SUPPORTER COMMENT
Since we are having some interesting new signatures along with comments, I'm thinking the posting of these email exchanges between me and our current/past presidents of Mason Mill Civic Association attempting a meeting with them, discussing the issue of my signs/behavior, might help you understand Louis and Susan Landry's postings; most especially Bert Gary's posting.
But only if you care making the time, otherwise:
"You do not conclude until understanding. Once understanding, you do not judge."
Subject:
Fw: Virginitas: An Essay in the History of a Medieval Ideal
From:
James Avery (jeaverydvm87@att.net)
To:
hinkelfamily21380@earthlink.net; Patrick.Noonan@emory.edu;
Date:
Tuesday, May 17, 2016 1:02 AM
Hello Mary; Patrick,
What's the story on John? Haven't heard back from him?
***
On Friday, May 13, 2016 9:38 AM, James Avery wrote:
"A group meeting with Patrick Noonan, John Bugge, and Mary Hinkel. That would be a good place to start!"
~(Simply Jim: Neighbor)~
"John Bugge... He still alive..?"
~(David: Nextdoor.com Member)~
"Maybe not! He was Mason Mill Civic Association's Fall picnic. Maybe not!"
~(Simply Jim: Neighbor)~
"If only there was some bible verse we could use!"
~(Leigh: Nextdoor.com Member)~
"There is! Isaiah 6:9!
"~(Simply Jim: Neighbor)~
Hello John,
This is the mentally disturbed resident of 1840 Mason Mill Road.
From: Bugge, John M
Sent: Thursday, October 18,20129:23 AM
To: Lorena, Barbara
Subject: Code violations at 1840 Mason Mill Road
Dear Ms. Lorena,
I am writing as the President of the Mason Mill Civic Association, whose membership is made up of residents who live on, or on streets adjoining, Mason Mill Road in DeKalb County. Our hundreds of members are essentially unanimous in hoping that something can be done about the deplorable situation at 1840 Mason Mill Road, a property where the owner has filled his front yard with huge inflatable balloon characters, hung tasteless and offensive signs from large trees, and erected crosses with toy monkeys hung in nooses from the horizontal members.
This ongoing display -- it only seems to get more flagrant as time goes on -- is a clear safety hazard for motorists passing along Mason Mill, as many drivers will come to an abrupt halt in front of the property to look at the weird figures and signs. Drivers following behind down the steep hill at this point are in danger of rear-ending the stopped cars.
Of even more concern to our civic association, the bizarre display at 1840 Mason Mill has made the immediate area less attractive to prospective home buyers and renters. The elderly couple directly across the street (at 1841 Mason Mill) have moved to a retirement home, but still cannot sell or rent their house because whenever people come to look at their property they cannot fail to see what is just across the road. And they have invariably said that, no thanks, they wanted no part of what they saw there.
The owner of the property, Mr. James Edward Avery, should at the very least be legally enjoined from continuing with these displays, and immediately.
More important, perhaps, he should be required to submit to psychological or psychiatric therapy. There is ample eVidence, which I won't go into here, that he is severely mentally disturbed and (apparently by his own admission before a DeKalb County judge) a user of illegal drugs. His internet blog, which is available for anyone to read, contains disturbing suggestions about his possibly violent intentions toward his neighbors and the community at large. And his behavior to some of those same neighbors has seemed at times borderline psychotic.
It is the duty of the County government to take action in this case for the common good, and before the situation escalates.
Yours sincerely,
John Bugge
Professor Emeritus of English
I do not know what state of mind this email will find you, but if possible, we really do need to talk.
Can this be arraigned?
Sincerely yours,
James E. Avery, D.V.M.
***
Do hope it's not...TOO... late?
Any information would be helpful.
Sincerely yours,
Jim Ed
btw: Code Enforcer did write me up three citations on the morning of April 30th. Officer Housworth was also claiming they were here that day at my invite. And in a way, this is true. I did make a call one day to Code Enforcement trying to find out more about the complaint I had placed against myself with Code Enforcement December 8th. Instead of the woman answering the phone being cooperative/accommodating, ended up leaving a message for Officer Housworth suggesting we arrange a date for them showing up and I would be sure to have something in violation of DeKalb County's sign ordinances waiting for them. This unannounced visit...NOT...what I would consider to be an invite from me having been accepted.
Service # 164317
Problem SIGN C-SIGN COMPLAINT
Address 1840 MASON MILL RD
DECATUR GA 30033-
Call Date 12/08/2015 14:55
Taken By WLGOODEN1 GOODEN, W L.
