Author: On Common Ground News

Sean DePalma has departed his position as the City of Stonecrest’s Director of Parks and Recreation to serve as Quality of Life manager in Panama City, Florida, overseeing parks and recreation. DePalma e-mailed the following letter to On Common Ground News in a farewell to the Stonecrest vommunity: Currently, our nation is navigating a new pandemic with COVID-19 while fighting with the time-worn plague of racial discrimination. As a public servant for over twenty years, I know that a successful parks and recreation department directly improves the quality of life for the entire community. Deciding to serve within…

DeKalb Superior Court Judge Tangela Barrie has signed an order approving a petition by the Board of Registration and Elections to extend voting hours to 9:30 p.m. for all DeKalb County polling places that were still open at 7 p.m. If a voter arrived after 7 p.m. at any of those locations, they will be able to vote as long as they are in line by 9:30 p.m. For the following polling place, voting has been extended to the indicated time: Ray of Hope Christian Church, 2778 Snapfinger Road, Decatur—10:10 p.m. The petition to extend the hours for all…

ATLANTA– Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms today announced the creation of the CoA Recovery Fund, a program to support businesses and facilities adversely impacted following the peaceful demonstrations in the City of Atlanta that began on May 29, 2020. The fund offers grants to eligible small businesses to help them address physical damages and other debilitating losses, and to ensure they can continue to offer employment opportunities and support Atlanta’s communities, trade and commerce. “The peaceful protests taking place here in Atlanta and around the world have sent a clear message on the need to address systemic racism in our nation at a deeper…

The Election Day issues relating to the use of state-purchased voting machines represent an attack on the democratic process.  The Secretary of State’s office has alleged these issues resulted from a failure of county leadership. If there was a failure of leadership, it starts where the buck should stop, at the top. The eradication of any ‘learning curve’ rests squarely at the feet of the Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and his office. “Therefore, I am calling on Governor Brian Kemp, Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan, and Speaker David Ralston to immediately launch a comprehensive, top-to-bottom investigation into voting issues,…

Sean DePalma has departed from his position as director of Parks and Recreation with the city of Stonecrest to head the become the Quality of Life manager overseeing Panama City, Florida’s parks and recreation. DePalma e-mailed the following letter to On Common Ground News in a farewell to the Stonecrest vommunity: Currently, our nation is navigating a new pandemic with COVID-19 while fighting with the time-worn plague of racial discrimination. As a public servant for over twenty years, I know that a successful parks and recreation department directly improves the quality of life for the entire community. Deciding to serve within Stonecrest…

Pictured left to right: Brandon Riley, Sean DePalma (center) and Sheldon Fleming who  are taking on new roles in parks and recreation, during a City Council meeing in 2019. Photo by Glenn L. Morgan  Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary announced at the City Council meeting on June 8 that Sean DePalma is returning to Florida where he has been named Quality of Life manager overseeing Panama City, FL parks and recreation.. DePalma started his new job last week. Lary honored DePalma virtually during the ZOOM livestream meeting, commending him for the work he has done as the city of Stonecrest’s first Parks and…

DeKalb County Voter Registration and Elections Office is experiencing technical issues with the new state-issued voting machines. These issues are being seen statewide and are not isolated to DeKalb County. Any voter who has been turned away without casting a ballot should go to any precinct in DeKalb County and ask for a provisional paper ballot. Voters experiencing issues should call the DeKalb County Board of Voter Registration and Elections at 404-298-4020.

ATLANTA —  Today, the Democratic Party of Georgia released the following statement on the widespread issues facing voters across Georgia on Election Day from spokeswoman Maggie Chambers: “So far this Election Day we have received countless reports of widespread voting issues in every corner of the state, and this is not limited to Fulton County or the metro area alone. The Secretary of State’s job is to provide adequate support and training for counties as he implemented Georgia’s new voting system, and he has failed. Across the state, Georgia voters are waiting for hours to cast their ballots because…

ATLANTA – Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) has directed Chairman Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire) and the House Governmental Affairs Committee to investigate irregularities in today’s primary election across Georgia, particularly in Fulton County. Speaker Ralston released the following statement: “The sanctity of our elections – being free and fair – is the very foundation of our system of government. Our elections must be efficient and voters must be confident that their votes will be properly counted. “We are hearing anecdotes from around the state – particularly in Fulton County – this morning of unacceptable deficiencies:  poll workers not being properly…