Excerpted from an article by Dyana Bagby – Reporter, Atlanta Business Chronicle, Atlanta Business Chronicle Sep 8, 2020 A five-member arbitration panel appointed by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs on Sept. 3 issued their unanimous findings in favor of the city of Brookhaven. [see the full article at the Atlanta Business Chronicle]
State panel issues findings on Brookhaven annexation
Ruling paves way for developments at Briarcliff and North Druid Hills – Press release Brookhaven, GA, Sept. 3, 2020 – A five-member arbitration panel appointed by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs issued their unanimous findings in the challenge by the County against property owners seeking annexation into the City of Brookhaven. The ruling settles issues involving…
When Crossing a “Bridge to Far” Equals “Good Trouble”
Georgia’s Governor Kemp has said that a mask mandate is a “bridge too far;”* but we learned from Congressman John Lewis** that crossing bridges, even in the face of violent opposition, is good trouble when it means saving lives and making a difference. Cities across Georgia need to stand up for their citizens and assert…
BLG Works to Protect Neighborhood Quality of Life in Douglasville
The firm is proud of its work for the City of Douglasville as the Georgia Court of Appeals has reversed a lower court ruling that would have allowed a rock crusher facility to be built adjacent to a residential neighborhood in the City. In City of Douglasville v. Bart Boyd, the City argued that the use…
The Devastation of Failing to Listen
I was raised by a pacifist who wholly believed Dr King and Mahatma Ghandi’s creed of nonviolence. Then I learned about WWII and confronted bullies on the playground and realized that sometimes violence is a necessary response to injustice and violence. I enlisted in the Marines to put action to my belief that I was…
Public Hearings Online in Georgia – Chris Balch Clarifies
In an article published today, the AJC stated (without citation or authority) that public hearings by local governments had to be held in person. That is flatly incorrect. Georgia cities, including Brookhaven, have been conducting public hearings via online platforms throughout the COVID-19 crisis and will continue to do so. The Open Meetings Act, O.C.G.A. § 51-14-1et seq., allows…
Governor Kemp’s Executive Order 05.12.20.02 Opens Pools But Leaves Much to the Imagination
Yesterday afternoon, the Governor issued Executive Order 05.12.20.02. Written in the intensely bureaucratic language we have come to expect, the Order is far from a model of clarity. By omission, the Governor has directed that public pools are allowed to reopen. Pools are not included or directly mentioned in the Executive Order but they are…
Chris Balch’s Ordinance for Brookhaven, GA, Designed to Save Lives During COVID-19, Adopted by GMA and ACCG
Chris is thrilled that his recent ordinance for Brookhaven, GA has been adopted by multiple municipalities, the Georgia Municipalities Association, and the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia It’s about saving lives and flattening the curve of COVID-19 to prevent its spread and not overwhelm our healthcare system, while still adhering to the City’s Charter…
SCOTUS to Discuss Chris Balch’s Amicus Brief on Qualified Immunity
The Supreme Court of the United States is still working, despite having postponed arguments for the rest of the month and closing the building to the public. They still meet to discuss pending and new cases every Friday. Craig v. Turner will be presented and discussed at the Court’s April 3 conference. We will likely…
Postponed – Hear Chris Live on Signature Serenade and Help Make a Difference
Update – March 15, 2020 WCLK has postponed their 2020 Spring Membership Campaign. A rescheduled date for Chris and Victoria’s guest co-hosting of Signature Serenade will be posted here when we have that information. Chris and Victoria extend their deep appreciation to all who donated via the link below. If you have not yet had…
You, FCC, tell us again why cities are only allowed to charge rich telcos $270 to attach 5G tech to utility poles? Well, we just reached inside our A$$ and pulled it out, regulator tells court – via TheRegister.co.uk
Brexit aside, no one can call out absurdity like the Brits can. While some folks are still caught up on the red herring that local regulation equals no 5G (that 5G which doesn’t yet exist, by the way), The Register, a UK publication that sports the tagline, “Biting the hand that feeds IT,” highlights the…
The battle over 5G deployment in America’s cities – Balch Law Group on Axios News Magazine
Industry was way ahead of local government and government response for deployment of small cell wireless. They started coming to the City [Brookhaven, GA] with applications to deploy their devices and their facilities before we knew what was going on. And when we finally caught on to what was going on, we were like, “Wait…