Source PHON o Customer Contact Requested
Priority HIGH C-HIGH PRIORITY
Responsibility CODE PLANNING / SUSTAINABILITY-CODE
Project
BUdget #
Duration of Call 00:33
#Calls 1
Service Request Progress
Schedule (resolved)
Inspect Inspected from 12/22/2015 03:56 PM to 12/22/2015 03:56 PM by GDGORDON GLENN GORDON
Resolve Resolved at 02/03/2016 02:21 PM with code COMPL C- COMPLIED.
Primary Caller
Name
First,MI
Address
City
State/Province
Country
E-Mail
Day Phone
Call Date 12/08/2015 14:55
ZIP/PC
Reference #
Evening Phone
Taken By WLGOODEN1
Call List
There are no additional callers for this service number
Comments
illegal sign
*****PROPERTY TAX********
1810405030
Pin Number 1029392
Property Address 1840 MASON MILL RD
Property Type Real Estate
Tax District 04 - UNINCORPORATED
Owner Information
Last Name, First Name
Jan. 1 st Owner AVERY JAMES EDWARD
Co-Owner
Current Owner AVERY JAMES EDWARD
Co-Owner
Owner Address
1840 MASON MILL RD
DECATUR GA 30033-3423
Care of Information
Log Type Comments
OWNER
Description
OWNER OF ADDRESS
Schedule Resources
No resources scheduled
I've since made a visit to Code Enforcers new headquarters requesting a copy of everything in my file since the February 19, 2013 court hearings The above information was all I was able receiving..?
What follows are copies I had made of this file some two years after court hearings(non-hearings) February 19, 2013. Could the two of you be sweet enough seeing to it that all your "NEXTDOOR" NEIGHBORS (not just the ones you "thanked" whatever reasons known only to you) made aware the court hearing has been scheduled for June 28th, 2016 at 9:00 AM same courthouse across the street from DeKalb County Jail but now Municipal Court instead of Recorders Court. Would be awfully nice seeing everyone there again. Many many more even better!
***
From: Gary, G Robert [ggary@emory.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2012 3:07 PM
To: Lorena, Barbara
Cc: Gary, Janet S.
Subject: Complain against Jim Ed Avery
Dear Officer Lorena,
I am George Robert Gary Sr. my spouse, Janet S. Gary, own the house at 1841 Mason Mill Rd. Decatur, Ga. 30033. My phone # is 404-634-9865.
I want to present some important information to you regarding Mr. Avery. Is it more effective to speak with you by phone or email to you a number of concerns that are detrimental to the property value of our house. We are trying to rent 1841 for almost a year. At least ten families have loved our house but the subject of the weird house across the street always comes up. We tell them the truth of the situation and answer their questions.
DeKalb County Court granted us a Protective Order against stalking against Jim Ed Avery. He continues to stalk through all the signs and inflated animals. He has been seen in his yard with his rabbit ears on when people come to see our house. People with children were afraid of him.
Please give us some direction on how best to get our concerns before the appropriate people.
Thank you,
Robert Gary
***
From: Lorena, Barbara
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 1:04 PM
To: 'Gary, G Robert'
Subject: RE: Complain against Jim Ed Avery
Good Afternoon Mr. Gary,
I went. to 1846 Mason Mill ROon October 15th, 2012 and personally severed Mr. Avery two court summons for sign violations on his property. The court date is Novembber 27, 2012 2:00pm at Recorders Court off Memorial Dr. across from the county jail. Please let me know if you would like to be a witness, to testify on how this location has affected the neighborhood negatively.
Officer Lorena
***
From: Gary, G Robert [ggary@emory.edu]
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 8:29 PM
To: Lorena, Barbara
Subject: RE: Complain against Jim Ed Avery
Dear Officer Lorena,
I am Janet S. Gary, wife of George Robert (Bob) Gary, Sr. who wrote to you earlier in the day. We own the house at 1841 Mason Mill Rd., directly across from Mr. Avery's 1840 Mason Mill House.
My husband and I have been increasingly harassed by Mr. Avery ever since an incident when he came to our house during the Thanksgiving holidays, 2010. Bob was not home and I, not knowing Mr. Avery's mental state, let him in. He stayed and hour or more, rambling, saying he was a crackhead, wanting to establish a "Trinity" with me and my husband. I told him I couldn't understand him and that he needed help, which only increased his rambling, attempts to persuade me, etc. I told him I needed to go take my Parkinson's medications and he still wouldn't leave. I then just left the room, told him I was going upstairs to take my meds and couldn't listen anymore, He said "Okay, but I am leaving my stuff (a basket full of rubber
duckies wirh names.)" I said no, to take them with him I was afraid to tell him directly that he should leave, because I did not know what kind of reaction he would have. I went upstairs and heard him leave then locked the door,
When my husband came home, I told him about it .When Jim Ed came back, they had a confrontation and Bob and I followed up with an email telling him he should not return to our house again. He did not respect that, leading to our getting a protective order against him. He violated it with an email, and we had him arrested. He was let out on bail and that case is pending. Dec. 11 iis the date.
