Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Ben Vinson recently spoke to the Buckhead Business Association on the issue of cityhood, including the recent push in the North Druid Hills-Briarcliff area.
Even if the North Druid Hills-Briarcliff area could get legislation passed to start a new city and residents voted for it, is it properly set up for cityhood? Ben Vinson said he isn't so sure. Vinson, who chaired the Governor's Commission on Brookhaven, told members of the Buckhead Business Association that the momentum for cityhood may be slowing, according to the Reporter Newspaper. Vinson spoke at the organization's Jan. 23 breakfast meeting. He spoke specifically to unincorporated DeKalb (and presumably the North Druid Hills-Briarcliff area). "There is a significant portion of DeKalb that is unincorporated. You also have to look at – and Brookhaven, perhaps, is an example of this – are there natural boundaries for a city? Do you really…
Monday, December 17, 2012
Replay Patch's live coverage as the city of Brookhaven officially became a reality at 12:01 am Monday morning, Dec. 17, 2012.
With cheers, applause and a ringing cowbell, Brookhaven officially became DeKalb County's largest city at 12:01 am Monday, Dec. 17, 2012. Patch was live throughout the evening and early morning with coverage of the Brookhaven City Council meetings. One meeting was held at 10 pm on Sunday night, and the other convened at 12:01 am Monday morning. You can replay our live streaming coverage of both meetings above this article. Some highlights of the meetings: Related Items: Your Complete Guide To Brookhaven Incorporation.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Williams, Mattison and Gebbia also win.
J. Max Davis became the new city of Brookhaven's first mayor in history on Tuesday night. Davis defeated Sandy Murray in the mayoral runoff, 66 percent to 34 percent, in a race in which Patch projected the winner at 8:09 pm. In Brookhaven's three city council runoffs, Rebecca Chase Williams won the District 1 seat, defeating Kevin Fitzpatrick 66 percent to 34 percent. In District 3, Bates Mattison defeated Kevin Quirk by the evening's smallest margin, 53 percent to 47 percent. And in District 4, Joe Gebbia soundly defeated Karen Lord to win the seat, 81 percent to 19 percent. They join District 2's Jim Eyre to complete Brookhaven's first city council. Patch featured a live blog from 7 am on Tuesday morning, until the final election …
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Replay Patch's live coverage of Monday night's Brookhaven runoff debates.
Zoning, code enforcement, a new police department, parks, and how to reach out to Brookhaven's Hispanic community were among the topics covered Monday night during a public forum featuring most of the candidates in next week's runoff elections. Mayoral candidates J. Max Davis and Sandy Murray; District 1 candidates Rebecca Chase Williams and Kevin Fitzpatrick; District 3 candidate Kevin Quirk; and District 4 candidate Joe Gebbia were in attendance. Not present were District 4 candidate Karen Lord and District 3 candidate Bates Mattison, who had a representative present at the discussion. Patch brought readers live coverage of the event, which you can replay above. Related Items: District 2: The Wild Card In Brookhaven's Mayoral Runoff? …
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Deborah Anthony, who lost her city council bid, also endorsed Kevin Quirk in the District 3 runoff.
Sandy Murray picked up another political endorsement in her runoff bid against J. Max Davis for Brookhaven mayor. Deborah Anthony, who lost her bid for District 3 city council, endorsed Murray on Thursday. She also endorsed Kevin Quirk, who will face Bates Mattison on Dec. 4 in the runoff for that seat. "I believe Sandy and Kevin will provide the representation we need for the city of Brookhaven," Anthony said, in an e-mail to her supporters that was forwarded to Patch. On Wednesday, Murray was endorsed by Jim Eyre, who won the District 2 city council race, and is currently the new city's only elected official. A total of nine candidates entered the District 3 race. Only 10 votes separated Mattison's 875 votes from Quirk's 865. Related …
Sunday, August 5, 2012
The pilot for "Cassandra French" shooting in Brookhaven is based on a book by Eric Garcia and will resemble the movie "Heathers" in terms of theme.
MTV is shooting another show near our community. Large trailers, lighting trucks and other vehicles used for TV production are parked on Redding Drive near Ashford Park in Brookhaven, filming a pilot for MTV called Cassandra French. It's based on a book of the same name by Eric Garcia. The subject matter tends toward the black comedy side of things. The titular character has three young men locked in her basement where she teaches them how to become perfect boyfriend material after she's endured years of frustration in the Los Angeles dating pool. When MTV greenlit the Cassandra French project in March, the network said it was aiming for a tone similar to 1988's popular high school black comedy Heathers. In keeping with that theme, the …
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
With news that the residents of Brookhaven will vote this July to possibly become a city, does that option hold interest with residents of the North Druid Hills-Briarcliff area?
After Gov. Nathan Deal signed yesterday a bill that will allow the residents of Brookhaven to vote July 31 on whether they will become a city, North Druid Hills-Briarcliff Patch wondered if this got any of our residents interested in incorporation. Do you think services would improve? Would it help the area gain its own identity? Which communities could become cities or towns? Or is it too expensive and too much of a burden? Tell us in the comments section below.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Following Gov. Nathan Deal's sign-off on the Brookhaven bill, residents to the west of North Druid Hills will be able to vote July 31 on whether they are to become a city.
Surrounded by the bill's sponsors and its most dedicated supporters, and despite a petition asking for a one-year delay, Gov. Nathan Deal signed House Bill 636 – the controversial legislation to create a charter for a city of Brookhaven. The bill's signing, which occured Monday at 2pm in Deal's office, allows the more than 48,000 residents within the proposed boundary to vote on a referendum on July 31. If the referendum passes, election of the city council of the city would occur in the general election. "I'm obviously pleased that the governor has taken the last step that is necessary in [the State Legislature] in Brookhaven's path to cityhood. Now it's time for the people to decide," State Rep. Mike Jacobs said outside the governor's …
Monday, April 2, 2012
Reaction comes in as the legislation is now in the hands of Gov. Nathan Deal. Ready for a city next door to the North Druid Hills-Briarcliff idea.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
A state House committee voted yesterday to allow residents in the Brookhaven to vote to become a city. But if it does happen, it will be called Ashford.
Don Broussard
9:38 am on Thursday, January 31, 2013
I would not dispute Ben Vinson's assessment of the political mood at the Gold Dome regarding creation of new cities — since he is joined at the hip to Gov. Deal's administration and is a registered lobbyist at the General Assembly. But I do take exception to his opinion about whether an area like North Druid Hills needs a "center" in order to create an effective city. Neither Dunwoody nor … more ›