News and Updates from DeKalb Citizens Advocacy Council

• This referendum is about ethics, not race
• Reminder of important dates
• Commentary:  What if the problem is HR?
• Call to action: How you can make a difference

Hello Supporters
We’ve had a very busy two weeks since our last newsletter, speaking at events throughout the County, distributing yard signs, and beginning the first stages of a neighborhood canvassing effort. 
If you’re interested in helping canvas either your neighborhood or other neighborhoods you can recommend, please leave us a message at info@dekalbcitizens.org.

This Referendum is about Ethics, Not Race
Hopefully, you’ve seen our response to Sen. Jones introduction of “the race issue” in Bill Torpy’s column in the AJC.  Here’s the comment we posted on Facebook:
In Bill Torpy’s recent article about the upcoming referendum, Senator Emanuel Jones accused the bill’s opponents of opening racial fissures.  He brought this up, not us.  In our opinion, Ethics is the issue, not Race.  We are joined in that sentiment by Joel Edwards of Restore DeKalb who told a multi-racial audience attending the PRISM (Pride Rings in Stone Mountain) meeting Thursday night:  “Ethics is not a black thing or a white thing; it’s a we thing – as in We the People.”  DeKalb Citizens Advocacy Council is a multi-racial non-profit organization with support from citizens and organizations throughout the County.
We have posted our full response to Senator Jone’s race assertion at this link: https://dekalbcitizens.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Ethics-is-the-issue.pdf
 

• wearing one of our stickers 
• standing in support as we speak before the legislators

Early Voting
Early voting will start Tuesday, October 15^th and run through Friday, November 1^st.
 Four locations will be open for early voting between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.  
            Brookhaven:   Briarwood Recreation Center
                                    2235 Briarwood Way NE, Atlanta, GA 30319
            Decatur:          DeKalb Voter Registration & Elections Office
                                    4380 Memorial Dr # 300, Decatur, GA 30032           
            Dunwoody:     Dunwoody Library
                                    5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd, Dunwoody, GA 30338
            Stonecrest:     Stonecrest Library
                                    3123 Klondike Rd, Lithonia, GA 30038
 
Commentary:  What if the problem is HR?
There are many provisions in the Revised Ethics bill that are damaging, but one of the worst is the requirement that employees report ethics complaints about their immediate supervisor to Human Resources (HR.)  The provision doesn’t include anything that makes HR forward a complaint to the Ethics Board.  The onus to move the complaint forward is totally on the employee who makes the complaint.
BUT, what if the ethics complaint addresses a problem within HR itself?  There is strong motive for those in HR to retaliate against the employee reporting the problem.  HR can sit on the complaint in perpetuity.  There is a high likelihood that the Ethics Board would never hear of the complaint.  Additionally, there is nothing that prevents HR from reporting the complaint to that supervisor, further creating the opportunity for retaliation or the outright dismissal of the employee. 
This reporting requirement presents an overwhelming roadblock for ethics complaints.  The chance that complaints would be reported by employees at all is extremely low.  The culture of rampant ethics violations such as existed prior to 2015 will undoubtedly reemerge.

Call to action:  How You Can Make a Difference
 
We are a grassroots organization and need all the help we can get in reaching voters. One way you can help is by spreading the word to your neighbors and contacts. Most people are completely unaware of the Ethics ballot question.  

• Go to at https://dekalbcitizens.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Conversation-Guide where you’ll find our Conversation Guide.  It walks you through our three main concerns about the proposed revisions and provides answers to the questions you will most likely be asked.
• We’ve also created a short e-mail message you can use to send to your network of DeKalb friends and contacts.  That link is: https://dekalbcitizens.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Neighbor-to-Neighbor-Email-Sample.pdf
• Join our Facebook Page: facebook/groups/dekalbcitizens
• Place a Yard Sign in your yard.  A well-placed sign can influence every driver, walker or bicyclist who passes by.  Signs can be ordered at:  www.dekalbcitizens.org 
• Donate:  Our campaign is gaining momentum!  That's extremely gratifying, but it also means that we need money for more literature, more yard signs, etc.  You can donate by clicking the button below.