Ignored by City Council on Valdosta Enterprise Zone Designation! Why?

April 21, 2009

From: George Boston Rhynes
Valdosta, Georgia 31605

TO: Valdosta City Council Members:

James Wright, District 1, Willie T. Head, Jr., District 2,
Joseph "Sonny" Vickers, District 3,
Alvin Payton, Jr., District 4,
Timothy (Tim) H. Carroll, District 5,
Robert Yost, District 6,
John Eunice, At Large

I attended the last Valdosta, Georgia City Council Meeting on April 9, 2009, and was somewhat not as informed as I should have been concerning the issue of Enterprise Zone Area Designation. The Georgia Urban Redevelopment Law (OCGA, Section 36-61-1,and what constituted a correct designation of such properties, and locations in Valdosta.

http://www.dca.state.ga.us/economic/DevelopmentTools/programs/enterpriseZones.asp

Therefore, I need more information as to what convinced you (respectively), to vote the way you did at the meeting. I read the law over and over again. However, I still need additional clarification in order to move on.

In addition, I am asking each of you to provide me with (very short), reasons why you voted to approve the recommendation at the last meeting.

a. Do you believe the area designated in Valdosta meet the qualification guidelines?

b. If so, how many do you feel meets or exceeds what is required?

c. Do you believe the areas designated have the best POTENTIAL of helping the people that are listed in the Georgia Urban Redevelopment Law?

d. Do you believe the ordinary citizens in your district will AGREE that they will be better served by the location approved by the Valdosta City Council?

Please understand that I am only trying to understand what is going on in our community, and I need your individual input.

I will greatly appreciate your timely response ASAP.

GEORGE BOSTON RHYNES
Retired United States Armed Forces Veteran
A concerned citizen and brother of all humanity

INFORMATION: {THE ENTERPRISE ZONE AREA MUST MEET AT LEAST THREE OF THE FIVE CRITERIA’S}.

1. Pervasive poverty established using the most current United States decennial census prepared by the U. S. Bureau of Census .

2. Unemployment Rate (average for preceding yr.) at least 10% higher than State or significant job dislocation.

3. Underdevelopment evidenced by lack of building permits, licenses, land disturbance permits, etc. lower than development activity within local body's jurisdiction.

4. General distress and adverse conditions (population decline, health and safety issues etc.).

5. General Blight evidenced by the inclusion of any portion of the nominated area in an urban redevelopment area.
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These are words in the old Valdosta City Charter of 1860, that was removed from city hall a few years ago, but not without opposition from the mayor and some council members that read:

In Article 100, Section XI: “THAT THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL SHALL PASS ALL PROPER AND NECESSARY LAWS AND ORDINANCES FOR THE CONTROL OF SLAVES AND FREE PERSONS OF COLOR IN SAID TOWN AND SUPPRESS AND ABATE ALL NUISANCES ARRIVING FROM HOGS, DOGS, HORSES, OR OTHER STOCK STRAYING AT LARGE IN SAID TOWN, OR FROM OTHER CAUSES.”

Questions ignored by Valdosta City Council Members. Therefore I must ask if the old Valdosta, Georgia 1860 City Charter is still in force?
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my comments:

It seems that a courteous reply would have been more appropriate than to ignore the questions. But then again, we love our elected officials because they represent the voices and wishes of the people. We must thank them for their service to the people of our beloved city.

Two heads may be better than one but never forget which one belongs to you.{GBR}