Walking town hall addresses community needs, concerns
More than a dozen DeKalb County residents joined county commissioner Larry Johnson during a walking town hall June 19.
The group gathered at the DeKalb Code Enforcement headquarters on Candler Road in Decatur and walked the streets of south DeKalb.
During the walking town hall, Johnson addressed resident concerns regarding economic development, blight and crime. Johnson said community members have to help to address some of the issues.
“It can’t just be the government getting it done by ourselves. If we’re going to get better, we cannot do it by ourselves,” Johnson said. “If we come out and clean the area and pick up the litter, then what happens two days later? More litter. It’s a community effort.”
DeKalb County Police Department South Precinct Major Danny Jordan joined the walking town hall, along with other DKPD officials.
Jordan, a longtime resident of south DeKalb, said the walking town hall was a great way to listen to the concerns of residents.
“It’s a great idea,” Jordan said. “We need everybody on board to try and better our community. Getting out here and even showing our presence can help get people engaged and it gives us an opportunity to actually see what someone may make a complaint about. We can identify areas that you may not be able to see sitting behind a desk.”
During the walking tour, Johnson informed residents the county is working to reduce blight and trash in the area. DeKalb’s operation clean sweep is in its third year. The initiative focuses on roadside enhancement, litter collection, illegal dumping, and removing debris, trash and grass from streets, neighborhoods, sidewalks, roadway drains and county rights of way.
South DeKalb resident Monique Newsome said she attended the walking town hall so she could know what is going on in her community and find out what she could do to help. Newsome said she has lived in south DeKalb for nearly two decades and has seen a lot of changes in the area—good and bad.
“When I first moved into the area it was a typical suburban community. Then the recession hit and a lot of people came into my particular area with the Section 8 vouchers and rentals. I went to having neighbors I knew to neighbors I don’t know and having rotating visitors.”
Newsome said she’s encouraged by the work commissioner Johnson has done for south DeKalb and has seen a resurgence in the area over the last five years.
“It’s not back to where it was, but I have seen the county step up in the last few years with code enforcement and sidewalk improvements,” Newsome said. “I can see where the county is trying. It doesn’t seem like they try as hard as some other areas of the county, but they’re trying.”
