Stockbridge Amphitheater

Category: Ethics & Accountability

  • 9 years of trash: the life and times of Elton Alexander on Fox 5.

    9 years of trash: the life and times of Elton Alexander on Fox 5.

    Elton is standing on a 3′ sidewalk in front of CostCo. his priority is a 10′ sidewalk in front of my house.

    Stop trying to clown the southside.

    As news cameras focus on Councilman Elton Alexander’s attempts at municipal cleanup, citizens and independent watchdogs must look past the superficial photo opportunity and toward the financial chasm consuming Stockbridge, Georgia. A performance of civic duty, such as picking up trash, will not conceal the widespread financial malfeasance, systemic ethical failures, and documented pattern of retaliation that has cost taxpayers millions and led to calls for a racketeering investigation.

    The city’s financial wreckage far from being a simple administrative “failure of process” is a compounding crisis stemming from pervasive Management Oversight.

    The public relations narrative of a city getting its house in order sharply contradicts the cold reality of official financial audits and public records:

    Massive Budget Shortfalls: The City Council had to amend its budget by $32.9 million to account for documented “mismanagement” of funds. The city’s finance director confirmed the severity of the crisis, publicly stating that the council was relying on flawed data: “We misled you.”

    Amphitheater as the Epicenter: The Stockbridge Amphitheater, designed to be self-sufficient, has consistently operated at a loss. Its expenses reportedly soared from 2 million to 8.1 million. Audit findings repeatedly flagged significant adjustments needed to the General and Amphitheater Funds due to improper expenditure recording and a lack of missing supporting documentation and approvals. The following notes from the 2024 audit that was released in October, aren’t part of this year’s previous $32,900,000 budget amendment of 2022-2023 shortfalls into the 2024 budget. We’ll have to amend the 2025 budget to address this year’s $2,000,000 amphitheater shortfall. We haven’t built the soundbooth yet, in four years time. The booth will be another $400K.

    • Revenue & Receivables Management (Finding 2024-001): Significant adjustments were required across multiple funds (General, ARPA, Grants, SPLOST V, Solid Waste, Conference Center, Hotel/Motel Tax) to correctly state revenue, receivables, unearned revenue and allowances for doubtful accounts. The total impact was substantial.
    • Interfund Activity (Finding 2024-002): Interfund receivables, payables, and transfers were improperly stated requiring adjustments across many funds including General, ARPA, Grants, City-wide Capital Projects, Downtown Development, City-wide Development, Public Facilities Authority, Stormwater, Conference Center, Cemetery, SPLOST IV, and Urban Redevelopment.
    • Prepaid Assets & Expenses (Finding 2024-003): Adjustments were needed in General, ARPA, City-wide Development, Water/Sewer, Stormwater, Solid Waste, Conference Center, Amphitheater, and Hotel/Motel Tax funds to properly record prepaid assets and expenses.
    • Inventory (Finding 2024-004): The Water & Sewer Fund required an adjustment due to a lack of reconciliation between the general ledger and physical inventory counts.
    • Amphitheater Expenditures (Finding 2024-006): Significant adjustments were needed to the General and Amphitheater Funds due to improper expenditure recording, lack of approvals, and missing supporting documentation. This was a major finding with large dollar amounts.
    • Accrued Liabilities (Finding 2024-007): Adjustments were required in the SPLOST IV fund for improperly stated accrued liabilities.
    • Depreciation (Finding 2024-008): Depreciation was incorrectly recorded in the General Fund, which is not appropriate under modified accrual accounting.
    • Capitalization of Assets (Finding 2024-009): Capital items were excluded from capital asset details in both governmental and business-type activities.
    • CSLFRF Reporting (Finding 2024-010): Multiple quarterly financial reports for the COVID-19 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund Grants were submitted late.
    • COPS Grant Reporting (Finding 2024-011): Multiple quarterly and semiannual reports for Public Safety Partnerships and Community Policing Grants were submitted late, improperly supported, or contained incorrect expenditure reporting.
    • Prior Year Findings: Most of the findings from the 2023 audit (001, 002, 003, 004, 005, 006) remain Unresolved or Partially Resolved as of December 31, 2024.
    Click here for PDFs of the 2022-2024 FAC.GOV Financial Statement Findings & proof of late filing.

    Despite all this, the city decided to spend tax money on hundreds of comped tickets to an amphitheater show. It was a $180,000 loss scheduled purposefully to coincide with the early voting stage of the election.

