FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 30, 2001, 8:00 a.m.

Girl, It's Time for a Vacation

BARNES PLACE (ATLANTA, GEORGIA) - It's always busy before a vacation, but this time, it's been unusually busy for the Co-Directors of Barnes Place, who are hastily packing for a vacation. The month of August brought through Barnes Place a week of unemployment, a new job, a state-wide award, and funding for future projects. And a good friend made it to a run-off election, competing against a 30-year incumbent for a Georgia Representative position. All this, and we're not sure who's paying for Tony's health insurance. Girl, it's time for a vacation.

On Monday of last week, Tony started a new position with American Express Travel Related Services (we think ­ we're not 100% sure what division Tony is working for), ending nine months of uncertainty surrounding his future with American Express his division was eliminated. Tony now serves as SalesLogix Project Manager. After being terminated in February, he was assigned to a special project overseeing the customer database. After three months, it was determined his position was vital to the company, and the temporary position was extended another three months, with his last day scheduled for August 9.

For the last few months, Tony has been lobbying for the importance of his position as the company battled over which division should pay for his expenses. Then the powers that be had to argue who was to manage him. In late July, Tony's position was posted, and he was allowed to apply for the position he had filled for six months. He interviewed just a few days before his termination date, but appropriate paperwork could not be completed in time for his automatic termination. On August 9, Tony brought home a box of personal affects from his office, unsure of his future with American Express. The following week, after visiting with the Georgia Department of Labor, he was offered the position he had filled for six months permanently. Monday, August 19 was his first day of his sixth month on the job.

Meanwhile, as President of the Home Park Community Improvement Association, Tim has been working in the community to help complete the Greater Home Park Master Plan, a development blue print for the surrounding neighborhood. It's a $90,000 project, which the Association has raised from nothing. Last week, the good news came in: the Greater Home Park Master Plan has been recognized by the Georgia Planning Association for the 2002 "Outstanding Special Community Initiative." The significance of this is still sinking in. Maybe it's best summed up by a message sent from a friend who is closely connected to the urban design community: "You should really be proud of the way the master plan has turned out and the recognition by the GPA. The master plan validation was not only obvious at today's business meeting but in discussions I have had in the design community. You guys have totally kicked a--!"

Building on this momentum, Tim met with community partners last week, and secured approximately $180,000 (plus or minus a couple thousand) for the first phase of implementing the Greater Home Park Master Plan: a streetscape design standard for the entire community, and detailed design work for the streets directly impacted by the 138-acre Atlantic Steel Mill redevelopment. This is the fifth Master Plan for Home Park since 1974; this is the first plan to move into implementation.

In between community meetings and the office, both Tim and Tony celebrated with Tim's college friend, John Noel. John came within 100 votes of 30-year incumbent Billy McKinney (famed U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney's Father) during the Georgia Primary election. In the State of Georgia, just because you don't win, doesn't mean you've lost; you must win 50%-plus-one vote in order to declare victory. In this case, depending one which report you read, Noel and McKinney received either 47% or 48%, while a third candidate received 5% of the vote ­ just enough to throw the entire election into a run-off election.

John is running in State House District 44. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution said this about the District on August 8, 2002: "In this race against the notorious state Rep. James 'Billy' McKinney, John E. Noel, 31, a lighting business owner, has clearly done his homework. He has a 'smart growth' platform that includes education improvements, better transportation options and an emphasis on parks. It's time for the outspoken but ineffective McKinney to yield to more progressive leadership."

For all you fellow Lake Foresters out there reading this, this might be the first time you're hearing of John Noel as 'progressive.' Let me tell you this special message: Georgia is draining its rivers, polluting its air, bulldozing its forests faster than it can remember to educate tomorrow's leaders. John Noel moved into his neighborhood a few years ago, and in that time, he's done more for his community as a volunteer than Billy McKinney has done in 30. John Noel has my money, and if we lived in the same district, he'd have my vote. So, regardless of where you live, go here now: http://www.johnnoel.org and make a contribution to his efforts to beat an ineffective politician who has done little but maintain a slum that has been a drain to many neighborhoods in West Atlanta. And if for no other reason, do it because all of us are family. John has a good chance of winning this election on September 10, and when he does, a year from now, you'll be proud to say you helped him do it. If you live in Georgia, a success for Noel is a success for Georgia. And you can count on the folks at Barnes Place to hold him accountable.

So, it's been a busy month. And, Girl, it's time for a vacation. Tomorrow, we take off to the Pacific Northwest, where we'll spend 10 days forgetting about to-do lists and saving the world. But only for 10 days. And, if we can, when we stumble across a phone line, we'll be taking you with us. Look for e-mails from postcard@barnesplace.com.

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