Legislative Policy Agenda

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2019 DeKalb County District 7 Update: First 90-Days Report
2019 DeKalb County District 7 Update: First 90-Days Report
Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program
Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program
LISC-Verizon Small Business Recovery Grant Application
LISC-Verizon Small Business Recovery Grant Application

Commissioner Lorraine-Cochran-Johnson is a part of the Legislative Branch of DeKalb County Government and developing legislation is at the core of what she does as a DeKalb County Commissioner. With that in mind, Commissioner Cochran-Johnson would like to share recent local and state-wide legislation that addresses several issues that are imperative to creating a better DeKalb County through establishing the letter of the law. Each piece of legislation is currently either before the State Delegation as a part of the legislative session or before the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners for consideration. To better help you understand Commissioner Cochran-Johnson’s pending legislation, below is a preamble of the essential elements of the proposed laws.

In order for each piece of proposed legislation to become a law on the state level, it must receive a majority vote of support from the House and Senate. Locally proposed legislation that is to become an ordinance must receive a majority vote of the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners. Also, it is important to note that Commissioner Cochran-Johnson’s legislation is often birthed from simple conversations with constituents who contact the District 7 office, seeking assistance with finding solutions to difficult issues. Thereafter, Commissioner Cochran-Johnson engages in research along with the District 7 Chief of Staff, Dr. G. Leah Davis, to craft laws and policies to solve the issue. Several community members including Amos King, Sandy G. Johnson, and State Representative Viola Davis, as well as Betsy Eagers and Vicki Hood of the Peachtree Creek Greenway, Inc. deserve special recognition for their care of DeKalb County communities.

Commissioner Cochran-Johnson strives to ensure that the laws and ordinances she drafts today progressively move DeKalb County and Georgia forward to make a better place for us all.

As a result of several acts of violence, murders, and drive-by shootings at gas and service stations, Commissioner Cochran-Johnson has developed legislation to address these acts and ensure safety at high-risk business establishments throughout DeKalb County. Commissioner Cochran-Johnson’s legislation establishes guidelines for mandatory video surveillance at such locations with a minimum 4MP resolution for clarity of footage; requires minimum active video coverage of 75 feet; creates guidelines for video storage; gives visual notice of public of safety cameras; establishes fines for non-compliance; ties ability to renew business license to compliance; defines high-risk businesses for legal purposes; and, allows DeKalb County to extend such requirements to any business deemed high-risk to ensure public safety.

After several months of revision and cogitation, the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners approved the Video Surveillance Ordinance on Tuesday, December 13, 2022. It will officially go into effect June 30, 2023, at which time all existing convenience stores must be in compliance with all provisions of the ordinance.

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On December 20, 2022, the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners unanimously passed comprehensive text amendments to the DeKalb Zoning Ordinance to set distance requirements with the intent to diminish crime and mitigate negative outcomes linked to small box discount retail stores (SBDRS) within DeKalb communities.

The legislation was authored and introduced by Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson in February 2019 out of concern for concentrated growth of SBDRS within targeted census tracts in DeKalb County. Later that December, a moratorium was enacted that halted the issuance of new business licenses to small box discount retail stores.

The text amendments came following almost three years of discussions and research resulting in a study by Georgia State University which recommended that DeKalb County treat SBDRS and convenience stores similarly, and subject them to similar zoning regulations to eliminate or reduce negative effects.

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As a result of growing gun violence both locally and nationally, I have developed legislation to address these acts and ensure safety at high-risk business establishments throughout DeKalb County. My legislation outlines a comprehensive approach to gun violence in order to address this growing crisis that includes the adoption of common-sense gun control legislation, the enforcement of laws that govern the criminal misuse of guns, and the expansion of research. In addition, the resolution urges the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to restore funding removed under the Dickey Amendment for firearms and gun violence prevention research.