    Concealment of Funds: Records suggest a pattern of deliberate concealment of amphitheater expenses, with costs shifted to unrelated funds “without the City Council’s knowledge or approval.” as the city has put it. This idea fails under scrutiny when you realize a councilperson, Barber has been asking for the Mauldin & Jenkins financial report for years. I know fac.gov audits are supposed to be filed yearly. And yet they weren’t, a fact noticed by hundreds of Stockbridge citizens. Finally, I find it hard to believe these people didn’t know huge catered parties they attended for four years cost tens of millions of dollars. Nor does Fox5’s Kaitlyn Pratt’s producer’s boss, evidently.

    Any attempt to recast Councilman Alexander as a responsible public servant must confront his history of alleged misconduct and the resulting burden placed on Stockbridge taxpayers.

    In 2021, the city’s insurer paid a massive 1.7 million settlement to Arick Whitson, owner of Georgie Championship Barbecue Co. The settlement resolved a federal lawsuit alleging deprivation of constitutional rights and retaliation. The dispute began in May2016 after Alexander allegedly visited the restaurant, ordered 60 worth of food, and then refused to pay. When asked for payment, Alexander allegedly told Whitson, “I thought you wanted to do business with the city?” before leaving without paying.

    Whitson claimed that after this interaction, Alexander initiated a year-long vendetta. This harassment campaign included code enforcement officials frequently visiting the restaurant, and Whitson facing difficulties obtaining a liquor license or sign permit. Furthermore, Alexander was accused of escalating the harassment by filing false complaints and making false claims that Whitson was on the National Sex Offender Registry. Alexander even admitted in a 2019 deposition that he had used fake names online to criticize his opponents.

    This scandal was so damaging that Mayor Anthony Ford and council members LaKeisha Gantt and John Blount publicly called for Alexander’s resignation, stating that the $1.725 million settlement had “brought shame to the city of Stockbridge”. Alexander, who does not support the settlement, has been subject to a “continuous pattern of disciplinary actions,” including being censured twice and facing six different ethics investigations since January 2016. More recently, he was reported to be “posted up at Merle Manders polling place bothering the mayor elect.”

    The Failure of the Fourth Estate: Atlanta’s PR Machine

    The focus by outlets like Fox 5 on a non-story like trash pickup, while ignoring the verifiable trail of financial devastation and alleged corruption, is a symptom of a larger regional crisis in accountability journalism.

    This trend is epitomized by media that operate as little more than public relations conduits. For example, Game Changers Media Network, which promoted the Mayor’s narrative of steady governance, has demonstrable links to city officials: the proprietor’s wife holds a real estate license at METRO BROKERS INC, the same realty firm where Councilperson Elton Alexander holds his license.

    This dynamic ensures that instead of conducting essential, in-depth investigations into the blatant concealment of public funds, the systematic evasion of procurement law, and the pattern of alleged extortion and retaliation that demands a racketeering inquiry, too much of the Atlanta-area media is focused on crafting PR to rehabilitate unlikable candidates with bad records. The financial facts and the systemic ethical rot in Stockbridge are the real story, not a manufactured photo opportunity meant to scrub the reputation of an official accused of long-term misconduct.

  • Harold Young’s potential connection to charter school paperwork fraud.

    Harold Young’s potential connection to charter school paperwork fraud.

    Stockbridge Amphitheater, second verse same as the first.

    The ink is barely dry on Harold Young’s termination letter, but the questions surrounding his business dealings are multiplying. A story that began with a financially troubled amphitheater in Stockbridge has now intertwined with a controversial charter school in Macon, revealing a cast of characters whose connections stretch into the corridors of state government. At the center of it all are two public-private ventures plagued by allegations of mismanagement and fraud, with Harold Young, Macon Tubman museum director and ex-Stockbridge Amphitheater GM. As well as Donie Hogan, owner of the Alexander Ballroom. Both Harold and Donie are involved in both “VyStar at the Bridge” Amphitheater and The Infinity Charter School.

    The Stockbridge Amphitheater was meant to be a crown jewel, but it has become a financial millstone for taxpayers. Under the management of Harold Young, the venue’s budget spiraled out of control, exceeding its $2 million allocation for the 2022 & 2023 concert seasons to reach a staggering $8.1 million. This wasn’t a one-time issue; the amphitheater repeatedly went millions of dollars over budget for multiple years under Young’s tenure. The financial “mismanagement” became so severe that in July, the Stockbridge city council had to amend its budget by a total of $32.9 million to account for the amphitheater and voluminous other instances of financial malfeasance.

