By Elliott Brack, editor and publisher | Periodically we like to re-visit GwinnettForum’s Continuing Objectives for Gwinnett County.
Here is a list we are currently running in each issue of GwinnettForum, to keep these ideas before the people of Gwinnett County:
- Development of a two-party system for county offices
- Moving statewide non-partisan judge election runoffs to the General Election
- Light rail for Gwinnett from Doraville MARTA station to Gwinnett Arena
- Extension of Gwinnett Place CID area to include Arena and Discovery Mills Mall
- Banning of tobacco in all Gwinnett parks
- More diverse candidates for political offices and appointment to local boards
- Creative efforts to support the arts in Gwinnett
- Advancement and expansion of city and Gwinnett historical societies
- Stronger regulation of late-night establishments with alcohol licenses
- Requiring the legislature to meet once every two years.
- Development of more community gardens.
We’re pleased to see some developments that have somewhat accomplished two of these objectives.
Instead of an extension of Gwinnett Place CID to the Arena and Discover Mills Mall, we have a new CID in Gwinnett that is covering that general area. The Sugarloaf CID is now operational, and takes in much of the area around the Infinite Energy Arena. The work will begin soon to bring a hotel and additional activities, which will be beneficial to the area and CID. So far, the Sugarloaf CID does not extend to the Discover Mills Mall.
Our objective of more community gardens has been achieved. We applaud work in Suwanee, Snellville, Sugar Hill, Lilburn, Norcross and other areas, in particular, as these areas have thriving community gardens. Such an activity can benefit any area. We hope to see even more in other parts of the community.
We are pleased to remove these two Objectives from our list.
There appears to be a possibility that another Objective will see significant changes this year. That concerns the elections scheduled for 2018. The Gwinnett Democratic Party seems to be fielding candidates with real chances at winning this year. Having two thriving political parties in the county will mean, in the long run, better candidates and a better county. A competitive two-party system has been a long time coming, but might make a significant breakthrough this year.
When Gwinnett sees a competitive two party system, that will go a long way toward completion of another objective: More diverse candidates for a political offices and appointment to local boards. So this, too, might move forward in and after the 2018 elections.
With lots of people having interest in crime control, one objective speaks to that. We would continue to push for stronger regulations of late night establishments which have alcohol permits. Currently they can serve drinks until 2 a.m., but can stay open until 5 a.m. Most everyone agrees that nothing much good happens at these establishments between 2 and 5 a.m. Closing them earlier would be most beneficial to the county.
We also emphasize our desire to see the Georgia Legislature meet only once every two years, like some other states do. All Georgians get nervous when the Legislature meets, so have them meet only once every other year.
So, our revised list for 2018 shows:
- Development of a two-party system for county offices
- Moving statewide non-partisan judge election runoffs to the General Election
- Commuter rail for Gwinnett from Doraville MARTA station to Gwinnett Arena
- Banning of tobacco in all Gwinnett parks
- More diverse candidates for political offices and appointment to local boards
- Creative efforts to support the arts in Gwinnett
- Advancement and expansion of city and Gwinnett historical societies
- Stronger regulation of late-night establishments with alcohol licenses
- Requiring the legislature to meet once every two years.
Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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