In case you missed it, Mayor Andre Dickens delivered his second State of the City address on Tuesday. Dickens spoke for just over half an hour, touching on everything from youth engagement programs and affordable housing to reiterating his support for the public safety training facility known as “Cop City.” “Today, I can tell you […]
City Politics
Posted inCity Politics
We Asked All 16 Members of the Atlanta City Council About ‘Cop City.’ Two Responded.
Land clearing is underway in the South River Forest where Atlanta is set to build its new public safety training center, nicknamed “Cop City.” As the community continues to debate the need for the facility, Atlanta City Council members have remained tight-lipped on the issue. Back on Sept. 8, 2021, the council voted 10-4 in […]
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Black Folks Share Their Concerns Ahead of Dickens’ State of the City Address
When Mayor Andre Dickens steps to the podium to deliver his State of the City address, residents like Vanessa Turner hope he’ll talk about his administration’s progress on addressing crime and public safety. The 69-year-old retail sales clerk lives in the Wheat Street Towers retirement community, located in the city’s Sweet Auburn neighborhood. She keeps […]
Posted inCity Politics, Criminal Justice, Policing
Deadly ‘Cop City’ Shooting Divides Residents, Activists, and Law Enforcement
Marcus Hunter bought a home near South River Forest in 2013. The IT consultant said he and many of his neighbors have become numb to hearing about the conflicts between protesters and law enforcement officers at the future site of a massive public safety training facility, dubbed “Cop City” by activists. “Everybody kinda saw it […]
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Black Atlantans Keep Getting Hit By Cars. This City Lawmaker Is Trying to Change That.
Getting hit by a car is a personal experience that Atlanta City Council member Jason Dozier doesn’t want any of his constituents to endure the way he did years ago. On Jan. 3, Dozier, who represents District 4, introduced a set of proposed changes to zoning laws around the Atlanta BeltLine. If the zoning changes […]
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Black Atlantans Rate Dickens on His First Year As Mayor
Joyland resident Christopher Hill is a retired insurance and real estate professional who has lived in Atlanta since 1992. When Hill got to the southeast Atlanta neighborhood, Maynard Jackson was in his second term of office as mayor. Five administrations later, the 69-year-old stopped to think when asked about how Mayor Andre Dickens had done […]
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Black Residents Scramble as City Operated Water Shutdown Is Underway
Johnny Williams wasn’t aware that his water bill had gotten this high until he received a note on his door from the city of Atlanta’s Department of Watershed Management, warning of the looming shutoff. The bill, which has now grown to nearly $600, is unaffordable for the 76-year-old disabled veteran, who says between living on […]
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Why Atlanta Is Shutting Off Water for 27,000 Customers
On Jan. 2, the city of Atlanta began shutting off water for as many as 27,000 customers with delinquent, unpaid bills. The customers affected will range from single-family residences to commercial locations. The controversial move is the first instance in 12 years where the city has shut off services due to nonpayment. If you are […]
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Atlanta Wants Your Feedback on Its Neighborhood Planning Units
The city of Atlanta wants to talk to residents about changes to the Neighborhood Planning Unit system. When they launched 50 years ago, Atlanta’s NPUs were designed to inform residents on city policies affecting their communities, while amplifying their voices on local issues. In recent years, the system has received criticism for its lack of […]
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Live in Atlanta? Your District May Be Changing
In an effort to inform the community about proposed redistricting plans, the city of Atlanta is hosting informational sessions to bring residents up to speed. According to the current city ordinance, Atlanta’s 12 council districts must shift every 10 years based on information provided by the U.S. Census Bureau, to ensure that each district has […]