At present, Georgia is ranked #7 in the top 10 worst states for affordable housing by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Higher rents are a national phenomenon and in 2021 rental rates rose in 48 of the nation’s 50 largest metro cities, with the average monthly cost of a one-bedroom apartment in Georgia rising more than 20% in 2021. With this information and other extensive research, I have drafted legislation that will establish a rental registry that enables researchers and policymakers to study the business practices of corporate landlords so counties can respond with appropriate local measures. Moreover, it will implement broad-based tenant protections, as the growing rental affordability challenges point to the need for nationwide, broad-based tenant protections to limit rent increases, ancillary fees, and fines and to promote security of tenure to ensure that the property rights of landlords do not take priority over the fundamental role of housing in supporting the life, safety, and welfare of all citizens. In addition, it will urge me and my fellow colleagues to consider limiting the market share of corporate landlords, through legislation, as policymakers explore these possibilities to disincentivize their expansion, stabilize rent, and increase the pool of homes available for purchase by first-time buyers and families.
Following several reports of pending litigations against DeKalb County contractors that were first revealed through local news sources, Commissioner Cochran-Johnson introduced a Resolution designed to establish a Business Code of Conduct that will make it mandatory for vendors and contractors to report any pending litigation or violations of federal, state and municipal laws to DeKalb County. In addition, any material changes in their corporate structure must be reported within 14 days of the change. The new Code of Conduct is designed to make effective governance possible by enforcing a responsible procurement policy to ensure the DeKalb Governing Authority is fully aware of matters involving contractors, and will become part of the DeKalb County Procurement Policy if passed by the Board of Commissioners.
Trails and greenspaces are considered by many to be of the utmost importance in enhancing one’s quality of life and for improving health, promoting clean air, protecting the environment, providing an alternative transportation system, stimulating economic development, and creating a renewed sense of community. With this in mind, Commissioner Cochran-Johnson has proposed legislation that seeks to set aside a specified amount of funds to be determined by the Board of Commissioners from Hotel-Motel Taxes and possible SPLOST dollars for the development of the Trails Master Plan, as well as guarantee its timely implementation. The Atlanta Beltline, which will ultimately become a 22-mile continuous loop throughout DeKalb County, is considered to be a source of inspiration.
Disclaimer: Please note this video serves only as an inspiration and overview of the diversity of the trail system. DeKalb County is quite similar in that its trails and paths will take a variety of forms, however, Commissioner Cochran-Johnson uses this video to show the diversity, impact and potential of a well developed trail system and the impact it will have on DeKalb County.
As an elected official and a part of the Governing Authority of DeKalb County, Commissioner Cochran-Johnson understands and acknowledge the importance of racial equity and equal protection under the laws of the U.S. Constitution and the Georgia Constitution. In 2019, the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Coalition conducted a study surveying 2000 working women ages 25-64, who were employed in an office setting. The study revealed African-American women are more likely to change their natural hair to conform to social norms or expectations at work; and are three times more likely to be perceived as unprofessional in the workplace based upon hair styles. Understanding discrimination based on the appearance of an individual’s natural hair disproportionately affects both women and men of color, Commissioner Cochran-Johnson’s legislation protects against discrimination based upon gender or cultural identity, national origin or religious belief. Commissioner Cochran-Johnson believes such measures are necessary to discourage anyone doing business with or within DeKalb County from discriminating on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation/opinion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. This legislation seeks to have such discrimination acknowledged, discouraged and eradicated throughout DeKalb County.
In addressing best practices for public safety personnel, Commissioner Cochran-Johnson has proposed legislation that requires police officer complaints to be made available for public consumption. The legislation also requires that Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) are followed and performance records are submitted for review during the hiring process that ensures knowledge of an officer’s conduct is on record and taken into consideration. The purpose of this legislation is to develop public trust through transparency and reduce the number of officer-involved incidents due to the oversight of a candidate’s proven track-record of questionable behavior.
As we seek to transport products in record time and face ongoing supply chain issues globally, Commissioner Cochran-Johnson has drafted legislation that calls for the State of Georgia to not increase the weight or size limits of big trucks on roads and highways. Big trucks pose not only major safety concerns but also threats to infrastructure that amount to unfunded mandates as a result of the damage done by traveling on our roads and highways. Currently, in Georgia there are 5,686 bridges rated as poor or fair and 24% of Georgia roads are in poor or mediocre condition costing $2.7 billion annually. In 2019, 4,887 auto accidents with big trucks resulted in 204 lives lost and 83% of people killed were traveling in autos that were hit by a big truck. Current laws limit big truck loads to 80,000 pounds and 40 states currently permit trucks to carry loads in excess of state limits. Citizens should note that current supply chain issues have caused President Biden to temporarily increase limits to meet supply chain demands; however, Commissioner Cochran-Johnson is urging all elected officials to join her in the fight to keep big trucks at 80,000 pounds.
To avoid partisan politics and ensure voting districts are created in the best interest of the people, Commissioner Cochran-Johnson has sought to move the process of redistricting away from the General Assembly and into the hands of a Redistricting Commission. This request was made as a part of the DeKalb Legislative Priorities to the DeKalb Delegation to create a study group on behalf of the Governing Authority of DeKalb County, Georgia, requesting the General Assembly convene a Study Committee to evaluate the establishment of an Independent Redistricting Commission to operate all Redistricting and Reappointment Requirements for the State of Georgia. Commissioner Cochran-Johnson firmly believes it is time we take away the establishment of electoral districts from the General Assembly and the process should be placed with a non-partisan group of non-elected officials convened for the sole purpose of creating electoral district bodies. At present, nine states use non-political redistricting commissions.