We feel that what Mr. Avery is doing now in his yard and on his blog are aimed directly at us and at his next-door neighbors with whom he is also angry. His blog has become threatening. We have moved out of our home into a retirement community and are trying to rent our house. When people who are initially enthusiastic see the yard across the street and ask us about it, we tell the truth and we believe it is the main deterrent for a number of people who looked at our house.
I will be happy to tell my story to the judge, if allowed to do so!
Sincerely and hopefully,
Janet S. Gary
***
From: Bugge, John M [engjmb@emory.edu]
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 9:23 AM
To: Lorena, Barbara
Cc: Gary, G Robert; bba9@cdc.gov; Schneider, Deborah K.
Subject: Code violations at 1840 Mason Mill Road
Dear Ms. Lorena,
I am writing as the President of the Mason Mill Civic Association, whose membership is made up of residents who live on, or on streets adjoining, Mason Mill Road in DeKalb County. Our hundreds of members are essentially unanimous in hoping that something can be done about the deplorable situation at 1840 Mason Mill Road, a property where the owner has filled his front yard with huge inflatable balloon characters, hung tasteless and offensive signs from large trees, and erected crosses with toy monkeys hung in nooses from the horizontal members.
This ongoing display -- it only seems to get more flagrant as time goes on -- is a clear safety hazard for motorists passing along Mason Mill, as many drivers will come to an abrupt halt in front of the property to look at the weird figures and signs. Drivers following behind down the steep hill at this point are in danger of rear-ending the stopped cars.
Of even more concern to our civic association, the bizarre display at 1840 Mason Mill has made the immediate area less attractive to prospective home buyers and renters. The elderly couple directly across the street (at 1841 Mason Mill) have moved to a retirement home, but still cannot sell or rent their house because whenever people come to look at their property they cannot fail to see what is just across the road. And they have invariably said that, no thanks, they wanted no part of what they saw there.
The owner of the property, Mr. James Edward Avery, should at the very least be legally enjoined from continuing with these displays, and immediately.
More important, perhaps, he should be required to submit to psychological or psychiatric therapy. There is ample evidence, which I won't go into here, that he is severely mentally disturbed and (apparently by his own admission before a DeKalb County judge) a user of illegal drugs. His internet blog, which is available for anyone to read, contains disturbing suggestions about his possibly violent intentions toward his neighbors and the community at large. And his behavior to some of those same neighbors has seemed at times borderline psychotic.
It is the duty of the County government to take action in this case for the common good, and before
the situation escalates.
Yours sincerely,
John Bugge
Professor Emeritus of English
Emory University
President, Mason Mill Civic Association
Atlanta, GA 30329
***
From: Noonan, Patrick S. [mailto:patrick.noonan@emory.edu]
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 10:40 AM
To: Bugge, John M; Lorena, Barbara
Cc: Gary, G Robert; bba9@cdc.gov; Schneider, Deborah K.
Subject: RE: Code violations at 1840 Mason Mill Road
Ms. Lorena -
As Immediate Past President of the Mason Mill Civic Association, and as a 14-year resident of that neighborhood, I want to weigh in with my solid support for what John has said in his note to you.
We have tolerated this situation for a long time, and our association does not take lightly the issue of infringing upon neighbors' rights to free expression and free speech. However, as these expressions have become steadily and increasingly offensive and intrusive to others' equally-important rights, and as evidence mounts that the resident in question has become a potential danger for hurtful actions and not just hurtful speech, we must insist that the County take steps necessary to right the situation.
I ask you to please expedite the appropriate actions to end the most visible affronts to the neighborhood, and to ensure the safety and well-being of the people of the County by addressing the competence of and risks posed by the neighbor in question.
Thank you most sincerely for your urgent attention to this matter.
Patrick S. Noonan, PhD
Professor in the Practice of Decision & Info. Analysis
Associate Dean, Management Practice Initiatives
Goizueta Business School, Emory University
1300 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30322
404.727.0549
@decisionjedi on Twitter
pat208 on Skype
http://www.linkedin.com/in/patricknoonan
http://goizueta.emory.edu/faculty/PatrckNoonan/index.html
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Decision-Information-Analysis/119303576343
***
From: Lorena, Barbara
Sent: Friday, October 19, 2012 7:49 AM
To: Noonan, Patrick S.'
