DeKalb County Tax Commissioner Irvin J. Johnson will retire Dec. 31 after 26 years of service, with Chief Deputy Nicole M. Golden set to succeed him.
By Milton Kirby | Decatur, GA | December 26, 2025
After nearly 26 years of service to DeKalb County—10 of them as tax commissioner—Irvin J. Johnson will retire effective Dec. 31, 2025, closing a long chapter in county government marked by stability, modernization, and consistent revenue performance.
Johnson announced his retirement while highlighting the work of the office he led through a decade of change. He credited staff for maintaining operations during the pandemic, expanding digital services, strengthening security protocols, and increasing community outreach.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to lead one of DeKalb’s key governmental functions,” Johnson said in a statement. “We achieved the approval of 10 consecutive and timely tax digest submissions, which supported county and school operations. Those results came from a committed and excellent team.”
Leadership Transition Already in Place
Photo Courtesy Tax Commissioner Nicole Golden
Under Georgia law, the office will transition to Nicole M. Golden, the current chief deputy tax commissioner. Golden will assume leadership to ensure operational continuity. The tax commissioner is an elected position; Johnson was reelected in 2024, with a term that runs through 2029.
Golden brings more than 20 years of legal experience and nine years as chief deputy. Johnson said she is well prepared to lead the office and maintain service levels across all divisions.
A Career Built From the Inside Out
Johnson began his career in the tax commissioner’s office in July 2000 as a network coordinator. He advanced through multiple roles, including supervisor, manager, and chief deputy. In 2016, he succeeded former Tax Commissioner Claudia Lawson and was later elected.
Before joining the county, Johnson held leadership roles in the private and nonprofit sectors. His experience included quality systems management at Square D Company, training supervision at Michelin Tire Corporation, manufacturing supervision at Westinghouse Electric Corporation, and job development work with the Shenango Valley Urban League.
Community and Professional Leadership
Beyond his county role, Johnson has been active across DeKalb and the state. He is a past president of the South DeKalb Rotary Club and a former chair of the Georgia Tax Commissioners’ Technology Development Council. He has also served on the board of the DeKalb Regional Land Bank Authority and on the board of directors at Mount Moriah Baptist Church in Tucker.
In 2024, Johnson was named Tax Commissioner of the Year by the Georgia Association of Black County Officials, in recognition of his leadership and service.
An Office With Broad Responsibilities
The DeKalb County Tax Commissioner’s Office collects and disburses personal and real property taxes, administers homestead exemptions, processes vehicle registrations and renewals, and collects motor vehicle taxes. Johnson said modernizing these services was a priority throughout his tenure.
As he prepares to step away, Johnson expressed confidence in the office’s future. With Golden set to lead and an experienced team in place, county officials say residents can expect continuity in one of DeKalb’s most essential operations.
Senate Democrats introduce the $15B REPAIR Infrastructure Act to reconnect communities divided by highways, prevent displacement, and expand funding for equitable transportation projects nationwide.
By Milton Kirby | Washington, D.C. | December 22, 2025
A bipartisan-backed effort to repair the long-term damage caused by urban highways moved forward this week as U.S. Senate Democrats introduced legislation to reauthorize and expand the federal government’s flagship program aimed at reconnecting communities split apart by legacy infrastructure.
The Restoring Essential Public Access and Improving Resilient Infrastructure Act, known as the REPAIR Infrastructure Act, would invest $15 billion over five years to help cities and towns redesign or remove divisive roadways, restore neighborhood connections, and prevent displacement tied to major transportation projects.
The bill was introduced by Sen. Raphael Warnock, Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester, and Sen. Jeff Merkley, building on the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program created under the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
From Pilot Program to Permanent Policy
Since its launch, the U.S. Department of Transportation has funded 257 projects in 47 states, supporting initiatives that redesign streets, remove outdated highway structures, improve transit access, and spur local economic development. Supporters of the REPAIR Act say those early successes justify turning the pilot into a permanent, fully funded program.
Under the legislation, Congress would authorize $3 billion annually from fiscal years 2027 through 2031, funded through the Highway Trust Fund. Of that total, $750 million each year would be dedicated to planning grants, while $2.25 billion would support capital construction projects.
“These projects are about more than concrete and asphalt,” supporters argue. “They are about restoring access to jobs, schools, healthcare, and opportunity.”
Guardrails Against Displacement
A central feature of the bill is its focus on equity and community protection. The REPAIR Act would formally require projects to promote economic development while preventing displacement of existing residents, a frequent criticism of past infrastructure investments.
Projects would be evaluated on whether they include robust community participation plans, partnerships with local organizations, and strategies to preserve affordability. Eligible efforts could include renter and homeowner assistance, affordable housing preservation, mixed-income development, and protections for small businesses.
The legislation also bars grant funds from being used to increase the number of travel lanes on existing highways, signaling a shift away from highway expansion and toward neighborhood-scale reconnection.
Broader Eligibility Across Federal Programs
Beyond direct grants, the REPAIR Act expands eligibility for reconnection projects across multiple federal transportation programs, including:
National Highway Performance Program
Surface Transportation Block Grants
Highway Safety Improvement Program
Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program
National Highway Freight Program
Rural Surface Transportation Grants
Carbon Reduction Program
The bill also formally defines “divisive roadway infrastructure,” including limited-access highways and viaducts that act as barriers to mobility and economic activity.
Georgia Examples Loom Large
The legislation carries particular significance for Georgia, where highway construction in the mid-20th century reshaped cities and displaced historically Black neighborhoods. In Atlanta, the Downtown Connector severed once-thriving communities. In Savannah, the I-16 flyover cut through Black business districts near the city’s core.
Backers of the bill say REPAIR funding could help address those lingering impacts while guiding future projects toward community-led solutions.
Broad Coalition Support
The REPAIR Infrastructure Act is endorsed by a wide coalition of planning, environmental, and local government organizations, including Smart Growth America, the National League of Cities, the American Society of Landscape Architects, America Walks, the Congress for the New Urbanism, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Rails to Trails Conservancy, along with more than 70 additional national groups.
Supporters argue the bill reflects a growing consensus that transportation policy must balance mobility with health, climate resilience, and neighborhood stability.
