Originally, PLAIN was known as Pine Lake Association of Neighbors or PLAN. Mayor Mike Stuckey, (circa 1995) co-opted PLAN. Mayor Mike added ‘Involved' and PLAN became Pine Lake Association of Involved Neighbors or PLAIN.
When Linda and I first moved here, year 2000, we joined PLAIN; the dues, $35 a year. A Board Member of the organization explained the purpose of the Association; as I recall, went something like this: PLAIN members get to decide what the City’s agenda and order of priorities. What I am describing here is a politically motivated home owners association; a welcome wagon of glad handers. At that time the “Involved Neighbors” was not classified as a 501-C3 non-profit organization.
The Association of Involved Neighbors plotted the removal of the popular Mayor Al Fowler(circa 2001). Fowler, at that time was the first openly gay Mayor of a city in Georgia. Fowler’s removal split the Association and the town. Two council members resigned in protest to Mayor Fowler’s removal and formed a “Lakers” group to counter the Involved Neighbors. In the election to replace Mayor Fowler, the Laker group candidate, Greg Zarus, won the election.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this missive, it was Mayor Mike that set up the Association of Involved Neighbors; there-by, creating a wedge that divided the constituency into two camps, those who are ‘Involved’ and those who are, allegedly, not ‘involved.’ As a member of PLAIN, according to the narrative, you achieve a special status..
All of us are involved, not because of a PLAIN membership but because we share a common aspiration for truth and justice, we share creativity, we share a location, we share the burden of property taxes; these are unities of the community. An Association of Involved Neighbors does not define a community. The Association; however, enables cronyism, a form of in-group favoritism, especially between council persons and the supportive organization, that leads to abuse of power and to corruption. The Association of Involved Neighbors has a number of charitable endeavors: food pantry, library and raises money to help people. Given the Association’s glaring divisive flaw, the good deeds amount to the put of lipstick on the proverbial pig.
When I look at PLAIN and see officers of the organization using the organization to advance their political aspirations, I am appalled. The goal that PLAIN has set for its Involved Neighbors is to control our City government and that is not a ‘charitable’ goal.
Dennis Rotch
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