CITY IN PERIL!
East Point City Government is in deep trouble with a WEAK, INCOMPETENT, and CORRUPT Mayor and City Council in charge. Here are the indisputable facts.
- The newly elected Mayor and two Council Members joined four Council Members who were unwilling to stand up to the fraudulent activities of the former Mayor and other Council Members. Why, because they were guilty of many of the illegal actions themselves. There was never a SINGLE MOTION brought to the floor to stop the illegal use of taxpayers’ money to fund Personal EVENTS of the Mayor and Council Members. Make no mistake, Wednesday Wind Down was a Mayor and Council Event. It could have been stopped at any time by FIVE Council Members voting to end the funding. Five Council Members NEVER voted to FUND the EVENT. The same can be said of the Mayor and Council Members “budgeted” EVENTS.
- The newly elected Mayor and two Council Members inherited the DEBT that these EVENTS INCURRED for the 2026 Fiscal Budget beginning July 1, 2025.
- The newly elected Mayor and two Council Members inherited a “Bloated” City Manager’s Staff and Budget that was never created or approved by the Mayor and Council Members.
- The newly elected Mayor and two Council Members inherited overpaid and underachieving “Direct Hires”.
- The newly elected Mayor and two Council Members inherited a $4 million deficit in the STORMWATER UTILITY.
POSSIBLE SOLUTION #1
FIRE THE “CITY ATTORNEY” IMMEDIATELY!
The previous Mayor and Council Members voted to “RETAIN” a Law Firm for $20,000 a Month and “SERVICES” for $5,000 a Month. There is “NO” Contract or Agreement stating what “Services” were to be provided. The City paid $300,000 a year for an “ABSENTEE” daily City Attorney who was habitually late to Council Meetings if she appeared at all. The City continues to be without any legal daily on staff representation since there is no Assistant City Attorney! This needs to be rectified immediately. Mayor and Council should “FIRE” the poor excuse of a City Attorney and hire an “INTERIM” under an emergency professional procurement.
The job of the City Attorney is to provide legal advice to the Mayor and Council Members, City Manager, Department Heads, and any other Employee of the City. No one can expect the Mayor and Council Members to know all the legal Ordinances, Policies and Related Polices needed in governing the City. Whenever there is a question, they should all be able to call on the City Attorney for legal advice. That is why our City Attorney should be a daily on staff employee with an Assistant Attorney. The City Attorney does not litigate cases in Superior Court and very rarely appears in East Point Municipal Court. So, why in the HELL does the City need to pay over a quarter of a million dollars for a City Attorney?
POSSIBLE SOLLUTION #2!
HOLD THE CITY MANAGER ACCOUNTABLE!
City Manager Redmond Jones is totally out of control! He is making “POLICY”; CREATING POSITIONS, AND SALARIES; ATTEMPTING TO MAKE DEALS TO AVOID THE GRATUATITY CLAUSE; WITHHOLDING FINANCIAL INFORMATION FROM MAYOR AND COUNCIL; and CAUSING DIVISION AMONG THE COUNCIL! I could provide documents for everything highlighted in RED but I will not. It is time the Mayor, Council Members and Residents put some time and effort into our government. I have repeatedly stated that I would be happy to work with, not lead, a Watch Dog Group with no one stepping up to the plate. I am not East Point savior. I am not an elected official. I am and always will be a community activist. Residents should be asking why City Manager Jones failed to inform the Mayor and Council Members that the Stormwater Utility has a $4 million deficit. When did he know it? Why hasn’t a mid-year Budget Financial Report been made? His salary is $203,000 a year. Shouldn’t he be working for it?
POSSIBLE SOLUTION #3!
HOLD THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR EDUCATIONAL TRAINING!
The City annually budgets funding for the EDUCATIONAL TRAINING for the Mayor and Council Members. For the past five years or longer, the amount of the EDUCATIONAL TRAINING BUDGET has been $10,000. Residents should demand that this money is spent for EDUCATIONAL TRAINING and nothing else. The Mayor and Council Members should not be allowed to transfer to another line item. If it is not used for EDUCATIONAL TRAINING, it will automatically go back to the General Fund. I believe that CM Japera Hemming, Tremayne Mitchell and LaTonya Martin Rogers are attempting to address the EDUCATIONAL TRAINING and the WORKING RELATIONSHIPS of the Mayor and Council Members with their Direct Hires and EACH OTHER! THIS IS A GREAT START IF COMPLETED!
I will be happy to work with anyone who wants to help our Mayor and Council Members and Residents to protect our City and ensure Financial Stability while providing the Residents with affordable services and respect!