What Comes Next
The bill has been referred to committee, where lawmakers will debate funding levels and implementation details. If passed, it would mark one of the most significant federal commitments to undoing the social and economic harms caused by 20th-century highway construction. For cities still living with the consequences of those decisions, proponents say the message is clear: reconnecting communities is no longer an experiment — it is national policy.
The Powerball jackpot climbs to $1.660 billion as no winner emerges, fueling nationwide ticket sales and boosting Georgia Lottery education funding ahead of Monday’s drawing.
By Milton Kirby | Decatur, GA | December 22, 2025
The Powerball jackpot has surged to $1.660 billion, placing it among the four largest lottery prizes in U.S. history and igniting another nationwide wave of ticket buying driven by hope, habit, and long odds.
The winning numbers from Saturday, December 20, 2025, were 4, 5, 28, 52, and 69, with the Powerball 20. No ticket matched all six numbers, pushing the jackpot higher ahead of Monday night’s drawing.
As lines stretch across convenience stores and gas stations, the spectacle once again raises a quieter, persistent question: who is actually funding these billion-dollar jackpots—and who benefits most from the system behind them?
A Jackpot Built on Millions of Small Bets
When Powerball jackpots climb into the billion-dollar range, economists estimate tens of thousands of tickets are sold every minute nationwide, with sales accelerating sharply in the final hours before each drawing.
In Georgia, those sales flow through the Georgia Lottery, which operates through roughly 8,500 retail locations statewide. Proceeds support education programs such as the HOPE Scholarship, HOPE Grant, and Georgia Pre-K.
Since its creation in 1993, the Georgia Lottery has generated more than $25 billion for education, a figure frequently cited by lottery officials as evidence of public benefit. Research shows, however, that the source of those funds is far from evenly distributed.
What the Atlanta ZIP Code Maps Show
Visual mapping of Atlanta-area ZIP codes tells a consistent story seen in academic studies nationwide.
Lower-income ZIP codes in South DeKalb, Southwest Atlanta, and parts of South Fulton show higher concentrations of lottery retailers and higher per-capita ticket purchases. By contrast, wealthier areas in North Fulton, North DeKalb, and suburban communities show lower per-capita participation, even when absolute income levels are higher.
Metro Atlanta lottery retailers – per capita l participation (darker area represented higher participation)
Researchers affiliated with Georgia State University and other institutions have found that lottery spending increases as median household income declines. Retail density, advertising visibility, and consumer participation all rise in economically stressed neighborhoods.
Economists describe this pattern as a regressive funding structure, in which lower-income households spend a greater share of their income than wealthier households.
A National Pattern, Not a Georgia Exception
This dynamic extends far beyond metro Atlanta.
Studies cited by the Urban Institute and the Brookings Institution conclude that households earning under $30,000 annually spend three to ten times more of their income on lottery tickets than households earning over $75,000.
Lottery participation is highest where economic mobility is lowest, and where sudden wealth appears most transformative. As jackpots rise, those disparities become more pronounced.
Who Benefits From Lottery Funding
While lottery revenue is raised disproportionately from lower-income communities, the largest education benefits often flow elsewhere.
HOPE scholarships and grants are most frequently claimed by students who complete high school, meet GPA thresholds, and attend college. Those outcomes are more common among middle- and upper-middle-income households, which tend to have stronger academic preparation and access to resources.
The result, economists argue, is an indirect upward transfer of wealth, even when lottery funds are directed toward public education.
Billion-Dollar Winners and Long Odds
The scale of modern jackpots is a relatively recent development. Earlier versions of Powerball included jackpot caps and better odds. Structural changes extended the odds dramatically, allowing jackpots to roll over longer and grow larger.
Powerball Ticket 12-22-25
That evolution culminated in 2022, when a $2.04 billion Powerball ticket sold in California became the largest lottery prize ever claimed. The sole winner, Edwin Castro, opted for a lump-sum payout of $997.6 million, according to the California Lottery.
Those rare wins dominate headlines, while millions of losing tickets quietly sustain the system.
The Lottery’s Counterpoint
Lottery officials and defenders argue that participation is voluntary entertainment rather than taxation, that proceeds fund voter-approved education programs, and that scholarships and Pre-K deliver measurable public benefits across the state.
They also note that without lottery funding, education programs would likely require alternative taxes or face reductions. Critics respond that voluntary participation does not eliminate inequity when spending patterns align so closely with income and geography.
Hope, Math, and Public Policy
For many players, the lottery represents possibility more than probability. Behavioral economists point to optimism bias and financial stress as powerful motivators, especially during billion-dollar jackpot runs.
The math, however, remains unforgiving. The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are roughly one in 292 million.
As Georgians line up for the next drawing, the growing jackpot reflects a national reality: billion-dollar dreams are built from millions of small wagers, many placed in communities that can least afford to lose them.
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DeKalb County launches a $2M Real Time Crime Center, combining drones, cameras, and analytics to improve response times, officer safety, and coordinated public safety efforts.
By Milton Kirby | Decatur, GA | December 19, 2025
DeKalb County officials on Thursday marked a major milestone in the County’s public safety strategy with the official launch of its new Real Time Crime Center (RTCC), a $2 million, high-tech operations hub designed to deliver faster response times, improved coordination, and enhanced officer safety.
The ribbon cutting and press conference were held at the DeKalb County Police Department Headquarters, located at 1960 W. Exchange Place in Tucker, where the RTCC now serves as the County’s centralized hub for live data, analytics, and coordinated response. County leaders described the center as a cornerstone of the Digital Shield Initiative, a comprehensive public safety strategy led by DeKalb County Chief Executive Officer Lorraine Cochran-Johnson.
“These investments represent a bold, forward-thinking approach to public safety,” Cochran-Johnson said. “By leveraging technology, we are strengthening officer safety, improving response times, and reimagining how we protect every DeKalb resident.”
DeKalb Real Time Crime Center Ribbon Cutting
A Central Hub for Real-Time Intelligence
Housed within police headquarters, the RTCC functions as a command center where civilian analysts and sworn officers monitor hundreds of live video feeds and data streams simultaneously. The system is designed to provide officers with real-time intelligence during active calls, giving them critical situational awareness before arriving on scene.
