The Local Option with Dana Barrett

Welcome to the The Local Option with Dana Barrett podcast. This week in our Fulton County Sandbox we're covering a holdup in Animal Control services that could have real consequences very soon. 

But first, why can't the federal government get their budget together? Do they even want to? And finally, we close with another unfortunate conversation about the Fulton County jail. 

You can follow Dana Barrett on twitter at @TheDanaBarrett, or visit her website electdanabarrett.com. Reach out to her via email at Dana.Barrett@fultoncountyga.gov.

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

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Welcome to the The Local Option with Dana Barrett podcast. This week, we're wishing you a very happy tax season!

What happens when one government takes in too much, or one takes in too little? How well are they really working together? Spoiler alert: not that well.

Then, we take a short walk down the street to the Gold Dome in our Fulton County Sandbox.

You can follow Dana Barrett on twitter at @TheDanaBarrett, or visit her website electdanabarrett.com. Reach out to her via email at Dana.Barrett@fultoncountyga.gov.

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

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This week on The Local Option, we’re giving you the hard sell on running for office.

How do you know which seat is right for you? What are some of the myths about campaigning? For more information on qualifying, visit https://georgia.gov/run-public-office.

Then, we dive into a contentious issue facing the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, and what a commission budget is actually for. 

You can follow Dana Barrett on twitter at @TheDanaBarrett, or visit her website electdanabarrett.com. Reach out to her via email at Dana.Barrett@fultoncountyga.gov.

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

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This week on The Local Option, we are once again diving into stories from across the country where local governments are taking center stage.

Have something you want us to cover? Send us an email at the link below! Then, we break down Fulton County's FY24 Budget. What made it in, or more importantly, how did it make it in?

Find out more about Inspredu here: https://www.iuatl.org/

You can follow Dana Barrett on twitter at @TheDanaBarrett, or visit her website electdanabarrett.com. Reach out to her via email at Dana.Barrett@fultoncountyga.gov.

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

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This week on the Local Option, we're discussing two stories that went under the radar this week.

First, the highly successful Affordable Connectivity Program is set to expire, leaving internet access for millions of Americans up in the air.

Then, Dana dives into a corporate merger that's more complicated than it may seem. What does it mean for how we look at local issues?

Lastly, for our Fulton County Sandbox, Dana announces a new program that brings together existing resources to help close the digital divide. 

You can follow Dana Barrett on twitter at @TheDanaBarrett, or visit her website electdanabarrett.com. Reach out to her via email at Dana.Barrett@fultoncountyga.gov.

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol

Welcome to The Local Option podcast! This week on the Local Option, we're talking about the work of building and maintaining a Jail. Who are they for? What should be in it? 

Then in our Fulton County sandbox, we dig into the recently presented plan for a replacement jail facility, including where we go from here. 

You can follow Dana Barrett on twitter at @TheDanaBarrett, or visit her website electdanabarrett.com. Reach out to her via email at Dana.Barrett@fultoncountyga.gov.

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol

Welcome to The Local Option! It's the holiday season, which means it's budget time in Fulton County.

How did we get here? What's next year going to look like? Dana answers those questions and more as we dive into the most important role for County Commissioners. 

You can follow Dana Barrett on twitter at @TheDanaBarrett, or visit her website electdanabarrett.com. Reach out to her via email at Dana.Barrett@fultoncountyga.gov.

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

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Welcome to The Local Option podcast! Dana is away this week, but worry not! Preston has brought in Hans Appen, publisher of Appen Media, to talk about the challenges of running a local news operation.

Appen Media covers 7 metro Atlanta markets in both print and online. Preston and Hans dig into financial challenges, building trust with in the community, and engaging with elected officials.   

You can follow Dana Barrett on twitter at @TheDanaBarrett, or visit her website electdanabarrett.com. Reach out to her via email at Dana.Barrett@fultoncountyga.gov.

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

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Welcome to The Local Option podcast! This week, Dana and Preston dig into the problems that arise from not having reliable local news coverage.

How do we find the news that really matters to our daily lives? While we can't fully solve the problem, we have some suggestions. Then a quick recap over a bubbling issue regarding, you guessed it, the Fulton County Jail. 

You can follow Dana Barrett on twitter at @TheDanaBarrett, or visit her website electdanabarrett.com. Reach out to her via email at Dana.Barrett@fultoncountyga.gov.

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol

Welcome to The Local Option podcast! This week, we dive deep into an issue that Fulton County Commissioner Barrett brought before the Board to help fund reproductive care access in Fulton County.

After over two hours of public comment, the Board rejected the measure that would have matched the City of Atlanta's unanimous contribution. 

To view the full length comments on today's discussion, click here: https://youtu.be/MBcI14R13QM?t=12527

You can follow Dana Barrett on twitter at @TheDanaBarrett, or visit her website electdanabarrett.com. Reach out to her via email at Dana.Barrett@fultoncountyga.gov.

