Pleasantville*

Have a pleasant weekend, everyone.

UPDATED: ANSWERS ARE COMING IN | My Questions Submitted to Candidate Forum

Dunwoody Homeowners Association Candidate Forum

Date: October 17, 2013
Time: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Dunwoody High School
5035 Vermack Road
Dunwoody, GA 30338


General Rules:
No campaign literature and no campaign signs at the debate or on school property
No surrogates may stand in for a candidate
The moderator will select questions from those submitted in writing. The debate moderator has broad discretion to ask follow-up questions after a candidate’s answer, so the public can be fully informed about specific positions.
Candidates will be asked questions in alphabetical order and reverse order, alternating with each question.
If a candidate is singled out by name, or a group/entity to which he belongs, for criticism that candidate gets 30 seconds to respond.
General Format:
Dick Williams is the emcee for the event. He will introduce the candidates, explain the format and introduce the moderator.
WSBTV Reporter, Tony Thomas, will be the moderator for the forum. He will select and ask all questions during the forum. There will be a pool of questions from which he will choose.
Candidates will be seated by district on stage by 7pm. One microphone will be shared and passed from speaker to speaker.
Each candidate will have 2 minutes for opening remarks, 90 seconds to reply to each question and one minute for closing remarks.
The first 2-3 questions will be directed to all the candidates. Once those questions have been answered, the moderator will direct questions to each candidate by district. The moderator will choose the order of the districts but the candidates will go in alphabetical and reverse alphabetical order alternating with each question.

Questions:
The questions will come from a variety of sources. The Dunwoody Chamber of Commerce, Dunwoody Homeowners Association and The Crier will write questions. The public is welcome to submit questions in advance to the DHA via email at dhaadmin@dunwoodyga.org. The audience may also submit questions the evening of the forum from 6:30-6:45. After 6:45 no questions will be accepted from the audience.
Questions will be sent to the candidates via email on Wednesday morning, October 16 with the understanding more questions may be submitted via email and in person prior to the forum.
Candidates Running for Dunwoody City Council:
Post 1 (District 1 Local)
- David Davis
- Henly Shelton
- Denis Shortal (incumbent)
Post 2 (District 2 Local)
- William A.J. Mercier
- Jim Riticher
- Heyward Wescott
Post 3 (District 3 Local)
- Sam Eads
- Doug Thompson (incumbent)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was playing around with the idea of having another DWG candidate questionnaire as I did last year but with Every. Little. Forum. having questions submitted in advance with no real "debate", I didn't see the point.  So for those who expressed interest, maybe next time.

During my weekly Chamber of Commerce office hours, the staff were talking about coming up with questions to submit.  The following are the questions I asked to be included.  Hopefully they will be presented and answered tonight.  If they get canned before the forum, all of you gentlemen running for office are welcome to post an answer in the comments below at your leisure.  

For the "Clean Sweep" Slate:

"When you announced your candidacies, you initially distanced yourself from all of the major organizations that play a large part in Dunwoody's life:  the DHA, the Chamber, etc.  Why should a member of these organizations vote for you if your very identity is tied up in not being associated with them? "

"If you are elected, how do you plan to work with these organizations as an elected official if you want nothing to do with them as a candidate?"

For the other candidates:
"You have been involved with at least one major organization in Dunwoody prior to being a candidate for City Council in this election.  How do you intend to reach out to those Dunwoody citizens who have a negative impression of or a bad experience with the DHA, Chamber, City Hall, etc?"

"If you are elected, how do you plan to include the concerns of those citizens who are not involved with one of these groups, or whose opinions differ from their "official" positions on various issues?"

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Watch for endorsements prior to November 5.

Taste of Dunwoody 2014 is Open for Sponsorships

The 11th Annual Taste of Dunwoody benefitting Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta is coming on January 25, 2014 at the Crowne Plaza Ravinia.

Plans are being made at this moment for the always-sold-out Taste of Dunwoody.  Dunwoody Friends of CHOA sponsors this event annually to benefit patient care programs at Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta.

With the medical issues that two of my three children have, my family are "frequent fliers" at Scottish Rite and the MOB across the street.  So SDOC Publishing is committed to sponsoring this event, without fail.

Last year's event at Concourse represented a quantum leap for Taste of Dunwoody - it was HUGE!!!  This year is expected to be at least as big in its new home at Crowne Plaza Ravinia.  As usual, Yacht Rock Revue will be providing the live music.

Now is the time to plan to be a part of this Dunwoody tradition.

Sponsorships:  sponsor Taste of Dunwoody for as little as $500.  There are sponsorship levels affordable for almost all firms, from international corporations down to home-based entrepreneurs.

Contribute a silent-auction prize:  Don't let the polite browsing fool you, competition for some of these prizes is fierce.

Enter your restaurant (food truck?) for exhibition:  How would you like to promote your establishment to several hundred (thousand?) revelers in one night?  This is the place.  Don't know for sure if the door is open for food trucks or just brick-and-mortars but there's one way to find out....

Best thing about being a sponsor:  your tickets are included so you won't be shut out after the mad dash of ticket sales.

More information and people with the answers at the official Taste of Dunwoody page.

Dunwoody Friends on Facebook  (Hi Jill!)

Friends of CHOA on Facebook

This Should Be the Official Dunwoody Brand

Spruill Center is becoming more and more a family favorite.  Ever since my eldest was two, she's enjoyed some kind of class:  music as a toddler, and now as a grade-schooler she's in every week for ceramics.  ("Creative Handbuilding" it's called, for her age group.)  Her younger brother and sister are not-so-patiently waiting their turns when they can indulge in a class just like their big sis.

I remember when this sign went up outside Spruill Gallery.  Right after the latest recession started.  I don't know how many of us knew it was part of an exhibit (I didn't....).  There wasn't a single person who drove past the sign that didn't have something on their minds and felt soothed to some degree.

No disrespect intended to Sky Design, but this thought does more to uplift and unify the diverse, competing, and combative elements of today's Dunwoody than any graphic element.  It's even consistent with the foundation market research they performed.

Let's be honest:  the latest government September/October surprises have been a drag and I'd like to believe there is a future beyond election day.

