tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post8940534888778704040..comments2024-01-08T03:21:35.616-05:00Comments on DeKalb County School Watch: Is The DeKalb Developmental Authority about to vote to give Sembler a 20 Year tax abatement for the Brookhaven project? Will this help our schools?Cerebrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-36729408180744788062009-05-03T19:14:00.000-04:002009-05-03T19:14:00.000-04:00I swore off the blogging for the w/e but saw a pie...I swore off the blogging for the w/e but saw a piece in the Reporter newspaper today on this topic.<br /><br />There's no by-line or sources referenced but the item explains that "Sembler is considering" approaching the County for an 10 year extension to its existing 10 year abatement. So, Ella had this closer to the mark and I think we've out run the story a little in our comments ... still, not a good sign of the times.Kim Gokcehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01855554437157990110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-23749813466739403362009-05-01T13:44:00.000-04:002009-05-01T13:44:00.000-04:00I have not researched this in depth or recently, b...I have not researched this in depth or recently, but I recall that Sembler projects get unloaded by Sembler very regularly. Whichever way they can.<br /><br />Check the Moreland Avenue Target/ shopping center as well as the one that has Wal-Mart in Chamblee (on Peachtree Ind just at the corner of Clairmont). I believe these are Sembler projects that were unloaded...Dekalbparenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16376422781260452873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-67470589980700945372009-05-01T13:43:00.000-04:002009-05-01T13:43:00.000-04:00It may or may not be a school bond. We have bonds...It may or may not be a school bond. We have bonds upon bonds imposed by the county buried in our taxes.Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-51689891856019245202009-05-01T13:25:00.000-04:002009-05-01T13:25:00.000-04:00Anon 10:53 here.
This just smells bad all the way...Anon 10:53 here.<br /><br />This just smells bad all the way around. School bonds should be issued for school capital projects, not to bail out a private developer who is over leveraged in a down market. And I can just imagine that the lease terms will only favor Sembler to the detriment of DeKalb.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-46741090093813170272009-05-01T10:48:00.000-04:002009-05-01T10:48:00.000-04:00A big middle finger to everyone who voted for Gene...A big middle finger to everyone who voted for Gene Walker instead of Ernest Brown. Sembler now has both the DeKalb Development Authority and the School Board in its back pocket.Open+Transparentnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-88740198628304321152009-05-01T07:47:00.000-04:002009-05-01T07:47:00.000-04:00I believe Sembler is still in the mix for the old ...I believe Sembler is still in the mix for the old GM property in Doraville, as well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-2297619679561101262009-05-01T07:37:00.000-04:002009-05-01T07:37:00.000-04:00It almost sounds worse than a TAD. It's a TAD runa...It almost sounds worse than a TAD. It's a TAD runaround. It's a way to avoid taxes without having to even ask the school board for buy in. Weird. Also, if I recall correctly, DeKalb has the authority to issue bonds (taxes) on voters without even putting it to a vote countywide - with the voters themselves. I hope Mike stays on it.Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-27806446929410655682009-05-01T00:35:00.000-04:002009-05-01T00:35:00.000-04:00I think we need to be clear about what I posted - ...I think we need to be clear about what I posted - I did not hear Rep Mike Jacobs say the word, "TAD." I will try to elaborate on what I did hear but please realize that it is from memory and is mostly hearsay at this point.<br /><br />Mike explained that it was possible the Authority is looking at buying out some (all???) of Sembler's equity (debt???) associated with Town Brookhaven by the issuance of bonds. To offset the loss of property tax revenue (if DeKalb owned the site, I believe it is not subject to property tax), Sembler would pay lease dollars back to the County in amounts based on the estimate of the lost tax revenue.<br /><br />Frankly, it made no sense to me how this would benefit anyone with one possible exception: Sembler would have the benefit of getting a potentially negative long-term liability off their books and transfer the risk to the County (you and me).<br /><br />Now that I write that part, I suppose that's a pretty darn attractive benefit. we'll see what materializes but I don't think it's a TAD. But it might rightly be viewed as a loss of potential tax revenue for DCSS. Let's see if what they come up with smells like a Freddie Mac options or derivative market for mortgages. :)Kim Gokcehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01855554437157990110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-71776693584365231192009-04-30T23:42:00.000-04:002009-04-30T23:42:00.000-04:00Well, I guess when you can't get cooperation from ...Well, I guess when you can't get cooperation from the school board for your favorite developer's projects (you know, the one who gave you $18,000) then you just go and get ON the school board...Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-70654766454721044202009-04-30T22:53:00.000-04:002009-04-30T22:53:00.000-04:00Kim, Am I truly hearing this correctly? The DeKal...Kim, Am I truly hearing this correctly? The DeKalb Devlopmental Authority is going to use our precious school board funds to bail out Sembler's ongoing Brookhaven project?<br /><br />I always heard that the TAD money is rarely used for redevelopment of "blighted" properties, which is how it was sold to the voters.