“This center strengthens our ability to prevent crime, support victims, and deliver the level of service that our residents expect and deserve,” said DeKalb County Police Chief Gregory Padrick, a longtime DeKalb professional recently promoted from within the department.
Following the ribbon-cutting, attendees toured the facility and observed live demonstrations of the RTCC’s capabilities, including a Drone as a First Responder deployment that showed how drones can be rapidly launched to provide aerial views during emergencies, active pursuits, or missing-person cases.
The Digital Shield Initiative: A Countywide Investment
The Real Time Crime Center is one component of the County’s broader Digital Shield Initiative, a multi-year, $18.9 million investment in public safety technology. The initiative integrates multiple tools into a single operational platform, enabling faster, more coordinated responses across agencies.
Key components include license plate recognition cameras deployed throughout the county to help track stolen vehicles and suspects in real time, an integrated data platform that connects video, alerts, and analytics into one interface, and a dedicated drone program focused on law-enforcement-specific use rather than general surveillance. The RTCC also integrates gunshot detection technology capable of pinpointing the location of gunfire, in some cases, before a 911 call is placed.
County officials emphasized that these tools are intended to support officers in the field, improve response times, and reduce risk during volatile situations.
Partnership With Flock Safety and “Safe County” Designation
A major partner in the RTCC is Flock Safety, which announced during the event that DeKalb County has been designated the first “Flock Safe County” in the nation. The designation reflects a full countywide deployment of Flock technology, connecting law enforcement, fire services, traffic, schools, businesses, and neighborhoods on a shared platform.
“This real-time crime center combines what is truly the most innovative stack of technology a county could imagine,” said Greg Langley, CEO of Flock Safety. “From license plate readers to drones, cameras, and audio detection, all of it is unified in a modern AI intelligence suite.”
As part of the designation, DeKalb County residents and businesses are eligible for discounted Flock Safety solutions and free installation, expanding participation beyond government facilities.
Privacy Protections and Voluntary Participation
County leaders stressed that participation by residents and businesses is voluntary and tiered. Through the Connect DeKalb camera registry, property owners may choose to register the location of their cameras or, for higher-traffic businesses, integrate live feeds accessible only to police during emergencies.
Officials emphasized that the RTCC does not use facial recognition technology. Instead, artificial intelligence tools are limited to identifying objects of interest, such as specific vehicle types or weapons, a safeguard designed to balance effectiveness with privacy and public trust.
DeKalb Real Time Crime Center
Regional Perspective and Proven Results
During the ceremony, Lisa Cupid, Chairwoman of the Cobb County Board of Commissioners, shared her experience with Flock Safety technology, which is already in use across Cobb County. Cupid noted that the deployment of Flock’s license plate readers and integrated analytics has contributed to public safety improvements of up to 25 percent, offering a regional example of how real-time intelligence can deliver measurable results.
Her remarks underscored the growing regional trend toward data-driven policing and inter-agency coordination.
Leadership Transitions and Unified Public Safety
The opening of the RTCC follows recent leadership appointments within DeKalb County government. In addition to Chief Padrick’s promotion, former DeKalb Fire Chief Darnell Fullum was elevated to Director of Public Safety, consolidating oversight of police, fire, and emergency services.
County officials also recognized and thanked outgoing leadership for their service during the transition period.
Technology, Youth, and Long-Term Crime Prevention
While technology took center stage, Cochran-Johnson emphasized that digital tools alone cannot address the root causes of crime.
“We understand that investing strictly in technology does not solve the problem of crime,” she said. “Crime is deeply rooted in economics.”
As part of a broader prevention strategy, the CEO outlined a coordinated effort to ensure that by 11th grade, every student in DeKalb County has a designated career pathway. Those pathways align with 18 skilled trades currently offered at no cost through programs supported by the State of Georgia, creating direct pipelines into high-demand careers and long-term economic stability.
The County also highlighted partnerships aimed at youth engagement and prevention, including a recent grant from QuikTrip to the DeKalb County Athletic League to support community-based programming. Additional partnerships with DeKalb County Schools are expected to be announced in January.
What Comes Next
Beginning in January, DeKalb County plans to host public town halls to provide residents with more information about the Real Time Crime Center, privacy safeguards, and opportunities for community participation.
As Cochran-Johnson framed it, the RTCC is more than a facility; it represents a shift in philosophy toward proactive, coordinated, and prevention-focused public safety.
The CEO further noted that the Real Time Crime Center supports the County’s broader Reimagine DeKalb vision — building safer, more connected, and more resilient communities by pairing technology with economic opportunity and community trust.
The Atlanta Civic Center’s story spans fire, displacement, Broadway, OutKast, and redevelopment — revealing how culture, land, and power shaped one of Atlanta’s most iconic sites.
By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | December 14, 2025
For nearly half a century, the Atlanta Civic Center stood as one of the city’s most important cultural crossroads — a place where Broadway met ballet, punk rock met opera, and civic life met national television. Built in 1967 and officially closed in 2014, the venue played an outsized role in shaping Atlanta’s artistic identity during a period of explosive growth and transformation.
Now, more than a decade after its final curtain call, the Civic Center site is entering a new chapter. As of December 9, 2025, a multi-phase redevelopment led by Atlanta Housing is underway, with plans to honor the site’s legacy while addressing one of Atlanta’s most urgent modern needs: housing.
But the story of the Civic Center did not begin in 1967. Long before the first spotlight was raised, this land carried a deeper history — one marked by destruction, resilience, and displacement.
Before the Spotlight: The Land Beneath the Civic Center
The ground beneath the Atlanta Civic Center has been asked to start over more than once. In 1917, the Great Atlanta Fire tore through this area, destroying more than 1,900 buildings and displacing over 10,000 residents. From the ashes emerged Buttermilk Bottom — a working-class, majority-Black neighborhood that took root in what is now considered Midtown and the Old Fourth Ward.
Buttermilk Bottom was not vacant land waiting for redevelopment. It was a living community defined by churches, extended families, small businesses, music, and culture. Residents built full lives there despite persistent neglect, as city investment flowed elsewhere.
