Test Drive New Voting System

Test Drive New Voting Systems at Demos in Feb and March

Want to test-drive Georgia’s new voting system before Election Day?

When we go to the polls this year, we'll have new equipment for casting our votes. The new voting system uses touchscreens, printed-out paper ballots, and ballot scanners.

The new paper ballots provide a way to check electronic results after years of complaints of alleged voting irregularities and security issues.

Want to see how they work before you go to the polls in March? You can. There’s a video at Secure the Vote, and then physical demos will be held at the following locations near us:

Virginia-Highland Church
@ 743 Virginia Ave. NE
Feb 25 - 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Sandy Springs Library
@ 395 Mount Vernon Highway NE
Feb. 28 - 2-4 p.m.

Dorothy Benson Senior Multipurpose Complex
@ 6500 Vernon Woods Drive
March 5 - 1-2:30 p.m.

READ: AJC | How the New Voting Machines Work

READ: AJC | Test-Drive of New Voting Machines

READ: LMMNA Government & Elections Guide

READ: Early Voting Locations 2020

READ: Secretary of State Joins King Center for Church Demos

Presidential Primary March 24

UPDATE
Georgia officials have postponed the March 24 Presidential Primary and Special Election and closed all early voting locations due to health and safety reasons. READ MORE.


Save the Date: Presidential Primary March 24

Deadline to Register is Two Weeks from Today 

Hello neighbors! 

This is a friendly reminder to save the date for Georgia's Presidential Primary and Special Election, set for March 24, 2020. We're telling you now because the voter registration deadline is in two weeks, on Feb. 24. Check your voter status online today. 

Georgia's primary is open, meaning voters can choose whether to vote in either the Democratic or Republican primary. Early voting begins March 2, and March 14 is the one Saturday that counties are required to offer early voting.

One extra thing: On the same day, we'll also be asked to vote on whether to maintain the Municipal Option Sales Tax for goods and services in Atlanta. You might recall this is the one-cent sales tax first approved in 2004 to help the city pay for our wastewater infrastructure overhaul. 

Finally, we've put together a LMMNA Government and Elections page on our website to help everyone stay in the loop. It shows you a list of our elected officials, where to vote, when to vote, how to secure an absentee ballot, and much more! 

The web page is a work in progress. If there is additional info you think might be helpful to feature, or anything we should correct, please feel free to contact me. 

Best,
Sean 

LMMNA Communications Chair
swselman@gmail.com

MOST Sales Tax Up for Re-Auth

UPDATE:

Georgia officials have postponed the March 24 Presidential Primary and Special Election scheduled and closed all early voting locations due to health and safety reasons. READ MORE.

MOST 2020 Re-Authorization Vote Set for March 24

The Municipal Option Sales Tax (MOST) requires reauthorization on the March 24, 2020, presidential primary ballot. It is merely a re-authorization of the existing 1-cent tax. If the MOST passes, Atlanta’s in-city tax rate will remain at the current level.

The MOST is a 1-cent sales tax on most goods purchased, and services performed, within Atlanta. It's used to finance the federally mandated Clean Water Atlanta wastewater infrastructure overhaul while keeping water and sewer rates lower than they would be otherwise. 

The city estimates that without a reauthorization of the MOST, there would be a need for a 25 to 30 percent offsetting rate increase. It was initially approved by Atlanta voters in July 2004, and re-authorized by a 3-1 margin every four years since.

Since October 2004, the MOST has generated more than $2 billion in revenue that has supported the successful investment in wastewater infrastructure.

READ: Municipal Option Sales Tax Backgrounder

READ: LMMNA Government and Elections Guide

Community Garden for 2020

Community Garden Ready for Volunteers

We're ready for the second year of our community garden across from the Armand Green Space. We just need you!

The new irrigation system was installed in May 2018, thanks to a generous $2,000 grant from the City of Atlanta and Neighborhood Planning Unit-F. We have area enough for 21 plots and have already built eight raised beds and other shared amenities. A one-year membership is $100.

