City Council wish list is ready
November 17, 2008 at 5:19 pm by Scott Henry in NewsIf you’ve been wondering what you could give the Atlanta City Council to make them happy, wonder no more – they’ve issued a list. Unfortunately, unless you’re a state lawmaker, you won’t be able to provide any of the items on the list.
Here’s a selection of wish-list items:
- Amend State law to allow local governments the ability to restrict guns in city parks.
- Amend State law to allow local governments the ability to restrict ownership of assault weapons within the city limits.
- Amend State law to allow municipal courts the ability to suspend drivers’ licenses for failure to pay fines.
- Amend State law to authorize municipalities to require vacant property registration.
- Amend State law to permit photo speed detection devices in school zones.
- Amend the City of Atlanta charter to allow the City to impose a wholesale alcohol tax increase.
- Amend the City of Atlanta charter to allow the City to increase the tax-by-the-drink tax on alcohol.
- Amend the City of Atlanta charter to allow the City to impose a by-the-glass tax for beer and wine.
- Amend State law to permit a local option real estate transfer tax to fund greenspace acquisition and maintenance.
- Amend State election code to require independent school districts to compensate municipalities for the costs of conducting their elections.
- Amend State law to allow cities with a development authority to negotiate for the sale of city surplus property, as an additional tool in marketing property.
- Amend the City charter to allow the municipal court to add a 10% surcharge to any criminal or traffic fine imposed to fund court programs.
- Amend State law to permit the use of liens to collect water/sewer bills.
As for the first two, it ain’t gonna happen; we’ve got us one gun-lovin’ Legislature.
As for raising local liquor taxes: Drunks, unite! We need to fight back this latest assault on intemperance!
And the rest of the suggestions seem to be focused on squeezing a few more shekels out of us, the public – through speeding fines, a court surcharge, a real estate transfer taxes and added leverage on drivers and water-users to pay our bills and fines.
Fellow turnips, prepare to be squeezed.
November 17th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
# 1 has already been “restricted” by concealed carry permits issued by the counties and # 2 has been “restricted” by Federal law. Assault weapons require a Federal Class III license which means fingerprints, extensive background check (substance abuse, felonies, domestic violence, etc), signature of the chief law enforcement officer in the area, a $ 200 tax on the purchase of each weapon, etc etc. Sounds pretty “restricted” to me.
What they really mean by “restrict” is “eliminate”.