Cc: 'Bugge, John M'
Subject: RE: Code violations at 1840 Mason Mill Road
Good Morning Mr. Noonan,
I went over to 1840 Mason Mill Rd on October 15th, 2012 and personally severed Mr. Avery two court summons for sign violations at his property. Please inform all concerned neighbors of his court date November 27th, 2012, 2:00pm at Recorders Court off Memorial Drive across from the county jail. Also, if anyone would like to be a witness and testify on how this location has affected the neighborhood negatively, I wekome it. Thank You.
Officer Lorena
***
DeKalb County Department of Planning & Sustainability
Burrell Ellis
Chief Executive Officer
MEMORANDUM
To: Marcus Kellum, Code Compliance Manager
From: Jerry Silver, Jr., Code Compliance supervisor[§)
Re: Allegation of Violations - 1840 Mason Mill Rd
Date: October 22, 2012
Cc: Barbara Lorena, Senior code Compliance Officer
OVERVIEW
On September 24, 2012, resident, Bobby Rasulina, entered a compliant through our dynamic portal stating "The resident at 1840 Mason Mill Rd (Mr. Avery) has posted over 8 signs (spray painted on black plastic bags, 15 blowup holiday balloons, monkeys hanging by the neck on ropes, a larger than life cross with non-sensical writings, and other items, in his front yard. Mr. Avery has a history of arrests and mental health and/or drug abuse issues and these items in his yard are scaring the neighborhood. People are afraid to walk past his property. DeKalb commissioner's office is aware of his issues and the police are repeatedly out there due to his harassment towards neighbors. His balloons are also causing financial harm to property owners
trying to sell or rent homes in the neighborhood. He was putting signs up on Saturday with his face painted white. The cross sign is offensive to Christian believers in the area. His is hearing impaired. Please proceed with caution he can be verbally aggressive. We as a neighborhood need your assistance in protecting our property values, integrity of our personal believes, and safety of the families in the neighborhood."
HISTORY
Based on code compliance records, on April 28, 2011 staff received a call from Commissioner Raiders assistant Caroline Enloe regarding a sign that reads "President Wagner, True or False? God Hates Fags." the sign is located in the front yard of 1840 Mason Mill Rd. Senior code compliance officer Mutebi inspected the location and a court summons was issued # 1421716 for (21-13.6) sign exceeding six feet in a residential district court date May 31, 2011; warning notice # 160869 issued for open storage in a residential district compliance date May 5, 2011. Court inspection performed on May 28, 2012, officer Mutebi observed open storage removed, sign was still onsite court summons issued # 1621718 for (21-13.6) sign exceeding six feet in a residential district court date June 28,2011.
On Tuesday May 31,2011 Mr. Avery failed to appear in court. While attempting to serve Mr. Avery a criminal citation on June 10,2011, officer Mutebi observed the sign was removed. Court summons # 1621718 was rescinded due to the property being in compliance.
CURRENT ACTION
On October 9, 2012 senior code compliance officer Lorena with the assistance of code compliance officer Lee conducted an inspection of the property, they observed inflatable decorations and several signs posted on trees throughout the aforementioned property, Lorena had taken several pictures of all alleged violations from the sidewalk. Lorena did speak with the owner Mr. James Avery, she asked for his phone number (404)788-9263 and informed him that she will show the pictures to her supervisor and get back with him.
Officer Lorena and I met in my office; she showed me pictures of Mr . Avery's property and shared her concerns regarding potential violations. I requested that she schedule a meeting with Mr. Avery and request that he meet with us in the office.
On October 12,2012 at 3:00 pm Mr. Avery, officer Lorena and I met in the conference room. We discussed code violations that are present on his property, it was also discussed with him that the code requires an immediate court summons for all sign violations. Mr. Avery was shown what county codes he was violating.
I informed Mr. Avery that if officer Lorena arrives at his property and the signs are still onsite, we will have no choice but to issue a court summons. Mr. Avery stated "he welcomes the day he can stand in front of a judge and prove his points about his freedom of speech".
At this point Mr. Avery informed me that he was gay and wanted know if I was up to date on my African American history, he proceeded to discuss the rosewood massacre. I thanked Mr. Avery for sharing his view on history and redirected the conversation.
Mr. Avery stated when officer Lorena returns to his property on Monday October 15,2012 he will be home and will accept any citations that are issued because he wants his day in court.
Officer Lorena arrived onsite on Monday October 15,2012 at 11:20 am and (10) signs were still onsite. Although a court citation could have been written for each sign officer Lorena only issued (1) citation. Court citations were issued # 1418359 for 21.11(7) failure to remove prohibited signs- erected by nailing them on trees and # 1418359 for 21.13(6) signs in a residential zone exceeding 6 square feet to Mr. James Avery court date November 27,2012 at 2:00 pm. Court citations were personally served to Mr. James Avery. Since officer Lorena's last inspection, we have received (5) additional complaints regarding this property.