By the mid-20th century, the neighborhood was labeled a “slum” by city leaders and the local press. In 1963, then-Mayor Ivan Allen Jr. unveiled plans to redevelop Buttermilk Bottom using federal urban renewal bonds. Homes were demolished. Businesses were shuttered. A school was closed. Families were forced to move.
Rather than replacing the neighborhood with new public housing, the city cleared the land for a civic complex — an auditorium and exhibition hall designed to project Atlanta’s modern image to the nation. When the Atlanta Civic Center opened in 1967, Buttermilk Bottom was gone. The area was rechristened Bedford Pine.
Protests against the destruction of the neighborhood coincided with national unrest following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, underscoring the racial and economic tensions embedded in Atlanta’s redevelopment choices.The Civic Center rose as a symbol of progress — but one built atop displacement.
A Pattern Beyond One Site
The clearance of Buttermilk Bottom was not an isolated decision. During the same era, Atlanta pursued similar urban renewal projects across the city, particularly in working-class and Black neighborhoods.
Just south of downtown, the Washington-Rawson neighborhood — once a thriving in-town community — was carved apart by expressway construction and demolition. Part of the land was designated for public housing. Another section was set aside for Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium, completed in 1965 as the city sought national recognition and a Major League Baseball franchise.
For many residents, the promise was familiar: progress, opportunity, renewal. The result was often the same — displacement without replacement. Together, these projects revealed a redevelopment philosophy that prioritized national visibility over neighborhood stability.
Against this backdrop, the Civic Center took shape — both a cultural achievement and a reminder of the costs of progress.
A City Builds a Cultural Anchor
When the Atlanta Civic Center opened in 1967, Atlanta was positioning itself as the cultural and commercial capital of the New South. City leaders envisioned a modern performance venue capable of hosting national touring productions, large civic gatherings, and televised events. With a seating capacity of approximately 4,600, the Civic Center was the largest performance stage in the Southeast at the time. Designed to replace the aging Municipal Auditorium, it quickly became a centerpiece of Atlanta’s arts and entertainment ecosystem. For audiences, the Civic Center symbolized access — a place where Atlanta could experience world-class performances without leaving home.
Broadway Comes to Atlanta
Throughout the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, the Civic Center became synonymous with Broadway in Atlanta. National and regional touring productions regularly filled its stage, bringing marquee shows to audiences who might not otherwise travel to New York.
Productions such as Two Gentlemen of Verona (1974), George M! (1981), and The Wizard of Oz during its 1999 national tour helped cultivate Atlanta’s theatergoing audience and cemented the city’s reputation as a serious stop on the national touring circuit.
For decades, the Civic Center functioned as a cultural bridge — connecting Atlanta’s growing metropolitan population with the broader world of American theater.
A Home for High Culture
In its early decades, the Civic Center also played a critical role in Atlanta’s classical arts scene. Beginning in 1969, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, along with opera and ballet companies, used the space for major performances.
Before newer, specialized venues emerged, the Civic Center was where many Atlantans first encountered large-scale orchestral music, opera, and ballet. These performances helped establish Atlanta as a city capable of supporting both popular entertainment and high culture — a dual identity that still defines the region.
Television Lights and National Exposure
From 2011 to 2015, the Civic Center reached millions of living rooms as the filming location for Family Feud during Steve Harvey’s tenure as host.
The show’s presence quietly reinforced Atlanta’s growing role in television production, years before the city’s reputation as “Hollywood of the South” fully took hold. The venue also hosted graduations, political rallies, church services, and mayoral inaugurations, strengthening its role as both a cultural and civic gathering place.
SciTrek and a Generation of Curiosity
One of the Civic Center’s most distinctive chapters began in 1988, when SciTrek, an interactive science museum, moved in. For 16 years, until 2004, SciTrek welcomed thousands of schoolchildren from across Georgia.
For many Atlantans who came of age in the 1990s, SciTrek was their first exposure to science beyond the classroom — another reminder of the Civic Center’s adaptability and reach.
From Symphony to Punk Rock
As Atlanta’s music scene diversified, so did the Civic Center’s bookings. In later years, the venue hosted pop-punk bands like All Time Low, punk icons Dropkick Murphys and Rancid, and local artists including Hoodrich Savo and Ms. Honesty.
From opera to punk, the Civic Center became known for its range — a venue willing to host contrasting worlds under one roof.
Why the Curtain Fell
Despite its cultural importance, the Civic Center struggled to remain viable in the 21st century. Operating costs increasingly outweighed revenue. Built in 1967, the facility lacked the amenities and technology expected by modern touring productions.
A $2 million renovation in 2001 offered only temporary relief. As newer venues such as State Farm Arena and Mercedes-Benz Stadium opened, fewer major acts chose the Civic Center. By 2014, declining bookings made continued operation difficult to justify. The Civic Center officially closed in October of that year, ending a 47-year run.
A Sale, a Promise, and a New Vision
In 2017, the City of Atlanta sold the 19-acre Civic Center property to the Atlanta Housing Authority for just over $30 million. In December 2025, officials broke ground on a multi-phase redevelopment that will ultimately include approximately 1,500 housing units, 38 percent of which will be affordable.
Speaking at the groundbreaking, Mayor Andre Dickens reflected not only as the city’s leader, but as someone personally shaped by the Civic Center. He recalled seeing OutKast perform on its stage and later returning to the same space for his own graduation — moments that captured how the venue functioned as both a cultural launchpad and a civic gathering place.
“This is sacred ground, sacred work,” Dickens said. “We made a promise to the people of Atlanta to make this a city where everyone can live, grow, and retire with dignity — a city of opportunity for all — and we intend to keep it that way.”
Once a site of graduations, concerts, church services, and inaugurations, the Civic Center is now part of what city leaders describe as a return to purpose — a future shaped by memory as much as by momentum.
A Legacy That Still Echoes
The Atlanta Civic Center’s story is not simply one of closure, but of evolution. For nearly five decades, it reflected Atlanta’s ambitions, creativity, and contradictions.
