News and Community Involvement






97. Public must demand new referendum for MARTA sales tax, speak out against retaliatory actions
https://ocgnews.com/op-ed-public-must-demand-new-referendum-for-marta-sales-tax-speak-out-against-retaliatory-actions/

96. MARTA seeks $166K in attorneys’ fees for ‘frivolous’ lawsuit against its operating contract


94. DeKalb charter review panel holds first meeting -- and gets new leader


89.  DeKalb officials, advocates push back on senator’s redistricting idea


85. JUDGE REJECTS CLOSED MEETINGS FOR ILLEGAL ORDINANCES IN ATLANTA

84. Judge delays decisions on controversial Stonecrest recycling plant

83.MARTA Plans To Restore Bus Services After One Year substandard performance Mass Transit April 22, 2021

82. DeKalb County Has a New Ethics Board, Now the Work Begins AJC Mar 15, 2021

81. Appeal Sought As Judge Rules Records Act Excludes Penalties Atlanta Progressive News Mar 8, 2021


79. GA: MARTA's COVID-19 bus plan goes to court (Mass Transit) Oct. 23, 2020
https://www.masstransitmag.com/bus/news/21159673/ga-martas-covid19-bus-plan-goes-to-court

78. Judge hears arguments in Georgia activist's lawsuit against MARTA (The Neighbor)  Oct 22, 2020

77. Judge hears arguments in Georgia activist's lawsuit against MARTA The Center Square Georgia Trends Daily Oct 22, 2020

75. Protestors want MARTA to restore bus service


72. Atlanta seeks to gut provisions of Georgia Open Records Act
http://atlantaprogressivenews.com/2020/09/23/atlanta-seeks-to-gut-provisions-of-georgia-open-records-act/

71. A politically sensitive lawsuit against DeKalb Commissioners moving slowly Williams v. DeKalb County Aug 19, 2020
https://www.wsbtv.com/video/?id=501c849e-32b3-4622-8b9c-a8e0d8390431&

70. Resident Sues MARTA for Suspending Bus Service Due to the Coronavirus Planetizen July 9, 2020
https://www.planetizen.com/news/2020/07/109824-resident-sues-marta-suspending-bus-service-due-coronavirus

69. Activist sues Atlanta transit authority to reinstate bus routes The Center Square July 9, 2020
https://www.thecentersquare.com/georgia/activist-sues-atlanta-transit-authority-to-reinstate-bus-routes/article_6ca3a544-c220-11ea-91b3-7bd0e83363ce.html

68. A community activist is pressing MARTA to restore dozens of bus routes it eliminated because of the coronavirus pandemic -- and he's taking his case to court. Mass Transit Mag July 9, 2020
https://www.masstransitmag.com/bus/news/21145424/ga-lawsuit-seeks-restoration-of-marta-bus-routes

67. NEW: Lawsuit seeks restoration of MARTA bus routes (AJC) July 9, 2020
https://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt--politics/lawsuit-seeks-restoration-marta-bus-routes/XanaQF4cg9GRAix7oJwTpL/

66. Community activist Ed Williams blasts MARTA for cutting transit services, says poor disproportionately impacted On Common Ground News July 7, 2020
https://ocgnews.com/community-activist-ed-williams-blasts-marta-cutting-transit-services-says-poor-disproportionately-impacted/

65. MARTA lawsuit filed to re-instate 70 eliminated bus routes Atlanta Daily World June 27, 2020
https://atlantadailyworld.com/2020/06/27/marta-lawsuit-filed-to-re-instate-70-eliminated-bus-routes/

64. Judge recuses himself from DeKalb commission pay raise lawsuit AJC July 2, 2020
https://www.ajc.com/news/local/judge-recuses-himself-from-dekalb-commission-pay-raise-lawsuit/mdlEwWWqgY0o5LzZSa9NjN/

63. Op/Ed: The Right to Protest Police Brutality. Violence is Not the Answer. Can justice wait? May 29, 2020
https://ocgnews.com/right-protest-police-brutality-violence-not-answer-can-justice-wait/

62. MARTA's reduced routes may impact voter turnout ADW May 26, 2020
https://atlantadailyworld.com/2020/05/26/martas-reduced-routes-may-impact-voter-turnout/

61. MARTA's reduced routes may impact voter turnout OCG May 22, 2020
https://ocgnews.com/martas-reduced-routes-may-impact-voter-turnout-metro-atlanta/

60. MARTA cuts services without vote or public Input
ADW April 20, 2020
https://atlantadailyworld.com/2020/04/20/marta-cuts-services-without-vote-or-public-input/

