you missed it – the parking moratorium in the city of Atlanta is over.
On May 3, the Atlanta City Council voted unanimously to enact a 30-day moratorium on enforcement of parking meter violations throughout the city of Atlanta. The moratorium initiative was spearheaded by City Councilman Kwanza Hall. Hall pushed for the passage of a resolution, after an outpouring of complaints from his constituents.
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Atlanta Councilman Kwanza Hall checks out one of the city’s new parking meters. |
They were upset about the overaggressive enforcement of lapsed meter collections, as well as other parking violations. Hall’s call to action came as a result of his proactive response to a groundswell of citizen outrage. He was also looking out for the best interests of local businesses and the affects aggressive parking enforcement was having on their patrons.
Many of the meters are located in vibrant entertainment, shopping and retail districts. These enterprises are prime revenue generators for the city. According to Hall, 80 percent of the 2500 meters are located within District 2 which he represents. Hall refers to his district as “Atlanta’s front doorstep”. That is because many people gain their first impression of Atlanta when visiting the many tourist attractions in the area.
Parking meters in Atlanta are now managed by a private company. PARKatlanta took over the parking enforcement function from the city on November 1, 2009. PARKatlanta is managed by Professional Account Management, LLC a Duncan Solutions Company. Duncan Solutions is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Atlanta residents and tourists alike often cite the lack of convenient parking as the reason why they avoid visiting certain areas of town. Midtown, Downtown, Little 5 Points, and the Old Fourth Ward are often mentioned as areas where the lack of convenient parking is an issue. Many people chose to only visit these districts during the hours when on-street parking is traditionally free. Before the moratorium or grace period for collecting fines went into effect, the city’s 24 hour parking enforcement policy put patrons at risk of being ticketed, booted and towed at all times.
From the earliest days of the new parking enforcement program, Hall realized that it was becoming a regular topic of concern in District 2. The negative aspects of the parking enforcement program, were affecting the quality of life for citizens, businesses and tourists. He realized that something needed to be done.
“Small business owners and concerned citizens made solid arguments about the flaws that existed in the program.” To give the city council an opportunity to examine the issue, Hall proposed the 30 day moratorium. He believed this would give all parties involved an opportunity to “Work out a lot of the kinks in the program.”
The moratorium (Resolution 10-R-0777) became effective Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at midnight. The resolution specifically called for the suspension of citations for expired meters, illegal parking activities and the booting and towing of vehicles during the moratorium period. The moratorium that enabled drivers to park for free at the various parking meters throughout the city ended on Friday June 11th.
All of the parties involved hoped that the moratorium period would provide them with an opportunity to work out the intricacies in this complex privatization initiative. “The parking enforcement moratorium is an opportunity for Public Works to enhance public outreach and communications while ensuring the best interests of our residents, businesses and visitors are met with regard to adequate parking turnover,” said Michael J. Cheyne, Interim Commissioner, Department of Public Works. However, it is unclear at this time whether all of the issues have been satisfactorily resolved.
One of the most contentious grievances that was brought against PARKatlanta was the issue of 24 hour enforcement of parking violations. Under the old system, drivers had always taken for granted unwritten rules that parking was free during certain hours and on certain days. Through negotiations with the city, the company has now agreed to only enforce the meters Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturday from noon to 10 p.m. There will be no enforcement on Sundays.
At the time this issue went to press, the PARKatlanta website continues to state that “Parking meters are enforceable Monday through Saturday, 24 hours a day.” This is a troublesome matter in it’s own right. Responsiveness to issues and the timely and accurate updating of information on the PARKatlanta.org website was also an issue to be resolved during the moratorium period. It appears that it will take some time for the company to come into compliance on even this simple matter.
The 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. hours of enforcement also continues to be a bone of contention. According to Councilman Hall, citizens voiced their preference for the hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. as the enforcement period. However, the committee agreed to adhere to PARKatlanta’s suggestion. While 7 to 7 may be easy to remember and therefore easier to enforce, the business community may come up with a different result from this equation. Hall says that “One very attractive restaurant that he is aware of will not locate on Edgewood Avenue because of the longer hours of parking enforcement.”
According to former Atlanta Department of Public Works Commissioner Joseph Basista, the deal with PARKatlanta was struck because city officials saw on-street parking enforcement as “….an opportunity to control costs and improve services to Atlanta’s residents and visitors….” The city also chose to privatize the project because according to Basista “…outside investment and industry expertise….” was needed to make the project run properly. The contract between PARKatlanta and the City of Atlanta is currently in place until 2017.