From Broadway classics to punk rock anthems, from symphonies to science exhibits, and from civic ceremonies to game-show lights, the Civic Center captured the full spectrum of Atlanta life — even as it stood on land shaped by loss and resilience.
As cranes rise where spotlights once shone, the Civic Center’s physical form may fade, but its meaning deepens. It becomes part of a larger story — of a city continually remaking itself, learning, and, perhaps this time, remembering who was here before.
DeKalb County launches a $250,000 initiative to combat illegal tire dumping, removing over 37,000 tires and targeting major dump sites across neighborhoods and commercial corridors.
By Milton Kirby | Decatur, GA | December 12, 2025
DeKalb County officials on Friday announced one of the most aggressive environmental cleanup efforts in the county’s history, unveiling a $250,000 initiative that has already removed more than 37,000 illegally dumped tires from neighborhoods, commercial corridors, and private property across the county.
The announcement came during a press conference led by DeKalb County Chief Executive Officer Lorraine Cochran-Johnson, who framed the effort as both an environmental response and a community restoration campaign.
“This is not just a cleanup. This is a reclaiming of our communities,” Cochran-Johnson said. “To put this into perspective, if the 37,000 tires we have removed were laid end to end, they would stretch 20 to 25 miles — the equivalent of the entire Atlanta BeltLine loop or the distance from Midtown Atlanta to Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. That is what our neighborhoods have been forced to live beside.”
Photo by Milton Kirby -Varkel Lane
The cleanup is being carried out by DeKalb County’s Sanitation Division and Beautification Unit, with Ricky Crockett serving as the county’s lead coordinator. Crews are targeting some of the most hazardous and logistically challenging illegal tire dump sites in DeKalb, many located on steep slopes, in wooded ravines, or near abandoned structures.
Eight Priority Sites Targeted
County officials initially identified nine priority locations for remediation. One site, at 3747 Presidential Parkway, was previously cleaned by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division. The remaining eight sites form the backbone of the current initiative.
Four of those sites have already been fully cleared and are scheduled for final inspection and approval on December 3, 2025. The remaining four locations require more complex retrieval methods due to limited access and safety concerns but are projected to be completed by the week of December 24, weather permitting.
The eight priority cleanup sites include:
5986 Marbut Road, Lithonia (behind a residence)
3041 Northeast Expressway, Atlanta (former State Farm property with steep slope)
6941 Brannon Hill Road, Clarkston (residential neighborhood)
1785 Continental Way SE (commercial landscaping area)
1700 Corey Boulevard, Decatur (church property)
Officials estimate the total volume of tires removed from these locations is in the tens of thousands, with several sites requiring specialized equipment and extended timelines.
“Organized Environmental Crime”
Cochran-Johnson did not mince words when describing the scale and intent behind many of the dumping incidents.
“We must confront a difficult truth,” she said. “Much of this dumping is not accidental. It is organized environmental crime. We have documented cases where a business drives into our county at night and dumps 3,000 tires in a single incident, leaving taxpayers and communities to pick up the pieces. That is unacceptable.”
Photo by Milton Kirby – 2285 Randall Rd
Illegal tire dumping poses serious environmental and public safety risks. Stockpiled tires create fire hazards, attract mosquitoes, and often become magnets for additional illegal dumping and criminal activity. County leaders said the cleanup effort is part of a broader strategy that combines enforcement, prevention, and long-term restoration.
Push for Statewide Reform
Beyond local cleanup, DeKalb County is advocating for changes to Georgia’s tire remediation laws to help counties better address widespread dumping.
The county supports amendments to O.C.G.A. § 12-8-40.1 that would allow Solid Waste Trust Fund reimbursements for projected cleanup costs in hard-to-reach areas, permit counties to seek reimbursement on behalf of municipalities when intergovernmental agreements are in place, and provide additional state funding for large counties with populations over 500,000.
County leaders said those reforms are critical to sustaining long-term cleanup efforts and deterring repeat offenders.
Legal Disposal and What Comes Next
Residents are reminded that they can legally dispose of up to 10 tires per trip at the Seminole Road Landfill, located at 4203 Clevemont Road in Ellenwood. Tires are transported from the site to approved recycling facilities. Additional information is available by calling the landfill at (404) 687-4040.
Cochran-Johnson also announced that the county is developing a permanent solution to address tire disposal. In early 2026, DeKalb plans to introduce an option allowing all residents and businesses to legally dispose of tires, a move officials hope will undercut illegal dumping at its source.
The current initiative aligns with the county’s Reimagine DeKalb agenda, focusing on reducing blight, improving safety, and restoring pride in heavily impacted communities.
During a recent drive through Lithonia, The Truth Seekers Journal observed multiple tire dump sites at varying stages, many of which appeared to have begun with just a handful of discarded tires before rapidly expanding. Once visible, the piles often grew rapidly, reinforcing a pattern county officials say underscores the need for swift cleanup and consistent enforcement.
MARTA and Decide DeKalb host a festive Holiday Market and Customer Appreciation Event at Kensington Station with local vendors, free treats, crafts, music, and family-friendly activities.
By Milton Kirby | Decatur, GA | December 10, 2025
MARTA is bringing holiday cheer to the east side this week. In partnership with Decide DeKalb, the transit agency will host a special Customer Appreciation Event and Holiday Market on Thursday, Dec. 11, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Kensington Station.
The plaza outside the station will be transformed into a festive outdoor marketplace, complete with music, local vendors, crafts, giveaways, and a visit from Santa himself.
A Community Market for the Season
The holiday market will highlight DeKalb-based artisans and small businesses, giving customers a chance to shop local while picking up seasonal gifts. Organizers say the curated vendors reflect the cultural mix of the Kensington area and the county at large.
The market is designed to feel warm, welcoming, and accessible — the kind of place where neighbors stop, browse, and say hello.
Free Treats and Family Fun
Visitors will be greeted with free hot cocoa, cider, Coca-Cola samples, and snacks. Music and karaoke will run throughout the event, adding a light, cheerful energy to the station plaza.
There will also be story time led by local community leaders and guest readers, giving families a quiet moment to enjoy together.
Crafts, Photo Booths, and Giveaways
Scraplanta, a popular arts nonprofit known for turning recycled materials into creative projects, will host hands-on DIY holiday crafts for children and adults.