But only if you care making the time, otherwise:
"You do not conclude until understanding. Once understanding, you do not judge."
Subject:
Fw: Virginitas: An Essay in the History of a Medieval Ideal
From:
James Avery (jeaverydvm87@att.net)
To:
hinkelfamily21380@earthlink.net; Patrick.Noonan@emory.edu;
Date:
Tuesday, May 17, 2016 1:02 AM
Hello Mary; Patrick,
What's the story on John? Haven't heard back from him?
***
On Friday, May 13, 2016 9:38 AM, James Avery wrote:
"A group meeting with Patrick Noonan, John Bugge, and Mary Hinkel. That would be a good place to start!"
~(Simply Jim: Neighbor)~
"John Bugge... He still alive..?"
~(David: Nextdoor.com Member)~
"Maybe not! He was Mason Mill Civic Association's Fall picnic. Maybe not!"
~(Simply Jim: Neighbor)~
"If only there was some bible verse we could use!"
~(Leigh: Nextdoor.com Member)~
"There is! Isaiah 6:9!
"~(Simply Jim: Neighbor)~
Hello John,
This is the mentally disturbed resident of 1840 Mason Mill Road.
From: Bugge, John M
Sent: Thursday, October 18,20129:23 AM
To: Lorena, Barbara
Subject: Code violations at 1840 Mason Mill Road
Dear Ms. Lorena,
I am writing as the President of the Mason Mill Civic Association, whose membership is made up of residents who live on, or on streets adjoining, Mason Mill Road in DeKalb County. Our hundreds of members are essentially unanimous in hoping that something can be done about the deplorable situation at 1840 Mason Mill Road, a property where the owner has filled his front yard with huge inflatable balloon characters, hung tasteless and offensive signs from large trees, and erected crosses with toy monkeys hung in nooses from the horizontal members.
This ongoing display -- it only seems to get more flagrant as time goes on -- is a clear safety hazard for motorists passing along Mason Mill, as many drivers will come to an abrupt halt in front of the property to look at the weird figures and signs. Drivers following behind down the steep hill at this point are in danger of rear-ending the stopped cars.
Of even more concern to our civic association, the bizarre display at 1840 Mason Mill has made the immediate area less attractive to prospective home buyers and renters. The elderly couple directly across the street (at 1841 Mason Mill) have moved to a retirement home, but still cannot sell or rent their house because whenever people come to look at their property they cannot fail to see what is just across the road. And they have invariably said that, no thanks, they wanted no part of what they saw there.
The owner of the property, Mr. James Edward Avery, should at the very least be legally enjoined from continuing with these displays, and immediately.
More important, perhaps, he should be required to submit to psychological or psychiatric therapy. There is ample eVidence, which I won't go into here, that he is severely mentally disturbed and (apparently by his own admission before a DeKalb County judge) a user of illegal drugs. His internet blog, which is available for anyone to read, contains disturbing suggestions about his possibly violent intentions toward his neighbors and the community at large. And his behavior to some of those same neighbors has seemed at times borderline psychotic.
It is the duty of the County government to take action in this case for the common good, and before the situation escalates.
Yours sincerely,
John Bugge
Professor Emeritus of English
I do not know what state of mind this email will find you, but if possible, we really do need to talk.
Can this be arraigned?
Sincerely yours,
James E. Avery, D.V.M.
***
Do hope it's not...TOO... late?
Any information would be helpful.
Sincerely yours,
Jim Ed
btw: Code Enforcer did write me up three citations on the morning of April 30th. Officer Housworth was also claiming they were here that day at my invite. And in a way, this is true. I did make a call one day to Code Enforcement trying to find out more about the complaint I had placed against myself with Code Enforcement December 8th. Instead of the woman answering the phone being cooperative/accommodating, ended up leaving a message for Officer Housworth suggesting we arrange a date for them showing up and I would be sure to have something in violation of DeKalb County's sign ordinances waiting for them. This unannounced visit...NOT...what I would consider to be an invite from me having been accepted.
Service # 164317
Problem SIGN C-SIGN COMPLAINT
Address 1840 MASON MILL RD
DECATUR GA 30033-
Call Date 12/08/2015 14:55
Taken By WLGOODEN1 GOODEN, W L.
Source PHON o Customer Contact Requested
Priority HIGH C-HIGH PRIORITY
Responsibility CODE PLANNING / SUSTAINABILITY-CODE
Project
BUdget #
Duration of Call 00:33
#Calls 1
Service Request Progress
Schedule (resolved)
Inspect Inspected from 12/22/2015 03:56 PM to 12/22/2015 03:56 PM by GDGORDON GLENN GORDON
Resolve Resolved at 02/03/2016 02:21 PM with code COMPL C- COMPLIED.
