AJC Conversation

Recently, many newspapers were apparently duped by a Barack Obama fan who submitted a fake “letter to the editor” to numerous publications. Voters, the letter said, were expecting too much of the new president too soon.

It wasn’t that the letter writer sent the letter to multiple newspapers that caused consternation. It was that the writer, in many cases, named a different hometown, near each paper, to improve the letter’s chances of being published. Sent under the name of Ellie Light or variations of that name, the letter purported to come from Huntsville when sent to The Huntsville (Ala.) Times and from Winder when sent to the Barrow County News.

We did not receive a letter from Light, and we’re not positive what would have happened if we had. We do verify letters to the editor, but so do many of the papers that published the letter, and several were given false information during verification.

The letter has been printed in at least 40 newspapers. The Plain …

Continue reading Letters to the editor and verification »

The AJC spent eight months gathering documents, files and numbers to check on how county assessors in Cobb, Clayton, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties reacted to the real estate collapse. Did they lower values? And, if so, did they lower them enough to keep folks from overpaying property taxes?

The short answer we found was they did not in many places. Many folks didn’t get their values changed. Those who did frequently had their values lowered less than sales would have dictated.

In the end, that means thousands and thousands of property owners will end up paying taxes this year on value their property no longer holds. We began on Sunday with an eight-day series on the topic that will veer through all five counties each day with a look at what lowering values might mean for local government. Hint – it’s not good.

We’d like to hear how you feel about your assessment, your property taxes and how you are being treated by the local tax assessor…. So how do you think they are …

Continue reading Why you’re paying too much in property taxes »

This is Bill Torpy and Jim Tharpe of the AJC. We’re here online to discuss our story Sunday about how Atlanta is losing jobs just as it is gaining population. Atlanta has long been a business capital. But many feel it is losing its edge. Any thoughts about how the city can turn this around?

Continue reading What Can Atlanta Do to Attract Jobs and Business? »

This is AJC reporter Margaret Newkirk, ready to discuss the latest installment of our series on Atlanta. The story appeared Sunday and examined the troubled relationship between the city and the rest of Georgia. Post comments and questions here for the next four hours.

Continue reading Can Atlanta improve its relationship with the state? »

This is AJC Reporter Ernie Suggs, ready to discuss the latest installment of our “Atlanta Project” series. The story, which appeared Sunday, focused on how to address the lingering and growing problem of homelessness and panhandling in Atlanta. Post comments and questions here for the next four hours.

Continue reading How does Atlanta’s homelessness and panhandling problems impact your quality of life? »

Atlantans by now surely get the water as scarce, valuable resource argument. The city’s rates have doubled since 2003 and will triple (from that number) over the next three years).
Over a decade rates will go up about $1200 a year for the average user.
The city’s recent 3-mill property tax hike, by comparison raised the taxes on a $250,000 home about $240.
And, a new tax/fee for storm water’s coming soon.
Let me know what you think.

Continue reading Sewers are only part of the story »

After some kind comments, Tim of Atlanta wrote me: “On this issue in particular, it looks like Borders had the best response in figuring out a plan to get out of this mess.  But I’d like to better understand how responsible are Borders and Norwood for getting us into this mess as council president and council member… after re-reading the article I’m left wondering who is ‘most to blame’ for the pension increases without proper funding etc?  It seems to be the city council, but I’m wondering if someone in particular brought these increases to council for a vote.   And as council president was Borders a central figure in passing these increases in 2001 and 2005 or is council president just as powerful/powerless as any other council member such as Norwood?”

Continue reading Who is at fault? »

Several people have sent me private emails regarding the current mayoral candidates and their views on the pension crisis. What do you think?

Continue reading Pensions and the candidates »

This is AJC Reporter Cameron McWhirter, ready to discuss the second installment of our “Atlanta Project” series. The story, which appeared Sunday, focused on the enormous pension liabilities now facing the city. Post comments and questions here for the next four hours.

Continue reading Atlanta City Pensions discussion starts »

For much of 2009, a debate has raged in much of Atlanta over crime and public safety. The city’s top officials insist crime is down and that, as Mayor Shirley Franklin put it, Atlanta is the safest it has been in decades. Many citizens, though, complain that crime has become more brutal, more threatening, and they point to a series of high-profile crimes to suggest the city is becoming a more dangerous place to work and live.

To some degree, both sides are right.

Crime rates are down; violent crime is at an historic low.

But the brutality of crimes that have attracted attention lately is also very real. From the murder of John Henderson at the Standard bar in January to the death of Jasmine Lynn in September in the Atlanta University Center, 2009 in Atlanta has been punctuated by particularly horrific crime.

The AJC spent several weeks examining crime in Atlanta and the performance of the city’s police force. You can read what we found here.

The article is part of the AJC …

Continue reading Crime and law enforcement in Atlanta »