    Beyond the budget overruns, serious questions have been raised about procurement practices. There was no competitive sealed bid process for vendors or naming rights at the amphitheater for any year since its opening in 2021. The facility itself was plagued with issues, including being built without a proper sound booth, forcing operations to be run from a tent for four years, which resulted in poor sound quality. So, they decided to try and sneak a $390,000 sound booth around the law. Which states public works construction contracts valued at $100K or more are subject to Chapter 91-36 of the Official Code of Georgia.

    Young, who also serves as the executive director of Macon’s Tubman African American Museum, was terminated for breach of contract on June 16, 2025. He has since claimed his name was “slandered” and that he has hired an attorney to explore “legal remedies” for his dismissal.

    The Infinity Academy: A Petition Marred by “Deeply Concerning” Allegations

    While Young was managing the troubled amphitheater, his name and that of Donie Hogan, owner of the Alexander Ballroom, appeared on the governing board of a proposed charter school in Macon: The Infinity Academy. This venture, however, is now at the center of a scandal that Bibb County school board members have called “deeply concerning.”

    The most glaring issue is an allegation of fraud. The school’s petition to the Bibb County School District included a notarized affidavit supposedly signed by its governing board chair, Pamela Burkhalter. Upon seeing the document, Burkhalter stated unequivocally, “That is not my signature. Period. I am stunned”. She claims she resigned from the board in May, long before the petition was being finalized, and never authorized anyone to sign on her behalf. The school’s founder, Christopher D. Holmes, claimed Burkhalter gave him permission to sign for her, an assertion she flatly denies. Mr. Holmes seems to be involved in many corporate entities according to Georgia Secretary of State. Too many to name.

    The fraud allegation was just one of many problems. The Bibb County School District ultimately issued an official denial of the charter petition on August 1, 2025, citing a litany of “material deficiencies.” The entity was found to not be registered with the IRS as a nonprofit. Concerns were also raised about their financial planning; specifically, an unrealistic budget allocating only 20,000 for facility improvements estimated to cost between 4.7 and $5.7 million. The proposed building itself presented issues, appearing too small and lacking key facilities like a gym or cafeteria, in addition to significant safety concerns regarding entry points, student drop-off zones, and fire evacuation routes. Finally, the evaluation revealed a lack of clarity concerning governance structures alongside an inadequate staffing plan geared towards effectively serving students with ADA required accommodations.

    The Players and Their Potential Connections

    Christopher D. Holmes is the founder of the Infinity Academy. I think he’s Alpha Kappa Psi from hand signs he throws up in pictures. A teacher, academic coach, and K-12 curriculum coordinator for the Bibb County School District. In 2018, he took on a new role as a curriculum and instructional interventionist for the state’s Department of Juvenile Justice. He has also worked as a Research Assistant for the Georgia State Charter School Commission and runs his own education consulting firm.

    Andy Welch is an attorney and former Republican member of the Georgia House of Representatives for District 110. A key part of his legislative work involved his role as a member, and former subcommittee chairman, of the House Juvenile Justice Committee. Andy also held a long standing position on the Georgia Juvenile Justice Board. He’s currently Locust Grove City Attorney, I’m sure, among many other positions.

    The amphitheater was built in large part by Eagle Excavation. Who, during construction were represented by Mr. Welch’s law firm partner, Republican candidate for Attorney General of Georgia, Senator Strickland. Andy does business with the amphitheater as well. The local Tabernacle of Praise church is represented by Mr. Welch in corporate filings and made use of the amphitheater facilities for a show this year.

    Professional overlap

    Holmes is a state employee working within the Department of Juvenile Justice, a department that falls under the legislative purview of the former committee & juvenile justice board on which Welch served. While this doesn’t confirm a personal relationship, it establishes a direct professional connection where a state legislator & board member would (or should) be acquainted with the operations of selecting curriculum.