Primary Caller
Name
First,MI
Address
City
State/Province
Country
Day Phone
Call Date 12/08/2015 14:55
ZIP/PC
Reference #
Evening Phone
Taken By WLGOODEN1
Call List
There are no additional callers for this service number
Comments
illegal sign
*****PROPERTY TAX********
1810405030
Pin Number 1029392
Property Address 1840 MASON MILL RD
Property Type Real Estate
Tax District 04 - UNINCORPORATED
Owner Information
Last Name, First Name
Jan. 1 st Owner AVERY JAMES EDWARD
Co-Owner
Current Owner AVERY JAMES EDWARD
Co-Owner
Owner Address
1840 MASON MILL RD
DECATUR GA 30033-3423
Care of Information
Log Type Comments
OWNER
Description
OWNER OF ADDRESS
Schedule Resources
No resources scheduled
I've since made a visit to Code Enforcers new headquarters requesting a copy of everything in my file since the February 19, 2013 court hearings The above information was all I was able receiving..?
What follows are copies I had made of this file some two years after court hearings(non-hearings) February 19, 2013. Could the two of you be sweet enough seeing to it that all your "NEXTDOOR" NEIGHBORS (not just the ones you "thanked" whatever reasons known only to you) made aware the court hearing has been scheduled for June 28th, 2016 at 9:00 AM same courthouse across the street from DeKalb County Jail but now Municipal Court instead of Recorders Court. Would be awfully nice seeing everyone there again. Many many more even better!
***
From: Gary, G Robert [ggary@emory.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2012 3:07 PM
To: Lorena, Barbara
Cc: Gary, Janet S.
Subject: Complain against Jim Ed Avery
Dear Officer Lorena,
I am George Robert Gary Sr. my spouse, Janet S. Gary, own the house at 1841 Mason Mill Rd. Decatur, Ga. 30033. My phone # is 404-634-9865.
I want to present some important information to you regarding Mr. Avery. Is it more effective to speak with you by phone or email to you a number of concerns that are detrimental to the property value of our house. We are trying to rent 1841 for almost a year. At least ten families have loved our house but the subject of the weird house across the street always comes up. We tell them the truth of the situation and answer their questions.
DeKalb County Court granted us a Protective Order against stalking against Jim Ed Avery. He continues to stalk through all the signs and inflated animals. He has been seen in his yard with his rabbit ears on when people come to see our house. People with children were afraid of him.
Please give us some direction on how best to get our concerns before the appropriate people.
Thank you,
Robert Gary
***
From: Lorena, Barbara
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 1:04 PM
To: 'Gary, G Robert'
Subject: RE: Complain against Jim Ed Avery
Good Afternoon Mr. Gary,
I went. to 1846 Mason Mill ROon October 15th, 2012 and personally severed Mr. Avery two court summons for sign violations on his property. The court date is Novembber 27, 2012 2:00pm at Recorders Court off Memorial Dr. across from the county jail. Please let me know if you would like to be a witness, to testify on how this location has affected the neighborhood negatively.
Officer Lorena
***
From: Gary, G Robert [ggary@emory.edu]
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 8:29 PM
To: Lorena, Barbara
Subject: RE: Complain against Jim Ed Avery
Dear Officer Lorena,
I am Janet S. Gary, wife of George Robert (Bob) Gary, Sr. who wrote to you earlier in the day. We own the house at 1841 Mason Mill Rd., directly across from Mr. Avery's 1840 Mason Mill House.
My husband and I have been increasingly harassed by Mr. Avery ever since an incident when he came to our house during the Thanksgiving holidays, 2010. Bob was not home and I, not knowing Mr. Avery's mental state, let him in. He stayed and hour or more, rambling, saying he was a crackhead, wanting to establish a "Trinity" with me and my husband. I told him I couldn't understand him and that he needed help, which only increased his rambling, attempts to persuade me, etc. I told him I needed to go take my Parkinson's medications and he still wouldn't leave. I then just left the room, told him I was going upstairs to take my meds and couldn't listen anymore, He said "Okay, but I am leaving my stuff (a basket full of rubber
duckies wirh names.)" I said no, to take them with him I was afraid to tell him directly that he should leave, because I did not know what kind of reaction he would have. I went upstairs and heard him leave then locked the door,
When my husband came home, I told him about it .When Jim Ed came back, they had a confrontation and Bob and I followed up with an email telling him he should not return to our house again. He did not respect that, leading to our getting a protective order against him. He violated it with an email, and we had him arrested. He was let out on bail and that case is pending. Dec. 11 iis the date.
