The Stone Mountain CID recently held its owner’s meeting at the Stars and Strikes Entertainment Center, and received updates from DeKalb County Commissioner Nancy Jester and DeKalb Solicitor-General Sherry Boston.
As DeKalb’s Solicitor, Boston is responsible for the prosecution of criminal misdemeanor offenses in DeKalb County, including domestic violence, elder abuse, cruelty to children, vehicular homicide, drunk driving, stalking, harassment, trespassing, and animal cruelty. Boston is working hard to protect businesses from those who seek to commit criminal activity in and around the Stone Mountain CID, as well as throughout DeKalb County, and her team has made considerable progress in getting criminals behind bars – led by the efforts of Deputy Chief SVU Community Prosecutor Sonja Brown and Community Prosecutor Hannah Chung. Boston also spoke about her office’s Community Prosecution Program that focused on public safety and quality-of-life issues in partnership with law enforcement agencies and community groups like the CID.
Boston’s office has hired a code enforcement attorney and moved to aggressively step up prosecutions of code violators.
“Too often, a fine just becomes a transaction cost for some businesses that operate illegally,” Boston said. “A $500 fine for an illegal nightclub doesn’t stop a business that can make several thousand dollars every night they’re open. We want to deter these businesses, and put a stop to their illegal behavior.” Boston said that her attorney will work with DeKalb police, and State Court judges in order to end the revolving door of code violations, and create effective methods of deterrence.
DeKalb’s District 1 Commissioner Nancy Jester spoke of the need for continued cooperation between the Community Improvement District and DeKalb county government, and said that while significant improvements have been made in DeKalb’s efficiency and speed of response, continued effort is necessary.
Commissioner Jester praised the CID as an organization of job creators, and said that her office would make every effort to respond any needs of any of the members of the CID.
“You’re an economic engine to DeKalb, and we’ll do whatever we can to keep you running and your businesses growing,” Jester said.
More photos from the event can be found on our Facebook page.