[TPC] - Around Town & REAL Politick, 6/30/25: Talkin' 3rd of July, Apparently Georgia Hates Its Citizens, Fleeta, Odds & Ends, etc

 

Why does GA/Brian Kemp/Chris Carr hate the Citizenry of the Great State of Georgia So Much? 

Hello, friends, and welcome back. 

So, apparently in order to placate Fleeta (more on her in just a bit), the City of Covington has decided to hold its 4th of July celebration on the 3rd of July. 

I have never, nor will I ever, understand why some of our fellow citizens will bow down to this "lady." 

More on her later. 

Georgia Hates Its Citizens, as well as Free Speech, Apparently 

When the news broke a few weeks ago that the State of Georgia was actually going to do this - to try to harass, punish & silent those citizens of the GA Piedmont who rightfully tried to redress their grievances against our state government for this egregious violation of home rule - so many were so appalled. 

Surely, given the context & the optics, Chris Carr - especially since he's running for Governor - would NOT actually do this? 

Well, folks, when you sell your soul, and once you're compromised & converged (and probably blackmailed), you apparently have to go all in for your evil overlords. 

And it seems as if that's where we're at at this point... 

Sad. 

Fleeta 

So, as maybe a few of you already know, that gal was the host of the latest rendition of a local podcast. 

It was everything Fleeta wanted, apparently, while her hosts, by all accounts, fully facilitated it. 

She was in full-on "bad ass, bad momma, boss mayor mode." 

Allegedly.

I sure as hell didn't waste my time listening to it. 

Per the word, she basically told the entirety of the home city to suck it.

Either recall her, run against her, or just simply STFU. 

Quick sidebar. 

For the life of me, I can not figure out why some of our fellow citizens bow down to this woman. 

I mean, I can get that she's a natural politician, but I just don't get how some of the people in our orbit - decent, seemingly smart folks, that I have respect for - will just simply drop on all fours & lift their backside in front of her (or maybe drop to their knees right in front of her). 

I really don't.

It all seems to be a cult of personality.



 




Also, as I've been told by multiple sources for some time, she's allegedly bragging about how she still has me blocked on social media (what a bad, weak look for her. Not to mention the fact that she's using her personal FB page in her official capacity of Mayor [LAWSUIT potential; pretty much a slam dunk as I'm told by my legal counsel [who, by the record, is not from, nor does not live in Covington or Newton Co.). 

That is so sad & pathetic, and this is not what the home city needs w/ their Mayor. 

- Also - 

Fleeta is a magnet for lawsuits.

As has been reported by the other local news outlets, -- allegedly Fleeta was the main reason for a lawsuit brought by a former Fire Battalion Chief against the home city a few months back. 

Oh, yeah. 

Allegedly a gal pal of Fleeta's got an inappropriate picture. Purportedly, she then shared it w/ Fleeta.

Fleeta, being Fleeta, naturally, shared it w/ half of Covington, supposedly. 

Just a profound lack of judgement. 

And, people - as some of you know - that's simply Fleeta. She just can't seem to help herself. 

I know it.
You know it.
Everybody knows it. 

Sad. 


Odds & Ends

Well, the news recently hit that Trey Bailey bailed on running for either State House or State Senate. 

Sad, but not all surprising. 

Pretty sure he knew he had a tough row to hoe taking on Bret Dunn in the Senate race. 

And, considering this news, this writer is assuming that there's a former county constitutional officer of the home county running for the State House race seat. 

###


Until next time, 

- MBM 

P.S. Fleeta has apparently been telling folks that all of the apartments that have been going up & permitted happened over six year ago (coincidentally the amount of time since she first served on the city council).  She's also purportedly told some that she's never voted for a Multifamily approval. 
LOL. 
Look for a future post about this.
DEVELOPING...
#StayTuned 

20 June 2025: 15 Years of The Piedmont Chronicles

 

Friends, welcome back to The Chronicles, and - as always - it's so good to be back w/ you. 

15 years. Wow.

Man!

Hard to believe. 

Going back all the way to the very beginning, here's this oldie: 

From Salem to Buckhead 

(and yes, this was first published to Blogger on June 28th, but June 20th was when I first made TPC officially official, which, not necessarily coincidentally, coincided w/ my birthday)

Back then, I'd set up a Blogger website in order to share my pieces from About Covington to Madison magazine on the World Wide Web. 

In the first five years of the site's existence, I only had 47 posts, ranging from local history to local people. 

It was 2015 when TPC would really truly become TPC. 

