State lawmaker gets feisty, requests props from neighbors on listserv

‘Why can’t I get a shout out’

On July 10, Sylvan Hills residents who were tired of weeds and litter decided to brave the summer heat and beautify their southwest Atlanta neighborhood.

According to an email sent by one of the participants later that day to members of the neighborhood’s email list, the effort was a success. The resident took care to thank neighbors by name for, among other things, donating pizza and organizing a landscaping crew. She even tipped her hat to the pastor of a nearby church who let folks enjoy pizza slices and Georgia peaches on the house of worship’s picnic tables.

But state Rep. Ralph Long, D-Atlanta, who represents the area and was also out working in the heat, wondered why he didn’t receive some recognition. And the state lamwaker let her and everyone else on the Sylvan Hills listserv know.

“Why can’t I get a shout out from my own neighbors for the work that I have done in this community?” Long wrote later that evening. “”Yes I am campaigning, yes I am a Broker, yes, yes yes get over it. Why is it so taboo to acknowledge that I am elected official and also your neighbor? Perhaps attendance at neighborhood cleanups would be better if our community did not feel that there are cliques in our community.”

Long went on to say that he expects to see more neighbors at the next town hall meeting he organizes. “Especially when we together are faced with what we are faced here in Sylvan Hills and this side of town. Embrace the positive attributes that everyone brings to the table, including the fact that I was elected to work for all of us, and acknowledge everyone.”

Two days later the resident who sent the original message responded. She told Long (and all the other listserv members) that she didn’t intend to offend him. She said she didn’t want to name names in her reply because she might have forgotten someone. She added that she was “perplexed by Long’s clique comment” and recommended that he direct his frustration to those residents who complain about the neighborhood but never do anything to help it.

“I think berating people who gave up their Saturday to make our neighborhood prettier is a very strange tactic to win friends, votes or anything good.”

OH, GAME ON.