MARTA will also set up a pop-up shop with branded merchandise. A photo booth and several prize giveaways will keep the festive mood going.
And for the kids — and the kids at heart — Santa will be on-site from 3 to 5 p.m. for photos and meet-and-greets.
A Special Appearance: MARTA’s Holiday Buses
MARTA’s decorated holiday buses, wrapped in bright lights and seasonal artwork, will be at Kensington Station for customers to explore. These buses have become a small but joyful tradition across the system, drawing riders who appreciate the splash of color and creativity during the winter season.
Event Details
WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.
WHERE: Kensington Station 3350 Kensington Rd. Decatur, GA 30032
At Your DeKalb Farmers Market, 184 flags, global foods, and round-the-clock operations turn a Decatur grocery into Atlanta’s most beloved, affordable world market for families.
By Milton Kirby | Decatur, GA | December 9, 2025
Walk up to the entrance of Your DeKalb Farmers Market on East Ponce de Leon Avenue, and the first thing you notice is the sky of flags. From one end of the roofline to the other, 184 national flags ripple above the parking lot, turning a simple grocery trip into a small United Nations of food and people.
Inside, more flags hang over the produce tables, seafood counters, and aisles of spices and grains. For many metro Atlanta families, spotting the flag of their home country is the start of a familiar routine: a deep breath, a smile, and a walk toward the foods that taste like home.
This is the heart of Your DeKalb Farmers Market — a place where global identity, fresh food, and community all meet under one roof.
A Market That Belongs to Its Neighbors
The story of this “world market” begins in 1977, when Rhode Island native and retail veteran Robert W. Blazer opened a small, 7,500-square-foot produce stand in Decatur.
Before he opened his first location on Medlock Road, Blazer went door to door in the surrounding neighborhood and asked residents a simple question: would you like to have a farmers market here? When they said yes, he dedicated the business to them and chose a name that still appears on the brown facade today: Your DeKalb Farmers Market.
His goal, as he later wrote, was not to build a chain of stores, but to create a direct, affordable source of high-quality fresh food that truly served the community.
Nine years after that first stand, the market moved to its current home at 3000 East Ponce de Leon Avenue in Decatur, where it has grown into a massive indoor marketplace now known across the region.
Flags as a Map of the World
The 184 flags above the building are not decoration. They are a map.
Photo by Milton Kirby – Your DeKalb Farmers Market Flags
Each one represents a country connected to the market’s shelves, staff, or shoppers. For customers, a flag can be a guidepost: a hint that somewhere inside they will find the cassava, plantains, injera flour, curry pastes, teas, or spices that match their home cooking.
For employees, the flags reflect the market’s workforce — a staff drawn from more than 40 countries, speaking around 50 different languages and dialects. On the sales floor, name tags often list both a worker’s country of origin and the languages they speak, helping shoppers connect in their own tongue and feel at ease.
The flags also send a message to new visitors who may be walking in for the first time. They say: whoever you are, whatever you eat, you can find a piece of yourself here. And if you are curious, you can also discover somebody else’s culture in the next aisle over.
From 7,500 Square Feet to a True World Market
Your DeKalb Farmers Market now covers well over 100,000 square feet and operates seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
What began as a simple produce stand has grown into a complex, 24-hour operation that includes:
A sprawling retail floor for everyday shoppers
A busy business services department for restaurants, caterers, and other stores
Large adjacent warehouses and ripening rooms
A wholesale shipping operation that moves produce across the United States
Behind the scenes, roughly half of the building and half of the employees work out of public view. Trucks arrive around the clock. Cold rooms are checked and re-checked. Bananas, plantains, avocados, papayas, tomatoes, and pears are ripened in controlled rooms built with engineering precision.
Blazer’s background in mechanical engineering and discount retail helped him design and build much of the facility himself — with a focus on efficiency, temperature control, and food safety from the ground up.
World Direct: From Farm to Market
The market’s mission is not limited to what happens in Decatur.
Photo by Milton Kirby – DeKalb Farmers Market Florist
Under its “World Direct” registered trademark, Your DeKalb Farmers Market grows, packs, and ships produce from farms in Mexico, Central America, and South America directly to wholesale receivers across the United States. The company prides itself on working directly with farmers, helping them do what they love while building a stable market for their crops.
The market is also known in the produce industry for maintaining one of the best credit ratings available and for operating as a debt-free company — paying for what it buys with its own money and focusing on long-term strength instead of short-term debt.
Blazer’s son Daniel, who speaks Spanish fluently, heads up much of the international growing and shipping program. His work extends the reach of DeKalb’s “world market” far beyond Georgia.
Departments that Circle the Globe
Walk the aisles of Your DeKalb Farmers Market and each department feels like a different chapter in a global cookbook.
Produce: The Heart of the Market This is where it all began in 1977 and remains the beating heart of the business. Fresh fruits and vegetables arrive several times a week, often directly from growers. The market arranges its own transportation to keep produce moving quickly from field to shelf.
Organic options line up beside conventional items, many of them certified to USDA standards and the standards of their countries of origin. Shoppers can buy familiar staples or explore lesser-known greens, roots, tropical fruits, and herbs, many labeled with their home countries and uses.
Cold-pressed juices made on site — from organic kale, beets, carrots, ginger, apples, pears, and more — offer a quick way to drink those nutrients, using slower juicing methods that protect vitamins and enzymes.
Seafood: From Scottish Lochs to Georgia Kitchens The seafood department stretches across a long wall of ice and glass, with more than 450 varieties of whole fish, fillets, and shellfish. Live Maine lobsters, Dungeness crabs, and live catfish swim in tanks, turning shopping into a field trip for children.
The selection includes premium Lochlander Scottish salmon, raised in the cold lochs of the Scottish Highlands and Islands under sustainable practices and praised by chefs for its firmness and flavor. Customers can have their fish cleaned and filleted while they wait, then carry it a few aisles over to pick up global seasonings and sauces to match.
Bakery: Real People, Real Dough In the bakery, real people make more than 150 varieties of breads, bagels, muffins, pastries, and cakes from scratch every day. Many items use organic flours, organic butter, and cage-free eggs. Recipes are built around whole grains, nuts, dried fruits, and natural sweeteners rather than high-fructose corn syrup.