The Top 5 most read pieces from TPC all time: 

#1 - John Williams Saga (Peonage Murders) 

#2 - A Primer on Driving Around The Square &  in Covington 

#3 - Brunswick Stew: What Is & What Should Never Be 

#4 - [Ellis Millsaps] - The Russians Are Coming & Kansas City Shitweed 

#5 - Tommy Craig Continues Ridin' the  Newton County Taxpayer Gravy Train 

Acknowledgments


There are so many I wish to thank. 

First & foremost would be my better half - my wife. Always understanding, always accommodating.  Right from the start, she always knew how important & vital, for me, what I was doing was. 

Thank you, Babe. I'm such a lucky man. I love you so much. 

*****

Next, it is YOU - The Reader. 

None of this happens w/out you.; you mean everything! 

Thank You! 

Moving on... 

### 

- Ellis "Da" Millsaps. Editor Emeritus of TPC 

Da was key to TPC truly becoming TPC. 

----------

My Sista from another Mista 

- Kayla Leasure 

Author of dozens & dozens of great pieces at TPC. An amazing & beautiful soul - inside & out - I think so much of her & am so grateful for her contributions over the years. 

******* 

And, of course, my old Terry College of Business (UGA) classmate & former CF Floyd Feature Writer of National Affairs, Mr Perrin Lovett. 

And to all other former & inactive contributors: 

Ryan Ralston
Bess Tuggle 
Melissa Parker 
Alisa Johnson Brown 

And all Guest Writers: 

- Fred Wheeler 
- Sam Hay 

Etc & Et Al 

15 years. Wow. Here's to 15 more! 

- MBM 

For The Home City! 

GMD 462! 

Odds & Ends, 6/19/25: Revised Budget, Cigar Bars, Running Man & local REAL Politick Heatin' Up

 Welcome back, friends. 

So Tuesday night the home county adopted a budget. It was the better, more beautiful revised budget that we discussed a few days back. 

There were major concerns due to the apparent disdain that the Hays/Ezell?(WTC?) faction had for the revised budget that included around $4 million in cuts to both the Sheriff's Office & also for Jail Operations. 

The big concern, as I had mentioned previously, was that if there were only a 3-vote consensus for the slightly better, revised budget, then the Chair would hold veto power. 

However, those fears were unfounded as the newbie on the Board - the interim BOC 3 Rep - voted along w/ Edwards, Long & Mason. 

Not the budget that many of us wanted, and we're still seeing a tax increase, but it was way better than the initial proposal. A small victory, but a victory nonetheless. Further, this is a pretty big deal as it shows that the other side doesn't have the consensus that some were afraid they might've had. 

We'll take it! 

Cigar Bar Coming to the Home City? 

A couple of months ago & the Covington City Council went full-on Nanny State & banned smoking for the two spots - Five O' Clock & The Depot - that still allowed it. 

My intel says that they did this mainly because they believed that smoking cigarettes is why The Depot had been wildin' ever since they reopened a while back (apparently nothing to do w/ the distilled spirits or the clientele they serve).

Fast-forward to this week & now Covington is wanting to add a new license type. A Cigar Bar. Where they will be pouring distilled spirits but unlike everyone else has been having to do forever, won't have to meet the 50% food requirement AND!!! they can have smoking in their establishment! 

Make it make sense, somebody, please. 

Sad.


The Running Man Goes Down 

That fella that runs around town in the short shorts got arrested Tuesday evening. I'll share my FB post: 

- Confirmed & Verified -

Per multiple sources.

It is true that the infamous Covington "Running Man" was arrested yesterday for indecent exposure.

Apparently one can do that around town for years & years in front of the regular Citizenry w/ no consequences but if you do it in front of a Hollywood film crew then that's when the CPD - The Boys in Blue - will quickly & firmly spring into action.

DEVELOPING...

As predicted, the comment thread on that one was quite at least mildly entertaining. You can check it for yourself. 


REAL Politick 

As I understand it a well known & well regarded gentleman will be officially announcing his candidacy for the East Ward of the City of Covington Council tomorrow. So far only one other has stated his intent to run. There's speculation that a multi-time candidate will also throw her hat into the ring (why? Why would anyone want to get obliterated for a third time?). 

Regardless, this is a Good Fella. Believe he'll win comfortably. 


State House & State Senate 

These aren't until next year but there's been a lot activity already. Bret Dunn has already declared for State Senate. He may or may not have a challenger in the primary depending on whether or not a certain Covingtonian may or may not declare for State House. If he does, Bret will have a formidable challenger because the 3rd party wouldn't run for the House seat if that other fella runs & would then instead run for the Senate seat; however, if o'er fella doesn't it, then Bret would most likely be a lock for the primary & would be guaranteed a victory in the General. 