<br /><br />This is outrageous. This is nothing more than a TARP bailout for a huge, wealthy developer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-35307334609125525132009-04-30T20:53:00.000-04:002009-04-30T20:53:00.000-04:00so you mean, the development authority - as in Gen...so you mean, the development authority - as in Gene Walker. how interesting.Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-87814310657854151532009-04-30T20:02:00.000-04:002009-04-30T20:02:00.000-04:00Rep Mike Jacobs further explained tha the made a o...Rep Mike Jacobs further explained tha the made a open document request for anything the DeKalb Authority has produced regarding this and received only a KPMG tax impact. His interpretation of this thin response is that the Authority is being very careful to communicate with Sembler only verbally until this gets more baked.Kim Gokcehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01855554437157990110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-89653599248525827232009-04-30T19:37:00.000-04:002009-04-30T19:37:00.000-04:00I know this thread has turned more into a discussi...I know this thread has turned more into a discussion of the internal politics of the BoE but ...<br /><br />I'm sitting in a "Town Hall" with Rep Mike Jacobs and Senator Dan Weber and Rep Jacobs pretty much confirmed that the Development Authority is definitely looking at intervening at Town Brookhaven on behalf of Sembler. Very disturbing ...Kim Gokcehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01855554437157990110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-52074550030638681902009-04-24T23:49:00.000-04:002009-04-24T23:49:00.000-04:00Not to cast aspersions on the individuals themselv...Not to cast aspersions on the individuals themselves, just questioning the reasoning behind the appointments. Janet Haury's older children attend Paideai. So while she lives in Druid Hills, she is not representative of Druid Hills High School. This is in no way an indictment of her credentials - she has done extraordinary work a Coralwood, but it is misleading to say she represents the public high school. Eddie Reinhart is part of the Sagamore group who wants to be redistricted into Lakeside. While that is an absolutely reasonable desire, he certainly has a focused agenda. <br /><br />The point is, neither appointment of Don's is tied to either of the high schools in his district. The entire Cross Keys feeder, half of the district, is yet again completely ignored.<br /><br />But the biggest issue is the fact that the board has ignored its own established policies. According the to Citizens Advisory Committee By-laws, the new appointees cannot take their place until July, Marshall Orson cannot be removed, and Ernest Brown should arguably stay until Elizabeth Andrew's term is up. <br /><br />This has Clayton County written all over it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-25380388006443319742009-04-24T22:17:00.000-04:002009-04-24T22:17:00.000-04:00I had no idea one of Don's appointments children a...I had no idea one of Don's appointments children attend private school. How interesting? You indicated that the other one wants to be in a school district not served by Don. Actually many of district 2 students do go to Lakeside. I live in district 2 and my son goes to Lakeside. The districts are real strange like this.Ella Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08004885232852482737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-39248205919446261532009-04-24T06:59:00.000-04:002009-04-24T06:59:00.000-04:00Cerebration, You are quite right that we may be on...Cerebration, You are quite right that we may be on the path of <br />Clayton County and perhaps closer then any of us want to admit. <br />This incident with the Citizens Advisory Committee highlights the <br />precarious position we are in. This is not about any particular <br />member of the CAC but, rather, whether the board is willfully <br />ignoring its OWN policies and interfering with the Superintendent's <br />responsibilities.<br /><br />For example, the CAC is governed by a set of By-Laws which have the <br />effect of board policy. Those By-Laws provide that the term of <br />members of the CAC run concurrent with the term of the board member <br />and/or the Superintendent that appointed the CAC member. In their wisdom, the previous School Board sought to minimize the turn-over of the CAC and to protect its independence by stating that the ONLY basis for early removal of a CAC member was that member failing to attend three meetings without excuse. And, though new school board members are entitled to appoint new CAC members, those appointments are not permitted to take effect until July, arguably because it makes sense for current departing members to finish out the year.<br /><br />However, NONE of the foregoing was followed. The only CAC members <br />subject to confirmation (and then not until July) are appointees of <br />new school board members. The attempt to remove current CAC <br />members who were appointed by continuing school board members or <br />the Superintendent simply is invalid and, yet, the school board <br />chose to ignore its own established and valid policy. And, CAC members who will rotate off due to not being appointed by new <br />school board members should continue though July, a <br />policy also ignored by the Board. And, all of this is before we even <br />get to the issue of possible interference with the Superintendent by a board member. One need only look at the record for the Clayton County accreditation fiasco and see we are absolutely on that same slippery slope.