Good News: Clayton County Expanding to Heavy Rail Transit

After MARTA started over forty plus years ago, Clayton County voted against transit expanding there. As the demographics have changed, so has the obvious need for transit.  Less than 10 years ago, local bus service was started and then stopped leaving many residents stranded.

Then in 2014, a transit ballot initiative passed overwhelming bringing MARTA bus service a few months later connecting it to jobs at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, the world’s busiest.  And, it connects Clayton to the rail station in College Park. Now, MARTA is announcing plans to add heavy rail along the Norfolk-Southern rail line that is expected to eventually connect Macon and Savannah. That is exciting news for an area that has fell on hard times in the past decade (before 2014) where transit not being an option made every thing from grocery shopping to doctor visits to attending church to visiting friends and family an expensive, infrequent or impossible for Clayton residents who do not own a car.

In the link to the Atlanta Business Chronicle article below, Maria Saporta gives all of the exciting details.

Commuter rail is MARTA’s choice for Clayton County

By Maria Saporta

https://saportareport.com/commuter-rail-is-martas-choice-for-clayton-county/

 

More on what I think:

While this is great news, many advocates are still working to get Clayton County officials and Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) to work together to and much needed sidewalks, crosswalks and so MARTA can add more bus shelters and benches.

It is very challenging to walk in the rain, along a muddy path, or in the street (because the muddy path is too slippery) and then wait for the bus in the driving rain.  Add to that scenario a parent with a child in a stroller, someone with a cain, walker, or in a wheelchair. This are very serious safety issues.  Advocates hope to get these safety items in place before a tragedy or lawsuit mandates them.

Recently, I took a MARTA bus (from Northside Drive near the Stockyards), train (at North Avenue station), and another bus (from the College Park station) to a MARTA focus group meeting in Clayton County, I got off the bus on Tara Boulevard where there were no crosswalks across the busy six-lane intersection, no side walks at the bus stop, or along the 1/3 mile walk to the Clayton Library where the meeting was held.  Walking in the shoes of transit dependent riders will truly open your eyes.  It also exposes  why even more people, those who have a car, choose not to put their safety at risk in taking a bus in these areas.  Hmmm.  I wonder if anyone measures these “potential riders”.

Do you use public transportation?  If not, why not?  If you do, how often?  And, what changes would get you to use it more?

What is the Plan in Your Community?

 

Want to change social and economic injustices?  Then you need a plan of action.

Shaun King’s commentary  for Black America Web this morning emphasizes how a “blind loyalty” gets people nowhere.  However, a plan of action gets you results. In case you missed this less than 10 minute audio, here is the link for you to listen, share, and move to action:

Shaun King Talks Policy Ideas

Harriett Tubman, Booker T. Washington, and President Barack Obama were successful because they all had a plan of action!!  Likewise,  Adolph Hitler, the Koch Brothers and the Tea Party also had a plan of action!  With technological advances AND boots on the ground, you can plan, educate, empower and implement a customized plan of action with best practices, for the Top 5-10 (depending on manpower/volunteers) issues that cause Blacks, Browns, Native Americans, the working poor, functionally disabled, mentally challenged and other citizens who simply want equity. This can be done in each community across the country.

Harriett Tubman, the Pullman Porters, residents of Black Wallstreet (in Tulsa), Muhammad Ali, Dick Gregory, Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, Shirley Chisholm, Gandhi, John F. Kennedy, Maynard Jackson, Colin Kaepernick, Oprah Winfrey, The Freedom Riders, and the Native American Code Talkers (to name a few) did not wait for a leader to emerge.  They knew Superman was not coming.  They all stepped up to do what they could to make a difference. So can you!!  Each of us can use our skills and talents to help a current organization, or start your own.  No cause is too small.  Jesus also had a plan. And, He trained twelve.

You do not have to be a rocket scientist, have a degree, or a title. If you can figure out how to go on vacation and navigate in a city or country that you have never visited, surely you can figure out how to make a difference in your neighborhood, church, or non-profit.  Or, start your own group.

As my dearly departed Godmother, Rev. Willie Taplin Barrow use to say, “If you are not at the table when plans are made, you are on the menu.”

Above: Rev. Willie Taplin Barrow (Dec. 7, 1924 – March 12, 2015).

It is time to stop talking about how bad things are. It is time to do something about it!! It is time to stop saying, “they ought to” or “the church ought to”.  Who are they?  Who is the the Church?  When is the last time you volunteered or worked on a community service project (in person or online)?

Gandhi famously said, “You must be the change you want to see in the world.“

In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,

“Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”

 

Film Screening of A.D. King – Legacy & Mysterious Death

Alveda King, daughter of A.D. King, introduces her grandson.

Unsolved History, Life of a King is the title of this documentary screened tonight.  It is about the work of seldom talked about, A.D. King, brother of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  While listing his accomplishments as a skillful negotiator who was responsible for housing legislation signed by President Lyndon Johnson, we are also  presented with the mystery about how A.D. died.  Did he really drown in his own swimming pool? Or, was he silenced because he was getting too close to the truth about his famous brother’s death?

