Top Stories for October 28th Publish Date: October 28th From the BG AD Group Studio Welcome to the Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. Today is Tuesday, October 28th and Happy Birthday to Julia Roberts I’m Peyton Spurlock and here are your top stories presented by KIA Mall of Georgia. SPARC, Motel to Home help homeless single-parent families get back into housing E-SPLOST headlines countywide ballot — but faces challenges Gwinnett police chief pushes back in Peachtree Corners debate All of this and more is coming up on the Gwinnett Daily Post podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen daily and subscribe! Break 1: KIA Mall Of Georgia STORY 1 : SPARC, Motel to Home help homeless single-parent families get back into housing Life hit Faith Busano like a freight train. “The day we moved into our last apartment, I lost my job,” she said. Originally from California, Faith, 32, had bounced from Michigan to Georgia, trying to find stability for herself and her two daughters, 3-year-old Love and 13-year-old Harmoni. But things kept falling apart. Family couldn’t help. The apartment didn’t work out. And when the job disappeared, so did their home. They ended up in an extended-stay motel—what was supposed to be a temporary fix. But weeks turned into months, and the motel became a trap. Her toddler’s energy was endless, her teen was struggling with mental health, and Faith herself was barely holding on. She worked customer service, drove for DoorDash, styled hair—anything to scrape by. But the grind was relentless. Then, one day, a flier changed everything. The motel was handing out groceries, and someone slipped her information about SPARC’s Motel to Home program. It felt like a lifeline. SPARC, led by Joy Monroe, helps families like Faith’s escape the cycle of extended-stay living. The program covers deposits, first month’s rent, and helps families transition into stable housing. But it’s not easy—there are requirements, and families have to actively work toward qualifying. Faith did the work. She found an apartment within her budget, got approved, and finally moved in. Monroe, who started SPARC to support single moms like herself, knows the struggle all too well. Faith is still rebuilding—working toward her medical assistant certification, dreaming of opening her own business someday. But for now, she’s just grateful to have a place to call home. STORY 2: E-SPLOST headlines countywide ballot — but faces challenges This fall, Gwinnett voters have plenty to decide, but nothing’s stirring the pot quite like the E-SPLOST referendum. Here’s the deal: Gwinnett County Public Schools and Buford City Schools want to extend the 1% sales tax for another six years, aiming to rake in $1.47 billion—most of it ($1.44 billion) for GCPS. The money would go toward maintaining aging schools (average age: 24 years), fixing roofs, replacing HVAC systems, and even funding a new career and technical education center. Safety upgrades and Chromebooks? Also on the list. Supporters say it’s essential. Opponents? They’re calling out wasteful spending—like a $7 million church purchase with no clear plan. Turnout’s been dismal so far—just 1.7% of voters have shown up. Maybe it’s the confusion of needing multiple ballots in some areas. Or maybe people just aren’t paying attention. Either way, the stakes are high. STORY 3: Gwinnett police chief pushes back in Peachtree Corners debate Nancy McGregor doesn’t see the point. The Peachtree Corners resident has been a supporter of the Gwinnett County Police Department for years, and after attending a community meeting with Police Chief J.D. McClure, she’s even more convinced: the city doesn’t need its own police force. “When you’ve got an elite department like Gwinnett’s—with their training, resources, and expertise—why would we try to replicate that?” McGregor said. The meeting, held at Peachtree Corners Baptist Church, was the first time residents heard directly from county police about the city’s proposal to break away and form its own department. McClure didn’t hold back. Crime in Peachtree Corners? Down across the board. Robberies dropped 40% this year, assaults 41%, and commercial burglaries a staggering 66%. But it’s not just about crime stats. McClure laid out what the city would lose: specialized units like SWAT, K9, and Behavioral Health, plus the county’s ability to surge officers during emergencies. Residents like Paul La Motte left the meeting impressed. “I’ve always been against the idea of a city police department, but now? I’m even more confident Gwinnett’s got this.” McGregor agreed. “Hearing their side just confirmed it for me. They’re doing a great job.” We have opportuniti