For shoppers with special diets, there is a wide selection of dairy-free baked goods made without milk or eggs, along with items made with gluten-free ingredients (prepared in a shared kitchen), and sprouted-grain breads that treat grain more like a vegetable for digestion and nutrition.
Coffee, Tea, and Nut Butters The coffee stand roasts and grinds more than 30 varieties of Arabica beans, including Fair Trade Ethiopian coffees from the Yirgacheffe region, Colombian, Kenyan, Guatemalan, Sumatra, Costa Rican, Jamaican, and others. Decaffeinated coffees are processed through the Swiss Water method, which uses water instead of chemicals to remove caffeine while preserving flavor.
Next to the coffee you can watch fresh nut butters being ground — organic peanut butter, almond butter, and cashew butter — made to order from nuts roasted in the market.
Chinese green teas, black teas, and delicate white teas share shelf space with herbal blends, giving health-minded shoppers a second home in this corner of the store.
Flowers and Gifts The flower department brings in stems and plants from Europe, Asia, Central America, Hawaii, and the continental United States. Staff create custom arrangements for weddings, holidays, and special occasions and even fill vases and fruit baskets to order. During Valentine’s season, the market sells thousands of dozens of roses.
International Groceries and Specialties Beyond the fresh departments, the center aisles hold dried fruits from Thailand, Turkish roasted nuts, olive oils from Greece and Spain, coconut water from Sri Lanka, specialty sauces like coconut curry simmering sauces, and Stonewall Kitchen condiments and curds for home cooks who like to experiment.
Shoppers can find gluten-free flours, sprouted ancient grains, sea salts, international pastas, zero-calorie noodles, organic snacks, and a long list of pantry staples that rarely appear together in one store.
The wine and beer section offers more than 700 wines and 500 beers, arranged by geography and type. Many bottles carry ratings from respected wine publications, giving shoppers a reference point as they choose; staff stand ready to talk through regions, grapes, and food pairings.
Serving Families and Businesses
Your DeKalb Farmers Market is more than a place for home cooks. Its business services department opens at 8 a.m. to serve restaurants, caterers, wholesale food distributors, and other retail stores. Once a commercial account is set up, clients can order in bulk, call ahead, and pick up loads packed and processed for them.
This dual mission — retail and wholesale — is part of what keeps the operation humming 24 hours a day. Workers on overlapping shifts receive shipments, process meats and seafood, bake, pack, and stock the floor before most shoppers arrive.
Safety and Air You Can Feel
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the market put in extensive health and safety measures to protect staff and shoppers. Employees working with customers wore gloves and masks; markers on the floor kept customers spaced out; carts and baskets were pressure-washed with bleach.
One feature that stands out is the building’s air-washer system, designed to keep the interior at about 62 degrees with roughly 65 percent relative humidity. All of the air in the production and selling areas cycles through the system roughly every 10 minutes, washing out pollen and particles while constantly adding outside air. Higher humidity makes it harder for certain viruses to travel as easily, and those lessons have carried forward into daily operations.
Even as crowds have shifted and weekends sometimes feel less packed than they once did, the market has stayed focused on keeping shelves stocked and shoppers safe.
A Family Effort and a Bigger “Game”
Blazer, now decades into this work, often says the market is about more than selling groceries. He has long been interested in how people work together — in families, on teams, and across cultures.
His wife, Barbara, joined the business in 1987, bringing her own experience as a successful salon owner with demanding clients. She has helped shape product selection, recipes, and operations, and she speaks openly about the way the market’s “people work” tools have helped employees understand themselves, their children, and their partners at home.
Many of those lessons formed the basis for internal booklets Blazer and his team have shared through the years — reflections on what they believe people have in common and how organizations can move beyond fear and greed to cooperation.
Today, the family’s goal is to keep the market strong and independent long after its founder is gone. The company’s debt-free structure and steady reinvestment in facilities and people are designed to make that happen.
Flags for the Future
On any given day, the parking lot at Your DeKalb Farmers Market still tells its own story. A full lot often means a holiday is coming or bad weather is on the way. Shoppers roll out carts stacked with greens, fish, spices, breads, wine, coffee, and flowers — enough to fill Sunday dinners, family cookouts, Eid tables, Diwali feasts, or Lunar New Year banquets.
Above them, 184 flags wave in the Georgia wind.
They remind Atlanta that this is more than a grocery store. It is a world market rooted in Decatur, built on fresh food, fair dealing, and the belief that people from every corner of the globe can work — and eat — side by side.
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Morehouse and Spelman’s Glee Clubs delivered a powerful three-night Christmas concert series, blending tradition, harmony, and history in one of Atlanta’s most beloved holiday celebrations.
By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | December 8, 2025
The holiday season opened in grand fashion this weekend as the Morehouse College Glee Club and the Spelman College Glee Club delivered three unforgettable nights of music, unity, and tradition. The concerts were held Friday through Sunday, December 5–7, and drew capacity crowds to two of Atlanta’s most cherished campus chapels.
Friday and Sunday performances were held at the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College. Saturday’s concert took place at Sisters Chapel on the campus of Spelman College. Each night offered a stirring reminder of why this joint Christmas Carol Concert remains one of the most treasured holiday traditions in Atlanta.
TSJ attended the Friday night performance, where the Glee Clubs played to a full house inside the MLK International Chapel.
A Tradition of Excellence
The Morehouse College Glee Club directed by Dr. David Morrow with organist Dr. Joyce F. Johnson, and the Spelman College Glee Club, directed by Dr. Kevin Johnson, performed a rich blend of sacred, classical, traditional, and contemporary holiday selections.
Audiences were treated to familiar favorites, including: Silent Night, Sir Christëmas, The Savior’s Birth, The First Noel, Joy to the World, This Christmas, O Come, All Ye Faithful, and Go Tell It on the Mountain.
The choirs also performed lesser-known works that were just as stirring and melodic, showcasing the depth of their repertoire and their ability to breathe new life into both classic and contemporary choral literature.
