JOURNALISM
Statue of Martin Luther King, Jr. proposed for Georgia’s state capitol
- State Rep. Tyrone Brooks (D-Atlanta) has proposed installing a statue of Martin Luther King, Jr. on the front lawn of the state capitol. Credit: Donita Pendered A statue of Martin Luther King Jr. will be installed on the frontage of the Georgia state capitol if lawmakers approve a bill filed by state Rep. Tyrone Brooks. Brooks said Monday the King statue could be placed on the same spot from which the statue of Tom Watson was recently moved. Any site along ...more
Mayor Reed in 2014 may try to trigger up to $250 million in public works construction
- Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed The stars may be aligning for a vote in Atlanta in 2014 to raise money from taxpayers to hasten repairs of the city’s broken sidewalks, streets, bridges and other public infrastructure. The bond referendum to which Mayor Kasim Reed recommitted himself Friday could be called in a year large numbers likely will turn out to vote for a U.S. senator and state governor. The timing has pros and cons. In addition, calling the referendum in 2014 would capitalize ...more
MARTOC chair commends MARTA’s GM for new trajectory of transit agency
- Keith Parker Keith Parker is ending his first year as MARTA’s general manager with glowing remarks from the chair of the state Legislature’s committee that oversees MARTA. “I really appreciate everything that is going on right now at MARTA and look forward to an excellent second year, as we have had an excellent first year under Mr. Parker,” said state Rep. Mike Jacobs (R-Brookhaven), who chairs the joint House-Senate committee known as MARTOC. Jacobs delivered his remarks Friday, during MARTOC’s final meeting ...more
Millennials favor Georgia Power rate hikes, coal-fired plants, says Sierra Club poll
- Coal-fired power plants, such as Plant Bowen near Cartersville, are supported by a majority of millennials, according to a poll by the Sierra Club’s Georgia chapter. Credit: panoramio.com (2008) Young Georgia voters strongly favor the proposed Georgia Power rate hike and fewer than half support shifting from coal to renewables to generate electricity, according to a results of a poll by the Georgia chapter of the Sierra Club. The polling company advised against reading too much into results from the millennials ...more
Atlanta pays about $1 million a month in worker’s comp claims, a higher rate than national average
- The Atlanta Police Department files a high number of worker’s compensation claims, a city audit shows. Credit: David Pendered Atlanta taxpayers have paid more than $44 million over a 45-month period for a worker’s compensation program that is significantly more generous than other state and local governments, according to a city audit. The cost per worker is 58 percent higher than the national average. The number of claims filed by city employees also exceeds the national average for local governments – ...more
Georgia DNR board defers consideration of plan intended to expand hog farming
- Hog waste is piped into lagoons, where it is stored until it’s sprayed on nearby land. Credit: jhenryfair.com Environmentalists are praising a decision by state officials to delay consideration of a proposal to ease regulations on hog farming. “We applaud the DNR Board for helping to put a stop to the shortsighted rollback,” Chris Manganiello, policy director for Georgia River Network, said in a statement. The board that oversees the Georgia Department of Natural Resources has deferred action on a proposal that ...more
From poverty to plenty: Atlanta could be a case study in reducing blight
- Employment opportunities are limited in areas where businesses are shuttered, such as this store near Fort McPherson. Credit: David Pendered Two events Wednesday cast outlooks on poverty in metro Atlanta and a path that could lead one poor area toward prosperity. A Harvard University professor confirmed a shocking report released earlier this year – social conditions in metro Atlanta result in it being the worst urban region in the country in terms of children born into poverty moving into the middle ...more
Atlanta BeltLine: Southwest Trail advances as city agrees to accept $18 million from US DOT
- Construction of the Southwest Trail could begin next summer, now that the Atlanta City Council has authorized the mayor to accept $18 million in federal funding. Credit: Atlanta BeltLine Inc. via clatl.com The Atlanta City Council has authorized Mayor Kasim Reed to take the steps necessary to accept $18 million in federal funding for the Atlanta BeltLine’s Southwest Trail. This TIGER V grant to the BeltLine was announced Sept. 9. The city council’s action is a mere formality, but one that’s ...more
Atlanta City Council passes plan for Falcons stadium areas; deal releases $200 million from city for construction
- The English Avenue area is one of three neigbborhoods slated for improvements related to the future Falcons stadium. Credit: Kristian Weatherspoon via marketplace.org Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed prevailed Monday when the Atlanta City Council approved a community benefits deal that will release $200 million in city funds for the future Falcons stadium. Reed wanted a deal done by year’s end, and the council approved the deal unanimously. But the issue may not be over: Some civic leaders threaten to file a ...more
Atlanta City Council to seek Braves advice on fixing Ted area, pass Falcons community benefits deal
- Atlanta City Council President Ceasar Mitchell hopes a task force can promote development near Turner Field. Credit: atlantaemergingmarkets.com Never let it be said that the Atlanta City Council doesn’t have a sense of hope and humor. The council will ask the Atlanta Braves to serve on a task force to recommend ways to spiff up the Turner Field area. The Braves intend to leave the Ted for Cobb County starting with the 2017 season. In addition, the council expects to adopt Monday ...more