It is estimated that the city lost in the neighborhood of $400,000 during the month that meter collections were not enforced. During a time when the city needs all of the revenue that it can get, the revenue from a well managed parking program would be a more than welcome source of income. So what prompted Hall to take such a bold action on this issue at this time?
Hall believes that when it comes to finding a solution to any problem that the City of Atlanta faces, “It’s all about ownership.” Hall insists that the Department of Public Works, not the council or the Mayor’s office should be responsible for managing this problem. Hall believes that taking these steps to fix the problems with the program now, were absolutely necessary to make sure that it runs smoothly in the long run. From here on, Public Works will be charged with managing all aspects of the contract with PARKatlanta.
Continuity in the top job at the department might have a lot to do with why they failed to “own” the problem thus far. Michael J. Cheyne the Interim Commissioner of the Department of Public Works is the third person to hold that title in just the last six months. Commissioner Joseph Basista was at the helm for a short time when the deal with PARKatlanta was engineered. Hopefully, the current Commissioner will stay in place long enough to make sure the project is on a firm footing.
Some of the problems that came to a head may also stem from missed opportunities to properly manage the process during the earliest stages of the privatization process. It is not unusual that adjustments are necessary when a private company takes over some of the functions that were once handled by city of government. This is an issue that many metropolitan areas are facing throughout the country.
According to Hall, “The success of any privatization program requires critical things to happen. There must first be a well written RFP and a thorough procurement process.” Even if the city does a good job of managing these stages of the process, the onus to do what is in the best interest of the public doesn’t end there. Hall goes on to say that “It is also necessary that a really good contract that builds in safeguards for unforeseen and potential challenges be put in place.” Even if everything goes well some problems may still arise. However, some problems may put the municipality at much greater risk than others.
Recently elected City Councilperson Keshia Lance-Bottoms (an attorney and a former magistrate judge) raised some crucial legal issues during one of the transportation subcommittee meetings held prior to the moratorium. “The more I look at this, the more I am convinced that this is not a legal program.” She went on to state that “….the PARKatlanta issue is what class action lawsuits are made of….” Ms. Lance-Bottoms believed that in addition to the potential threat of litigation against the city by individuals; other legal considerations might have even more detrimental affects.
Whether citations can or should be enforced by the judicial system, if issued by non-law enforcement officers is a serious question. It is highly possible that hundreds or potentially thousands of citizens may be ticketed, their vehicles detained and motorists summoned to court without the issuing party having the legitimate authority to do so. In other words if this issue is not carefully managed the potential revenue collection for the city might pale in comparison to the losses from countless successful lawsuits and the unrecoverable court costs of writing unenforceable citations.
In reference to Councilmember Lance-Bottoms concerns, Hall believes that “She raised a very valid concern.” According to Hall, as a result of examining the enforcement moratorium process, she has recently proposed legislation to deal with the separate legal issues of the parking contract. Hall believes this learning experience will put the city on “stronger legal footing” and help shape the process for future negotiations on behalf of the city.
There are also other factors that have to be taken into consideration from the perspective of the city’s obligations to their contract with PARKatlanta. PARKatlanta’s heavy handed approach to dealing with the public may not be the right fit for the “City to busy to hate”. However, breaking the contract could prove to be more costly than the possible litigation from aggrieved customers. According to Michael Julian Bond, a city councilmember and the head of the transportation subcommittee “The cost for getting out of this contract is somewhere between $2.5 million and $15 million, and that’s money the city doesn’t have.”
Looking on the bright side, one positive aspect of dealing with the parking problem has resulted from this situation. The subcommittee that was formed to examine the issues has included genuine citizen involvement. Hall feels that this issue proves that “Citizen input into the political process is at an all time high.” That is certainly a good thing. Hopefully, as the city deals with future complex issues that affect communities, similar involvement of community stakeholders will be sought. It is important that community engagement happen before the city inks expensive contracts that potentially affect the viability and prosperity of our communities. Councilman Hall supported this sentiment as he stated that “Parking enforcement is here to stay. However, where it is done and when it is done can be adjusted to fit peoples needs and that can only come from gaining genuine citizen input.”
