DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — In November Channel 2′s Tyisha Fernandes was out at a local shopping plaza that was starting to look like a dumping site with piles of trash that had been there for years.
Well now the county has finally cleaned it up, thanks to Channel 2 Action News’ exclusive coverage.
“Thanks to you Tyisha and Channel 2 Action News for helping to promote this idea that this shopping center needed to be addressed and cleaned up,” DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond said.
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On Monday Thurmond was out in the Pendley Hills plaza on Covington highway showing Channel 2 Action News how the area had been cleaned.
After county officials finally got a court order they’ve been fighting for for the last 4 years.
“Nineteen inspections, 14 citations, $5,600 in fines and finally a judge ruled in the magistrate court that this here is a public nuisance, given DeKalb the power to take control, remove this blight and restore this shopping center,” Thurmond said.
Neighbors contacted Channel 2′s Tyisha Fernandes complaining about the rats and drug activity.
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At that time, the county was already in court with the property owner trying to get her to clean the area up.
“So it was a collaborative effort between our government , the magistrate court, the solicitor and most importantly the media,” he said.
Damani Fulks has been cutting hair in this plaza for 13 years. He told Channel 2 Action News a clean plaza is good for business.
“I’m very glad for the customers, for the businesses, for everybody - it’s much better for everybody,” Fulks said.
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