    Harold Young and Alexander Ballroom owner Donie Hogan were named as board members for the Infinity Academy, a proposed charter school founded by Christopher D. Holmes whose petition was denied amid allegations of a forged signature and deep financial and operational flaws. During this same period, Young was managing the Stockbridge Amphitheater, a publicly funded venue that exceeded its budget by millions of dollars, leading to his termination. We also know that the charter school’s founder, Holmes, has worked for the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice, an agency that a powerful state legislator, Rep. Andy Welch, had potential oversight of through his committee & board assignments. We know Andy, Brian and SWWW are deeply entrenched in amphitheater business.

    Perhaps “coordinated network” is a better choice of words than “overlap,” strictly speaking. For in the case of (State Rep.) Williams vs. Powell. You’ll find my lawyer, Mr. Greenamyre and Stockbridge City Attorney Washington’s firm partner (at the time), David Dreyer on that case together. As the city at large knows by now. We desperately needed to sue the city. So, then. Did this perceived network interfere in my affairs to that acute degree. In my opinion, yes.

    Left to right; My former attorney, Zack Greenamyre, Devin Ward, Gary Weber, lead counsel for SCHR & Stockbridge City Attorney, Quinton Washington.

    Of note: City Attorney Washington’s police station deal with Jeff Grant. If you’re new in town. Mr. Grant and Mr. Welch’s firm go way back. And if you don’t know about my lawsuit. You won’t be surprised it was Greenamyre representing me against Strickland.

    The further questions

    • Did SWWW, LLP (Andy’s firm), as registered agent for Tabernacle negotiate a contract with Harold Young in the course of scheduling this years first gospel show?

    • Which of Quinton Washington’s three legal entities handled, if any at all, amphitheater business. Such that there was involvement further than Washington & Dreyer’s e-mail concerning the amp. financial open records.

    • What accountability measures were in place at the City of Stockbridge that allowed the amphitheater’s budget to be exceeded by millions of dollars for several consecutive years?

    • What, if any, is the connection between Rep. Andy Welch and the Infinity Academy project, given the professional overlap between his legislative & board duties and Christopher Holmes’s state employment?

    • Are these two cases, a mismanaged amphitheater and a fraudulent school petition simply isolated incidents, or do they point to a broader pattern of insiders leveraging public trust and taxpayer funds for poorly planned ventures?

    • The receipts for the $8.1 million amphitheater budget amendment?

    In closing, a bit of Shakespeare I find pertinent, “O judgment! thou art fled to brutish beasts, And men have lost their reason. Bear with me; My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar, And I must pause till it come back to me.”

  • City of Stockbridge trespassing in mailboxes.

    City of Stockbridge trespassing in mailboxes.


    This is how the Bridgefest street closure notice was found in my mailbox. They did this, even though I was yelling out the window not to touch my mailbox. But this isn’t about my mailbox, folks. Not really. This is about you being bothered by something that hasn’t happened yet. Normally you’d come home on a Friday to rest up, eat & share time with those you love.

    Normally, in your free time you’d seek to forget the monstrosity in our backyards. But you won’t this weekend.

    You’ll come home and think of the traffic and noise next weekend, for all of this weekend. Just after finding trash shoved in, on or around your mailbox.

    Let me stop you right there at “cooperate”, Shawn Edmonson. As to our problems on Bryant St, Lee St & surrounding environs. You seem to be worse at this than the last guy. At the 9-13-2025 show, you (or whoever), let MC Stanford Lightfoot & the gang over there go hog wild on the board. The only other thing that’s approached 98.5 dB(C) is the fireworks. You, nor the city have my cooperation or support. You want me to support you in taking my private property, and bothering me while you do it? My man. You must have bumped your head?

    Control the noise. Don’t ever “inform” people of an event in this manner, as you did today, ever again. Don’t open our mailboxes. Don’t place your “fuck you” announcement to us on the mailbox. Put the son of a bitch in an envelope, then give it to the mailman. That’s how mailboxes work. Moreover, that’s how respect works.

    Stockbridge, Georgia noise measurement, 9-13-2025.

    The behavior in the video above, Shawn, is not respectful. It’s not legal, if you set aside the city can exempt itself from the law on a mere whim. The most offensive part is the flag at half staff on 9-13 when the city decided to pull the loudest show of the year.

    In closing, I’d like to say fuck VyStar, Stockbridge, Hispanifest, Bridgefest and finally, candidate for Georgia attorney general, Ga. Senator Brian Strickland, Esq. for building the amphitheater, after he strong armed a “historically black city council” with the Eagle’s Landing Cityhood, SB268-2018.