I always thought this sign should be a T-shirt.  I found out today that it is and I'm stocking up!
From Spruill Center's latest newsletter, distributed today:

"Everything Will Be OK"

Can Now Be Everywhere You Are

Everything Will Be Okay merchandise is now available for purchase at the Spruill Gallery. Take a piece of history home with you today!


Glass Plaque $25; Dichroic Glass Pins $12; T-Shirt $15; Glass Pendant $22

"Everything Will Be OK," a History

At the opening of Spruill Gallery's Emerging Artists exhibit in the summer of 2009, local artist Jason Kofke erected a simple, yet powerful piece on the side of an old seed house on the grounds of the Spruill Gallery. The plain white panel read "Everything Will Be OK" in hand written black type.

Often passersby would be halted in their daily errands and stop to snap a picture of the sign. Many felt compelled to share stories about how the sign had affected them.

The original sign survived through many seasons, through every storm, but this work was never meant to be permanent. Soon the white background began flaking and peeling. In the summer of 2012 the original sign deteriorated beyond repair. Yet, personal testimonials continued, each more touching than the last: a couple struggling to stay together; a laid off father; siblings who lost their mother; a sick child.

It was because of these shared experiences that the Spruill Center decided to recreate the sign in a more permanent way. The sign that you now see is painted on PVC board and is ready to weather whatever Mother Nature throws its way, much like those who are moved by the words.

Find us about a mile north of Perimeter Mall at the intersection of Ashford Dunwoody Road and Meadow Lane.

4681 Ashford Dunwoody Road
Atlanta, GA 30338 

770-394-4019
gallery@spruillarts.org

Show Your Website Some Love (Your Customers Will Love You Back)

You've invested in your business - the property, the equipment, all of the advertising and marketing.  Today a website is an essential part of that structure and it takes far more than a few DIY clicks to make it successful.
Setting up your website, crafting your text for readability by both humans and search engines, organizing your images to capture and hold attention, and making sure everything works is only the first step.  I was interviewed recently about what makes a website successful over time.  It all comes down to paying attention to details.

Here are some tips for keeping your website fresh, now that the holiday season is in sight.

1)  Read your website regularly.  If this sounds obvious, it's not.  When you get caught up in the work of your business, you're going to start forgetting the details of what your site actually says.  It can happen to anyone!  Larger companies with various committees or departments should include those chairs in the review process as well.  They can provide various perspectives from their own expertise.

2)  Keep a list of your website, business email, and social media logins.  It doesn't have to be a digital document, it can be written down on notebook paper or company letterhead.  Make sure it's somewhere secure but accessible to you when you need it.  Everyone forgets a password from time to time, computers crash, or new employees come on board and take over these responsibilities.

3)  While on the subject of logins, change your passwords annually, at least.  Make sure those passwords have at least a combination of a capital letter, a lowercase letter, a numeral and one punctuation mark.  That combination will keep your security complex enough to foil most hackers-for-hire.  If you're keeping a list of your passwords, then it won't be hard to remember the changes.

4)  Ask for feedback from your customers.  Good business owners ask for feedback on their goods and services from their customers.  Ask for feedback on your website too.  You can do this in person in your store, via email newsletter, or you can host a poll online;  surveymonkey.com is an easy-to-use and popular choice if you're doing it yourself with some options that are free.  You never know where you'll get the next big idea to make your site profitable for your business.

5)  If you are maintaining your own website, dedicate the time to maintenance.  Lots of small business owners are excited at the idea of having "total control" of their website.  Then when it's time to update:  nothing.  If you set appointments to meet with customers or suppliers, make an appointment with your website too.  Maybe you just ran across a new picture that will make a better impression.  Or you're offering a new special deal that hasn't been mentioned.  Or you added a page marked only "Coming Soon" and never got around to filling it in.  (Hint:  never do this!)   If you're going to maintain the information on your site, set aside the time for it or you'll make a poor impression without trying.

6)  Scheduling time for your social media outreach is doubly important.  Social media is intended to be the latest, up-to-the-second information or perspective on your business or field.  If you're not posting and communicating to your customers or "fans", you won't be at the front of their minds when they make a purchase decision.  Social media has to be especially "real" and sincere; so it takes a lot of thought to get the most out of those media.

7)  Make sure your website is usable on mobile devices.  That Adobe Flash intro page that was so hot in 1999 and made your company look like the most cutting-edge in the business is officially yesterday's news.  Have a website that functions on tablets and smartphones is no longer a luxury or optional.  The number of smartphone and tablet users has tripled in only two years and continues to rise.  Your website has to be easy to use on a screen of any size:  from an iPhone to a 60-inch TV screen and everything in between.

8)  Go Google Yourself!  No, that's not an insult, that means search for your website on Google (or any other search engine) and see where your site ranks.  If it's not ranking on the first page or two of results, you may want to have a talk with an SEO specialist to find out why and how to get it ranked higher.  Don't forget to look for feedback on review sites like Kudzu or Yelp.  Both positive and negative feedback can give you the direction you need to keep your customers happy online.

9)  Make sure your website and social media are included in other advertising.  If you have brochures, pamphlets, signage, postcards, or vehicles, you can direct viewers to your website on the spot.  Include the URL (the address) and indicate which social media your customers can find you on.  Best of all, include a QR code so that customers can connect with you at the speed of thought while they're thinking about it with their tablet or phone.  QR (for "quick response") codes are two-dimensional bar codes that carry enough information to direct a visitor to your website or perform other tasks.

10)  "But I really don't have the time to manage my website myself.  How do I get the most out of it?"  If you're growing your business and you don't have time to invest in your website, then invest in a webmaster.  Dedicate an employee to the job, or hire a consultant to work with your team.  SDOC Publishing offers full webmaster services to several clients that have requested it (RikEmmett.com is an example).  Decide with your webmaster what their duties will entail:  Social media maintenance?  Content updates?  Software upgrades?  These services can also be combined with Hosting agreements for even greater convenience.

Treat your website like any other investment:  provide for its maintenance and upkeep and it will serve your business for years to come.

FirstWatch is Opening October 1!

FirstWatch is a breakfast/brunch restaurant that is building out the "other side of Marlows".

Before building out, they had to remove that giant tree that fell on it during the storm last June.

I hate it when that happens.