Spelman’s Legacy of Global Sisterhood
For over 100 years, the Spelman College Glee Club has upheld a standard of musical excellence shaped by harmony, discipline, and pride. With approximately 50 members from various academic disciplines, the ensemble performs most major campus events and maintains a repertoire that spans world cultures, commissioned works, and music of the African diaspora.
Under the leadership of Dr. Kevin Johnson, the Glee Club has performed across the U.S. and around the world. Highlights include concerts at the White House, Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall, Faneuil Hall in Boston, the National Museum of American History, and international tours to Brazil, Canada, Italy, and Portugal.
Membership requires a rigorous audition process evaluating tonal memory, pitch matching, vocal quality, and musicianship. Yet beyond the music, the Spelman Glee Club represents community. It is a space where sisterhood, pride, and excellence converge.
Morehouse’s Global Brotherhood in Song
The Morehouse College Glee Club has captivated audiences for more than a century. Their performances have graced presidential inaugurations, Super Bowls, the 1996 Olympics, and homegoing services for national figures including President Jimmy Carter and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a Morehouse alumnus.
Morehouse Glee Club Performs
Dr. Morrow says the Glee Club is more than a performance ensemble. It is a reflection of Morehouse identity and brotherhood.
“It’s remembering that you are part of a community,” Morrow said. “You are more than a member of the Glee Club. You are family. You are part of something great.”
Their musical résumé spans continents, with tours throughout Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, and every corner of the United States. The Glee Club has performed with cultural icons such as Aretha Franklin, Jessye Norman, Denyce Graves, Take 6, Stevie Wonder, and Jennifer Hudson. They are also featured on soundtracks to Spike Lee films and major national broadcasts.
The Glee Club is deeply tied to historical and cultural leadership. Alumni include Senator Raphael Warnock, Spike Lee, Samuel L. Jackson, and legendary figures such as Mayor Maynard Jackson and Herman Cain.
A Shared Holiday Tradition
Morehouse and Spelman have long united their voices for this Christmas tradition. Together, they carry an intergenerational message: music is a cultural bridge. Music preserves history. And music, especially during the holiday season, binds community.
Judge Sugarmon, speaking to the educational significance of the Glee Clubs, underscored the moment: “At a time when DEI is being denied, we must educate our children about our history. It is what made this country what it is.”
And as the music filled the chapels each night, that message rang clear—this tradition belongs to the people, to the campuses, and to the broader community that has embraced it for nearly a century.
A Look Toward the 100th Year
This year marked the 99th Annual Christmas Carol Concert, one of the longest-running holiday traditions in Atlanta. Both colleges promised that the upcoming centennial celebration will be even more spectacular, with expanded performances and special guests.
The joy, reverence, and unity felt this weekend offered a glimpse of what that milestone will hold.
When Morehouse sings and Spelman answers, a century of HBCU excellence fills the room — and the world listens.
Bipartisan bill led by Senator Raphael Warnock aims to cut red tape, speed up Georgia transit projects, and give state agencies more flexibility to deliver improvements faster.
By Milton Kirby | Washington, D.C. | December 4, 2025
U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) is leading a new bipartisan push to fast-track transit projects across Georgia and the nation, unveiling legislation aimed at cutting federal red tape, reducing delays, and giving state agencies more control over construction reviews.
Warnock introduced the Streamline Transit Projects Act on Wednesday alongside Senators Mike Lee (R-UT), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and John Curtis (R-UT). The bill seeks to reduce the time it takes to approve and build transit projects—everything from new bus rapid transit corridors to station upgrades and light-rail improvements—by allowing qualified state and local transit agencies to conduct their own environmental reviews for low-impact projects.
State officials currently have that authority for highway construction, but not for transit. The sponsors argue that fixing this imbalance will help agencies deliver improvements more efficiently at a time when metropolitan regions are battling traffic congestion, rising emissions, and growing demand for reliable transit options.
A Push for Faster, More Flexible Transit Delivery
Warnock said the proposal will help Georgia communities receive modern transit improvements without years of avoidable delay.
“This bipartisan legislation will give transit agencies new tools to more quickly deliver projects that meet local needs and improve the ridership experience,” Warnock said. “By delivering transit projects faster, we can continue to invest in a brighter, more connected future for all who call Georgia home.”
The bill would streamline certain environmental reviews, reduce duplication, and allow states to use the same flexible process already applied to road construction—changes the senators say will accelerate project timelines without sacrificing environmental protections.
Support Across the Aisle
Co-sponsors emphasized the need for states and localities—not Washington—to take the lead on straightforward transit upgrades.
Sen. Mike Lee framed the legislation as a return of authority to states. “Utah’s transit projects will be better off without the federal government meddling in every decision and holding up construction… Don’t tread on our TRAX!” Lee said.
Sen. Mark Kelly highlighted how long waits for routine approvals hurt everyday riders. “Right now, simple transit projects can get tied up in years of red tape… Our bill cuts needless delays for low-impact projects so commuters see the benefits sooner.”
Sen. John Curtis said growing regions like Utah need faster tools to keep pace: “This bill gives transit agencies the flexibility to meet local needs more efficiently… connect people, reduce traffic, and protect the environment we all treasure.”
MARTA Strongly Backs the Bill
Metro Atlanta’s transit agency offered quick support. MARTA Interim CEO Jonathan Hunt said the reforms would improve safety, mobility, and project delivery.
“Reducing unnecessary administrative hurdles will help us accelerate project approvals and deliver high-quality transit to the metro Atlanta region more efficiently,” Hunt said. He added that modernizing federal processes will help MARTA expand mobility options and strengthen safety and security for riders.
Part of Warnock’s Broader Transit Strategy
Warnock has been one of the Senate’s vocal advocates for public transit expansion, pushing for upgrades in Georgia’s rapidly growing metro areas and improving mobility in both urban and rural communities. He previously secured key provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to strengthen federal transit grant programs and support efforts to expand service statewide.
If enacted, the Streamline Transit Projects Act could smooth the path for major initiatives underway or planned across Georgia—including MARTA bus-rapid-transit corridors, station modernization, regional mobility upgrades, and new connections designed to reduce congestion as the state continues to grow.
