Piedmont’s Decline: Why are our Property Values Plummeting?

As a long-time resident who has proudly called Piedmont home since the late 1980s, I’ve witnessed many changes in our beautiful city. We’ve always prided ourselves on our strong community, our respectful civil discourse, and the excellent stewardship of our city.

For some time now, the very fabric of Piedmont has seemed to fray, but since the arrival of our current city administrator, I’ve watched with growing dismay as that decline has undeniably accelerated. The level of civil discourse in our city has frankly bottomed out. There’s an antagonism now that is palpable, dividing neighbors and poisoning what was once a harmonious atmosphere. This isn’t the Piedmont I know, nor the one I envisioned for the next generation.

Compounding this, burglaries in our community have unfortunately been on the rise, creating a pervasive sense of unease.

Simultaneously, our property taxes have soared, yet what are we getting for it? An increasing ineptitude across city staff is evident. It’s no wonder the city is facing lawsuits from residents – a troubling drain on our resources.

And then there’s the Piedmont Community Pool. It is way behind schedule and massively over budget, with no firm completion date in sight from the latest updates. This project alone speaks volumes about the lack of oversight.

But perhaps the most alarming consequence is the tangible impact on our property values. For decades, a Piedmont address was synonymous with a secure investment. Now, our property values are undeniably down, and we’re seeing more sellers having to lower their asking prices. This decline, in my opinion, is directly attributable to the chaos and mismanagement under this administration.

Which brings me to these crucial questions:

Why do our city administrator’s decisions so often lack transparency and appear unilaterally made, despite claims of community collaboration?

Where is the accountability for her seemingly ineffective direct reports, who remain protected under her leadership?

Is our City Council actively enabling this opaque administration, allowing our property values to fall and our civil discourse to further unravel?

Unless our City Council takes decisive action to address these fundamental issues, our city’s decline will tragically continue. It’s time to demand accountability and transparency from our city leadership. We must come together to ensure our City Council takes decisive action to restore effective management, revive civil discourse, and protect our investments. Let’s reclaim the Piedmont we cherish – a city defined by community, respect, and responsible leadership. Make your voice heard and contact your City Council representatives today!