(from the DunwoodyTalk blog)

Here is the FirstWatch location today:

Today, September 30, was their "soft opening" along with the official Chamber ribbon cutting.  A soft opening is like a dress rehearsal - a last chance to make sure the systems are working and processes are all in place for a small audience before the doors are thrown open wide to the general public.

City Council and the Chamber were on hand for the ribbon cutting.

The happy group shot with the FirstWatch CEO and everyone without a camera.  :-)

The Chamber of Commerce staff got business out of the way.  Now it's time for brunch!

Here's what the restaurant looks like, from the far end inside.

Right behind where I'm standing is a set of French doors leading out to a spotless dining patio, complete with working fireplace.  That's going to be a fun place to get an early cup o' joe with breakfast on a brisk fall morning.

The butternut squash soup, pumpkin pancakes and quinoa/chicken bowl (I got that last name wrong but you'll know it when you see it on the menu) got rave reviews.  

More happy customers

Stop in first thing on October 1!  The entire staff is ready to rock.

www.FirstWatch.com

Dunwoody-specific page

There is a kid-friendly menu and they are very clear about various allergens in their dishes.

Congrats on your new location, gang!

Fun Friday: Empire State Pizza and Growlers Opens Monday

The Winters Chapel Renaissance continues!  Empire State held a soft opening Wednesday night for samplings of pizza, wings and beer from their growler bar.

First, I highly recommend the "whiskey barrel ale".  I'm probably getting the name wrong but they'll know what you mean if you ask for it.  Absolutely great brew!

Pizza and wings as far as the eye can see in the refurbished and redecorated double store front in the Dunwoody Point shopping center.  The entrance is on Peeler, right before you hit that little grassy triangle.

Your gracious host, Todd.

Question:  who knew that this crew would show up at the opening of a beer place?
Answer:  everyone with a brain stem within 500 miles of Dunwoody.
Hi guys!

The current Mayor of Dunwoody meets the Future Mayor of Dunwoody, and her Mom.
No, really, it was on her business cards and everything!

I was in a wing kinda mood this night.

A couple of guys from Gyro Gyro (next door, same shopping center!) stopped by to lend their support.
I had to take this pic because I loved the shirts.

Check out the menu at www.pizzawingsbeer.com.  I plan on bringing my kids after opening:  very family-friendly and my rambunctious now-3-year-old will fit right in.

Have a great weekend!

Scammers using Dunwoody businesses to scam targets

Dunwoody Police posted the following update on their Facebook account today: (emphases added)

An elderly man was the victim of a flimflam scheme today at approximately 11:30 AM that began front of the Ace Hardware on Dunwoody Village PW. The victim was approached by a well-dressed black male who claimed to have just received a $300,000 settlement and could not return to the Sudan with it or risk being killed. The suspect said he needed help giving the money to the needy. The victim drove the suspect to the Hickory House where they met another well dress black male in his 40s who claimed to be the restaurant's manager. This suspect showed the victim a large amount of cash he had on him. The first suspect needed proof that the victim was financially secure so that he wouldn't have to worry about him spending half of the $300K on himself. The victim withdrew $10,000 from his account and gave it to the "Hickory House Manager" who was supposed to have shown it to the first suspect and return of his $10K and half of the $300K. Both suspects fled the scene unbeknownst to the victim.

Usually, a 419 Scam is perpetrated via email.  Most ISPs are able to filter out these emails as the spam that they are.  There are even communities dedicated to scambaiting - to waste the time of these criminals in outrageous ways and thus prevent them (temporarily) from targeting real victims.  419 Eater gave rise to the Amazon best seller "Greetings in Jesus' Name!", a hilarious compilation of true stories of the wildest scam baits.

Dunwoody has had its share of scammers targeting homeowners:  tricking (usually elderly) residents outside their homes while a partner enters the house and robs them blind.  In the comments of the above post, visitors commented on confronting individuals who seemed to be casing out houses and high-tailed it out of there when called out.  This is the first time a Dunwoody business has unwittingly played a part in a scam.  

It's no longer enough just to watch our homes.  Now even brick-and-mortar businesses in Dunwoody's heart - even an institution like Old Hickory House - are being used.  

Where was the real manager of Hickory House while this scam was being perpetrated in their establishment?  Or - was the criminal the real manager?  

Business owners and managers in Dunwoody, even in the Village, have more to be aware of in their day-to-day operations.  So like homeowners, brick-and-mortar business owners have to be quick on the draw with 911 if they see anything suspicious.  I feel safe in saying the police would much rather be called out to a suspicious circumstance and have it turn out to be innocent, than to post stories like the one above to their Facebook.

Finally, let's keep an eye on and support and protect our senior residents.   I'll leave the details to someone who can speak in more detail to geriatric psychology.  The fact remains that scammers love to target this age demographic.  Perhaps the police or City Hall could produce an educational event or series or other outreach to our Dunwoody seniors about the latest in scams with advice to protect themselves.

Dunwoody Food Truck Thursday Updates

Hot off the presses from the DHA.

Thank God I Don't Have to Cook on Dunwoody Food Truck Thursday has some changes coming.

First, starting this week, times have been changed to 5 - 8 PM for the rest of the season.

Food Trucks will be serving up dinner every Thursday until October 24.

The Inaugural season of the Dunwoody Homeowners Association sponsored Dunwoody Food Truck Thursdays @ Brook Run Park started the last day of school in May. Savory & Sweet Food Trucks every Thursday night in Dunwoody at Brook Run Park. Free live music every week. This event is a partnership between DHA + Redbird Events + City of Dunwoody.

The Dunwoody community supported the event from day one and we had good crowds all summer long and only had rain during the event twice in 15 weeks! Now the weather is cooling off and it is getting dark earlier. Lines have been shorter since school started back. Beginning this Thursday we are adjusting the hours to 5:00 pm - 8:00 ish for the rest of the season till our last night on Thursday, October 24. We encourage you to come out and support the event so we can continue next year.

We have a great night of fun for you this week. Music by Time Pilot and drinks by Moondog Growlers! Come out early and enjoy the sunset!