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

Welcome to The Local Option podcast! We are joined this week by Megan Gordon who is has been trying to help protect one of Georgia's most historic communities.

Megan, a Policy Manager for the Georgia Chapter of the Center for American-Islamic Relations, has been in McIntosh County the last few weeks fighting rezoning proposals that would have a devastating impact on the Gullah Geechee residents of Hog Hammock.

Then, Dana and Preston recap a heated week at the Fulton County Commission that once again centered around the Fulton County Jail. 

You can follow Dana Barrett on twitter at @TheDanaBarrett, or visit her website electdanabarrett.com. Reach out to her via email at Dana.Barrett@fultoncountyga.gov.

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

Welcome to The Local Option podcast! This week Dana discusses an eventful Fulton County Board meeting that included a live performance from one of our more colorful public commenters.

Next up she and Preston Thompson cover a series of votes dealing with the expenses of the county - some big and some small.

Finally, Dana shares her thoughts on the censure of her colleague that drew much public attention.

You can follow Dana Barrett on twitter at @TheDanaBarrett, or visit her website electdanabarrett.com. Reach out to her via email at Dana.Barrett@fultoncountyga.gov.

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

Welcome to The Local Option podcast! This week we're joined by Stephanie Ali, the Policy Director for the New Georgia Project.

Stephanie comes on to talk about election policy across Georgia, and what recent changes to the law could do to rural counties as they look to fund their elections this year.

Then, we explain Fulton County's decision to go with a flat millage rate for 2023 after much back and forth. 

You can check your voter registration here: mvp.sos.ga.gov

You can follow Dana Barrett on twitter at @TheDanaBarrett, or visit her website electdanabarrett.com. Reach out to her via email at Dana.Barrett@fultoncountyga.gov.

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

Welcome to The Local Option podcast! This week, we're joined by the Director of Fulton County Arts & Culture David Manuel to discuss how the arts help to drive economic activity.

David shares his story of being an artist himself before focusing on building opportunities for others in the community. He also shares how art can push a community forward, as it has in Atlanta and Fulton County.

Then, we recap another contentious discussion around the Fulton County Jail and set the record straight. You don't want to miss it! 

You can follow Dana Barrett on twitter at @TheDanaBarrett, or visit her website electdanabarrett.com. Reach out to her via email at Dana.Barrett@fultoncountyga.gov.

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

This week on The Local Option podcast, we're talking taxes. Wait! Don't go!

Fulton County is advertising their millage rate for the year, and Fulton County Commissioner Dana Barrett and her Chief of Staff Preston Thompson take the opportunity to go back to the basics. What is a millage rate? How does it work? Who sets it? All that and more on this week's Local Option. 

You can follow Dana Barrett on twitter at @TheDanaBarrett, or visit her website electdanabarrett.com. Reach out to her via email at Dana.Barrett@fultoncountyga.gov.

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

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Welcome new listeners of The Local Option with Dana Barrett podcast! Before going over the most recent Fulton County Commission meeting, Commissioner Barrett digs into the under-appraisal of large commercial properties that could be leaving millions on the table for the county.

Next, she recounts the strange experience of hearing her own words read back to her in public comment.

Finally, there continues to be issues surrounding public safety and the jail. Dana explains her latest vote. 

You can follow Dana Barrett on twitter at @TheDanaBarrett, or visit her website electdanabarrett.com. Reach out to her via email at Dana.Barrett@fultoncountyga.gov.

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol

This week on The Local Option with Dana Barrett podcast, Commissioner Barrett and Preston talk about the recent GOP statewide convention and what it means for the future of local government.

Then, they cover an eventful week at the Board of Commissioners that included an attempt by the local Republicans to appoint a rampant voter challenger to the County Elections Board. 

You can follow Dana Barrett on twitter at @TheDanaBarrett, or visit her website electdanabarrett.com. Reach out to her via email at Dana.Barrett@fultoncountyga.gov.

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol

This week on The Local Option with Dana Barrett podcast, Commissioner Barrett and Preston cover county stories from across America.

From wild horses in New Mexico, to pay raises in Sacramento, every county has their own issues. Dana shares her initial reaction to five different stories, before jumping into the latest Fulton County retreat.

You can follow Dana Barrett on twitter at @TheDanaBarrett, or visit her website electdanabarrett.com. Reach out to her via email at Dana.Barrett@fultoncountyga.gov.

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol

This week on The Local Option with Dana Barrett podcast, Commissioner Dana Barrett discusses the flurry of activity surrounding the nominations to Chair the Fulton County Board of Registration and Elections.

She shares her initial reactions to the nomination of former Commissioner Lee Morris by Chair Robb Pitts, as well as why she felt it was important to speak out against the move.

You can follow Dana Barrett on twitter at @TheDanaBarrett, or visit her website electdanabarrett.com. Reach out to her via email at Dana.Barrett@fultoncountyga.gov.

Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network.

#gapol