Pothole damage claim repayments questionable

Tire sidewall damages cannot be repaired, but some wheel rims can be after a hard pothole hit. The government seldom pays claims, though.

Citizens who file damage claims to their property from hitting potholes have a process to go through to recoup money they pay to have cars/tires/rims fixed, but is it just a waste of time appealing to a city or state for redress?

According to a local Atlanta attorney, ATL311claim requests implemented in 2014 are just a formality that could leave complainants frustrated. She says that government agencies have wide "discretion" to fix potholes and high priced lawyers who can make sure governments do not pay for damages despite attempts by citizens.  She said that she was not aware of any payments in Georgia to compensate citizens for pothole damages to cars.

Researching how to sue a state or municipality is time consuming. It's at the pleasure of the Atlanta City Council to fix potholes on local streets, and if they don't know one exists, they can't be held liable. Right?

So why was the process set up under Ga. Code Ann. § 36-33-5? Probably to alert the city that there is a problem, after the fact. This way, citizens are providing a voluntary, free service that the city is using to fix potholes which can be very hazardous on city streets. And if a claimant's damages are below their insurance deductible amount, there's no use in filing a comprehensive claim. Three claims, and you're out of insurance.

So what should you do? Avoid traveling down city streets after a bad winter, because you just could hit a pothole. Trying to swerve and avoid it could be worse. You could run into someone else. And traveling back to take pictures of the pothole could also be dangerous.

I asked the following questions to Antoinette Govan, Sr. communications office in Mayor's office of Communications:

1. How many pothole claims per year since 2014 have been made when Atl311 was implemented? Are claims documented by street? Which street has had most claims?

2. Of claims made, how many were paid? What was the average amount paid? How were these claims successfully resolved?

3. If not paid, what were the reasons why not paid?

4. Is the city depending on citizens to report these claims in order to have potholes repaired? How does the City council and mayor use discretionary powers to decide which potholes to repair? Are repairs made by city employees or contractors?

5. How are pothole markings and repairs documented by written report or photos?

6. What causes potholes? Bad weather, snow removal, improper drainage?

Here are her responses:

“To the best of our knowledge, there is no mechanism to track responses for your first three questions. (Therefore, a Freedom of Information request would be futile.) Pothole repair is not solely dependent upon citizen reports, but we do encourage residents to report these types of issues to our ATL311 customer service call center via phone (404-546-0311) or website (www.atl311.com)

Potholes are repaired once a service request has been made; therefore, they are recorded digitally. Potholes are formed when a small road defect where the asphalt top and base layers have failed and eroded away due to traffic volume and weather."

In England, it was reported in 2012 This is Money Reporter, "One in eight motorists have suffered damage to their cars from neglected roads and potholes in the past two years, with millions of pounds being paid out in compensation by cash-strapped councils, research has found."

In another large U.S. city, Indianapolis, it was reported by Fox59 news that in 2017, a driver’s chances of reimbursement was nine percent. "So far in 2018, chances have shot down again. With 129 people claims filed, 38 are still awaiting a final decision. Eighty claims have already been denied and only one person has gotten money back. Just one person. 

"The OCC data shows that driver received $203.83. FOX59 asked what factor or factors is behind most of the denials. The OCC hasn’t responded at the time of this publication. However, we have reported before that DPW records must show a complaint was filed about the pothole before you hit it in order to be reimbursed. So far in 2018, chances have shot down again. With 129 people claims filed, 38 are still awaiting a final decision. Eighty claims have already been denied and only one person has gotten money back. 

"Just one person. The OCC data shows that driver received $203.83. FOX59 asked what factor or factors is behind most of the denials... we have reported before that DPW records must show a complaint was filed about the pothole before you hit it in order to be reimbursed."

In my opinion, the claims process should be more citizen friendly,  data of payments should be compiled and reported, and some percentage of claims should be paid. 

Regardless of the likelihood of repayment, attorneys still encourage citizens to file a complaint before six months from damage incident expires.

Georgia gubernatorial politics heats up

Conservative Republican Brian Kemp will face off against Progressive Democrat Stacey Abrams in November to lead state politics in Georgia. 