Thursday, September 12

Dinner vendors

• Freckled & Blue - A Modern Southern Eatery
• Blaxican Food Truck (my husband's favorite -DWG) 
• Mighty Meatballs 
• MIX'd UP (my son's favorite -DWG) 
• Pressed for Time
• SoKoFood
• Tex's Tacos
• Yumbii 
• Chay J's
• King of Pops (required eating according to all 3 of my kids -DWG)
• Yum Yum Cupcake

Ps: This Thursday will be the second time attending for the award winning Tex’s Tacos food truck. We were rained out their first time in Dunwoody. Help us give them a Dunwoody welcome this week!


See you at Brook Run

Dunwoody Homeowners Association Board of Directors
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Innovations in Code Enforcement

Look what crossed my desk this morning

Warning:  not safe for kids/work

Angry Mother of Twins Throws Flaming Diapers at Late Night Firework Shooters

Police were called to a Hillcrest neighborhood early this morning when neighbors reported that a local mom of twins began throwing flaming dirty diapers at a group of people setting off fireworks. 

None of the individuals shooting the fireworks sustained any injuries, although several did have large amounts of child fecal matter on their faces. Police say that the men promptly put away the fireworks and apologized to the angry mother. None of the men are pressing charges according to police.

The ordinance is plentiful and renewable in this city.  Something to think about.

(Calm down!  The story is fiction!  Just for fun!)

Happy Friday!

UPDATE: Winter's Chapel Renaissance

Years ago I blogged that the Winter's Chapel side of Dunwoody has the greatest potential for growth.    Today I saw the beginning of a full-fledged renaissance.  Attractive new shopping and destinations show that Dunwoody Point can be just as valuable and desirable as any other community or shopping center in Dunwoody.  The developers are even paying attention to landscaping and planting trees, just as some segments of our community have demanded for years.  This looks to be just the beginning for the Winter's Chapel city gateway.

1)  Goodbye Supremo, Hello Walmart Neighborhood Market

Full disclosure:  I am not a Walmart fan, for a litany of reasons.  Mainly having to do with the corporate culture that arose after Sam Walton died.  But when your shopping development consists of an abandoned international supermarket that closed suddenly overnight, leaving the half-Dunwoody parking lot to become a trucker's rest stop, Walmart starts looking pretty good.

Rather than the stereotypical "big blue box" and all of the police drama that goes along with it (cf, Dunwoody PD police blotter) Walmart built a "neighborhood market" - a scaled-down version focusing on groceries.  Even though the actual store is in Peachtree Corners, it still borders our city and affects our residents.

Here's some photos I snagged while stopping by this afternoon.

Nice, clean front w/ new pavement.  The landscaping is toward the property's perimeter, behind me.

Inside the front door, pointed toward the produce department.

From the front door, opposite produce.  Walmart kept their promise this time - it's a small scale neighborhood market.

Lots of people from all around the area - Dunwoody as well as Peachtree Corners - peacefully shopping for their needs.  I had no qualms wandering around at all.  Truth be told, there isn't the same wide brand selection as you will find in the Georgetown Kroger or the Dunwoody Hall Publix,  But if you're on the Peeler/Tilly Mill side of town and you need a closer venue to make an uber-quickie trip for your standard groceries, it's a good option.  Walmart isn't fibbing about their prices, either.

Hint to the management:  invest heavily in stocking Halloween candy and decorating supplies in the next couple of months.  Trust me.

2)  Empty Lot to AutoZone

First, there was Glaze's Groceries and hardware.  Then there was an empty lot.  Today there's AutoZone.  I've heard one or two fine folks moan that the presence of an AutoZone is the sign of a bad neighborhood.  I respectfully disagree.  As bicycle and pedestrian advocates point out, our community is "auto centric".  They're right.  We all drive, even if some also like biking and walking at times.  I don't see that deviating too far in the decades to come, even as roads are (re)built to accomodate more bikes and walkers.  And since we all drive, we're all going to be in need of one of these shops sooner or later.

This particular Dunwoody housewife likes to duck in somewhere to pick up power steering fluid (where does it go and why do I sometimes need to top it off?) replace my wiper blades (usually during a driving rainstorm, natch) or stock up on fix-a-flat for those times I can't limp to my favorite mechanic.  Or track down replacement floor mats for the ones my kids managed to destroy.  (Don't ask.)  It's all the more convenient if I don't have to haul it all the way down to Peachtree Industrial and try to line up the car to the right dealership.  Plus, this shop is open well into the evening and on Sundays.  Most independent mechanics are not.  Don't miss the car care section of the site above.

3)  Another Growler in Town - and they're hiring!!

The old "Pizza K" (and a Vietnamese restaurant) in Dunwoody Point is transforming into Empire State Pizza and Growlers.  Work was ongoing and the windows papered over so everything I've heard is right on their website:  local family owned and operated, opening in a couple of weeks (in theory) and they're accepting job applications right online.

The new sign is up over the entrance and construction continues.

Didn't see anyone else around otherwise I would have poked around more and asked about their opening.

The sign says hiring servers, the website says they're hiring everyone.  The PizzaK banner will probablly be the last to go.

Anybody who has the garbanzos to present themselves as "empire state" pizza is going to have a high bar to clear.  I'm more than willing to give them a shot.  They've also just joined the Dunwoody Chamber, so clearly they are investing in our community.

Their domain name is an SEO dream:  pizzawingsbeer.com. Says it all.   And it's easy for a human (read:  this human) to remember.

Empire State is joining Gyro Gyro ( a very friendly Greek-style shop), Maximos (another Mediterranean-style shop across the street).

More Dunwoody Point News

Dunwoody Barber Salon in Dunwoody Point recently updated its storefront and is promoting itself as a barber/salon for all ethnicities as seen in the photo gallery on their website.  The shop is also hiring new employees - visit the "About" page for more info.

In related news, the owner, Jermaine Muhammad, recently filed civil rights charges against Dunwoody PD for racial profiling. Details of the results are in the news report link above.

The barber shop, has great reviews on its Facebook page.

UPDATE:

Who are the landlords for Winter Village and Dunwoody Point shopping centers?

Winter Village is owned by M&P Shopping Centers.  They operate several neighborhood nodes around the SE, including across metro Atlanta.  Spaces are available, per the website.
Here's the info page for Winter Village.  (Holy moly, that photo is out of date....)
Property manager is Jeremy Rosenthall.  (LinkedIn Profile)

Dunwoody Point does not seem to have a website.
The property owners are Dunwoody Point Entrepreneurs, LLC.  There are two possible office contacts for them.