On March 2, 2019, a group of about 10 neighbors got together to set up the first of eight raised beds. Planting the first year began in March and April. We’re planning the same for 2020. Memberships are available now and help pay for water, general site maintenance, and topsoil.

To get started: Simply download and fill out the waiver posted below. Then send it and a check to LMMNA c/o Community Garden, P.O. Box 14016, ATL GA 30324. You also can pay by Venmo by typing in LMMNA - just be sure to mark it private and add “Community Garden 2020” in the memo line, along with your name and address.

CONTACT:

LMMNA Parks & Garden Chair | Matt Sussman

LINK: Community Garden Waiver

LINK: Community Garden Master Plan

Let's Get Together: February 5

Save the Date: LMMNA Meeting Set for Wednesday, Feb. 5

Happy New Year! It’s time to kick off our growing community efforts with a quarterly meeting of the Lindridge-Martin Manor Neighborhood Association!

Please join us this Wednesday, February 5, beginning 6:45 p.m. at Taverna Plaka, 2196 Cheshire Bridge Road NE. We look forward to seeing you!

There are lots of exciting developments underway affecting Lindridge-Martin Manor, and we want to keep everyone up on the latest news. We also plan a few significant votes by the membership.

Here’s a brief summary of what’s going on right now:

New Chick-Fil-A Proposed

Our neighborhood has been approached and asked to vote on a proposed variance needed to build a Chick-Fil-A at 2419 Cheshire Bridge Road NE – the corner of Sheridan Road and the site of the former Regions Bank.

The developer and builder have shared their plans with the board, and it would be a new concept that’s primarily a drive-in restaurant with a walk-up window and small outdoor eating area. (See an early concept map of the site online.)

Everything is preliminary at this point. To proceed, the developer needs neighborhood support for a variance that would allow them to build next to the Easter Seals of North Georgia, which is currently zoned as a residence.

Guest Speakers from Police and City Council

We also have a couple of guest speakers lined up for Tuesday. One is Maj. Andrew Senzer, the new commander for Atlanta Police Department Zone 2. He’ll introduce himself and give us an update on crime and safety for our neighborhood.

We’ll also hear from Lance Orchid, chief of staff for Atlanta City Councilmember Jennifer Ide. He’ll give us several updates, including a brief recap of a request to build a new bar, The Goat Club, at 2200 Cheshire Bridge Road – the former location of New Baby Products.

There also are a few updates to share from our friends and partners at South Fork Conservancy, especially about construction of the Confluence Trail Bridge. It will soon connect our neighborhood with others on the opposite site of us along Peachtree Creek.

Vote: Budget and Changes to LMMNA By-Laws

Our new treasurer, Leah Rodts, will bring up our proposed LMMNA budget for 2020 and give us a rundown on some of our major initiatives.

After our last meeting, it was also discussed that we might need to update our association bylaws to meet current needs. To that end, the board proposes:

  • Defining a member as having a primary residence here

  • Adding a new, broader sponsor category

  • Establishing that only members may vote – and not sponsors

  • Allowing absentee voting, defining conflict of interest, and adding proof of residency

  • Eliminating quarterly meetings in favor of an annual meeting on the second Wednesday each November

  • Setting up quarterly meetings of the LMMNA Board of Directors

  • Rearranging and updating our committee language:

    • NPU-F committee to combine with Zoning, Planning, Licensing, and Permits

    • Removing the Neighborhood Watch committee

    • Officially adding committees on Code Compliance, Social Media, Neighborhood Parks, Education, Events, Armand Park, and Communications

To read the full proposal of by-law changes, click here.

So, we have a full agenda! Please plan to attend. We will make every effort to keep the meeting moving and be finished by 9 p.m.

Last but not least, our membership drive for 2020 is underway! Please join us! It's only $100 for owners, $50 for renters, and $30 for seniors (65+). You can pay online or send a check c/o LMMNA, P.O. Box 14016, Atlanta, GA 30324.

Thank you for all your support! If you have questions or comments, please drop me a note at president@lmmna.org.

Sincerely,

Kevin Kilbride