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JHogan

JHogan 1 day, 13 hours ago on Falcons get $200 million loan for new stadium

Falcons get $200 million loan for new stadium

"Blank will supply the rest of the funds"...

This is incorrect. The hotel-motel tax will provide 39.3% of the revenue it generates throughout the term of the tax, which extends until 2050. A conservative estimate of this gift to Blank is in excess of $550 million, and not the $200 million dollars that is commonly reported on the media outlets he is connected with. (He is on the board of directors of Cox Enterprises, which owns the Atlanta Journal Constitution, WSB-TV, WSB-AM, WSB-FM and several other radio stations in the Atlanta Area. Other members of the Cox board of directors are Anne Cox Chambers, whose net worth is $12 billion, James Cox Kennedy, whose net worth is $6 billion, and Blank, whose net worth is $1.6 billion, for a combined total of $19.6 billion. Do these people really need a subsidy from the government?

Here's a link to the legislation which authorized this graft:

http://legiscan.com/GA/text/HB903/2009

And here's a list of those who voted for it in the Senate.:

http://legiscan.com/GA/rollcall/HB903/id/129648

This is an outrageous misuse of public money, made all the more galling because it goes to a person who doesn't need it.

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JHogan 1 month ago on District 5 students thank Radloff

District 5 students thank Radloff

I object to the GDP's use of the word "brags" whenever there is a reference to parent's appreciation of the education their children are getting in the Gwinnett County Public Schools.

The word "brag" is derived from medieval word "braggidocious" (sp?), or "boasting in an insolent manner". I'm not sure about either former reference but I don't think either is too far off. THis is the second story this word has appeared in a GDP story about GCPS.. It is a foul word.

Most parents are very glad that their children are in Gwinnett County Public Schools because it is one of the best in the nation. Nobody wants to "brag" about that, but it is what it is.

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JHogan 1 month, 1 week ago on POLITICAL NOTEBOOK: Sheldon announces Congressional race

POLITICAL NOTEBOOK: Sheldon announces Congressional race

This has to be the funniest political story I've read in years. The supposed "interrogator" refers to the subject of the story as "one of the most highly respected women in the General Assembly, serving as the House Majority Caucus chair." Is Ms Young going to serve as Ms Sheldon's campaign manager?

I don't know either of these two fine people, but this is a totally ridiculous story.

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JHogan 1 month, 2 weeks ago on Confusion expected over property assessment notices

Confusion expected over property assessment notices

Found this on Gwinnett County's website. There's a ~5 minute video that explains the Service Districts.

http://www.gwinnettcounty.com/portal/gwinnett/Departments/FinancialServices/ServiceDistrictsExplained

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JHogan 1 month, 2 weeks ago on Confusion expected over property assessment notices

Confusion expected over property assessment notices

A suggestion for the GDP: Can you make some sort of chart which would list the 15 cities in Gwinnett County and the services they provide for their citizens?

For example, on the left side have a columnar listing of the cities, while across the top have various categories of service provided. Something like...

      Fire   Police   EMT  Parks/Rec   Waste disposal  Roads

Snellville

Lawrenceville

Norcross

Buford

etc

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JHogan 2 months ago on Belk to close at Gwinnett Place

Belk to close at Gwinnett Place

Uh, that was tried last year and there are some former county commissioners who can tell you why this is a bad idea. The majority in the county doesn't want to increase traffic at Briscoe Field.

The area around Gwinnett Place Mall will have to be repurposed, because American's shopping habits have changed. Not just here, but everywhere. Here we have this magnificient ediice, complete with intricate interstate access (I-85) and with all the necessary roads already built. And the world's busiest airport is only 30 minutes to the south.

Combine that with a network of local roads that are already in place, with the drainage issues taken care of.

The roads and streets are already in place in the local area; there is water and sewerage, and the electrical infrastructure is already in place.

If I were an artist, I don't think I could imagine a more appropriate canvas.

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JHogan 2 months ago on Belk to close at Gwinnett Place

Belk to close at Gwinnett Place

Grab hold of your chair. Suppose that Gwinnett County were to buy the entire area around Gwinnett Place Mall and turn it into a version of Coney Island South. Sorta like 6 Flags, only bigger and better. But open 365 days a year. Call it "Heart of the South" park or something like that. It would draw from a very large, largely affluent area--from Charlotte to indianapolis to Chattanooga to New Orleans to JAcksonville.

We are so fortunate to live in a very mild climate, so that even in the coldest days of winter is rarely gets to 10 degrees F. For the past few years, it hasn't even gotten that low. Point being, that climate control, year-round, wouldn't be that hard. It probably wouldn't even be necessary during most of the summer, except to keep it no higher than 83 degrees inside. (That's the human limit of tolerance to heat without griping about it,)

Building some sort of containment structure shouldn't be very difficult in areas where climate is a concern.

The area is already graded and site-prepped, with much parking available.

This seems to me to be a marriage made in heaven. It isn't very often that a local government gets the chance to shine, but this is one of those times.

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JHogan 2 months ago on Belk to close at Gwinnett Place

Belk to close at Gwinnett Place

What, exactly, is the problem here? Is it that the county shouldn't try to entice businesses to move to Gwinnett County? Should the county try to do this directly, or not at all?

Or should the county partner with the overall business commuity to try to improve the livelihoods of the citizens of Gwinnett County (and all 15 cities therein)?

That makes good sense to me. I don't think sitting and hoping is much of a plan.

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JHogan 2 months ago on Suwanee beer festival draws thousands

Suwanee beer festival draws thousands

Well, I went to the Festival so what follows is how I read the thing:

1) It's a great idea. Fun is good. Beer is good.

2) The extremely long lines were not good. We got there at 1 pm (opening time) only to stand in line for at least 40 minutes in order to get in.There were literally thousands of people in front of us.

3) Sampling beer outside in the sunshine in the afternoon (unless you're in a boat) isn't nearly as enjoyable as doing same inside after dark. Maybe the Gwinnett Arena or some other place might be more amenable to the crowd. Or in the outstanding Suwannee plaza where it was held this time. But later in the day would be better, IMO.

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JHogan 2 months, 1 week ago on Funding to increase for senior services

Funding to increase for senior services

If anyone is wondering what the post above has to do with this thread, please note that 2 of the 3 previous comments were about economic reasons why this service to seniors is objectionable.

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