Author: On Common Ground News

Richard Rose, president of the Atlanta branch of the NAACP joined the state NAACP today in calling for immediate change in policing and public safety policies in Atlanta and accountability at the highest level in the shooting death of Rayshard Brooks on June 12 in a Wendy’s parking lot. “We demand that the City of Atlanta admit that the police force has a police brutality problem,” Rose said. “We call for the immediate termination of Chief Erika Shields who has demonstrated that she does not have the capacity to make systemic changes in her department to ensure a focus…

The DeKalb County Human Services Department announces the launch of its Youth Services Virtual Village, an online platform bringing resources, programs and activities to children and youth living in DeKalb County. Many children who normally attend recreational facilities and summer camps remain sheltered in place at home as a result of the current COVID-19 pandemic. The Virtual Village is an online platform that provides information, classes and activities to parents and youth from birth through 18 years of age. More than 30 classes and programs that are normally held in person have been converted to this virtual platform connecting instructors…

Event will be livestreamed Sunday, June 14, on Facebook   DeKalb County Police Chief Mirtha V. Ramos will host a Virtual Community Q&A on Sunday, June 14, 6 p.m.,  on the department’s Facebook page. Questions or concerns can be submitted on the Facebook event post beforehand or submitted live during the Q&A session. “I want the community to know that I hear and understand their concerns and frustration,” said Chief Ramos. “I’m hosting this Q&A to reaffirm my stance on honesty and transparency.”  The DeKalb County Police Department is the second-largest police department in Georgia. Chief Ramos is…

                                        State Sen. Emanuel Jones and DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond ATLANTA — The DeKalb County Senate Delegation on June 11 voted unanimously to ask DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond to provide frontline pay to 1,000 county poll workers. State Sen. Emanuel Jones, chairman of the DeKalb Senate Delegation, said poll workers are vital to our democracy and the voting process, and should receive frontline pay for their Election Day service during the June, August and November elections. Thurmond agreed to…

Rockdale County Supervisor of Elections Cynthia Willingham said outstanding ballots will now be counted on Monday, June 15, instead of today, June 12,  because of a myriad of problems and malfunctions across the state on Election Day. Willingham said absentee ballots, military ballots and provisional ballots must still be counted, which will determine who is in a runoff. In the three-way County Commission Chair race, incumbent Oz Nesbit had the lead over challengers Katrina McCollum Young and Brian Jenkins, who were in second and third place respectively. Nesbitt had 9,181 votes (51.92). McCollum Young had 6,270(35.46); and Jenkins…

On Monday, June 1, 2020, Marquez Chandler was the passenger and shooter in a vehicle involved in a drive-by shooting on Green Valley Drive in Conyers.  He is currently WANTED by the Conyers Police Department.   Tipsters will remain anonymous and are asked to contact Crime Stoppers with any information: Call: 404.577.TIPS (8477) Click: www.CrimeStoppersAtlanta.org

Tipsters will remain anonymous and are asked to contact Crime Stoppers with any information: Call:404.577.TIPS (8477) Click: www.CrimeStoppersAtlanta.org 

ATLANTA—Today(June 11), Gov. Brian Kemp signed Executive Order 06.11.20.01 – Empowering a Healthy Georgia. The order addresses ongoing emergency response efforts for fighting the spread of COVID-19. Unless noted otherwise in specific sections, the order goes into effect at 12 AM on June 16 and runs through 11:59 PM on June 30.  Sports: Effective June 16, professional sports teams and organizations must follow the rules and guidelines set by their respective leagues. High school and collegiate teams and organizations must follow the rules and guidelines set by their applicable conferences or associations. Amateur sports teams and organizations…

As a part of addressing health inequities and high numbers of COVID-19 cases in identified DeKalb County ZIP Codes, the DeKalb County Board of Health, with the assistance of the City of Doraville, will open a COVID-19 testing site at the following location on June 15: Former K-Mart Store Parking Lot (at I-285 and Buford Hwy.)
5597 Buford Hwy. NE, Doraville The Doraville location’s hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. As of June 9, the Buford Highway corridor, which include the cities of Brookhaven, Chamblee and Doraville, has 767 of the 4,185 positive COVID-19…

As the state restrictions are being lifted, Rockdale County will reopen the remainder of its parks and trails starting on July 6, 2020.  The park openings will allow residents access to all the county’s public green spaces.  In efforts to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, Rockdale County closed its facilities and properties in March. “We are excited to reopen the remainder of the county’s parks next month and allow residents to get out and enjoy the fresh air and exercise after the shutdown due to COVID 19,” said Rockdale County Chairman Oz Nesbitt.  “As we continue to reopen…