Clearing Up Campaign Rhetoric
One candidate for City Council uses a lot of campaign rhetoric without any detail. Even answers to questions don't provide clairty - if you get them at all.
This individual who is running for the current post I serve the citizens of Sugar Hill from posted this on her Facebook campaign page yesterday.
On its face, it’s a pretty typical campaign post. Vague. Populist. Loosely implying inappropriate activities by the local government that she will fix.
So let’s go through it and unpack it a bit.
I’m not sure what “fair growth” means - it’s not defined. What is “fair growth”? The city, as previously documented, is growing slower than ever. The city’s comprehensive plan, Envision100, which is the community developed plan for the city’s growth, is the guiding document. The two city councilmembers who have endorsed this candidate voted against the community developed comprehensive plan.
The comprehensive plan is the community’s plan - not the elected officials, not the city’s - the citizens’ plan. Is she against this plan? Does she not believe the citizens’ plan is “fair”?
Next, she says that “too much of our city’s resources are tied up in projects that don’t serve the broader community”. Again, no specifics - no projects named, no description of resources, no examples of projects that she would support that would “serve the broader community”.
Current City Projects
Let’s look at the city’s current projects, whose progress are documented monthly on the city’s website.
Here’s the most recent report for your review. Let’s go through the projects:
TRANSCO Natural Gas Meter Station: This upgraded meter station, the first major investment in the city’s natural gas system since the 1960s, is nearly complete. This serves the entire city plus those outside the city who have Sugar Hill for their natural gas provider.
2025 LMIG Street Repair/Repaving: This program repaved 4.7 miles of the city’s streets. The city is responsible for about 76.2 miles of streets. At this pace, the city’s streets would be repaved about once every 16 years. Typical streets need repaving every 20-25 years.
PIB East and Spring Hill Sidewalks: This project will add about 1,700 feet of sidewalks to the city, further connecting residents to the Greenway and other gaps within the sidewalk network in the city.
Highway 20 Greenway Bridge: This bridge for the greenway over Highway 20 has been discussed at length, including here on Strong Communities.
Ridge Lake Park Phase II: The addition of a playground to Ridge Lake Park.
Cemetery Fencing/Atlas Parking Lot Fencing: Completion of fencing of Sugar Hill’s historic cemetery and city owned property.
Downtown Greenway: This federally funded project will connect the Greenway currently being constructed with the Highway 20 expansion between PIB and Buford Highway from its terminus at PIB along Alton Tucker to the Greenway Bridge.
Hillcrest North Greenway: An expansion of the Greenway to the north of Highway 20 through a wooded section terminating at a new trailhead near Richland Creek and tying in the already constructed portions of the Greenway to the north of Highway 20.
E Center Upgrades: Addition of a shade structure and door hardware
Apparently this candidate will only support projects that “support the broader community”… Whatever that means. I’m not sure which of the above projects don’t serve “the broader community” - perhaps she’ll clarify.
Where has there not been “fair competition for project bidding” and what “additional checks and balances” is she proposing? What does “promote diversity among the vendors our city works with” mean?
The city bids projects in accordance with state law - the city is required to have the bids open to the public. The bidders on a project must be qualified to do the work and the city on construction projects (depending on the funding source, which can dictate other metrics) is awarded to the lowest qualified bidder. The city lists all of its bidding and RFPs (request for proposals) on its website.
Checkmark 1: What does “slow the pace” mean? How do you “ensure that our city’s growth truly benefits everyone in our community”? Think about that standard for a second - re-read that sentence. She is promising that, if elected, she will ensure that growth truly benefits everyone. How will she fulfill that promise?
Regarding growth, there hasn’t been an apartment/mixed-use development proposed in the city since December 2021. And it was denied.
Regarding other zonings, here are all the approved zonings from 2020-2025 that were presented during the zoning map update to City Council a few months ago.
The dark orange are townhomes - there are 6 of those and the only one approved since 2022 was a downzoning from condominiums to townhomes. Pair that with the two articles on growth that I previously posted, you’ll see flat to declining rates in our schools and overall growth in general.
In so far as “evaluating traffic”, that’s been done for decades. We live in a car centric development pattern - that’s not going to change no matter how much evaluation you do.
Checkmark 2: This no subtly implies that qualified contractors have NOT had a “fair chance”. That is completely false. All qualified bidders have the same opportunity to win a city project - bidding for construction projects is based on the lowest qualified bidder.
This is irresponsible for a candidate to make this claim and it is incumbent upon the accuser of such a ridiculous assertion to show some sort of evidence that this has not happened.
One community member asked her about this - reading her response makes even less sense.
Checkmark 3: As previously outlined, the Assistant City Manager provides monthly updates on city projects, both major and minor on the city’s website. He also presents that update to City Council at our regular monthly meeting providing Mayor and Council to ask questions about projects.
You should really be careful of candidates who use the word “everyone” often - that’s a promise nobody can deliver on. You should also be skeptical of a candidate who obviously is using ChatGPT for policy positions and responses.
Following A Pattern
This follows a pattern by this candidate. Below is an interaction with her where she was not able to provide clear answers to very straightforward questions about her policy position on the budget. This occurred on a local Facebook group on a thread she started regarding the city’s millage rate hearing.
It started out with a simple question about the millage rate.
I responded to the question with this.
She responded with this.
This is not actually answering the question - this is electoral platitudes. The equavalent of saying you can have your cake and eat it too.
Another resident asked her a question.
Pretty straightforward question - if you rollback the millage rate to hold 2025 city revenue to the same amount as 2024, you MUST make cuts because inflation alone has reduced the value of the dollar over the prior year.
Her response.
This post is full of incorrect information and lack of clarity, so I asked her about it.
Unfortunately, despite questions from myself and others for her to clarify her questions, she did not. So we’re left to speculate on what she meant by her policy positions.
What It Means
The election for Mayor and two City Council positions will be held November 4th from 7 AM to 7 PM at City Hall. Early voting is now through this Friday, October 31st, from 9 AM to 5 PM.
Turnout is typically very low for local elections - one City Council position in 2023 literally ended in a tie and forced a runoff. Another was decided by less than 20 votes.
Your vote matters. Especially in local elections.
A Strong Community is one where the local residents participate and the easiest way to participate is to be an informed voter.
Taylor another outstanding article! You’re the only reason I am on Substack. You really help me understand the way our city is being managed and governed. I’m very grateful for your efforts!