  • The obvious conflict of interest on the Stockbridge Ethics Board

    The obvious conflict of interest on the Stockbridge Ethics Board

    Do you remember when Mark Hennessey funded the Stockbridge Amphitheater, as it was named in 2022? It was the Jon Pardi show, at least. I’ve never done open records on the subject. The conflict arises when you notice Hennessey was a false elector given immunity by Fulton County DA office where the Ethics Board Chair is, or was employed. This isn’t that small of a world.

    Video credit; Thanks D.B.
    The Pardi 2022 promo video.

    https://www.fultoncountyga.gov/-/media/Departments/Finance/2023-4Q-Financial-Reports/2023-Fourth-Quarter-BOC-Travel-Expense-Report.pdf

    That’s it. That’s the whole post.

  • Fun with official document PDF metadata.

    Fun with official document PDF metadata.

    Side note; the $70,000,000+ we landed on finally with the ~$33,000,000 2024 budget amendment is much larger than the April “un-audited” amounts.

    As it concerns April 12, 2025 Stockbridge council meeting agenda items. That PDF file is named 2c73f7cb-59da-4fb1-a6e6-863f3d898c5b.pdf and matches the image of the metadata you’ll find in the PDF. This was to be presented (can’t remember if it was) by Mr. Milazi. This PDF was found on the city server at https://stockbridgega.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3380/files/attachment/9085

    Inspect the PDF in the operating system properties or EXIF tool of your choice. Then don’t look at me for answers, because they don’t like to explain things. So, who made that document, Mr. Milazi, Stockbridge Staff or Nina Robinson? Did I just find old Wolf Creek adjacent documents in our pile down here?

    Another EXIF related mystery surrounding the erasure of two people’s comments. They won’t explain who edited the May 12 video? I can name them.

    Why is taking my property and injuring my neighborhood with your nuisance your only goal in life, Stockbridge City?

    It’s Hunter Thompson’s birthday today. Truly I have the Fear & Loathing today as well.

  • Hot Microphone post meeting reveals true intention of council. Responding to July 15.

    Hot Microphone post meeting reveals true intention of council. Responding to July 15.

    It seems to me. Immediately after executive session. Gantt, Alexander & Ford go right back to talking about holding events, being on the stage, etc. The next day, July 16 we were sent the following contracts by a source. It seems the only thing truly worrying Mayor & Council is preserving their access to that stage. I assume the purpose is electioneering. What did they fire Harold for? The answer to firing Harold for breach of contract is to investigate whether these instruments were negotiated in bad faith.

    Is this racketeering by any code section? Is Harold Young getting kickbacks from these contracts? We plebs seem to be the only people concerned with that part of the amphitheater calculus.


    Why would I speculate on the faith & conditions these contracts were negotiated under. Well, we have Harold, while amphitheater manager. Also paying his own corporation, Macon it Better, LLC an extra $15,000.

    When I say stolen. I mean exactly that. Somewhere in that $32,000,000 could be many code section violations, state & federal. An OCGA violation I’ll name as most likely right now. Public works construction contracts subject to Chapter 91-36 of the Official Code of Georgia valued at $100K or more. Given the “proposal” and $400K price tag from HJ Russell for the sound booth at the amphitheater. The city, under no circumstances, should have a price sent to the city council outside of the bid process of the City of Stockbridge & 91-36.

    Now, what amounts lead to these sort of criminal cases. Just ask Dean Alford who made some fake invoices to his own company. These invoices were to be billed to his employer from his own corporation outside his contractual terms. Dean is doing 12-14 years, I don’t quite remember.

    One amount I remember “missing” from Atlanta “effected” by Mitzi Bickers was $700,000 and she’s doing 12-14 years, I don’t quite remember. She lived over on Spivey Lake, worked for Vic Hill and was lauded by Bruce Holmes in Henry Herald. He said she was going to bring, “biomedical cybersecurity” whatever the fuck that means. Vic did prison time for a slew of torture chair and false imprisonment convictions.

    Elton Alexander attempted to extort Arick Whitson thus costing the city $1.7 million just in the settlement.

    In South Fulton a guy was just arrested for $30,000 improperly routed dollars. That one didn’t even touch taxpayers funds. It was a developer tree fund. Straight to jail. Pending trial, allegedly of course.

