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Moderator’s introduction

July 26, 2013 - Dekalb County- A vacant house in the Scarbrough Square subdivision near Covington Highway. After years of watching property tax revenue decline and expenses related to foreclosures rise in the wake of an epic real estate meltdown, a host of Georgia counties are looking for someone to blame and pay damages. In a series of lawsuits filed over the last year, Fulton, Gwinnett, DeKalb, Cobb and other Georgia counties have targeted the federal loan guarantee agencies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which they say have illegally avoided real estate filing taxes and fees associated with foreclosures. BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM

Credit: Bob Andres

Credit: Bob Andres

July 26, 2013 - Dekalb County- A vacant house in the Scarbrough Square subdivision near Covington Highway. After years of watching property tax revenue decline and expenses related to foreclosures rise in the wake of an epic real estate meltdown, a host of Georgia counties are looking for someone to blame and pay damages. In a series of lawsuits filed over the last year, Fulton, Gwinnett, DeKalb, Cobb and other Georgia counties have targeted the federal loan guarantee agencies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which they say have illegally avoided real estate filing taxes and fees associated with foreclosures. BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM
By Rick Badie
Oct 23, 2013

Today's moderator: Rick Badie

Rick Badie joined The Atlanta Journal-Constitution as an education reporter in 1997. A South Georgia native, he’s covered the region’s immigrant communities, was a feature obituary writer and opinion columnist for the AJC’s Gwinnett edition. He is a moderator of conversations on the AJC's Atlanta Forward page.

» Join the discussion online today: Weigh in below with your thoughts and opinions.

Abandoned and derelict houses are a neighborhood and community blight. Today, the commander of Atlanta's code enforcement section explains the tedious process to rein in negligent property owners. Meanwhile, a state official writes about the Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development program, which certifies shovel-ready industrial sites for companies to locate. To comment, go to: http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-forward/

Today's columnists:

GRAD sites good for state by Tom Croteau

Blighted properties plague city by Cerelyn Davis

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Rick Badie
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