10150 HIGH FALLS POINTE
ALPHARETTA, GA 30022-8441

5000 Winters Chapel Rd, Suite 2
Atlanta, GA 30360
Phone: (770) 409-0518

Who Else Saw This Coming? Anyone paying attention to discussions about Dunwoody Apartments, that's who.

Apartments focus of controversy in Dunwoody  (AJC)

(I caught someone using the AJC servers lurking around on this blog a few days ago.  Now we know why....)

Federal fair housing suit filed against Dunwoody, code enforcement (Crier)

(AJC article has comments about code violations and opinions of Dunwoody Glen and Lacota residents.)

Articles lurked by the local news media in advance of these articles:

What exactly is Dunwoody being "transparent" about?

Dunwoody City Council wants to buy the "Northchase" apartments....

(Highlight was the YouTube mashup of Star Wars vignettes "I've got a bad feeling about this...."

Here's an article no one is talking about.
Because it doesn't fit the legal agenda at hand.

Christmas For Kids Returns Early in 2013

Lawyers can be hired and cries of "racism" can be thrown around like candy on Mt. Vernon at the 4th of July.  But when the chips were really down - when families in these apartments lost their homes and belongings in a fire, it was Dunwoody Police and Dunwoody residents who stepped up to provide for their needs.  I know this because I was there.

My Inspiration

I learned graphics the old-fashioned way:  apprenticing at the School of Hard Knocks.

My Uncle Charlie has been a commercial artist in New York City since I was born.  He always made sure I had art supplies to play with and to learn from.  Professional-grade markers and paper to calligraphy sets.  I learned how to draw different fonts, create effects with just ink and paper, and how to blend colors and draw what I could see:  either with my eyes, or just what was behind them.

It wasn't until years and years later that his influence became my living instead of just something to play with.  In fact, it was Chaz who developed the first draft of SDOC's corporate logo when I was just getting off the ground.

Chaz is (finally....) on Facebook.  (Thank you Cousin Janet for dragging your dad into this century.  How big was the monkey wrench????  ;-P   )

https://www.facebook.com/chaz.pastels

Back to the Drawing Board for Friday

The real issues happening in my office today.  Happy Friday!

How to Choose a large-scale Content Management System
(click to view original size)

Zoning Rewrite Hype-Free Zone: What does it really say?

The newly-revised zoning ordinances are easy to read.  Yet, so many have no idea what is in them.  Or worse - they do know and continue to distribute misinformation about both the words and intent.

The ratification process has started.  Both Community Council and Planning Commission have reviewed the rewrite and passed it with revisions noted in their minutes

Planning Commission Summary

Community Council Summary

Neither of these commissions, comprised of Dunwoody homeowners, objected to the standards in the proposed code regarding the restructured regulations for home occupations.  Not even with an edit.  So out of the blue, we have the usual objections and concerns in spite of the Sounding Board's and consultants' attempts to write an ordinance that will codify the best practices that home business owners employ to maintain their community "feel", and limit or prohibit practices that could lead to the degradation of the community's quality.

Here's what the ordinance actually says.  Commentary in red for clarification of some of the worst misinformation.