For the record - Bret better be careful of "The Erickson Curse."

Js. 

Okay for now, scamps. 'Til next time. 

- MBM 

P.S. Been taking a deep dive into the Covington budget. Not impressed. And a link showing all of the top salaries for city employees have been making the rounds lately. Ungodly. 

P.P.S. Georgia suing the plaintiffs in the Rivian court action is literally one of the worst examples of government overreach I've ever seen. Kemp's a bastard; Carr is worse. Just awful! 

The Monday Edition, 16 June 2025: Talkin' Ezell, Madam Chair, WTC, the Newton Co Budget & More!

 Greetings, Fearless Piedmonteers, and welcome back to Your Source For The Real Story! 

Hope all the Dads out there had a great Father's Day. 

So, here's a Sunday Monday edition for your reading pleasure. 

Celebrating 15 years of The Chronicles
June 20th, 2025

Sheriff Ezell Brown 

Last week, the Newton Co BOC revised the proposed budget & found about $4 million to cut. A majority of these cuts came from two of the biggest line-items - Sheriff's Office & Jail Operations, both under the purview of Newton Co Sheriff Ezell Brown. 

Well, by all accounts, Ezell was not impressed & made his displeasure known to interim BOC Chair Linda Hays who made her displeasure known to the members of the BOC along w/ several others on an late night email she sent out. 


Madam Chair Linda Hays

In that email, the main thing that Hays was complaining about was how the County Manager's office had been separated out from the BOC as its own line-item. This was done, apparently, for accounting purposes & seems to many to be the way it should be done; however, the Chair, in her "own"* words, certainly didn't think so. But this change had already been discussed for quite some time & was that way in the initial proposed budget. 

And remember. This went out late Tuesday night after the budget meeting had ended when it seemed as if a consensus had been reached & everyone seemed to be on the same page. 

However, some are thinking that the real problem were to cuts to the Sheriff & that's what ultimately caused the pushback.

To me, that seems fairly obvious. 

*many who've read the email are certain that Madam Chair did NOT write it


The Budget Situation 

The initial proposed budget, as it usually is every year, was basically a joke. We see this every time. 

Regardless, those numbers are always whittled down & additional cuts made, and they're almost always heavy on the biggest line items.

Plus, as I understand it, there were unspent funds that the Sheriff still had on hand. 

If we're trying to get serious about taxpayer relief, we've got to have responsible  & disciplined spending. 

To that point...

Good Work If You Can Get It: WTC still Ridin' the NCSO Gravy Train


And not to bury the lede here, but, yeah, okay maybe a little (I will be doing a dedicated piece on this later), as TPC has written about a few times & as recently as last year, Sheriff Ezell Brown is sending a lot of money to former caustic county attorney William Thomas "Tommy" Craig, Esq (WTC) every single year. 

Ezell has paid Tommy Craig over
$2.5 million
 over the last 9 years on record going back to when Craig was first fired as the County Attorney. 

Here the last several years, that annual amount has been growing to now over $350K per year. 

After FY 2025 is officially official, it'll be right at $3 million.

It has been documented by several that this amount of spending for legal services by a Sheriff of the county the size of Newton, is absolutely OUT OF CONTROL!

Talking about irresponsible spending, let's look at money spent on overtime by the Sheriff. 

An amount that used to always be a few hundred thousand dollars per year has completely exploded the last several years due to the fact that - as I understand it - the NCSO hasn't been properly staffed in years. Not because they don't have the funds (they do). Not because they're not paying competitive wages (they are). As I've been told on very good authority, it's because folks don't want to work at the NCSO. That, presumably, they don't want to work for Ezell. That there is "a culture problem." 

Let's look at the numbers for overtime the last few years: 

FY2024: $2.7 million 
FY2023: $2.1 million
FY 2022: $1.5 million 

Just crazy... 

And a quick add-on: 

Former Tax Commish Marcus Jordan's LLC is now receiving $5,500 per month from Ezell for, *checks notes*, data analysis. 

And who did Marcus Jordan utilize as legal counsel when he was Tax Commissioner?

If you said WTC, you're a winner! 


The Rub


While we know that spending is irresponsible throughout the entirety of Newton County's government, we know it is especially so for the Sheriff's Office & Jail Operations w/ a combined proposed budget of over $35 million. 

That's the behemoth. That's where the money has got to be saved. 

We know there's going to be tax increase. That's obvious. What The People are wanting is to get that increase decreased as much as possible. 

But now, it's time for the sobering reality. 

As many have surmised, there does certainly seem to be an alliance between our Interim Char, the Sheriff & WTC. 

