Remarks by Mereda Davis Johnson
70 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 2 of 3
- Play at 2:28:57
“If I could just say something in response.”
Board of Commissioners · Aug 25, 2026
- Play at 2:29:03
“Yeah, I would just like to say and respond to that to please those that have questions, comments, input on the commission, please come to the ops meeting so that we can discuss it fully. Commissioner Johnson. Terry is at just about every ops committee meeting in person. I think he had one teleconference ops committee. But I would just encourage everyone that has input into the items that we're discussing, not only in the blue book, but for the charter review. Please come to the Ops Committee so that we can fully discuss them, and they won't have to be discussed in the business meeting. Thank…”
Board of Commissioners · Aug 25, 2026
- Play at 2:46:17
“Um, yeah, I think, I think that we're talking about a very complex issue, you know, it's not black and white, you know? Um, and I understand, uh, what, uh, commissioner Messiah is attempting to do. I understand, uh, some of the things that you're saying. Uh, but I'm going to tell you, I was at a service station. A couple of weeks ago, and a lady got out of a car with a child, came up to me and said that they needed to get home. They didn't have any gas, would I have them get gas? I went in the store, charged $10 worth of gas for her. And as I was walking out, I saw a man get out of the car,…”
Board of Commissioners · Aug 25, 2026
- Play at 3:04:47
“Yeah, so I'd like to just state once more that housing problem is not just a housing problem in DeKalb County. It's a housing problem nationwide. The mental health problem is just not a problem in DeKalb County. It's nationwide. I mean, this is something that the the federal government started and the local governments are having to deal with it. So it's not fair to put that problem on one person or even this commission. But this commission must deal with it as it affect DeKalb County. And that's what we are trying to do. Take the politics out of it, take the publicity out of it, and let's…”
Board of Commissioners · Aug 25, 2026
- Play at 4:10:09
“My apologies. Thank you so much. Especially since I had to listen to her so much.”
Board of Commissioners · Aug 25, 2026
- Play at 4:38:08
“Motion to approve as approved in the Ops Committee. The substitute. The substitute, yeah.”
Board of Commissioners · Aug 25, 2026
- Play at 4:39:54
“I make a motion to approve 26-1121, 26-1125 as they were approved in the Ops Committee.”
Board of Commissioners · Aug 25, 2026
- Play at 4:41:24
“And it would just be good if you just gave an overall assessment of the savings.”
Board of Commissioners · Aug 25, 2026
- Play at 4:41:35
“Yeah, and when you get that, if you could get with me, and we could just have a discussion in ops. Absolutely.”
Board of Commissioners · Aug 25, 2026
- Play at 5:07:24
“Well, I would just like to say, and we've said in executive session, welcome back, Matthew. And I would not say that this item is contingent on the passage of what they do and what they do on the Norse ordinance. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I would not say it's contingent. And we have spoken on this item. We've been through these discussions for several, several months. But I would just say this, in deference to Matthew, who's just coming back, to give him an opportunity to review his red lines and speak directly with you. I would just make a, I don't want to do a substitute, but an amended…”
Board of Commissioners · Aug 25, 2026
- Play at 4:31
“I'm blessed and humbled to be here today with the Queen family as we celebrate the naming of this street, the one that I pass through every day, Arthur J.”
Board of Commissioners · Aug 13, 2026
- Play at 50:13
“Yes, I have a motion and a comment. I vote for denial of this item, and I have a comment.”
Board of Commissioners · Aug 13, 2026
- Play at 50:39
“Yeah, first of all, if you had contacted my office and talked to me about it, we could have had, I think, a respectful discussion of it. Secondly of all, yeah, I've been on this board for 11 years. DeKalb County has been established since the early 80s. Policies were made originally in DeKalb County that affects not only you, but affects me as well. Because guess what? I live in South DeKalb, and I live in the 5th District. And my district and the place that I live is not a dump. We have Arabia Mountain, we have Hillandale Hospital, we have Two Casa Parentes, we have Publix, we have Arabia…”
Board of Commissioners · Aug 13, 2026
- Play at 57:50
“Just briefly, and when I spoke with the applicants, I did, in fact, ask them if they wanted, if they would want to withdraw, we would consider that, and they never got back with me on that. So that's my motion for denial, and I hope my second stands.”
Board of Commissioners · Aug 13, 2026
- Play at 59:50
“I make a motion to withdraw without prejudice.”
Board of Commissioners · Aug 13, 2026
- Play at 1:12:15
“Well, I'll tell you, I got both of the Francis teaming up on me tonight, so I make a motion to approve this item.”
Board of Commissioners · Aug 13, 2026
- Play at 1:13:08
“Yeah, I did not commend the community. And I tell you, the Hidden Hills community is one of the many homeowners association that works very diligently with DeKalb County for the benefit of their community. They've done so for the 11 years that I've been on the commission. And then I'm sure for years prior to me coming on the commission, they're a beautiful, beautiful community. And they're very dedicated. community and working together for the benefit of the community. And one thing that I didn't mention earlier was the beautification grants. that Hidden Hills took advantage of. And I want to…”
Board of Commissioners · Aug 13, 2026
- Play at 1:36:55
“Oh, no, I'm sorry. I meant to withdraw my name this week. All right, thank you.”
Board of Commissioners · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 1:40:39
“Yeah, I would like to just get a red line version.”
Board of Commissioners · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 1:47:01
“Yeah. I don't have any problem with it because it's the amphitheater. I don't have any problem with it. But I would assume if you have a conflict of voting, you have a conflict of promoting. Is that a promoting?”
Board of Commissioners · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 1:47:25
“Yeah. Promoting this election. And I may be wrong, but I abstain from pensions. Sure, sure. And I don't advocate for pensions. So can I do that?”
Board of Commissioners · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 1:47:45
“Yeah, I'm saying if I'm abstaining for a conflict, can I promote what I have the conflict for? That's a good question. Even if I don't, vote for it.”
Board of Commissioners · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 1:48:01
“Because I always have to abstain from pension. And it was my understanding that I should not comment or give my personal opinion if I have a conflict. And I say I'm abstaining because of a conflict. And I don't have a problem, but I would like to comment on some things that I have not been able to comment on.”
Board of Commissioners · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 1:48:38
“Okay. Okay. Thank you. I just wanted to know. Thank you. Nothing about what you had to say, but I wanted to know if I could comment on pension if I'm abstaining based on a conflict. Okay. Thank you.”
Board of Commissioners · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 2:01:04
“This will be the first. And this is the first reading. Okay. Okay, then I need to make a motion to defer.”
Board of Commissioners · Aug 11, 2026