Dunwoody’s mayor looks ahead to 2021
► PAGE 2
J a n u a r y 7 , 2 0 2 1 | T h e C r i e r. n e t | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | S e r v i n g t h e c o m m u n i t y s i n c e 1 9 7 6
Local legislators have packed agenda for 2021 session By JEFFREY ALBERTSON newsroom@appenmediagroup.com DUNWOODY, Ga. — There will be no shortage of issues when the 156th Georgia General Assembly convenes in the Gold Dome on Jan. 11 for its 40 daylegislative session. Among the key matters legislators will address this session will be whether to restore $2.2 billion in cuts to the fiscal year 2021 budget. The $25.9 billion budget signed by Gov. Brian Kemp in August represented the steepest cuts the state has imposed since the height of the Great Recession. About $1 billion in funding was cut from schools and the Georgia Department of Education. Later this year, the Legislature is
slated to take up redistricting — redrawing of state and federal legislative districts — once the 2020 Census data is available. By controlling both chambers in the assembly, Republicans will have the upper hand in how districts are redrawn. Democrats had hoped to cut into the Republican majority in the House but fell short in statewide races. Republicans gained one seat in rural Meriwether county, while Democrats picked up three seats in metro Atlanta. Republicans hold a 12-seat lead in the Senate and a 26-seat lead in the House. Democratic Sen. Sally Harrell, whose District 40 encompasses Dunwoody, says she plans to re-file two bills this year, one creating a plan for a Medicaid public option and the second requiring
that part-time university students only pay partial fees. Harrell also plans to address the state’s unemployment system. “Last spring, I began receiving hundreds of emails with heartbreaking stories of people that qualified for assistance, tried to get the support they were promised, but couldn’t reach anyone at Georgia Department of Labor to fix administrative errors,” Harrell said. She said she worked closely with the agency to address the backlog of applications and attended a protest to call attention to the issue. She said the system hasn’t gotten much better. Harrell said she also would like to see the Legislature review portions of state’s voting procedures, like the signature match system that requires too
much subjectivity and disenfranchises elderly and disabled voters. “Republicans have already put forward a very scary voter suppression agenda that eliminates voting options currently available to all Georgians, like no-excuse absentee voting and absentee ballot drop boxes,” she said. “Instead of working to help Georgians, I fear my colleagues will be more focused on helping themselves.” Rep. Michael Wilensky (D-Dunwoody) said he is focused on voting access, redistricting, public school funding and helping communities and small businesses suffering from the pandemic. The safe return of students to schools is another pressing issue, he said.
See SESSION, Page 3
Thieves ransack mailboxes at condominiums By CATHY COBBS newsroom@appenmediagroup.com DUNWOODY, Ga. — More than 100 residents at the Dunwoody Place Condominiums got a visit from the Grinch Dec. 23, when vandals broke into their mailboxes and stole hundreds of items, including Christmas packages, bills and valuable documents. The incident, according to reports, happened sometime after midnight on Dec. 23. According to Dunwoody police, the theft at the complex, located off Peachford Road, is not an isolated incident. There has been at least one reported every month since August at various apartment and condominium complexes around the city.
There have been no arrests yet that can be tied to any of the incidents, and police have no idea whether the thefts are related, Dunwoody Public Information Officer Robert Parsons said. “We have not recovered any mail from the theft, and we don’t have any leads at this time as to who is responsible,” Parsons said. “We have reported it to the U.S. Postal Inspection Services, because it is a federal offense to steal mail.” Representatives from the U.S. Postal Services office did not return calls for comment about the thefts. The condominium association also has little to report. It appears that the culprits took a crowbar and peeled back the heavy steel doors that are usually
only accessible by the mail carrier. The area was not lit nor under camera surveillance, according to Dunwoody Place Condominium representatives. Mail service has been suspended at the complex for the time being, with pickup service available only at the Dunwoody Post Office, The complex’s boards has announced plans to rebuild the mailboxes and light the area to help prevent further incidents. In the meantime, the United States Postal Service advises those who have experienced postal theft to monitor their credit through the three main credit reporting agencies, notify banks and financial institutions of the incident and alter pins and ID codes if they have been compromised by the theft.
#1 Agent Coldwell Banker Atlanta 40 Years Experience 770.804.6226 • 404.403.6561 (cell) www.robinblass.com • robinblass@blassprop.com
SPECIAL
Vandals broke into mailboxes and stole hundreds of items at the Dunwoody Place Condominiums Dec. 23.
5591 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd Bldg 1300, Ste 100 Dunwoody, GA 30338