We feel that what Mr. Avery is doing now in his yard and on his blog are aimed directly at us and at his next-door neighbors with whom he is also angry. His blog has become threatening. We have moved out of our home into a retirement community and are trying to rent our house. When people who are initially enthusiastic see the yard across the street and ask us about it, we tell the truth and we believe it is the main deterrent for a number of people who looked at our house.
I will be happy to tell my story to the judge, if allowed to do so!
Sincerely and hopefully,
Janet S. Gary
***
From: Bugge, John M [engjmb@emory.edu]
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 9:23 AM
To: Lorena, Barbara
Cc: Gary, G Robert; bba9@cdc.gov; Schneider, Deborah K.
Subject: Code violations at 1840 Mason Mill Road
Dear Ms. Lorena,
I am writing as the President of the Mason Mill Civic Association, whose membership is made up of residents who live on, or on streets adjoining, Mason Mill Road in DeKalb County. Our hundreds of members are essentially unanimous in hoping that something can be done about the deplorable situation at 1840 Mason Mill Road, a property where the owner has filled his front yard with huge inflatable balloon characters, hung tasteless and offensive signs from large trees, and erected crosses with toy monkeys hung in nooses from the horizontal members.
This ongoing display -- it only seems to get more flagrant as time goes on -- is a clear safety hazard for motorists passing along Mason Mill, as many drivers will come to an abrupt halt in front of the property to look at the weird figures and signs. Drivers following behind down the steep hill at this point are in danger of rear-ending the stopped cars.
Of even more concern to our civic association, the bizarre display at 1840 Mason Mill has made the immediate area less attractive to prospective home buyers and renters. The elderly couple directly across the street (at 1841 Mason Mill) have moved to a retirement home, but still cannot sell or rent their house because whenever people come to look at their property they cannot fail to see what is just across the road. And they have invariably said that, no thanks, they wanted no part of what they saw there.
The owner of the property, Mr. James Edward Avery, should at the very least be legally enjoined from continuing with these displays, and immediately.
More important, perhaps, he should be required to submit to psychological or psychiatric therapy. There is ample evidence, which I won't go into here, that he is severely mentally disturbed and (apparently by his own admission before a DeKalb County judge) a user of illegal drugs. His internet blog, which is available for anyone to read, contains disturbing suggestions about his possibly violent intentions toward his neighbors and the community at large. And his behavior to some of those same neighbors has seemed at times borderline psychotic.
It is the duty of the County government to take action in this case for the common good, and before
the situation escalates.
Yours sincerely,
John Bugge
Professor Emeritus of English
Emory University
President, Mason Mill Civic Association
Atlanta, GA 30329
***
From: Noonan, Patrick S. [mailto:patrick.noonan@emory.edu]
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 10:40 AM
To: Bugge, John M; Lorena, Barbara
Cc: Gary, G Robert; bba9@cdc.gov; Schneider, Deborah K.
Subject: RE: Code violations at 1840 Mason Mill Road
Ms. Lorena -
As Immediate Past President of the Mason Mill Civic Association, and as a 14-year resident of that neighborhood, I want to weigh in with my solid support for what John has said in his note to you.
We have tolerated this situation for a long time, and our association does not take lightly the issue of infringing upon neighbors' rights to free expression and free speech. However, as these expressions have become steadily and increasingly offensive and intrusive to others' equally-important rights, and as evidence mounts that the resident in question has become a potential danger for hurtful actions and not just hurtful speech, we must insist that the County take steps necessary to right the situation.
I ask you to please expedite the appropriate actions to end the most visible affronts to the neighborhood, and to ensure the safety and well-being of the people of the County by addressing the competence of and risks posed by the neighbor in question.
Thank you most sincerely for your urgent attention to this matter.
Patrick S. Noonan, PhD
Professor in the Practice of Decision & Info. Analysis
Associate Dean, Management Practice Initiatives
Goizueta Business School, Emory University
1300 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30322
404.727.0549
@decisionjedi on Twitter
pat208 on Skype
http://www.linkedin.com/in/patricknoonan
http://goizueta.emory.edu/faculty/PatrckNoonan/index.html
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Decision-Information-Analysis/119303576343
***
From: Lorena, Barbara
Sent: Friday, October 19, 2012 7:49 AM
To: Noonan, Patrick S.'