Kemp won 69% of the primary vote against Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle last night. Kemp, who branded himself as a gun wheeling, truck driving, round up illegals, no nonsense, protective father of three White daughters pushed all the campaign hot buttons, including standing up during the national anthem at football games. He was heavily endorsed by President Trump and the NRA. Kemp is presently Georgia's Secretary of State.

Abrams is said to be raking in political contributions from outside the state. Endorsed by Hillary Clinton, she is a Black lawyer, author, and businesswoman who was the House Minority Leader in the Georgia General Assembly representing the 89th House District. She is the first Black female major party gubernatorial nominee in the U.S.

Duerson-Bennett-Miller family celebrates 60th reunion; reminder of historical ties to future events

"Like branches on a tree, we all grow in different directions yet our roots remain as one."

Probably the best fount of knowledge and wisdom is beheld at the annual family reunion. It speaks to royal lineage - of who one's great, great, great, great, great grandparents were and what they did to survive. 

Descendants of Cassius Duerson: Dr. Betty Griffin, Kurk and Tomi Johnson, Jewell and Freddie Brown

The family reunion bids descendants to keep on keeping on!

Yes, a family reunion is a powerful thing that should be respected and revered.

One such event occurred July 20 - 22 in Richmond, Ky. during inclement weather. Activities included meet and greet, memorial service, banquet, auction, historical skit, and angel and scholarship giveaways.

A prayer service and Time of Reflection was held at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Kirksville, Ky.

Here are three things I learned.

Without their approval, some slaves took on the last name of their masters. 

Some present day descendants of slaves are still trying to figure out their family history and connections to others.

Some Black people have a deep yearning to decipher the past and rise to the glorious future their ancestors gifted them.

Members of the Cassius Duerson branch

Tomi Johnson (c) poses with family DJ Megan Larue and another newly-met relative. 

Their 61st reunion will be held in Cleveland, Ohio. For more information, contact Mary Adderton at jerryadderton@gmail.com.

9400 still without power in Central Kentucky

Kentucky Utilities/Old Dominion Power is reporting several thousand residential customers are still without electricity due to a storm with gusting winds which passed through Central Kentucky five days ago.

At the height of the outages, 113,000 people were without power as well as several local businesses and gas stations. Power is estimated to be restored by tomorrow.

Trees came down on power lines, and branches turned into projectiles which pierced through roofs. 

Tree roots were exposed. 

Service vehicles were hooked to street light terminals. 

People who had generators worked hard to get them started.


WKYT is warning customers to check with the BBB before hiring anyone to clear away debris or perform services.

 

Even though damages look bad, one is reminded of the 1.2 million people in Puerto Rico who were ravaged by Hurricane Maria almost one year ago. These weather events are predicted to persist due in part to global warming.

©2018 Copyrighted photos by Kurk and Tomi Johnson

Building relationships keys to business success and community policing

Off. Jegg, Dep. Melton, Kathryn Ruff, Janice Overbeck, Off. Pharr, and Maj. Batterton pose after discussing concerns over coffee with citizens.

Coffee with a Cop convened this morning at the Keller Williams Real Estate Agency on Roswell Road in Marietta and was deemed a success by organizers. Approximately 15 people were in attendance.

Topics which were informally discussed with officers included  "ignorance of the law being no excuse", drug trafficking, local immigrants being deported and leaving children behind, code enforcement and animal control, experience of cops in peace and war, history of cops before joining law enforcement, mental health, self-defense, public intoxication, and "discretionary" law enforcement. 

"I feel that it was important to have Coffee with a Cop in our office because it's a great national program which connects cops in the community with civilians that want to ask questions," said Janice Overbeck. "We had great success today." Overbeck, who opened her office 18 months ago, said it's a "Win Win" for everybody. "The more exposure, the more people we can help with our business."

"Events like this are very important and great because we can meet informally with citizens that we serve on a daily basis," said Precinct 4 Commander B. S. Batterton. "It gives us an opportunity to interact, share information, as well as build relationships which go a long way into the future."

Overbeck plans to host another Coffee with a Cop event soon. For more information, contact Kathryn Ruff at 678-929-7761. 

