Closer Look: Father of Grady Teen Fatally Struck In Cycling Accident Pushes For Safer Streets; Stockbridge Mayor Opposes De-Annexation

Monday on “Closer Look with Rose Scott”:

• 0:00: A new poll suggests Gwinnett County residents may not be on board with a MARTA expansion. Rosetta Stone Communications conducted the Gwinnett MARTA referendum poll for local television station WSB. Polling took place on Feb. 4 with 960 responding. The poll asked two questions. First: what is your opinion of MARTA? Second: “Gwinnett County has executed a contract for the provision of transit services, dated as of August 2, 2018. Shall this contract be approved?” According to the poll results, 41.5 percent supported the measure and 48 percent opposed. The results also indicated support and opposition based on political party affiliation and race. 63.9 percent identified as black and supported the Marta contract. 56.7 percent and white opposed the contract as well as 67.9 percent identifying as other. The Gwinnett County MARTA Poll has a 3.1 percent margin of error.  Robbie Ashe, Treasurer the MARTA board, joins us in studio to weigh in on this poll.
• 10:58: A proposed mixed-use development in Stockbridge has led to a dispute between city and county officials. The economic development project, which was proposed by the Henry County Commission, would require Stockbridge to de-annex a portion of land, but city officials have said they have already signed a contract with the developer and that de-annexation is not an option. Stockbridge Mayor Anthony Ford joins us in studio to share the city’s side of the issue.

• 29:50: Feb. 12 will mark three years since Thomas Hyneman’s teenage daughter, Alexia, was struck and killed by a motorist while biking near Grady High School. Now, Hyneman is pushing for increased safety improvements to the intersection of 10 Street and Monroe Drive, where the incident took place. He will rally on the date of Alexia’s death with Grady High School students, District 6 Councilmember Jennifer Ide and members of the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition to call for City Council to complete changes to the intersection and crosswalk. Ahead of that rally, he joins us in studio today to share his story.

Closer Look is produced by Candace Wheeler and Grace Walker.  Anastaciah Ondieki contributed to this article.