Cc: 'Bugge, John M'
Subject: RE: Code violations at 1840 Mason Mill Road
Good Morning Mr. Noonan,
I went over to 1840 Mason Mill Rd on October 15th, 2012 and personally severed Mr. Avery two court summons for sign violations at his property. Please inform all concerned neighbors of his court date November 27th, 2012, 2:00pm at Recorders Court off Memorial Drive across from the county jail. Also, if anyone would like to be a witness and testify on how this location has affected the neighborhood negatively, I wekome it. Thank You.
Officer Lorena
***
DeKalb County Department of Planning & Sustainability
Burrell Ellis
Chief Executive Officer
MEMORANDUM
To: Marcus Kellum, Code Compliance Manager
From: Jerry Silver, Jr., Code Compliance supervisor[§)
Re: Allegation of Violations - 1840 Mason Mill Rd
Date: October 22, 2012
Cc: Barbara Lorena, Senior code Compliance Officer
OVERVIEW
On September 24, 2012, resident, Bobby Rasulina, entered a compliant through our dynamic portal stating "The resident at 1840 Mason Mill Rd (Mr. Avery) has posted over 8 signs (spray painted on black plastic bags, 15 blowup holiday balloons, monkeys hanging by the neck on ropes, a larger than life cross with non-sensical writings, and other items, in his front yard. Mr. Avery has a history of arrests and mental health and/or drug abuse issues and these items in his yard are scaring the neighborhood. People are afraid to walk past his property. DeKalb commissioner's office is aware of his issues and the police are repeatedly out there due to his harassment towards neighbors. His balloons are also causing financial harm to property owners
trying to sell or rent homes in the neighborhood. He was putting signs up on Saturday with his face painted white. The cross sign is offensive to Christian believers in the area. His is hearing impaired. Please proceed with caution he can be verbally aggressive. We as a neighborhood need your assistance in protecting our property values, integrity of our personal believes, and safety of the families in the neighborhood."
HISTORY
Based on code compliance records, on April 28, 2011 staff received a call from Commissioner Raiders assistant Caroline Enloe regarding a sign that reads "President Wagner, True or False? God Hates Fags." the sign is located in the front yard of 1840 Mason Mill Rd. Senior code compliance officer Mutebi inspected the location and a court summons was issued # 1421716 for (21-13.6) sign exceeding six feet in a residential district court date May 31, 2011; warning notice # 160869 issued for open storage in a residential district compliance date May 5, 2011. Court inspection performed on May 28, 2012, officer Mutebi observed open storage removed, sign was still onsite court summons issued # 1621718 for (21-13.6) sign exceeding six feet in a residential district court date June 28,2011.
On Tuesday May 31,2011 Mr. Avery failed to appear in court. While attempting to serve Mr. Avery a criminal citation on June 10,2011, officer Mutebi observed the sign was removed. Court summons # 1621718 was rescinded due to the property being in compliance.
CURRENT ACTION
On October 9, 2012 senior code compliance officer Lorena with the assistance of code compliance officer Lee conducted an inspection of the property, they observed inflatable decorations and several signs posted on trees throughout the aforementioned property, Lorena had taken several pictures of all alleged violations from the sidewalk. Lorena did speak with the owner Mr. James Avery, she asked for his phone number (404)788-9263 and informed him that she will show the pictures to her supervisor and get back with him.
Officer Lorena and I met in my office; she showed me pictures of Mr . Avery's property and shared her concerns regarding potential violations. I requested that she schedule a meeting with Mr. Avery and request that he meet with us in the office.
On October 12,2012 at 3:00 pm Mr. Avery, officer Lorena and I met in the conference room. We discussed code violations that are present on his property, it was also discussed with him that the code requires an immediate court summons for all sign violations. Mr. Avery was shown what county codes he was violating.
I informed Mr. Avery that if officer Lorena arrives at his property and the signs are still onsite, we will have no choice but to issue a court summons. Mr. Avery stated "he welcomes the day he can stand in front of a judge and prove his points about his freedom of speech".
At this point Mr. Avery informed me that he was gay and wanted know if I was up to date on my African American history, he proceeded to discuss the rosewood massacre. I thanked Mr. Avery for sharing his view on history and redirected the conversation.
Mr. Avery stated when officer Lorena returns to his property on Monday October 15,2012 he will be home and will accept any citations that are issued because he wants his day in court.
Officer Lorena arrived onsite on Monday October 15,2012 at 11:20 am and (10) signs were still onsite. Although a court citation could have been written for each sign officer Lorena only issued (1) citation. Court citations were issued # 1418359 for 21.11(7) failure to remove prohibited signs- erected by nailing them on trees and # 1418359 for 21.13(6) signs in a residential zone exceeding 6 square feet to Mr. James Avery court date November 27,2012 at 2:00 pm. Court citations were personally served to Mr. James Avery. Since officer Lorena's last inspection, we have received (5) additional complaints regarding this property.
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