This is the Last Day for Greenhaven Bill

It's important to let committee and state legislators know that you support this!

Dear Friends,

The legislative session is nearing its end.  The legislators will soon be voting on whether to pass the bill proposing the city of Greenhaven through the house and senate so that you, the residents, can vote on whether you want a city.  We ask you to help get the bill through by emailing the legislators in charge (and emailing your legislator will help also).

Below and attached is the email/letter we sent to the House Governmental Affairs committee through whom our bill must pass.  If you are supportive of this bill, can you please send an email to the House Governmental Affairs Committee.  The Chair is Representative Ed Rynders and his email address is erynders@bellsouth.net.  

Attached is a list of the members of the committee and their email address. Please email them if you can as well. Finally, please share this email with your friends and neighbors and ask them to support Greenhaven!

Thank you to all of you for the support you've shown.

Take care,

House Governmental Affairs committee email addresses
Ed Rynders	erynders@bellsouth.net
Brockway, Buzz	buzz.brockway@house.ga.gov
Taylor, Darlene K.	darlene.taylor@house.ga.gov
Brooks, Tyrone	tyrone.brooks@house.ga.gov
Carter, Amy	amy.carter@house.ga.gov
Fleming, Barry	barry.fleming@house.ga.gov
Floyd, Hugh	hughfloyd@mindspring.com
Hamilton, Mark	mark.hamilton@house.ga.gov
Hightower, Dustin	dustin.hightower@house.ga.gov
Kidd, E. Culver "Rusty"	rusty.kidd@house.ga.gov
Lumsden, Eddie	eddie.lumsden@house.ga.gov
Mabra, Ronnie	ronnie.mabra@house.ga.gov
Meadows, John	john.meadows@house.ga.gov
Mosby, Howard	howard.mosby@house.ga.gov
O`Neal, Larry	larry.oneal@house.ga.gov
Oliver, Mary Margaret	mmo@mmolaw.com
Powell, Alan	alanpowell23@hotmail.com
Powell, Jay	jay.powell@house.g.gov
Taylor, Tom	tom.taylor@house.ga.gov
Williamson, Bruce	bruce.williamson@house.ga.gov

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March 11, 2015

Dear Chairman Rynders and the Members of the Georgia House Governmental Affairs Committee,

Representative Ed Rynders, Chairman            Representative Eddie Lumsden

Representative Buzz Brockway                        Representative Ronnie Mabra

Representative Darlene Taylor                        Representative John Meadows

Representative Tyrone Brooks                        Representative Howard Mosby

Representative Amy Carter                                    Representative Larry O’Neal

Representative Barry Fleming                             Representative Mary Margaret Oliver

Representative Hugh Floyd                                    Representative Alan Powell

Representative Mark Hamilton                        Representative Jay Powell

Representative Dustin Hightower                        Representative Tom Taylor

Representative E. Culver “Rusty” Kidd            Representative Bruce Williamson

The purpose of this email is to communicate with you regarding the proposed city of Greenhaven and to solicit your support.  I recently spoke with Senator Fran Millar and Representative Tom Taylor and they expressed some concerns we would like to address.

Greenhaven is building on efforts that began with HB316 in 2014.  Discussion at that time centered around a small area and little was done in terms of organizing the boundaries or charter.  In 2014, the Concerned Citizens for Cityhood of South DeKalb Inc. (CCCSD), a nonprofit organization was formed to formalize cityhood efforts.  Research was done and meetings were held with community leaders.  We met with Oliver Porter and representatives of other cityhood efforts.  Based on the underdevelopment of our area and the differences in wealth and income, we could not adopt the model that the other newly created cities (predominantly White, affluent, and commercially developed) had followed.  It would result in a failed feasibility study. Like other currently proposed cities, we changed the boundaries discussed in 2014.  Unlike the others, we chose a large city concept.

CCCSD believes in fiscal conservatism. Based on some of the missteps we saw in other cities, we decided to use the first year to study and assess the real expenses and revenue we could expect, particularly police, which we have always stated that we will take on after studying the situation. We made all our decisions based on requirements set out in Georgia law and we followed all the requirements laid out in the process set by Representative Mike Jacobs.  We are confused about following all the requirements and then being told by some that we need to do more to receive your support.

Chairman Rynders, we have had 142 meetings from June to January 2015 crossing the boundaries of Greenhaven talking to residents, businesses, churches, elected officials, legislators, Mayors, HOAs, lawyers, students, representatives from other cities, the Atlanta Regional Commission, and corporations who handle startup cities. We took informal polls at most of our meetings with residents and almost unanimously people said they didn’t want to remain as unincorporated DeKalb.  Our charter reflects local control; e.g., citizens determine councilmember salary increases and millage rate increases require a citizen vote.  Our feasibility study conducted by UGA-CVI reflects a $27 million excess of revenue over expenses.  We have done everything required of us and demonstrated that we are fiscally feasible. We believe we are a model for how cities should form.

Chairman Rynders, we are not asking for any special favors or handouts.  What we would like is the ability to set our vision and create our future. We ask that you do not judge us on what everyone else has done because we are different.  Self-determination is about determining what is best for you (provided you meet the requirements) and then having the ability to follow that dream. All we want is the opportunity for people in the proposed city of Greenhaven to vote on what they want for themselves. 

We are citizen volunteers who have worked hard and conducted an organized, grass roots effort. We hope you and your committee support our efforts.

Thank you.

Kathryn Rice, Ph.D.

Chair

Concerned Citizens for Cityhood of South DeKalb