Isakson, Chambliss to Democrats: Address Expiring Tax Cuts Immediately

Dear U.S. Senate Leader Reid,

 The nation’s unemployment level, stuck near 10 percent, is unacceptable to Americans. Senate Republicans have been urging Congress to make privatesector job creation a priority all year. President Obama in his first speech after the November election said, “We owe” it to the American people to “focus on those issues that affect their jobs.” He went on to say that Americans “want jobs to come back faster.” Our constituents have repeatedly asked us to focus on creating an environment for private-sector job growth; it is time that our constituents’ priorities become the Senate’s priorities.

  For that reason, we write to inform you that we will not agree to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to any legislative item until the Senate has acted to fund the government and we have prevented the tax increase that is currently awaiting all American taxpayers.

  With little time left in this Congressional session, legislative scheduling should be focused on these critical priorities. While there are other items that might ultimately be worthy of the Senate’s attention, we cannot agree to prioritize any matters above the critical issues of funding the government and preventing a job-killing tax hike.

 Given our struggling economy, preventing the tax increase and providing economic certainty should be our top priority.Without Congressional action by December 31, all American taxpayers will be hit by an increase in their individual income-tax rates and investment income through the capital gains and dividend rates. If Congress were to adopt the President’s tax proposal to prevent the tax increase for only some Americans, small businesses would be targeted with a job-killing tax increase at the worst possible time. Specifically, more than 750,000 small businesses will see a tax increase, which will affect 50 percent of smallbusiness income and nearly 25 percent of the entire workforce.

  The death tax rate will also climb from zero percent to 55 percent, which makes it the top concern for America’s small businesses. Republicans and Democrats agree that small businesses create most new jobs, so we ought to be able to agree that raising taxes on small businesses is the wrong remedy in this economy. Finally, Congress still needs to act on the “tax extenders” and the alternative minimum tax “patch,” all of which expired on December 31, 2009.

 We look forward to continuing to work with you in a constructive manner to keep the government operating and provide the nation’s small businesses with economic certainty that the jobkilling tax hike will be prevented.

 Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA)

How Safe is Big Creek Wetland Park?

 Immediately A few weeks ago my husband and I were walking our dogs on the pedestrian walk behind the Atlantic Seafood restaurant, we found a dead deer recently shot by an arrow. The poor animal bled to death.

 Not only we were upset, but also we became very worried about the safety of the park. I want to thank the person or persons that have taken the time to post signs for the disgusting poachers roaming the park contrary to the law and endangering people who would like to enjoy the park and the animals that have made the park their refuge.

 Again thank you to the residents that do care.

Claudie Metcalfe, Alpharetta

Roswell's War on Wordes

 During last Monday night’s City Council “Open Mic” session it became evident that the City of Roswell Administration and Roswell’s City Council had a definitive agenda in their ongoing efforts to harass Mr. Andrew Wordes, better known as Roswell’s Chicken-man.

  This has included harassment by the Roswell Police department, Roswell’s Code Enforcement department and even Roswell’s City Council — which generated a City Ordinance specifically targeting Mr. Wordes.

 Thankfully Roswell’s Municipal Judge, Maurice Hilliard, overturned that ordinance.

 Subsequently, Roswell has gone so far as to enforce a 25-yard stream buffer requiring Mr. Wordes to relocate his property fences. None of his neighbors, including a Roswell business, are asked to comply with the same mandate. This indicates that Roswell is selectively enforcing a code that is detrimental to one citizen alone.

  Evidence presented during Monday night’s “Open Mic” public hearing proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that contained within the City of Roswell Master Plan for the redevelopment of the Midtown corridor, the property owned by Mr. Wordes and his neighbor have been earmarked as City Parks. And the City Community Development Manager confirmed this reality during testimony that same night.

  Mr. Wordes offered the city an opportunity to purchase the property last year and the city refused. Why would the city refuse unless they had other plans for obtaining it? Why would the city refuse unless the City has other means to confiscate it?

 So now we know the rest of the story — which can be confirmed on page 11 at: http://www.roswellgov.com /DocumentView.aspx?DID= 652

Lee Fleck, Roswell

Praise for Sports Editor John Breech

 Breech Is Awesome!

  The Beacon is by far the best paper in North Fulton, especially the sports.

  No one else in North Fulton holds a candle to your sports coverage, or your sports editor, John Breech. He should be commended for the awesome coverage he gives to sports.

Thanks!

Leslie Thomas, Johns Creek

An Open Letter to the Citizens of Roswell: This Could Happen to You One Day

Below is a transcription of the statement I gave to Roswell’s City Administrator Kay Love on Friday, December 3 at Roswell City Hall concerning Roswell Code Enforcement Director Vicky Barclay illegally calling my mortgage holder and coercing her to call my mortgage due.

 Further, Love refused to allow Councilwoman and Code Enforcement liaison Dr. Betty Price to attend the meeting when I read my statement. Love further refused an offer by a respected Roswell citizen to sit in. She refused to allow my legally appointed power of attorney to be there.

