Creating a New Old National

The Old National Merchants Association (ONMA) is celebrating 20 years of promoting business along the Old National Highway corridor. It runs near Hartsfield-Jackson Airport thru College Park and into unincorporated South Fulton County. ONMA is leading an effort to renew the area called the Old National Improvements Initiative (ONII). I'm happy to be a part of the effort because I live near the Old National Highway, shop in the area, and have friends who live in the area including my campaign manager Carrisa Baptiste. ONII has four areas of focus: Image/Perception, Aesthetics, Public Safety, Social Climate (A Culture of Excellence). I serve on the Aesthetics Committee and had the opportunity to address over 300 South Fulton Citizens. The event was held June 18, 2009, at World Changers Church International, and moderated by Michael Hightower of the Collaborative Firm.

Presenters discussed challenges the area faces and real solutions on how to improve Old National Highway. Moreover, there were offers and discussions on how citizens can be involved in the effort. There was a question and answer session which allowed input from the public. I reviewed "Community To-Do's" in which I expressed my wife Carmen and I are environmentalists and encouraged citizens to not litter, stop illegal dumping and to participate in recycling. I reinforced programs from Code Enforcement such as Click-It which is a new initiative started by Commissioner Bill Edwards which allows a citizen to take a picture using their cell phone and email code violations in their area directly to code enforcement: clickit@fultoncountyga.gov. The violations which are reported through Click-It will be investiaged within 24 hours. I mentioned the "Tell Line-404-612-TELL (8355)," which is a similar effort using the telephone to report code violations to Code Enforcement, and advocated the Citizen Deputy program.

The Aesthetics committee emphasized efforts to improve MARTA shelters (bus stops). I researched outdoor refuse cans and provided data to our committee. At this meeting I asked South Fulton neighborhoods to adopt a shelter. When individual neighborhoods take responsibility for their communities in concert with city and county governments, there is a better end result.