27-10.30 Home Occupations
27-10.30-A. Purpose
The home occupation regulations of this section are intended to allow Dunwoody
residents to engage in customary home-based work activities, while also helping to
ensure that neighboring residents are not subjected to adverse operational and land
use impacts (e.g., excessive noise or traffic or public safety hazards) that are not typical of residential neighborhoods.
27-10.30-B. Type A and Type B Home Occupations
Two types of home occupations are defined and regulated under this section: Type A
and Type B.
1. Type A Home Occupations
Type A home occupations are those in which household residents use their home
as a place of work, with no employees, customers or clients coming to the site.
Typical examples include telecommuting office workers, writers, consultants,
artists and crafts people.
2. Type B Home Occupations
Type B home occupation are those in which household residents use their home
as a place of work and either one non-resident employee or customers come to
the site. Typical examples include tutors, teachers, photographers and licensed
therapists or counselors.
27-10.30-C. Exemptions
1. Personal Care Homes
Personal care homes are not regulated as home occupations and are exempt
from the home occupation regulations of this section. Personal care homes are
allowed as indicated in the use tables of Sec. 27-4.20 and Sec. 27-5.20. Supplemental regulations applicable to some personal care homes can be found in Sec.
27-9.150
2. Day Care
Day care uses are not regulated as home occupations and are exempt from the
home occupation regulations of this section. Day care uses are allowed as indicated in the use tables of Sec. 27-4.20 and Sec. 27-5.20. Supplemental regulations applicable to some day care uses can be found in Sec. 27-9.70.
Federal law prohibits the outright banning of home-based daycare as long as all required licenses are obtained.
3. Bed and Breakfast
Bed and breakfasts are not regulated as home occupations and are exempt from
the home occupation regulations of this section. Bed and breakfasts are allowed
as indicated in the use tables of Sec. 27-4.20 and Sec. 27-5.20. Supplemental
regulations applicable to bed and breakfasts can be found in Sec. 27-9.30.
27-10.30-D. Prohibited Home Occupations
The following uses are expressly prohibited as home occupations:
1. any type of assembly, cleaning, maintenance or repair of vehicles or equipment
with internal combustion engines or of large appliances (such as washing machines, clothes dryers or refrigerators);
2. dispatch centers or other businesses where employees come to the site and are
dispatched to other locations;
3. equipment or supply rental businesses;
4. taxi, limo, van or bus services;
5. tow truck services;
6. taxidermists;
7. restaurants;
tattoo, piercing;
fortune telling or psychic services
(These were redacted for duplication.  One of the most frequent misstatements is that "anyone can open a massage parlor or such as long as they have only one customer at a time.  Not true - any type of establishment that is banned from residential zoning districts is also banned as a home based business.  The code does not allow for adult entertainment, fortune telling, medical services, etc.)
8. funeral or interment services;
9. animal care, grooming or boarding businesses; and
10. any use involving the use or storage of vehicles, products, parts, machinery or
similar materials or equipment outside of a completely enclosed building.
Bottom line, engaging in any of the above occupations from home, or anything that is prohibited in a residential zoning district, is an automatic code violation when a complaint is filed and penalties get levied.  
10.30-E. Where Allowed
1. Type A Home Occupations
Type A home occupations are permitted as of right as an accessory use to a principal use in the household living use category. Type A home occupations are subject to the general regulations of Sec. 27-10.30-F and all other applicable regulations of this section. More than one Type A home occupation is allowed as an accessory activity.
One more:  the business owner has to be living in the home as their residence.  For the record, I advocated that only home OWNERS should be allowed to be home business owners.  Apparently, that is not legally permissible.  Anyone allowing a home they own but do not live in as an outlet for their own business is in violation and code enforcement can penalize them as soon as a complaint is filed and confirmed.
2. Type B Home Occupations
Type B home occupations may be approved as an accessory use to a principal
use in the household living use category only as expressly stated in Sec. 27-10.30-
G. Type B home occupations are subject to the general regulations of Sec. 27-
10.30-F, the supplemental regulations of Sec. 27-10.30-G and all other applicable
regulations of this section. Multiple Type B home occupations are prohibited as
an accessory use to a household living use, and a Type A home occupation may
not be conducted with a Type B home occupation.
Limits the amount of activity around the home in question.  Will some try to have multiple businesses anyway?  Probably.  But if a complaint gets filed with evidence, this is the standard that gets applied.
27-10.30-F. General Regulations
All Type A and Type B home occupations are subject to the following general regulations.
1. Home occupations must be accessory and secondary to the use of a dwelling
unit for residential purposes. They may not change the character of the residential building they occupy or adversely affect the character of the surrounding 
neighborhood.
(Emphases added.  The whole point is to define what activities are detrimental to a neighborhood and which are not.  The proposal that home occupations will inherently negatively impact a community is void.  The consideration has already been addressed.  )
Home occupations may not, for example, produce light, noise,
vibration, odor, parking demand, or traffic impacts to that are not typical of a
residential neighborhood in Dunwoody. Home occupations must be operated so
as not to create or cause a nuisance.
(Again, the point is to avoid nuisance behaviour.  One of the great fears that gets repeated often is that even with a limit of one customer at a time, having many customers back-to-back would nullify the neighborhood protections.  Not so.  If that many cars are using a business, then an aggrieved party may snap a picture or video and identify both a noise, pollution and general "nuisance" violation to code enforcement.)
2. Any tools or equipment used as part of a home occupation must be operated in
a manner or sound-proofed so as not to be audible beyond the lot lines of the
subject property.
(see above)
3. External structural alterations or site improvements that change the residential
character of the lot upon which a home occupation is located are prohibited.
Examples of such prohibited alterations include construction of parking lots, the
addition of commercial-like exterior lighting or the addition of a separate building entrance that is visible from abutting streets.
(Prevents converting homes and lawns to store fronts with parking lots.  Again, mitigates the action that fuels most fears in this regard.)
4. Signs that directly or indirectly, name, advertise, or call attention to a business,
product, service or other commercial activity occurring on the subject property
are prohibited.
(Signs for contractors or anything else are permitted, just not for an occupation on the premises.)
5. Home occupations and all related activities, including storage (other than the
lawful parking or storage of vehicles), must be conducted entirely within the
dwelling unit.
The area devoted to the conduct of all home occupations present on the property is limited to 25% of the dwelling unit’s floor area or 500 square feet, whichever is less.
7. No window display or other public display of any material or merchandise is allowed.
(See above #4)
8. The use or storage of hazardous substances is prohibited, except at the “consumer commodity” level, as that term is defined in 49 C.F.R. Sec. 171.8.
9. Only passenger automobiles, passenger vans and passenger trucks may be used
in the conduct of a home occupation. No other types of vehicles may be parked
or stored on the premises.
(Even if it's just a take-home car from a non-home-occupation, it has to be a passenger vehicle or don't park it in the driveway.  Allows for bumper stickers, decals, and even car wraps on private vehicles used for more than just business, but does not permit a commercial parking lot.)
10. The provisions of paragraph 9 (above) are not intended to prohibit deliveries and
pickups by common carrier delivery vehicles (e.g., postal service, united parcel
service, FedEx, et al.) of the type typically used in residential neighborhoods.
27-10.30-G. Supplemental Regulations for Type B Home Occupations
Type B home occupations are subject to the following regulations in addition to the
general regulations of Sec. 27-10.30-F.
1. Customers or clients may visit the site only from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. No more than
2 clients or customers may be present at any one time, except that up to 3 students may be present at one time in a teaching-related home occupation (e.g.,
tutor or music/dance instructor).
(The thought behind this was two occupants of one car visiting at one time.  Addresses concerns about increased traffic.  Also addresses concerns about the hours of operation and sets limits commensurate with limits on residential contractors, landscapers, and others commonly used in residential neighborhoods.)
2. One nonresident employee is allowed with a Type B home occupation if no customers come to the site at any time. Home occupations that have clients, customers or students coming to the site at any time may not have nonresident
employees. For the purpose of this provision, the term “nonresident employee”
includes an employee, business partner, co-owner or any other person affiliated
with the home occupation, who does not live at the site, but who visits the site
as part of the home occupation.
(again, intended to address traffic questions)
3. No stock in trade may be displayed or kept for sale on the premises and no onpremise sales may be conducted.
(Apparently, city hall has removed specialty parties like Pampered Chef and Southern Living at Home are not considered "home businesses" so this section does not apply to that segment.)
4. Teaching-related home occupations are permitted as of right.subject to the administrative permit procedures. All other Type B home occupations are subject
to approval of an special land use permit administrative permit in accordance
with Article 23.
accessory use, but the general regulations of Sec. 27-10.30-F apply to the combined home occupation uses.
(For the record, I advocated in Sounding Board for all owners with customer contact to be permitted, including tutors.  However, this population is the least compliant of all business owners in Dunwoody.  To make matters more complex, most Dunwoody residents, even those vehemently opposed to acknowledging that home business owners may operate without a negative impact, have supported home-based instruction,, as well as other home businesses in some way at some time.  This includes City Council members, committee and commission members, and board members of both DHA and DNCA.  And county employees.)

