Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Brookhaven Redevelopment Referendum


VOTE NO on the Brookhaven Redevelopment Referendum, and tell your friends by Catherine Bernard
 
Early voting is already underway, with Brookhaven City Hall open this week for DeKalb voters.  See below for a full list of voting locations open Oct. 27-31.
 
With only nine days until Election Day, I am focusing all of my free time and energy on defeating "Brookhaven Redevelopment," or the Redevelopment Powers Law (RPL) referendum.  If passed, it would allow the City to incur debt WITHOUT voter approval, as well as use eminent domain to seize property for private use.  It would also allow the City to act as a bank by financing developer projects, leading to corruption and market distortions.
 
The RPL is a huge, complex piece of legislation designed for "socially and economically depressed areas" that wouldn't develop without government intervention - which doesn't describe any part of Brookhaven.  Even the elected officials who snuck the referendum onto the ballot are trying to distance themselves from this taxpayer boondoggle.  (Look for another email on that subject soon.)
 
A grassroots campaign to defeat the referendum sprung up in Brookhaven almost two months ago and I am proud to serve as Chair of the Brookhaven Redevelopment Referendum Committee. Our website (http://votecatherine.us3.listmanage.com/track/click?u=3c69163e571c76cc5cefde3a5&id=1da7130822&e=10bc01b3cc) is the only place to find a copy of the Redevelopment Powers Law, as well as important research and analysis on how TADs (Tax Allocation Districts authorized by the RPL) create financial risk for taxpayers.
 
So far, we've been very encouraged to see how many people agree that the RPL isn't right for Brookhaven, especially when we haven't even been a City for two years.  But getting the word out is our biggest challenge!  Over the next week the group is focusing on major initiatives to help our community keep up the momentum and defeat the RPL in Brookhaven. This is crunch time and we need your assistance with canvassing and polling location coverage if possible.  If that's not feasible because of distance or time, consider making a donation (http://votecatherine.us3.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=3c69163e571c76cc5cefde3a5&id=7874253928&e=10bc01b3cc) to help fund our mailers, and forwarding this email to anyone you know in Brookhaven.
 
City-Wide Canvassing: Saturday, November 1 from 1-7pm
Sunday, November 2 from 1-7pm
 
Or any day and time you can canvass between now and Election Day! Even a few hours makes a big difference.
 
Sign Waving at Poll Locations: Early Voting-Monday, October 27-October 31 Election Day-Tuesday, November 4^th
 
Early Voting - Monday, October 27th - Friday, October 31st
All locations open 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
 
DeKalb Voting Locations:
Chamblee Civic Center 3540 Broad Street, Chamblee 30341
Brookhaven City Hall 4362 Peachtree Road, Brookhaven 30319
 
Fulton County Locations:
Sandy Springs Branch Library 395 Mount Vernon Highway, Sandy Springs 30328
North Fulton Annex 7741 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs 30350
 
Source: Catherine Bernard, Brookhaven Referendum (http://votecatherine.us3.listmanage.com/track/click?u=3c69163e571c76cc5cefde3a5&id=1da7130822&e=10bc01b3cc) info@brookhavenreferendum.org
 

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