Atlanta Snow and Ice Slows Travel

Whether you are traveling in or through Atlanta, the first snow of the season has slowed everyone down.  Travel by plane, train, bus, and car have all been affected. As commuters, we simply need to pack our patience.

However, the best possible thing to do is stay off the roads; especially at night when the temperature dips below freezing and it is impossible to see most downed trees and power lines. Over 80,000 residents across north Georgia are still without power.

Today, as I was driving down Collier Drive (near Larchmont Drive) in northwest Atlanta, I encountered a huge tree that blocked the road. Though cautiously going the posted 30 mph, it shocked me to see the tree across the road.

As I turned around to take another route, I stopped on the side of the road to honk to warn drivers of the danger ahead.  And, I asked them to call 911.  Since this is Collier Heights, and the squeaky wheel gets the oil, I knew it would take more than my call to 911 to get a crew out to remove the tree before nightfall. It was already 4:40pm.

One driver, after she made the u-turn stopped to say since she could not see the tree, she did not believe me.  Yet, she wanted to thank me because she had decreased her speed.

Later on WSB TV2, it is apparent that our 911 calls made a difference. The 11pm news showed fire fighters and (what appeared to be) another crew of men with chain saws cutting and removing the huge tree piece by piece.  Thanks to all who called 911.  Together we made sure no one got hurt by plowing into the tree when it became too dark to see it.

 

Atlanta’s New Mayor Will Be Known Soon

 

Regardless of which woman wins tonight’s election, Keisha Lance Bottoms or Mary Norwood, Atlanta will continue to be a good city. We have the opportunity to make it a great city when more of us regularly participate in meetings, forums, etc. that allow us to be informed and weigh in on decisions being made about our health, housing, safety and economic well being.

Remember:
1) “A closed mouth does not get fed.”
2) Most of what you need to know about city, county and school boards meetings is on public television (also available on your mobile device) and is kept in archives online. Televised meetings are repeated often (for those without a DVR).

3) You have to participate in the well being of your neighborhood.  It does not stay clean and safe by itself.  Good neighbors and productive neighborhood associations and Neighborhood Planning Units (NPUs) are what controls these things.
4) If you do not understand the connection between your vote and what our elected officials are doing; your vote and your neighborhood crime rate; your vote and your the amount of blight in your neighborhood; then you have a lot you need to “Google”. The answers are all on your mobile device. No mobile device? Try your “free” neighborhood public library. The librarian is waiting to help you find answers to all of your questions.

Did you know that you can tell whether a neighbor has high or low voter turnout by  how it looks?  Case in point:  If you drive through any neighborhood in the U.S. where all the lawns are pristine and there is very little litter (or none at all), with few exceptions, the voter is high.  However, if you drive through a neighborhood and there are lots of unkept yards, lots of blight, and litter; the voter turnout, with few exceptions, is extremely low.  The squeaky wheel always gets the oil.

Now, discuss that on social media and among your circle of friends.