Unless the revised budget has 4 of the 5 members of the BOC on board, then that means Linda holds the veto power on any 3-2 vote. 

Best, 

- MBM 

A Look at the Revised Numbers for Newton Co; Proposed Budget Now Slightly Less

 Greetings, Readers, and welcome back to TPC. 

Your Source for the REAL Story! 

So a few days ago I delved into the initial proposed budget for FY (fiscal year) 2026 which was going to be a 13.4% increase over FY 2025. Naturally, many - this writer included - were not impressed. 

After a bonafide push spearheaded by BOC Reps LeAnne Long & Edwards to really get serious about making some cuts I'm happy to report that the revised proposed budget is certainly better than the initial. More are needed, naturally, but it's definitely a start. 

Current Proposed FY 2026 Newton Co Budget 

Overall: approx $108.7 million representing a 9.3% increase year-over-year (initial budget was $112.8 million representing a 13.4% increase).

So they found $4.1 million to cut. 

Time for a quick aside. There's some confusion to what number, exactly, we're talking about when we are discussing the "budget." There's a larger number that includes things beyond the BOC's control & appropriations, as well as other revenue sources not under the purview of the governing body. So for the purposes of our discussion, the $108.7 million number is what we're looking at. 

Let's take a closer look at the two departments/offices which saw the majority of the reductions of the increases:  

• *The Big One* Sheriff's Office. Overall budget: $19.36 million (5.36% increase over FY 2025); Original proposed budget was $21.5 million representing a 16.92% increase). Obviously one cannot overstate how big this was! Over $2 million less in spending. That was right at 1/2 of the overall decrease. 
  
  
• **The Other Big One** Jail Operations (under the purview of the Sheriff). Overall budget: $15.84 million (1.79% over previous year). Original proposed budget: $17.25 million representing a 10.8% increase. Approx $1.4 million was shaved off. A quick check of the math will tell you that these two line items were most all of the cuts. 
  
  
  

And another aside. Word on the street is that Ezell is PISSED! And apparently he's reached out to interim Madam Chair about it (birds of a feather & all). WTC, anyone? 

Stay tuned for more on this developing situation...

A few departments & offices saw no reductions from the original proposed budget such as Tax Commissioner & Tax Assessor. Both of those line items are still set to increase over 12% (that's way too high!).

Fire Services' rate of increase was tamped down just a bit but is still over 8% higher than the previous year w/ an overall budget of over $15 million. 

Fleet Maintenance is still at over a 20% increase from FY 2025. 

And finally, why is Public Works budgeted for a 46% increase of $2.6 million? What's up w/ that? I'm going to reach out to some folks about that one to see if there's a specific reason for it. 

And one more quick thing. Retirement benefits. They're killing us! Up over 30% in many departments. 

Sad. 

I appreciate the Board's work so far, but they've still got a ways to go in my estimation.

Remember to reach out to your representation. 

Stay Tuned. DEVELOPING... 

- MBM 

A Closer Look into the Newton Co FY 2026 Budget

In re the FY 2026 Newton Co GA budget:

Overall proposed budget of $112.8 million (13.4% increase over previous year)

- 20.74% increase for Fleet Maintenance (overall budget: $2.15 million) - 13.29% increase for Tax Commissioner’s office

- 12.94% increase for Tax Assessor’s office (overall budget: $1.54 million)

- 12.02% increase for Facilities Management

- 10.8% increase for Jail Operations (overall budget: $17.25 million)

- 17.53% increase for Cornish Creek

- 16.92% increase for Sheriff’s office (total proposed budget: $21.5 million) - 9.31 % increase for DA - 8.81% increase for Fire Services (overall budget: $15.05 million). There are several other department, most all of which are also seeing increases.

To be fair, we did see a handful of decreases. The Clerk of Superior Court & the Landfill have proposed budgets lower than last year. So, good on them, for sure. Though, regarding the Clerk's office, that's only because Linda Hays is no longer in that position. W/ her 40+ yr tenure, she was making way more than Finney currently is.

The BOC did as well but not really. They’ve separated out the County Manager’s office as its own line item. Factoring for that, the BOC’s budget will actually be increasing. By the way, the County Manager proposed budget is approx $525K. That's for the salary of the manager, his assistant & the county PR guy, as well as their benefits, and other expenses (sounds a little high) The biggest thing, for me, are the crazy increases in retirement benefits across the board. Most departments I've looked at are increasing that line item by from anywhere from 10-30%. Insane.

