Author: On Common Ground News

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…

The  Atlanta City Council and Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms will host an audio conference call to discuss the City’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The call will be held on Wednesday, June 10, 11:30 a.m. The public can tune into the meeting by dialing (877) 579-6743 and entering Conference ID: 8315991256. The call will be simulcast on the Council’s website, YouTube channel, and Facebook and Twitter pages at @atlcouncil, and on Channel 26.

ATLANTA – State Rep. Vernon Jones (D-Lithonia) today announced that he will introduce the Jones Amendment when the 2020 Legislative Session resumes that will accompany other hate crime legislation to make it punishable by law to commit a crime based on a person’s political party affiliation or ideology. The Jones Amendment will be modeled after legislation that Rep. Jones previously introduced, House Bill 1120, before the 2020 legislative session was suspended due to COVID-19. “Americans are being attacked nationwide because of their party affiliation and political ideology. I have personally been subjected to hate speech and threats because of my…

Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) announced on June 8 that Newton County would receive nearly $100,000 from the Department of Justice’s Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program (CESF). The (CESF) program allows states, U.S. territories, the District of Columbia, units of local government, and federally-recognized tribal governments to support a broad range of activities to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus. “The funding is a by-product of the CARES Act, which included $850 million for coronavirus relief funding. Newton County will now have additional funding to purchase more PPE(Personal Protective Equipment) and do what they need to keep…