Shown at the theater of the MLKing, Jr. National Park Service Visitor Center, it was packed with King family members that included Alveda King, the oldest of the five children of A.D. King and Naomi King; Christine King Farris, the only sister of M.L and A.D. King; Elder Bernice King, daughter of M.L.King, Jr.  Other attendees included Rev. Gerald Durley, Willie Watkins,  and City Council President Felicia Moore.

After the movie screening, (l-r) Sherry, Elder Bernice King, Alveda King, Rev. Gerald Durley, and the movie executive producer Josetta Shropshire.

Mary, Yancey, and Sherry.

This film is very thorough. It includes interviews with Rev. James Orange, Lonnie King, Herman Russell, Alveda King, Lonnie King, C.T. Vivian, and the King family attorney.

On April 5, 2018, you can see this powerful documentary in Atlanta, GA on WATL TV. It will also be shown in Los Angeles, CA; Portland, OR; and Huntsville, AL. More cities and dates are coming soon. This is a “must see” film!

The Colonoscopy: One of Many Important Preventive Health Screenings

Today I had a colonoscopy. My last one was back in 2012.  Based on my medical history, my doctor recommends them every five years.  So, knowing that early detection saves lives, I scheduled it so I can start the new year with a clean colon. The picture above shows my first meal after after my colonoscopy, earlier today. It was steel cut oats and rolled oats with blue berries and raisins with one third cup of almond milk…that’s right, no sugar or sweeter. Though fruit can be considered a sweetener, I often eat my oatmeal without fruit.

Have you had a colonoscopy?

Do you make sure you get your preventive health screenings?

It is sad that people spend more time and money doing preventive maintenance on their car than on their body. Yes. Lots of people spend time and money making sure their car gets oil changes, expensive tires and rims, detailing, special upgrades, etc.

Some even spend more time planning their vacation(s) they do planning in areas that help with their quality of life now and in the future. From planning health screenings to planning healthier meals to planning some type of regular physical activity, the harsh reality is:  You either take the time NOW to take care of yourself, or “time will take you”.  For those of you who think:

-1) It cost too much to eat healthy.  I ask:  How much does it cost when you get sick? From the time off your job, to the cost of the medicine, to the cost of the doctor’s appointment, which cost less?

-2) I do not have time to work out, it is not safe to walk in my neighborhood, or it too far to go to walk at the mall; I ask: how much time do you spend finding out which cell phone to buy, how to download music, how to find the best weave and weed?  It is all about priorities!

3) I do not have any of those diseases in my family.  I am pretty healthy.  I never get sick.  Really?  Do you really know your family history? Relatives do not always share all of their illnesses.  Besides, some people die before the disease manifest itself.  Do you really want to take that chance?

When a person gets a long term illness someone has to go to the doctor and/hospital with them. Patients are not allowed to drive home from procedures that require anesthesia.  That means your illness, many are preventable, affect and inconvenience others. Diabetes and morbid obesity are two of the worst. They often require long-term regular treatments.

Some of the same people, who spend more time on car maintenance than their health care have health insurance.  Some of the most important preventive health checkups include:

– blood pressure checks: drug store and fire stations have free testing. High blood pressure often has no signs. So get periodic tests.

– mammograms are offered free by Susan G. Komen for those without healthcare, or can’t afford the deductible to get one. https://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/Mammography.html

– prostate exams are given free by local clinics and Northside Hospital. Contact Northside at:  https://www.northside.com/prostate-cancer-screenings

– colonoscopies, under the current Affordable Care Act (also called ACA or ObamaCare) became a preventive procedure that is covered 100%. So for the past few years, there was no cost to those covered under ObamaCare.

– HIV tests are given free by several local organizations that include Aid Atlanta at http://www.aidarlanta.com or call 1-800-561-2728.  Also, HIV test kits are sold in most drug stores.

– Dental care is important because what happens in the mouth affects the entire body. Many local clinics offer low cost or sliding scale fees. Free clinics includes the Ben Massell Dental Clinic:   https://www.benmasselldentalclinic.org

-Vision care, especially test for glaucoma are criticahttp especially if you have diabetes.  Free vision care: http://www.allaboutvision.com/eye-exam/free-exam.htm

For low cost vision care, contact your local county. In Fulton County, use this link:  http://www.fultoncountyga.gov/vision-care

Other free health screenings are given annually at various health conferences that include cholesterol and blood sugar.  This is an examination of one: http://www.champsga.org/health-summit.htm

Preventive health screenings are the key to our quality of life as we continue to have more birthdays.  However, babies, teens, millennials, baby boomers and seniors need regular health screenings just as much as our homes need smoke detectors with a working battery.  Yes. It is that critical!  Therefore, I  challenge you to take the time to do what you need to do to prevent or catch diseases in their early stages so they can be treated early enough to allow you and your family members to have a good quality of life. Make it a priority in 2018 to get your preventive health screenings by scheduling one each quarter.