Remember, all of this is “proposed.” But it’s crunch time now. Let your BOC representation hear about it. Any good news? Yes, actually. LeAnn Long & Stan Edwards, BOC Reps 5 & 1, respectively, have stated that major cuts have already been made & that there is a consensus on the Board to get those done. The numbers will change & get better (thank God for small favors, eh?); however, I'm still expecting a net increase on property taxes. We'll know a lot more after Tuesday evening when they have the next budget meeting. DEVELOPING... #staytuned - MBM

[Past Piedmont Chronicles] -- Three Musicians: Remembering Jazz Pianist & Friend, Paul Mitchell

 *originally published 2/29/2020

By Ellis Millsaps 

For some reason, or maybe no reason, serendipity perhaps, I've been good friends with three outstanding musicians. Faithful readers know about Bruce Hampton and Marshall McCart. Today I am moved to write about the third.

 Paul Mitchell was a brilliant jazz pianist. I worked for years alongside the Paul Mitchell Trio at Dante's Down the Hatch in Underground Atlanta. Paul died in 2000-- he graduated from Morehouse College with a degree in music when I was 6 months old-- but if he were alive today and met me on the street I'm sure he would peer deeply into my eyes and say ”Is that you Ellis?” He wouldn't mean he wasn't sure who I was; He’d mean as he always did when he put that question to me,” Are you in there Ellis? Is this who you want to be? I believe you have gifts you haven't yet displayed.”

Often he’d ask me this question when he, Bo Newton, John Thacker (managers at Dante’s) and I would be smoking marijuana after hours (and Dante gone home) at Dante's or sometimes in the parking lot while it was crazy busy inside. How did the pretty boy hillbilly from Jacks River and the black genius from Decatur find themselves so situated?

After college Paul enlisted in the Army where he played trumpet in the US Army Band for three years. After the Army he taught himself to play the piano. In the 1950s Pascal’s, the famous gathering place for civil rights leaders, opened a nightclub, The Carousel, where Paul played. Dante first heard Paul’s trio at the Playboy club in the sixties and when he opened the Hatch in 1970 he hired that trio as his house band, a gig they held for decades.

 I came to Dante's in 1971 because my then roommate, Owen Meislin, who worked there, told another of my housemates, Tom Gallo, ( now a partner in an Atlanta law firm) that Dante had an opening for a busboy. Tom made $35 a week cleaning his father's office supply store. He asked if he could make that much at Dante’s. Owen told him he would make more than that in one night. Tom, a cautious individual, declined but I, a financially strapped Emory student, said I’d take it. Pretty soon I was rolling in money, buying a half dozen rock and roll albums at a time,( I still have a vast collection from that era) taking beautiful young women to expensive restaurants and giving away money and drugs to my friends in need.

 Dante Stephensen, a former Navy SEAL, somehow after a divorce found himself in the restaurant business as a maitre d at a busy Atlanta restaurant where he charmed guests into investing in his envisioned Dante's Down the Hatch. That done, he enlisted Paul Mitchell and his trio as the house band and set upon a remarkable run of success.

 Dante had a genius concept. He installed the city's finest wine list with a variety of cheese trays and fondue in a brilliantly conceived and executed setting, this at a time when Underground Atlanta was entering its heyday as a tourist attraction.

 Dante's would have been a success in those early days in underground regardless. but when other venues developed comparable wine lists and underground became known as too dangerous for tourists, Dante's not only survived but was able to rebuild  the ship in prestigious Buckhead digs. He would not have been able to do that without Paul Mitchell. It was Paul who established Dante's as an Atlanta institution with a faithful following, tourists be damned.

 Paul wrote successful original compositions (not only for himself but others) which drummer Alan Murphy sang in a beautiful rich baritone, but it’s the covers I most often remember, particularly the Eagles’ “Desperado”. Paul told me that the first time he heard that song he cried because those California boys so poignantly described the state of his life at the time.

(Years later I saw Alan Murphy playing drums and singing with a lesser band on the square in Covington at one of those Thursday lunch concerts. We warmly acknowledged each other but with an undertone of embarrassment. We both knew our glory days were behind us. Being a busboy at Dante's was a much richer life than being a successful small town lawyer.)

 I know very little of Paul's private life. He was a proud and dignified man but in many ways very private. I do know  obliquely that at one time he thought his life a prison where he was” walking through this world all alone.” For most if not all the time I knew him Paul taught music in the Atlanta school system, this in addition to playing jazz six nights a week until the morning hours. He was later adjunct professor of music at both Emory and Morehouse.

 He rubbed shoulders with leaders of the civil rights movement. I once heard him say,( and although I intuitively already knew it  I had never heard anyone say it ) that things began to really change for the better in the civil rights movement when young white people started smoking marijuana. 

- Ellis Millsaps