59. Citizen activist wants county to give back pay raise he says was illegal WSBTV Mar 17 2020
https://www.wsbtv.com/video/local-video/citizen-activist-wants-county-give-back-pay-raise-he-says-was-illegal/F3NY3VDW3CL3L5PXCPRHWSL6UA/

58. Lawsuit challenging DeKalb commission's pay raise vote gets new life AJC Mar 16 2020
https://www.ajc.com/news/local/lawsuit-challenging-dekalb-commission-pay-raise-vote-gets-new-life/jqgKmdI4aZDDmj8Tb2Ts8H/

57. Georgia Supreme Court rules on cases Albany herald Mar 14 2020
https://www.albanyherald.com/news/georgia-supreme-court-rules-on-cases/article_7a5df46c-65f2-11ea-906e-bb366ac78e18.html

56. Citizen activist’s pay raise fight heard by Georgia Supreme Court WSBTV Feb 10 2020
https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/citizen-activists-pay-raise-fight-heard-by-georgia-supreme-court/MTHBPK6DZFFF3GO4TXTQ5O7K4I/

55. Commentary: MARTA Contract a bad deal for metro Atlanta ADW Jan 8 2020
https://atlantadailyworld.com/2020/01/08/commentary-marta-contract-is-a-bad-deal-for-metro-atlanta/

54. Did DeKalb commissioners violate the state’s open meetings law again? AJC Nov 11 2019
https://www.ajc.com/news/did-dekalb-commissioners-violate-state-meetings-law-again/vy5uNoklubJTemj51c9OEO/

53. Commissioner pay increase case heard in Supreme Court Champion Oct 22, 2019
http://thechampionnewspaper.com/news/local/commissioner-pay-increase-case-heard-in-supreme-court/

52. Justices appear skeptical of DeKalb County pay raise vote AJC Oct 22, 2019
https://www.ajc.com/news/local/justices-appear-skeptical-dekalb-county-pay-raise-vote/HFOTkhZg3vaTW7SZ2rQWXI/

51. Georgia Supreme Court takes up DeKalb County Commission pay raise ATL Biz Journal Oct 22, 2019
https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2019/10/22/georgia-supreme-court-takes-up-dekalb-county.html

50. UGA law students tackle DeKalb pay raise lawsuit at Supreme Court AJC Oct 18, 2019
https://www.ajc.com/news/local/uga-law-students-tackle-dekalb-pay-raise-lawsuit-supreme-court/Nb09i0k7G692NnculTcMpL/

49. Roy Barnes says APS board should vote publicly on superintendent contract AJC Sep 13, 2019
https://www.ajc.com/news/local/carstarphen-attorney-says-aps-board-should-vote-publicly-contract/GoplTmlBWtcqTmQdjUD4XK/

48. MARTA continued extension of sales taxes without voter referendum OCG Aug. 30, 2019
https://ocgnews.com/oped-marta-continued-extension-sales-taxes-without-voter-referendum/

47. Letter to the Editor On Common Ground News July. 18, 2019 (MARTA contract extended without a referendum)
https://ocgnews.com/letter-to-the-editor/

46. High Court to hear pay raise case Dunwoody Crier Mar. 26, 2019
http://www.thecrier.net/news/article_88dbcce8-4f6a-11e9-bac8-3352b7d100e2.html

45. Ga. Supreme Court to hear appeal on DeKalb commissioners' pay raises AJC Mar. 21, 2019
https://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt--politics/supreme-court-hear-appeal-dekalb-commissioners-pay-raises/nxfwAbdutqoQQuGEiT3UgL/

44. Judge throws out lawsuit challenging DeKalb commissioners' pay hike AJC Jan. 28, 2019
https://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt--politics/supreme-court-hear-appeal-dekalb-commissioners-pay-raises/nxfwAbdutqoQQuGEiT3UgL/

43. Citizen gets day in court to fight DeKalb Commissioner's pay raise AJC Jan. 10, 2019
https://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt--politics/citizen-gets-day-court-fight-dekalb-commission-pay-raise/7lwSeVNEhSLTfHUxP7kCaI/

42. Update: Commissioner Pay Raise Controversy Reaches Superior Court Champion Jan. 10, 2019
http://thechampionnewspaper.com/news/local/update-commissioner-pay-raise-controversy-reaches-superior-court/

41. New board to oversee transit expansion across metro Atlanta AJC Dec. 14, 2018
https://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt--politics/new-board-oversee-transit-expansion-across-metro-atlanta/vRokGfsvlHC6tpzlIpPhLK/

40. Is the new ATL transit authority a bad deal? OCG Nov 29, 2018
https://ocgnews.com/new-atl-transit-authority-bad-deal/?fbclid=IwAR0jX9nIvkLSVBAkxJLR3CluMCBKXJov0F_doVObol1HIQ9lKkm1N39t4Ls