Keller Williams location off Roswell Rd., site of Coffee with a Cop

Communities over Cages convening in Atlanta

Stay Woke: Brotherhood of St. Moses the Black coming to Atlanta

Coffee with a Cop happening in Cobb County

On Wednesday, July 18 from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m., Keller Williams will host a Coffee with a Cop at their 2249 Roswell Road location.

According to Kathryn Ruff, marketing and events coordinator for Janice Overbeck Real Estate Team, the event is part of a national program which allows local citizens and police to meet in an informal setting to discuss community issues and concerns.

Coffee and breakfast will be served at the event. For more information, contact Ms. Ruff at 678-929-7761 orkathryn.ruff@janiceoverbeck.com.

Pre-Arrest Diversion Program funded in Atlanta

Last week the Atlanta City Council approved a $661.4 million budget for the 2019 fiscal year with $400,000 in general fund dollars earmarked for pre-arrest diversion-- a 60% increase in city funding from last year. The City's increased support will help PAD increase its capacity to field diversions by: Adding a second Care Navigation team, Expanding diversion hours, and Training more law enforcement officials in the PAD protocol. The City is not alone in its growing support for pre-arrest diversion. The Fulton County Board of Commissionershas approved the Justice Coordinating Committee's recommendation to allocate $100,000 to PAD this year through its Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI). Check out this video to learn more about JRI (PAD shout-out at 4:59!). As an Impact and Innovation grantee of the Open Society Foundations, program will receive technical support from Pathways to Housing D.C. to develop new partnerships that support a Housing First approach and identify public resources for housing and supportive services.

Press conference reveals policeman charged with attack on white female at his home; Chief Register says community should not be afraid of police

According to an ongoing police investigation, an off duty white officer,  Robert Lanier New, 46, slapped and strangled a 44-year old white woman, Tracie Marie Young, during sexual intercourse. In the criminal warrant filed in Cobb County Magistrate Court yesterday, the incident took place at New's home. The victim is described as being mentally delayed, having the mental capacity of a 10-14 year old as disclosed in a forensic interview. 

The warrant was made by Officer B. E. Moore for an incident which took place in March 2018.  New is charged with simple battery harm, aggravated assault, and strangulation and called the victim "bitch, cunt, and whore" in text messages. The accused made other statements through text messages, saying, "I am in charge, I am in control," the warrant alleges. New is being held in jail without bond.

Officer S. A. O'Hara, Public Information Officer (PIO), said the police released the information yesterday after a preliminary investigation, and the investigation is ongoing. O'Hara says the Cobb County Police Department has a myriad of social media platforms to communicate with the community as part of an effort to be transparent, but the community also learns about police misconduct when the media pulls warrants. 

"This is a proactive, primary briefing first, then we will follow-up after the investigation is completed," O'Hara informed me. This means that details on officer misconduct may not be known for months unless the media gets wind of it, therefore, the media must be working in concert with the police to keep the community safe. It also means that news is turning into entertainment fueled by police and the court system.

To view the full press conference of Chief Michael Register in this matter, subscribe to our news channel: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Wingcom+Watchdog.

Church leaders blame violent culture, video games, bullying, victimization for shooting in Santa Fe

GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA

Contact: PRESS OFFICEStavros Papagermanos
pressoffice@goarch.org
Date: May 21, 2018

  

ARCHDIOCESE STATEMENT ON SANTA FE HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTING

NEW YORK – The mass school shooting at Santa Fe High School, in the small town of Santa Fe, Texas, last Friday May 18, 2018, has once again brought shock, sorrow and anger to the whole country and the world.

We, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, mourn the tragic loss of life of the 10 victims of this abominable murderous act, eight high-school students and two teachers and we share the deep pain and grief of their families and friends. Our fervent prayers and thoughts are with all of them, the victims, their families and their friends.

This time, the burden is heavier and the pain is sharper because the alleged seventeen-year old perpetrator of this crime has been identified as a Greek-Orthodox, and his family as members of one of our parishes. We pray for him and his family as well.

This unacceptable and totally unthinkable school massacre is yet another one in a series, it is an epidemic of violent crimes that has overtaken our society and country. It is the result of an explosive mix of the proliferation of the culture of violence, violent video games, bullying and victimization of our youth, desensitization to crime, devaluing of human life and easy access to readily available guns. The question arises and we have posed it last time and we now have to ask again, whether we have done all we can to stop this epidemic disease.