    In Troup County. Allegedly, a payroll clerk was paying into one of 3 external accounts from one of ~40 others belonging to Troup County retirees. She routed a direct deposit from a retired Sheriff’s Deputy’s account. The Deputy noticed the activity. The injury to the taxpayer in total was listed as $500,000 by the GBI in their press release.

    Guess what? Jail.

    So why would I speculate and call for a forensic audit to look for many, many possible code section violations? It’s not like racketeering code sections haven’t been applied to the music business before. No, no. That would be completely novel, and we shouldn’t speculate. Stop wondering everyone.

    The single source of truth, Elton Alexander, has spoken. Our unquestionable moral authority, Lakeisha Gantt, has spoken.

    Why do you have to have hearings for to set a $~41 million budget. But you don’t have to have hearings to vote to increase it $32,000,000 in the middle of a late night after months of gaslighting citizens? And how dare any one on that dais, or in this town to say “we couldn’t have known, the numbers presented to us are wrong.” You attend the shows. You hold secret “retreat” meetings far outside the posted retreat schedule, outside the council chambers to discuss spending $390,000+ on a sound booth.

    You eat lamb chops on our dime. Brag about it. Then call us irrational and insubordinate. Well, the purpose of a system is revealed in it’s results. Proof is in the pudding, as it were.

    ***

    Doc sent me a tip. Merci, beb. Atlanta Media’s contribution to our endeavor July 16, 2025 is pure PIO bullshit. Was this made by the same jokers that made Christie Ethridge Diez’s hit piece on me in the Eagle’s Landing days? I’ll have to find out if it’s her, an 11Alive reporter’s husband’s media firm. Georgia Strategy Group.

    While we wait on me to write the long piece on Atlanta New’s PR Machine. Let’s listen to Jonathan Martin’s producer’s PIO/PR product. Listen to them ignore 33,000,000 and lie, as if they don’t know the amphitheater is destroying 300 people’s lives.

    Fuck you, Jonathan. You look like you on juice. You look moist, bro.

    Please note. The first effect of publishing “news” like this is all the google searches lead to me. And also, this story begins with Elton Alexander and the Mayor. And it ends with vanity shots of Elton’s Crown PIzza Bar he’s advertising downtown and the Mayor, Anthony Ford in a fluff piece of propaganda about literally nothing. Newcomers may be shocked to find the realtor councilperson Elton Alexander has an advertising “business.” But that’s just the sort of skullduggery you find here in ye olde Stockbridge.

    I need a Writ of Shenanigans. Your Honor, I need to psyche that from the record.

    Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976: This material is used for purposes of criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. And besides federal law, I’m pretty sure Stockbridge Taxpayers payed to produce and run this. If I can get it by OCGA 50-18-70 I can publish it. If we paid for it, (it won’t be) but it should be retrievable by OCGA 50-18-70. I digress.

    https://www.11alive.com/article/money/economy/affording-atlanta/stockbridge-emerging-metro-atlanta-suburb/85-cce73ab3-af4f-409a-b007-a80541af8bc8

    “Thou calledst me a dog before thou hadst a cause,
    But since I am a dog, beware my fangs.” – Merchant of Venice

  • Here’s why you can’t get your 50-18-70 Open Records requests done.

    In simplest possible terms. You’re waiting on the Clerk’s Office to landscape the cemetery.

    Of course, they don’t admit that or fulfill the records. They just sort of say words at your general direction without fulfilling anything. There’s always another test you have to pass. They only ever present another lock to pick, with the only directions being their uncivilized lies.

    The goal of all this is demoralization. The playbook is very simple and much older than you might think. It’s called the Simple Sabotage Field Manual. If you read the following, in understanding the games they play with your life, it may free you somewhat from the power they think they hold over you. You’ll learn to barrel through it, thus. I’m a pretty good saboteur myself.

    She thinks she’s not attaching what I want to an e-mail. But since the clerk’s office does business with landscapers by e-mail. And where no-bid contract landscapers have no more rights than me. I’ll sue them after tomorrow if they don’t fulfill after some ~35 days.

    Georgia Open Records laws say to fulfill open records by the same methods as you do other business. JustFOIA is a choice a citizen can make. “JustFOIA or paper” is not a stipulation that Vanessa Holiday’s mismanaged Clerk’s office can foist upon anyone. It’s just more bullshit to aggravate people with. Read pages 18 & 19, if you please. This will inform your experience with city workers.

