Tucker City Council agenda nuggets

May today be the Friday-est Friday that ever Friday-ed

AUG. 8 — It’s Cathy from Rough Draft with my weekly newsletter on Tucker.  It’s the end of a long week for many, especially students and teachers returning to their classrooms, the new traffic patterns that accompanies BTS, and the road rage that inevitably follows. Be kind.

This week’s newsletter shows you what happens when Tucker Mayor Frank Auman has had enough of crime, gives you a preview of Monday’s city council meeting, shines a light on what happens when good intentions turn into unintended consequences, and provides a peek into what’s happening in Tucker next week. 

 Have a great weekend,
Cathy

‘Taken’ vibes?

In the wake of yet another series of break-ins in the downtown Tucker area, its mayor at an Aug. 5 press conference issued a stern warning to criminals – “We will find you and we will apprehend you, and we will make your lives miserable.”

Frank Auman announced two initiatives designed to deter the activity – a matching grant program for businesses that install or maintain security systems and a $10,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the “organizers” of the efforts.

Three more business break-ins occurred the night before at Baraka Shwarma, 2247 Idlewood Rd., El Taco Naco, 2255 Idlewood Rd., and Paramount Coffee, 2245 Idlewood Rd. As with the past incidents, the attacks involved suspects throwing rocks through doors or windows and stealing cash registers. Other break-ins occurred in Gwinnett County, he said.

 Read more about the prevention initiatives here.

Summer Sippin’ in Roswell

SPONSORED BY ROSWELL INC AND VISIT ROSWELL

Summer Sippin’, the annual beverage competition, is back for its 10th year, now through Aug. 19. Sip your way through Roswell at 61 participating establishments – from breweries and restaurants to coffee shops and tasting rooms – all serving up uniquely crafted, summer-inspired sips.

 Start your Summer Sippin’ journey here.

City Council agenda nuggets

Tucker’s city council meeting on Aug. 11 has a plethora of interesting agenda items, including a new ordinance to put some distance between churches/schools and establishments that have COAMs (Coin Operated Amusement Machines). Quick explainer:  They are gaming machines that reward players with free plays, lottery tickets, or store credits for low-value items.

There’s a lot of controversy around COAMs, including allegations of illegal practices, disputes between license holders, and concerns about the integrity of the COAM industry. It will be an interesting conversation.

In addition, the council will discuss the status of the Tucker Town Green project (pictured above), and changes to regulations relating to drive-through restaurants.

The highlight for me? Dr. Latalia Robbins, who has taught Pre-K at Smoke Rise Elementary School for the past decade and was named DCSD’s 2024-2025 Teacher of the Year, will be leading the Pledge of Allegiance. 

 Here is a link to Monday’s agenda.

The ripple effect of good intentions gone bad 

Remember the arrests that were made on Chamblee-Tucker Road on June 14 at the “No Kings” rally? It was the same day that journalist Mario Guevara was arrested, who is now in ICE custody and facing potential deportation. But there is another important story coming out of that day that speaks to the upheaval that can befall someone with good intentions. 

Sarah Fuoto’s trip to the Embry Village Plaza Kroger on June 14 and her last-minute decision to support the protesters has changed her life and threatened her career, but not her spirit.

Fuoto, 53, a special education paraprofessional who has worked for nine years in the DeKalb County School District, had just earned her master’s degree and was applying for a position as a special education teacher within the system, a job that would have seen her salary elevated by $30,000 annually.

Her desire to support young people trying to make a difference has now derailed Fuoto’s career. On her way to Kroger in the late afternoon, she observed a group of people, most in their 20s, participating in a No Kings demonstration, holding signs along Chamblee-Tucker Road. She decided to join them before heading into the store.

What happened after that involves chaos, injuries, arrest, and the derailing of her teaching career.  Read the whole saga here. 

Pull out your Day-Timer®

Here’s three Tucker events, wildly different but also appealing (at least I think so). Heart and Soul Veterinary Care is having an open house on Aug. 9 from 12-4 p.m. at its new location on Main Street. Come meet dogs, get treats, and tour the facility.

Emory Healthcare is hosting a workshop on preventing frauds and scams at the Northlake Mall Food Court on Aug. 12 from noon to 1 p.m. People who are trying to rip you off are getting very sophisticated in their devious actions. It used to be easy to sniff out a scam but that’s not the case anymore. Scan the QR code above to register.

The city is also having an open house on Aug. 12 regarding two improvements to the Lawrenceville Highway intersection – at Northlake Parkway/Cooledge Road and Brockett Road.

 The city’s website contains more information.

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