How many more victims, how many more school children, how many more teenagers and teachers should die before we act?

We turn to prayer of course, for Almighty God to intervene and avert any repetition of such heinous acts and events, but as we find ourselves, once again, in need of offering words of comfort and solace, words of solidarity and hope to those who were directly affected by the events in Santa Fe, Texas, we wholeheartedly plead with our elected officials for immediate and effective action.

May we all heal with the assistance of the God of mercy and wisdom and may we work to achieve positive results to restore hope to our society and the world.

Royal bride exudes success; was not sidetracked by past

Meghan Markle kept her eyes on the prize and now is an African American/British princess.

If there's a takeaway I've gleaned from Saturday's royal wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, it's the notion that you should not get hampered by the past, but keep pushing forward with a smile. Her ancestors were slaves, but now she's Her Royal Highness.

At 36, Markle has become the bride of Prince Harry and gained respect, notoriety, and fortune. She was walked down the aisle by a prince, too. With her presentation, all things are deemed possible in the Universe, depending on fate and determination.

And even though I didn't get a chance to go to the wedding, I experienced it on television and via messages from my friend in England who also sent me a picture of the dessert she enjoyed to celebrate the royal nuptials while visiting her mum in London.

Lemon drizzle cake, blueberries, and homemade apricot and strawberry compote were enjoyed by regular citizens at home during the wedding ceremony.

I also received a copy of the wedding program of The Royal Highness Prince Harry of Wales and Ms. Markle which I'm going through presently. 

Will update later.

MLK is a servant of God who made a bold statement

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta sponsored an Ecumenical Prayer Service in Commemoration of the 50^thAnniversary of the Assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., April 23 at the Cathedral of Christ the King, 2699 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, Ga.

The presiding minister was The Most Reverend Dr. Wilton D. Gregory, Archbishop of Atlanta.  Guest speakers also included Bishop H. Julian Gordy, D.D.; Fr. Panayiotis Papageorgiou, Ph.D; The Right Rev. Don A. Wimberly, D.D.; and The Rev. Dr. Gerald Durley.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a native son of Atlanta. The speeches made by the clergy for the special occasion were informative and persuasive. All in all, the event was very inspiring except for some references to “dark” being synonymous with "bad" and "dreary" which some consider a negative connotation when referring to people of color.

Each speech was prefaced by musical selections from the AMA Choir, Our Lady of Mercy High School; Choir of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, and the Cathedral Choir of Christ the King. A reception followed in Kenny Hall.

Something to consider: We are looking for new leaders to carry out King's message and God's promise who are protected and not used as targets. We need to change the old Negro spiritual to, "We shall overcome TODAY."

Some key points from event:

MLK's dream is God’s dream. Step out boldly to make it so.

Deeper issues of race plague our country, but King had the gift of forgiveness and a realistic hope. Keep hope alive.

MLK was a servant leader who shattered the southern system of segregation and provided a new dimension of dignity for Black Americans. Gwendolyn Brooks said he was a "prose poem." 
 

"Martin Luther King Jr."
By Gwendolyn Brooks

A man went forth with gifts.
He was a prose poem.

He was a tragic grace.
He was a warm music.

He tried to heal the vivid volcanoes.
His ashes are
reading the world.
His Dream still wishes to anoint
the barricades of faith and or control.

His word still burns the center of the sun,
above the thousands and the
hundred thousands.
The word was Justice. It was spoken.
So it shall be spoken.

So it shall be done.

We must follow Nonviolent Commandments:

Meditate.

Seek justice.

Walk in God's love.

Pray daily to free all men.

Sacrifice personal wishes.

Be courteous.

Serve others.

Refrain from violence.

Be in good health.

Follow the Captain.

The ultimate measure of man is how he stands in challenge and controversy. Remain steadfast. We must have a role larger than ourselves.

When faced with racism, make a bold statement that you're not part of it.

 

God will fulfill His promise.

Fr. Panayiotis (c) poses with family and international guests at reception following event.

Many have heard MLK's 1964 Nobel Peace Prize Speech, but not his lecture. Listen at: https://www.nobelprize.org/mediaplayer/index.php?id=2586

For a full view of the service, go to: https://vimeo.com/266522788