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-955907730667802832009-04-23T17:16:00.000-04:002009-04-23T17:16:00.000-04:00I agree Don is an outstanding guy. I like him a g...I agree Don is an outstanding guy. I like him a great deal. But Don is a part of the school board and the school board is Dr. Lewis' boss. So, please do not blame Dr. Lewis for this as Don as a member of the board could question why the two outstanding members of this committee were being replaced by inexperienced members. It is part of his responsibility to make sure we have experienced individuals on this committee. I would be shocked if you convince anyone on this site, that Don in anyway would want Marshall involved in anyway with Dekalb County School Boards business. I also would never be allowed to ever be appointed to any committee either. Don knows either one of us could possible be a threat to him during the next election. He wants to protect his seat on the school board and would do nothing to make either one of us look good in anyway to anyone.<br /><br /> Don and I get along great. I respect how hard he is working on the school board. I respect most of the school board members entirely. I have concerns about one or two of the board members. I believed all the rumors coming from Don's camp and from Don himself during the election about Marshall. I now believe much of it was assumptions from Don's camp or Don. I saw the letter a supportive and campaigner of Don's wrote about Marshall and Shanya and I was extremely mad that Don's campaign members or neighbors would write something like this and mass mail it to even one person verses all the mass mail that was sent. I do not agree with this type of politics. Much of the information in this letter sent out was totally false information that was hurtful to Marshall and Shayna. In fact it is borderline or is a bullying technique when the rumors spread are false. Again, I would never do this to anyone. Winning could never be that important to me. I was extremely disappointed with the behaviors I saw. I am not blaming this entirely on Don or you as an officer in her campaign. I am just indicating my dislike for this.<br /><br />I am so impressed with Dr. Speaks and the appointment from her district. The lady has class and puts the interests of the school system over her own personal interests.Ella Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08004885232852482737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-11354661305676260892009-04-23T15:09:00.000-04:002009-04-23T15:09:00.000-04:00If true - That's the kind of slippery slope that g...If true - That's the kind of slippery slope that got Clayton County in trouble.Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-82045396360627204052009-04-23T14:16:00.000-04:002009-04-23T14:16:00.000-04:00Let's review the situation in it's entirety. Don ...Let's review the situation in it's entirety. Don removes the two committee members from his district who already have a working relationship with the committee in favor of appointing someone who's children attend private school and someone who wants their children redistricted to another district. And to top it all off he maneuvers the removal of the lone remaining committee member who actually represented a high school in his district. Druid Hills and Cross Keys parents must be feeling pretty good about that (not).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-7105024417674492009-04-23T13:21:00.000-04:002009-04-23T13:21:00.000-04:00Gee, thanks Lefty!Gee, thanks Lefty!Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-28475179112738358562009-04-23T12:50:00.000-04:002009-04-23T12:50:00.000-04:00Wow, Cere - He knows who you are? That's quite a c...Wow, Cere - He knows who you are? That's quite a compliment. That means he's getting great input from reading this blog. <br /><br />I think that "bi-polar" is a popular term thrown around these days to describe any individual who is outspoken, courageous and communicates with strong feelings. And you, Cere, are all of those. And DeKalb Schools will be better because you are outspoken and courageous.Leftyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14935830866445373378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-50150780270658387502009-04-23T08:54:00.000-04:002009-04-23T08:54:00.000-04:00So we may be in a situation where we have to choos...So we may be in a situation where we have to choose between SACS accreditation and a recall?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-43192467126802091772009-04-23T08:28:00.000-04:002009-04-23T08:28:00.000-04:00Lefty, do you also not believe that Don has been t...Lefty, do you also not believe that Don has been telling people that I am "bi-polar"? He doesn't even know me, yet he feels compelled to spread lies about me. (Not to mention how insensitive he is being to people who really do suffer from that disease.)<br /><br />Sometimes people treat people very differently. He may be very nice to you - but not to others who he sees as a threat.Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-18686344049689807222009-04-23T07:57:00.000-04:002009-04-23T07:57:00.000-04:00Don is an honest and unpretentious man. He doesn't...Don is an honest and unpretentious man. He doesn't deserve these attacks on his integrity. I can't stand injustice and when I see him attacked, I feel compelled to defend him. He dedicated his career to educating young people. And he has chosen to continue his support of education into his retirement. I respect that. If Don says he was surprised at Marshall's removal from the SPLOST team, I believe him. Not some <I>source</I> quoted on a blog.<br /><br />I work in a profession where publishing anything with typos is unforgiveable. Campaign ads are like part of a resume. I'm sorry if pointing out misspellings on your campaign materials made you feel badly, Ella. <br /><br />Let's get back to issues that matter -- like making sure all children in DeKalb get the best education.Leftyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14935830866445373378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-54436497716141151432009-04-22T22:46:00.000-04:002009-04-22T22:46:00.000-04:00I hate to say it but, I have it from reliable sour...I hate to say it but, I have it from reliable sources that Don is the person responsible for Marshall's removal from SPLOST oversight. <br /><br />Reverse sour grapes.Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.com