39. Atlanta-region Transit Link authority is taxation without representation Crossroadnews Nov 28, 2018
http://www.crossroadsnews.com/forum/atlanta-region-transit-link-authority-is-taxation-without-representation/article_7020f8f0-f35c-11e8-ba05-93fed840663d.html

38. Charges will not be filed against DeKalb commissioners Champion Nov 19, 2018 http://thechampionnewspaper.com/news/local/charges-will-not-be-filed-against-dekalb-commissioners/

37. DeKalb solicitor-general suggests commissioners redo pay raise vote AJC Nov 20, 2018
https://www.myajc.com/news/local-govt--politics/dekalb-solicitor-general-suggests-commissioners-redo-pay-raise-vote/mlCd8CKQgw52vUTcDuqyCM/

36. Citizens deserve answers about Atlanta Sports City (Oct 12, 2018) Crossroadsnews
http://www.crossroadsnews.com/forum/citizens-deserve-answers-about-atlanta-sports-city/article_664ea722-d328-11e8-8973-7f53478fed48.html

35. MARTA: Is DeKalb’s penny worth the same as Gwinnett and Clayton? (Oct 12, 2018) OCG
http://ocgnews.com/marta-dekalbs-penny-worth-gwinnett-clayton/

34. FULTON INDUSTRIAL, SOUTH DEKALB RAIL ADVOCATES SPEAK OUT AT MARTA BOARD (Oct 5, 2018) Home Rule News
http://myhomerulenews.com/fulton-industrial-south-dekalb-rail-advocates-speak-out-at-marta-board-p734-106.htm

33. MARTA board approves Atlanta expansion plan (Oct 5, 2018) FOX5
http://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/marta-board-approves-atlanta-expansion-plan

32. MARTA admits open meetings error (Sep 25, 2018) AJC
https://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt--politics/marta-admits-open-meetings-error/qewlATXoeo3RH1vSfxwSwN/

31. MARTA faces open meetings lawsuit (Sep 24, 2018) AJC
https://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt--politics/marta-faces-open-meetings-lawsuit/kfCEdyicVIJYWlrWG3OL1O/

30. When DeKalb County commissioners break the law, they must be held accountable (Sep 13, 2018) OCG
https://ocgnews.com/dekalb-county-commissioners-break-law-must-held-accountable/

29. Standing up for right when elected officials break the law 
http://www.crossroadsnews.com/forum/letters_to_editor/i-am-standing-up-for-right-when-elected-officials-break/article_ce5a86ca-b784-11e8-81ea-b3eec53ed548.html

28. Police field complaint in DeKalb commissioners’ pay raise vote (Sep 12, 2018) AJC
https://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt--politics/police-field-complaint-dekalb-commissioners-pay-raise-vote/HsT3RCYLHEot21VOVEulxN/

27. Concerned Citizens for Effective Government speaks out against MARTA Board (Sep 7, 2018) OCG
https://ocgnews.com/concerned-citizens-effective-government-speaks-marta-board/

26. Citizens sue DeKalb commissioners and CEO over pay raise they consider illegal (Aug 29, 2018) Crossroadsnews
http://www.crossroadsnews.com/news/local/citizens-sue-dekalb-commissioners-and-ceo-over-pay-raise-they/article_59b96766-ab98-11e8-8c13-7f2fc4adc71b.html

25. Complaints accuse MARTA board of open meeting violations (Aug 10 2018) AJC
https://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt--politics/complaints-accuse-marta-board-open-meeting-violations/DlXH2uG6l5ZVd5v38boNuM/

24. Attorney General: “The citizens of DeKalb deserve better” (Jul 9, 2018) DeKalb Champion
http://thechampionnewspaper.com/news/local/attorney-general-the-citizens-of-dekalb-deserve-better/

23. Attorney General: DeKalb commissioners illegally gave themselves raises (Jun 21, 2018) OCG
http://ocgnews.com/attorney-general-dekalb-commissioners-illegally-gave-raises/

22. BOC violated Open Meetings Act, could face criminal action (Jun 22, 2018) Crossroadsnews
http://www.crossroadsnews.com/news/local/boc-violated-open-meetings-act-could-face-criminal-action/article_2fc64bb4-74e7-11e8-ad37-237680d173a8.html

21. Attorney general says DeKalb pay raise vote was illegal (Jun 20, 2018) AJC
https://www.myajc.com/news/local-govt--politics/attorney-general-says-dekalb-pay-raise-vote-was-illegal/KRrWNC23kG8iYKFzWsutLK/

20. COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT: South DeKalb groups to launch “Civics 101” series (June 21, 2018)
http://ocgnews.com/community-empowerment-south-dekalb-groups-launch-civics-101-series/

19. County attorney defends DeKalb BOC’s vote on $24,107 raise (Jun 1, 2018) Crossroadsnews
http://www.crossroadsnews.com/news/finance/county-attorney-defends-dekalb-boc-s-vote-on-raise/article_e64d2b6e-6443-11e8-917e-0322a3272a1d.html

18. DeKalb bills to abolish CEO and create Greenhaven city fall short in Ga. House (March 1, 2018) AJC
https://www.myajc.com/news/dekalb-bills-abolish-ceo-and-create-greenhaven-city-die-house/KgPbi4cgiRgXFG00zhaiEK/

17. Commissioners criticized for Pay Increase (March 9, 2018) The Free Press pg 8
https://www.scribd.com/document/373237973/DeKalb-FreePress-03-09-18#from_embed

16. DeKalb CEO focuses on water billing, but complaints per (Feb 25, 2018) AJC
https://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb-ceo-focuses-water-billing-but-complaints-persist/bNeZoJ6gDjuhumGrNtEwvL/

15. DeKalb Town Hall Meeting on Crime and Public Safety in South DeKalb (Feb 26, 2018) WSBTV News
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/dekalb-county/dekalb-county-officials-host-town-hall-to-address-safety-concerns/707702245

14. Readers weigh in on Atlanta Sports City, tire dumping (March 9, 2018) Crossroadsnews
http://www.crossroadsnews.com/forum/readers-weigh-in-on-atlanta-sports-city-tire-dumping/article_ee90171a-2248-11e8-9f12-df05c6724a60.html

13. DeKalb's new public safety director should make the police department more responsive (March 9, 2018) Crossroadsnews
http://www.crossroadsnews.com/forum/dekalb-s-new-public-safety-director-should-make-the-police/article_247fc22a-2254-11e8-9ac1-53065feece5f.html

12. Millar challenging commissioners’ 60 percent pay raise (March 16, 2018) Crossroadsnews
http://www.crossroadsnews.com/news/millar-challenging-commissioners-percent-pay-raise/article_fce4ab28-2879-11e8-a531-d76a340a8936.html

11. UPDATED: DeKalb BOC’s $1.2 billion budget includes pay raises, rainy day fund Feb 27, 2018 OCG
http://ocgnews.com/dekalb-boc-approves-1-2-billion-2018-budget/

10. Greenhaven bill Dead, organizers to discuss what’s next (March 3, 2018) Crossroadsnews
http://www.crossroadsnews.com/news/local/greenhaven-bill-dead-organizers-to-discuss-what-s-next/article_7479aac6-1dd0-11e8-baf7-4356ed14b826.html

9. Lives matter. Another shooting? (Feb 23, 2018) OCG
http://ocgnews.com/lives-matter-another-shooting/

8. Let Freedom Ring, Immigration, Integration, Diversity, and Opportunity, (Feb 16, 2018) OCG
http://ocgnews.com/let-freedom-ring-immigration-integration-diversity-opportunity/ 

7. Residents don’t need to be victims of retailers who close (January 27, 2018) Crossroadsnews
http://www.crossroadsnews.com/residents-don-t-need-to-be-victims-of-retailers-who/image_0a4d2e52-0250-11e8-98ae-2b2b61415fdd.html

6. I Like My County and I want to Make It Better pg 4A (Oct 14, 2015) Free Press 
http://www.scribd.com/doc/283948366/FREEPRESS-100915

5. Open Letter to Citizens of DeKalb County (Feb 19, 2015) Free Press
http://www.scribd.com/doc/256376365/Champion-FreePress-2-19-15

4. DeKalb Needs Leadership Formation New Cities pg .4 (Feb 28, 2015) 
https://issuu.com/crossroadsnews/docs/feb2815

3. Letter to ICEO Lee May and BOC pg 4A (August 27, 2015) Free Press 
http://www.scribd.com/doc/276684078/FreePress-8-27-15

2. Cityhood does not equal prosperity (June 2015) Decaturish
http://www.decaturish.com/2015/06/dear-decaturish-cityhood-does-not-equal-prosperity/

1. Create a city for the right reasons, not because someone else is doing it. pg. 4 (Nov, 4, 2016) Crossroadsnews
https://issuu.com/crossroadsnews/docs/nov0516/ 





Ed Williams. Ed.D. Chair
Concerned Citizens For Effective Government
Facebook.com/groups/ccegov
(678) 304-7736
email: truthcrushtheearth@gmail.com
Twitter.com truthcrushthee2