About Sandy Springs reporter. (Sandy Springs, GA) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 15, 2013)
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Publisher assumes no responsibility for information contained in advertising. Any opinions expressed in print or online do not necessarily represent the views of Reporter Newspapers or Springs Publishing, LLC. 8 | NOV. 15 - NOV. 28, 2013 To the editor: I have recently been made aware that the city has voted to destroy three local businesses, including Eric Bern’s Photogra phy Studio, which is an exceptionally flourishing staple of the city at this point, to extend a road. What’s more, I learned that: 1) The money offered to Eric in return for the proposed appropriation of his property is no where near what would be required for him to relocate his business; 2) The city did not consult any of these business owners prior to taking this vote, and 3) Eric proposed several alternatives to the city that would allow him to keep his studio where it is and save the city money on this project — alterna tives that have been ignored and seemingly blown off. I’m looking at the Sandy Springs seal on the city website as I type this email to you. The city’s actions in this event so far are the antithesis of the city’s slogan: “Honest, Efficient, Re sponsive.” How can you claim honesty after keeping this secret from the people it would impact most, and deciding that if they don’t cooperate, you’ll use legal action against them in accor dance with the divine right of township? How can you claim efficiency if you choose actions that cost more money than necessary to the city, and displace businesses that don’t need to be displaced, ultimately costing them more than the pittance you’ve offered? And how can you claim to be responsive when you ignore your citizens? In a time when almost everyone who doesn’t work for a form of government complains about all forms of govern ment, I’d think that at least local govern ments would start to listen more to their constituents, who pay their salaries. Or perhaps you consider them subjects rath er than your employers. Governments are supposed to lead and serve. Governments (supposedly) exist so that a body of people can conduct themselves smoothly together and get their needs met. They don’t exist to serve the interests of peo ple in power more than they serve everyone else. SPECIAL Eric Bern, in front of his studio, located at 161 Mount Vernon Highway, in Sandy Springs. I make that distinction because I think a lot of angry peo ple would argue that if you’re a government official represent ing people, you should be entirely objective. Not so. If you’re a citizen of a city who happens to work for its government, you have the same say as everyone else in anything, because it affects you just as much. So consider someone coming to your house, telling you that they’re going to tear it down, offering you an insulting compensation, and then threatening legal action if you don’t give up what you own because someone else wants it. You may be thinking, “that’s not the same thing be cause it’s my home,” or “that would never happen to me...” From a business owner’s perspective, it is the same thing. Investing the heart and soul in a business makes it just as signifi cant as a home. And yes, it can happen to you, too. I hope you’ll reconsider the city’s han dling of this affair, and I’m sure that doing so will reinforce the citizens’ faith in your honesty, efficiency and responsiveness. Andrew Webb LETTERS TO THE EDITOR E-mail letters to editor@reporternewspapers.net City should pay up To the editor: In response to the article under Commentary by Eric Bern in the Nov 1-14 issue of the Sandy Springs Report er, I would like to object to the bully tactics the City Council is using to get the property they have decided is the only place they would like to put the city center. It reminds me of the case a few years ago where a City Council decided that a lower-income neighborhood on the prime waterway in their communi ty could be re-developed and be very “good” for the community as a whole. I feel that what our City Council is doing to these businesses and people is ethically wrong. They may be able to do it legally, but it is wrong to take other peoples’ property just because they have | www.ReporterNewspapers.net decided it is what they want. While I am a supporter of the idea of a town center that is walkable and more bike-friendly, I think that if they came to the conclusion that this is the only place that accomplishing this goal is possible, then if they must use emi nent domain to force people to move for their project “for the good of the community,” then they should actually have to pay the real price for these busi nesses and people to move. Eric Bern makes a very good argu ment when he talks about having spent years building his business and custom er base, and the disruption to his busi ness and income in order for him to have to relocate his business. It takes time, in his case, to build an outdoor space with the right light ing for his photography business. This is something that I’m sure the real es tate appraiser did not take into consid eration. It doesn’t just happen. He should be compensated appro priately so that he can afford to buy something in the same area that his cus tomer base is accustomed to. And espe cially since there are other sites, maybe not as central as the Target location, but this site is a choice the City Council has made. If they are dead set on only this location, then they should have to pay the cost of the real property value. The Sherman-Williams Paint Store should have been better accommodated as well. This is “Big Government” bul ly tactics. I’m thankful I did not have an established business or home the city decided they wanted and had the right to take it from me. I feel great empathy for these people who have worked hard for many years to build their businesses, only to have Big Government take it from them for much less than their real value. Brenda Willumu ss