    Now, seeing a screenshot from ACCG’s own open records manual. Let’s think about what the most economical way to copy a PDF is? It’s not a copy machine. And it’s not JustFOIA. And it’s not the mailbox or going to city hall. It’s e-mail just like they use all day everyday. 50-18-70(b)(1)(B) is why you too can use e-mail. Because they can’t force you into paying for copies that don’t have to be made.

  • Unveiling the Financial Labyrinth: Calling for a Racketeering Investigation in Stockbridge City, Georgia

    Unveiling the Financial Labyrinth: Calling for a Racketeering Investigation in Stockbridge City, Georgia

    Stockbridge, Georgia, a city grappling with significant financial irregularities and a cascade of lawsuits, finds itself under intense scrutiny. Recent revelations concerning its budget and the conduct of some elected officials paint a troubling picture, leading to demands for a comprehensive investigation into potential corruption and even racketeering.

    The Murky Waters of Stockbridge’s Budget

    The financial management within Stockbridge City has come under fire, with multiple sources pointing to a lack of transparency and adherence to proper procedures. The City Council is the sole authority with the power to allocate funding and transfer money between different funds; the City Manager does not possess this authority. However, there have been instances of non-budgeted spending. Audits for 2021, 2022, and 2023 consistently found that the city’s financial reporting did not meet required standards, and established procedures for grant receipts were not followed.

    A particular point of concern is the Stockbridge Amphitheater. Initially designated as an “enterprise” fund, meaning it was expected to be self-sufficient, the amphitheater has demonstrably failed to achieve this goal. Its expenses have reportedly soared from $2 million to $8.1 million. Most alarmingly, there appears to have been a deliberate concealment of amphitheater expenses, with costs being charged to an unrelated fund without the knowledge or approval of the City Council. This practice was described as a “let down” of the citizens. Despite city policy requiring adjustments over $50,000 to come before the city council, despite OCGA 36-91 stating anything over $100,000 must be bid out, this rarely happened. Council members noted almost no budget amendment requests between 2022 and 2024, despite significant discrepancies known since September & March of 2024.

    Council members, especially Yolanda Barber, repeatedly sought accurate financial reports for the amphitheater but were often provided inaccurate or incomplete information, which sometimes claimed the venue was breaking even or incurring minor losses, even as actual spending was much higher (e.g., $2 million budgeted in 2024 versus $8.1 million 2024 budget amendment in June 2025). Are we to hear next year in June or July 2026 that we need to amend the 2025 budget for what Harold Young got up to before he was terminated for breach of contract? It seems like a likely scenario judging by the many months of subterfuge to cover up what we all knew was over-budget and never bid.

    A Pattern of Alleged Misconduct and Retaliation

    The financial concerns are amplified by a series of recent lawsuits detailing alleged harassment, discrimination, and retaliation by city officials.

    • The Arick Whitson (BBQ Masters) Lawsuit: Arick Whitson and Georgia Championship Barbecue Company, Inc. d/b/a BBQ Masters, sued the City of Stockbridge and City Council member Elton Alexander, alleging deprivation of constitutional rights, retaliation for protected speech, equal protection violations, and defamation. Whitson claimed that Alexander attempted to extort free food in exchange for city business in May 2016. After Whitson refused, Alexander and the City allegedly initiated a series of retaliatory actions, including directing Code Enforcement officials to harass BBQ Masters with unwarranted inspections and citations. The City also denied building plans and sign permits without valid reasons, causing financial harm. After Whitson filed an Ethics Complaint against Alexander in January 2017, and the complaint gained public exposure via WSB-TV, Alexander allegedly escalated his campaign of public disparagement. He made false remarks about Whitson and BBQ Masters, calling the restaurant a “dump” and falsely reporting illegal remodeling, domestic violence, “bad check” allegations, sexual assault, “revenge porn,” and labeling Whitson a “serial offender” via emails and Facebook. The City also allegedly refused to process BBQ Masters’ alcohol permit, resulting in substantial income loss. The lawsuit contended that these actions were part of an official policy and custom of the City. Ultimately, Arick Whitson received a $1.7 million settlement from the city’s insurer. This outcome led the Mayor and other council members to call for Alexander’s resignation, citing the “shame” brought upon the city.

