The Chamblee Brief - September 14, 2026
By Jimmy Furst
Stay informed. Stay involved.
The Locomotive - One Big Thing
July Police Report
Crime in Chamblee continues to trend down, which is encouraging news in the July report from the Chamblee Police Department. Through July, the city recorded 627 targeted crimes, down from 725 during the same period last year. That’s a 14% decrease overall. Property crime is down even more, dropping 16% year over year.
A few numbers really stand out. Commercial burglaries are down 43%, auto thefts are down 42%, robberies are down 24%, residential burglaries are down 19%, and larcenies are down 10%. We also had zero homicides through July, compared with one during the same period last year.
July itself was also a strong month compared with July 2025. Auto thefts were down 50%, commercial burglaries were down 80%, robberies were down 60%, and larcenies were down 16%.
Not every category is moving in the right direction. Crimes against persons are up 11% year to date, driven mainly by increases in aggravated assault/battery and rape. Those are numbers we need to continue watching closely.
Overall, though, the trend continues to be positive. Chamblee remains an extremely safe community, and these numbers continue to support that. A big thank you to the men and women of the Chamblee Police Department for the work they do every day to keep our city safe.
Left the Station - This Past Week's Events
Household Hazardous Waste Event
The results are in from the 2026 Household Hazardous Waste Event! Here's what was collected:
Styrofoam: 502 pounds
Plastic Film: 284 pounds
Electronics: 10,218 pounds
Books: 1,417 pounds
Textiles: 1,022 pounds
Paint: 15,104 pounds
Household Chemicals: 12,679 pounds
Total Weight: 41,226 pounds diverted from the water system and landfill!
Thank you to the cities of Brookhaven , Chamblee, and Doraville , along with Keep Chamblee Beautiful and Live Thrive - Center for Hard to Recycle Materials , for organizing a successful event. A special thank you to all the volunteers!
Chalk Walk 2026
Thank you to those who stopped by and supported our chalk artists on Saturday after the weather improved. We hope to see everyone in 2027 on a much more beautiful and brighter day!
At the Station - Ongoing Events in Chamblee:
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
From September 15 through October 15, we celebrate the rich cultures, traditions, history, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities.
Here in Chamblee, our diversity is one of the things that makes our community so vibrant. This month, we're proud to recognize the people, families, businesses, and traditions that continue to make Chamblee a welcoming place for everyone.
Front Yard Tree Program
Join the Trees Atlanta Front Yard Tree Program! Chamblee homeowners can request a maximum of two trees to be planted in their yard at no cost. Planting season runs from October 2026 through March 2027. Submit an application via www.treesatlanta.org/yardtree.
2026 Road Repaving
The City of Chamblee is improving your commute one street at a time by repaving 21 streets from mid-August to mid-October. The Public Works team has placed signs at the locations where street paving will take place. Check the posted paving schedule above for dates and locations.
The City is spending $2.6 million on street repaving. Of the $2.6 million, the City is utilizing $780,000 in Local Maintenance & Improvement Grant funding through the Georgia Department of Transportation and $1,820,000 in Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) funding to complete this project.
Chamblee Introduces Curbside Composting
The City of Chamblee is partnering with CompostNow to bring curbside composting to all residents starting this October! For just $19 per month (plus a one-time $19 startup fee), you can divert food scraps from the landfill and turn them into nutrient-rich compost.
Why Compost?
Over 50% of what ends up in landfills is organic material that could be composted. In a landfill, that organic waste generates methane, a greenhouse gas 84 times more potent than CO₂. Composting diverts those materials and transforms them into finished compost instead.
When finished compost is added to local soil, it sequesters carbon, improves water retention, reduces the need for chemical fertilizers, and improves the nutrient value of our food.
When we build local compost systems for cycling nutrients back into the soil, we improve the climate resiliency of the community and create equitable opportunities for our local growers who strengthen our food supply chains and provide access to fresh, healthy food.
To learn more about the program and to sign up, click HERE.
Chamblee Arts Master Plan Survey
Chamblee is now updating its 2019 Arts Master Plan! The new five-year plan will reflect our community's priorities for public art, arts and culture events and programs, and more. You can learn more about the plan and take a survey to share your thoughts by scanning the QR code or visiting tinyurl.com/chambleeartsplan.
Perimeter Park S Closure
Chamblee Public Works began a Stormwater Improvement Project on Perimeter Park S on Monday, August 3, 2026, to repair a failed 60-inch pipe under the road and daycare parking lot and perform maintenance to the upstream stormwater basin and infrastructure. A road closure is in effect at 4100 Perimeter Park S for up to six weeks. All driveways to businesses and homes on Perimeter Park S will be accessible, as only the section of road at the project area will be closed.
Chamblee Annual Report
We had a great year last year, and we're ready to share it! Read all about our accomplishments in our Annual Report! Read it HERE.
Citywide Stormwater System Survey & Assessment
Chamblee’s Stormwater Division has engaged a consulting team from Lowe Engineers and its sub consultant, Atlas, to conduct a Citywide stormwater system survey and assessment. Fieldwork began in February 2026 and is expected to continue through October 2026.
Residents can expect to see field crews out with survey equipment, locating and documenting stormwater assets, such as inlets, manholes, and pipes, in the public right-of-way and from the street to the nearest outfall or stream. Crews may occasionally need to access private property for this purpose and will carry identification.
Regular updates regarding the location of survey crews will be provided via social media. Questions can be directed to the Stormwater Division at stormwater@chambleega.gov.
Arriving Soon - Upcoming Events in Chamblee
September 17: Georgia Recovers Bus Tour
The Georgia Recovers Bus Tour is making its way to Chamblee this week!
In recognition of National Recovery Month, the Georgia Council for Recovery has partnered with the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) to host the Georgia Recovers Bus Tour.
The City of Chamblee is one of 60 stops across the state highlighting local peers in recovery, families impacted by addiction, and allies who support recovery.
Join us for a proclamation presentation and bus signing at the Chamblee Police Department!
Thursday, September 17, 2026
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Chamblee Police Department
September 18: Office Hours Are Back!
My regularly scheduled office hours are back! Swing by City Hall Friday to meet with me and discuss all things Chamblee!
September 19: Electronic Recycling
It's Electronic Recycling Week! For more information, visit the City of Chamblee website .
Saturday, September 19, 2026
7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
3210 Cumberland Drive, Chamblee, GA 30341
October 11: Atlanta Pride Parade
Join us as we participate in the annual Atlanta Pride Parade on Sunday, October 11, 2026!
We are happy to announce that our FLOAT will be returning to our parade group! For more information, please contact Josh Duarte at jduarte@chambleega.gov..
The Caboose
I would love to hear your questions, comments, or concerns.
Email: Jfurst@chambleega.gov
Mobile: 770-901-1121 The legal stuff: The views expressed are those of the author and may not reflect those of the Chamblee City Council. Comments posted in response to a councilmember-initiated communication may be subject to public disclosure under the Open Records Act. If you are a Chamblee resident and would like to discuss city business, please visit chambleega.gov or contact me at the email address above.
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