As much as I would like to speak to these thoughts in City Council tonight, I have a previous engagement.  I am working.  At home.  With my husband as a business consultant.  Administering various tasks. Writing proposals. Taking care of my customers.  Same as most home business owners.  Which is why you don't hear them speak up that often.  They're minding their own business, making a living, and maintaining their property so they are contributing positively to their communities.

Google search engine changes. Again.

Catching up on the news in actual work:

Google is modifying their search algorithms.  Again.

Google has quietly updated the link schemes document under their Webmaster guidelines to add large-scale guest posting, advertorials and optimized anchor text in articles or press releases to the list of types of links that violate their guidelines.
The new guideline examples that were added to this document include:

• Large-scale article marketing or guest posting campaigns with keyword-rich anchor text links

• Advertorials or native advertising where payment is received for articles that include links that pass PageRank

• Links with optimized anchor text in articles or press releases distributed on other sites.

The comments in this article are the best insights to the latest machinations.  Online press releases have been used as a "white hat" solution for more then 10 years to build links to websites and thus, improve page rank.  Some will allow keywords to be made into links - but as usual, too much of a good thing raises red flags at Google:  too many keywords in one article linked to the same website = spam.

Read the comments:  Google's attempts to force hand-crafted content and links may backfire and even the best-crafted, most well-intentioned content writing may end up in the abyss as collateral damage.  Clearly, the struggle isn't over and both Bing and Yahoo are emerging as major players.

Your best bet:  diversify your advertising.  Search engine results are still critical to a website's visibility but the most successful enterprises use everything from radio and TV to billboards (large and small), coupon offers (Groupon, etc) and real-life in-person promotions.  Make sure you have a QR or similar code to get visitors to your site via the exploding mobile use market.

UPDATED Now it's a race (three, actually)

From Reporter Newspapers:

Calling themselves the “clean sweep candidates,” three long-time Dunwoody residents declared their intention to run for seats on Dunwoody City Council.
Jim Riticher, Henly Shelton and Sam Eads said they plan to run as a slate of candidates. Riticher said he plans to run in District 2. Shelton said he will run in District 1 and Eads said he will file for election in District 3.

What makes these new entries interesting is that this is the first time an "official" self-proclaimed slate has run for city office.  In our first elections, the people who ran (or were asked to take an office) were already heavily involved in the formation of the city and had the background and tools readily available to step into their new roles as a startup.  It wasn't a surprise that they knew each other and had some history working together to some extent, especially since 46K is still considered a "small town".  You can't help but run across someone you know in politics or business.

Now that Dunwoody is better established and has some history behind it, the pool of candidates and approach to campaigns and offices is evolving.  There had to be some planning that went in to this to find candidates who qualified for each of the three districts and were like-thinking enough to run as a group.  These three gentlemen claim they are not involved in any of the major established organizations or recently-aggregated advocacy groups in Dunwoody, so time will tell what their connections really are.  

And with as many news outlets, mailing lists, and bloggers out there, we *will* find out, guys....  if there's anything in the closet, clean it out now.  Don't forget to behave yourselves.  Contenders who seem to be publicly getting involved with the city for the very first time will have every move under scrutiny and a moment's indiscretion can derail your plans.  Ask Ellen Fix if you doubt it.

First question asked by any interviewer is going to be:  what have you done as part of Dunwoody before now?  Which leads into qualifications for office, etc.  And if they are distancing themselves from the Chamber, from the DHA and other groups, how are they going to work with these and other advocacy groups if they are elected?

The current candidate list for November 2013  (Post a comment if there's a Facebook link I couldn't find)

District 1 (West)

Denny Shortal

Henly Shelton (individual FB profile)

District 2 (Central)

Heyward Wescott

Jim Riticher
(Blog created with Riticher's name above, can't tell if it's real or a spoof)
Then we have this little gem.  Given the neighborhood I live in and what it looks like on October 31, as well as my past history of frequenting sci fi and comic cons, I'm not going to pass judgement on costumes in public.

Photo from http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/962653/posts

District 3 (East)

Doug Thompson

Sam Eads

Dunwoody Observations?

Background -

I received the following letter this afternoon with a request to post it on the DWG blog.  It seems to address some of the methods behind the latest rounds of complaints and protests.

I didn't write this and there is nothing in the email to indicate who did.  But just for the sake of discussion, here it is, unedited.  If the author wants to chime in and claim this piece, the comments are open.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dunwoody Observer
-------------------------------------
Dear Community,

There has been much conversation, press coverage and distribution of propaganda regarding the political happenings of the City of Dunwoody.

It seems time to open the kimono (so to say) and outline some rational information for thought.

1.) Tax Income Distribution: The important thing to keep top of mind is that tax proceeds funneled to the City is the primary income stream for the City to compensate crucial Community safety staff and provide improvements to the City and its residents. Previous similar tax increases & resultant tax income was diluted throughout the County of Dekalb and spread across the County geography to fund County service providers. (For which the origination and quality is under investigation, based on the recent indictment & suspension of Burrell Ellis.)

2.) Inflation Happens: Taxes will increase with inflation. Period. Whether the additional tax funds go to the County Services or the City Services, there will be an increase taxpayers will eventually be subject to.... When distributed among a larger population, a 2% tax increase may result in less than a 0.5% increase in focused support to Dunwoody residents. It seems noteworthy to highlight that our tax dollars currently being discussed are now 100% focused on Dunwoody.

3.) Demographic of Opposition: If we take time to closely observe the make-up of the vocal opposition of the City of Dunwoody's planned progress, it is quite interesting. The demographics are primarily made up of over 55+, maybe even best characterized as over 65+, citizens. Amazing people, who shaped this City and most likely are living on meticulously planned retirement incomes.

Quite frankly, inflation and additional costs are understandably scary and unwelcome to this segment of our population. After all, when their retirement years hit and they planned on enjoying Mai-Tai's in Hawaii...they instead watched the stock market crash, the real estate market crash and we have no idea what type of financial impact may have subsequently incurred.

However, this segment of the populations also has significant tax exemptions extended to them as Senior Citizens and therefore contribute a minimized amount of tax revenue.