    • The Lindell Yvette Miller Lawsuit: Lindell Yvette Miller, formerly of the City’s Procurement Division, filed a civil action against the City of Stockbridge, City Council members Yolanda Barber and Alphonso Thomas, and City Clerk Vanessa Holiday. Miller alleged discrimination based on national origin and violation of the Georgia Whistleblower Protection Act. The lawsuit claimed that Vanessa Holiday made discriminatory remarks about “island people”, and that Barber, Holiday, and Thomas subjected Miller to a campaign of public retaliatory harassment after she reported Barber’s interference with a landscaping contract. They allegedly made false public statements about the Procurement Division’s effectiveness, and Holiday engaged in irrational and invasive behavior, including tampering with confidential files. An independent climate study reportedly confirmed “overwhelming evidence of bullying and harassment by Holiday and Barber” and a “hostile and very stressful environment” at the city. Despite multiple reports to HR, Miller’s complaints of harassment based on national origin were allegedly not investigated. Miller resigned due to the ongoing harassment and hostile work environment, which caused her to suffer a panic attack. A cease and desist order was even issued to Councilwoman Barber to stop making false claims about Miller.

    • The Camilla Moore Lawsuit: Camilla Moore, an African American woman who served as Administrative Services/Community Development Director and then Assistant City Manager, filed a lawsuit against the City of Stockbridge, former City Manager Randy Knighton, and Council members Elton Alexander, Yolanda Barber, and Alphonso Thomas. Moore’s claims included race, sex, and intersectional discrimination, retaliation (under Title VII and 42 U.S.C. §1981), and age discrimination. Moore alleged sex discrimination when Randy Knighton, was hired over her for City Manager, with former Mayor Neal reportedly stating the City wasn’t ready for a “Black female City Manager.” Councilman Alexander allegedly commented that the City “wanted a man” and “didn’t really need a woman anyway”. Alexander, Barber, and Thomas are accused of publicly undermining and berating Moore, making false assertions about her performance, and using City Clerk Vanessa Holiday to harass her. Moore also alleged that Knighton ignored her complaints, and she was directed to hire a less qualified white economic development director based on his race. Furthermore, Knighton, Alexander, Thomas, and Barber allegedly pushed to hire more white people and fewer Black people in closed meetings, with comments such as “City is too Black”. Moore’s Assistant City Manager position was eventually eliminated, which she believed was discriminatory and retaliatory, leading to her termination. Her age was also allegedly cited as a factor in her termination.

    Call for a Racketeering Investigation in Stockbridge City, Georgia

    The documented financial mismanagement, coupled with a pattern of alleged extortion, harassment, and retaliation against those who speak out or report misconduct, raises serious questions. The independent climate study’s findings of a “toxic” environment, “abuse of power,” and “lack of management accountability” controlled by certain individuals further underscore these concerns.

    The $1.7 million settlement in the BBQ Masters case, directly linked to a council member’s alleged attempt to extort free food and subsequent retaliation, highlights a severe breach of public trust. The allegations in the Miller and Moore lawsuits describe a systemic pattern of abuse of power, discrimination, and retaliation by multiple city officials, including council members and the city clerk.

    Considering the following:

    • The blatant concealment of public funds for the amphitheater, diverted without council approval.

    • The pattern of alleged extortion and subsequent harassment against a business owner who refused.

    • The systematic retaliation and public disparagement against city employees for reporting misconduct or questioning financial practices.

    • The consistent failure of financial oversight and the provision of erroneous reports to the city council.

    • The prior call for a forensic audit in 2011 due to alleged financial irregularities.

    These cumulative allegations suggest a potential for organized illicit activities that go beyond isolated incidents. It is imperative that authorities launch an immediate and thorough investigation into whether a pattern of racketeering activity has occurred within Stockbridge City, Georgia. The citizens of Stockbridge deserve complete transparency and accountability from their elected officials and city management.

    Original meeting; https://stockbridgega.portal.civicclerk.com/event/2907/files/agenda/4474 Federal audits from fac.gov are embedded below. If you scroll to the bottom you’ll find the recommendations for financial control that blow away any argument that “the council relies on staff” and couldn’t possibly have known how bad the situation is. Setting aside many of us e-mailed council when we saw how bad things were in the original amphitheater open records request by Conserve Henry that started the many citizen led investigations. In closing I find it pertinent to mention that the April 2022 audit wasn’t done (according to “Acc date”) until 2024. The City at large has been aware of the many suggested corrective actions since September & March of 2024.