  I was led into a room with the people who are responsible for destroying my life and they refused my request to have anyone witness the meeting.

 Only Love, City Attorney David Davidson, Deputy City Administrator Michael Fischer and me were in attendance.

 This is my statement:

  I object to not being allowed to have a witness here but I will go forward.

 Today is Dec 3 at 2010…. I am addressing all of you about a problem I have had with a Code Enforcement Director Vicky Barclay who has crossed the line after harassing me for many years. These actions are unwarranted as she picks me out to come after with a vengeance while she watched other people in my neighborhood do the same things and never takes actions against them.

 This time she broke the law, broke The Federal Privacy Act and The Fair Debt Collection Act and I am sure she violated Roswell City policy. I am going to be as brief as I can and would appreciate it if no one interrupts me until I m finished. First for the record I will state my name and address AndrewWordes, 335 Alpine Drive, Roswell 30075. I have lived here continually since November of 1996.

  Secondly I am not now nor has my property at Alpine Drive been in foreclosure. Having said that I have never told Vicki Barclay or anyone that my property was being foreclosed so there are no records that would show that so that in itself clearly shows that a policy I haven’t even seen has been was broken there was.

  This particular incident came to my attention on November 4 2010 while speaking with my mortgage holder (MH).

 I was speaking with my MH and she told me that someone from the city of Roswell had called her about my house.

 She told me they said “it seems the city and neighbors wanted you out of the house.” She (the Roswell City Employee) told me there are all of code violations and they are coming against you and the house.

 They she made a statement to the effect that if I don’t get you out of the house they will” and I took that to mean that Roswell intended more aggressive and selective code enforcement action against.

 She stated that “she told me you don’t have an attorney because be quit because you didn’t pay him and you can’t won’t be able to pay me.”

  She also stated that Roswell told her “his water bill is past due and the city has either cut it off or they are on the way to.” I don’t understand how a code Enforcement Director has the authority to look into my credit and payment file with the city utility department and then voluntarily give that privileged and secure information to a third party.

  This action I believe is vindictive and intended to harm me. I also believe and have been told that it violated several laws, including the Fair Debt Collection action and my civil and due process.

  I asked her who called and she told me “she was nice and trying to help me and I don’t to get her in trouble.”

  I explained that all of the code violations had been settled in court and they are over with and they aren’t trying to help her they are trying to hurt me because they keep loosing in court.

 She said, “I am afraid they will take the house and I need to sell it off and not have to worry about it.” I explained that they can’t take the house and she didn’t believe me and said, “I am sure there is a way and I don’t need any trouble from them.”

 She stated she was going to sell the mortgage as soon as she could. I reiterated that the house was safe and we said our goodbyes.

  I immediately went to Mayor Wood and he called my mortgage holder and verified the above stated telephone call. I overheard MayorWood repeat the words Vicki Barclay as he was speaking to my mortgage holder. He told me their needs to be an investigation to see what is going on.

  The next morning at approximately 8:00 a.m. I received a call from Vicky Barclay who stated she wanted me to come to her office for a meeting. I thought this was very unusual considering I had just filed a complaint against her for abuses of her power and her office and violating the laws and my rights.

  It was clearly an intended to intimidate me and once again abuse her office. I told her I had to speak to a lawyer and once I did I would call her back. I was advised by a lawyer not to attend and let the city take care of it.

 I knew Roswell was wrong for calling my mortgage holder so Saturday evening and [I called] and spoke to her again. At that time my MH stated that “the last time they called was I think the day I had spoken to you.”

 Once she said that I asked her how many times the city of Roswell called her and she replied “Oh a couple of times.” She then informed me “the woman from Roswell was just trying to help me.”

  At that time I told her again that the city was just after me and they couldn’t take the property.

 I a think it is clear to anyone and everyone that in the least Vicky Barclay and possibly other City Officials have a vendetta against me and are using Code Enforcement to enforce rules and ordinances against me that they aren’t applying to anyone else.

END OF STATEMENT

  I also read a similar statement to the Roswell city Council on Monday evening and stated to Councilman Kent Igleheart that he was incorrect when he stated in an email to a Roswell resident “that he is being foreclosed on and that gave Vicky Barclay the right to call his mortgage holder.” I am not being foreclosed on and never have been.

  I have lived here continually since November of 1996 and have paid in excess of $225,000 to my mortgage holder in that time in addition to spending $13,000 to repair flood damage in 2002, and $37,000 to repair flood damage in 2004 and the flooding in 2009 caused in excess of $50,000 damage to my house, $18,000 to my property and $25,000 to lawn mowers, tractors, boats, cars and trucks and all because Roswell hasn’t dealt with their storm water run off.

 I find it interesting that they plan on my making my property green space and a park yet have refused an offer to buy it from me and never filed the FEMA forms to get FEMA money to purchase it as they said they were going to.

  30 traffic stops in one year — and for fifteen years prior I might have had five. The Roswell Police Department, ChiefWilliams and the entire City is after me with a vengeance because they lost when they took me to court.

It could happen to you.

Andrew Wordes, Roswell