4.) Furthering Education: Having witnessed the Accreditation issues and the School Board CEO ousted, the opposition group was interestingly not in attendance at large at the meetings key to shaping the education opportunities of our next generation. Why is the primary focus on their personal finance and tax situations with little regard to supporting the growth, sustainability and next generation of our beloved Dunwoody? What does this communicate to the community?

5.) Emotional Rhetoric: There is a self-demonstrated structure of the communication pieces of this "opposition" segment primarily focusing on emotion versus fact. The flyers distributed throughout Dunwoody regarding Charter Commission meetings and their stated "issues", were emotional, name-calling and without any statistics for the reasonable community to consider and evaluate. Unfortunate, self-imposed, characterization of anger and emotion was all this piece communicated, versus a legitimate communication piece.

6.) Respect: There is no known vocal resident or City Official who has an "agenda" to ignore the sage advice of our "forefathers". There is a lot of respect for our "forefathers.". Unfortunately, those so active in the "opposition camp" do not seem to be offering a lot of rational / fact-based advice to the community at large.

7.) Voting: We ALL had our times at the polls. We are all stakeholders. CEO's of publicly traded companies do not issue a vote for every spending decision made. Nor does the President of the United States. Its quite simply, the American way. Our "voice" is heard at the polls. "Shareholders" all have a right and structured platform in place to provide constructive / actionable feedback. It is crucial to not circumvent these channels and the feedback is presented in a structured, productive and fact-based manner.

8.) Cost: The result of emotional politics is cost: The cost of the community's time and money. Emotional approaches create additional costs the community must absorb as we watch the delays in the work committees. They are forced to manage non-fact based, emotional campaigns of Citizens who offer complaints rather than solutions. Is the rhetoric costing us more than the actual proposed tax?

9.) Balance: Free Speech? YES! Balanced Government? YES! If you want to contribute, it appears that contribution, accompanied with a balanced, fact-based discussion, is always welcome in Dunwoody. If you have a plan, share it! If you have a concern, outline it with facts and statistics.

If communications are not based in fact or intended to "educate" the reader, these communications distract from and stunt the focus and growth of the community. Take time to consider the economic impact on your neighboring Citizens and if they are to "educate and promote" a point of view or if they are simply "name-calling" communications.

10.) Legacy: The last point that I would ask the "opposition" camp and all those observing the actions of this camp to consider is this.... Would you want your children (or your grandchildren) to live in and invest in real estate, businesses and a community fraught with people who oppose progress? People who don't show up in droves to support the next-gnereation's education but instead show up in droves to air unproductive emotions? Would you advise your children to live among people fighting the building blocks key to continuing to grow an astute, independent, self-sustaining community? Would you call that "a good investment" for a community? Dunwoody was established by quality, intelligent, hard-working leaders. Don't distract from or destroy their legacy. Take time to consider the progress the next-generation is trying to fund is key to ensuring this community maintains its status of an elite Perimeter community to call home.

Times are changing all around us... As a community, we must thrive or we will wilt. If we do not embrace this change, we will have seen our bloom and best days in years long past.

To the Opposition camp, please consider your next moves wisely. If it is considered hard to be educational and factual about your issues without name-calling, then consider no longer distracting from your fellow citizens time and money and let our City do its work to continue the growth of Dunwoody.

Sincerely,

A Dunwoody Observer & Resident

You Decide - One Big Party or Trail of Tears?

Dunwoody Parks & Rec is opening the first phase of the much-debated Brook Run Trail.

Dunwoody, GA – July 19, 2013 – The City of Dunwoody Department of Parks and Recreation celebrates the grand opening of Phase I of the Brook Run Park multi-use trail with a “Wheel-a-Palooza and Pedal Parade.” The special grand opening event and parade begins at 10:00 a.m. at the Brook Run Park trail entrance, between the playground and skate park, on Saturday, August 3, and includes a bike/vehicle decorating contest judged by local celebrities.

Entire Press Release

Lots of debate, yelling, screaming, red shirts, impromptu YouTube videos, hyperbole, shouts of praise, and "wait-and-see" surrounded this project. So which is it? Is the first phase of the trail a devastating blow to an "urban forest", or is it a necessary development that makes said "urban forest" usable and enjoyable by a wider range of citizenry?

Show up on August 3 and decide for yourself.

Comments are open.

And They're Off...

Dunwoody elections will include local district council members in November.
That is, each of the three districts will elect a representative that is only voted on by residents of that district.

Here's the current lineup:

District 1 (West)
Denny Shortal

District 2 (Central)
Heyward Wescott

District 3 (East)
Doug Thompson

No one else (as far as my "IN" box is concerned) has declared their candidacy. So it's too early to speculate as to how heated the process will get.

I do predict that if the seats are contested there will be some arguments as to whether the merits of each candidate should be debated by those living in different districts, who will not be voting on them.

Any more hats flying in?

Zoning Rewrite - no more ice cream trucks!

The Zoning Rewrite has passed Community Council in June with some modifications.

Here are the full details

CC seemed to be satisfied with the boundaries defining home occupations, backyard gardening,  garage sales, subdivision redevelopment, and other stereotypical "hot button" issues that the usual suspects are afraid of.

But ice cream trucks are a nuisance.

You head that right, gang!  Because food trucks are "in" and required clear definitions to be allowed, traditional ice cream trucks with their little bells and calliope tunes are banned.

Quoted from the above memo at City Hall.  (emphases added)

It is important to note, the attached meeting minutes from the Community Council meeting
provide information on all the topics discussed. While the majority of topics received
clarification during the scheduled meeting, Staff was charged with looking into the
correlation between food trucks and ice cream trucks. The drafted ordinance, in Chapter 27,
Article 8, defines food trucks as “a licensed motor vehicle or other mobile food dispensation
unit that is temporarily parked outside of the right-of-way and in which food items are sold
to the general public.” Pursuant to Section 18-19(b)(16), ice cream trucks would fall under “sound trucks,” which are mechanical loudspeakers or amplifiers on trucks or other moving
or standing vehicles for advertising or other commercial purposes. Such vehicles are
declared to be loud, disturbing, and unnecessary noise in violation of the noise ordinance
regulations. Therefore, because of the noise they emit and the fact that retail sales are not
a permitted use in residential districts, ice cream trucks are prohibited. 

My kids want to start a riot.  Who's in?

Happy July 4

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.–Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.