Atlanta City Council members say proposed cuts to federal aid programs many Black Atlantans count on and concerns about a national recession were on their minds last week when they approved another record-setting fiscal year budget. “Everyone seems to assume we’re going to have a recession,” council member Howard Shook told Capital B Atlanta on […]
Politics & Policy
Posted inHealth, LGBTQ, Politics & Policy
From HIV to Hormone Therapy, Medicaid Cuts Threaten Atlanta’s LGBTQ+ Residents
As lawmakers push for sweeping cuts to Medicaid, fear weighs heavily on Tori Cooper. Cooper, a trans woman who serves as the director of strategic outreach and training for the Human Rights Campaign, told Capital B Atlanta that for her and other Black trans residents, these cuts will have a detrimental impact on their lives. […]
Posted inCity Politics, Housing
If Atlanta Is a Black Mecca, Why Are 8 Out of 10 Homeless People Black?
Forty-seven percent of Atlanta residents are Black, but the city commonly referred to as the Black Mecca had a homeless population in January that was 80% Black, according to the latest Point-In-Time homelessness census count released on Monday. Of equal concern, on Jan. 27, the city logged 131 homeless families, an 18% rise from the […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy, Public Services
Meet the Candidates Who May Decide What Happens With Your Electric Bill
Atlanta voters concerned about rising electric bills began casting ballots on Tuesday in a special election for the Georgia Public Service Commission, the administrative entity that regulates the state’s energy prices. At stake is how much people pay for power in a state with some of the highest utility costs in America. PSC commissioners have […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Politics & Policy
Larry Hoover’s Pardon Puts Spotlight on Atlanta’s Own Gangster Disciples History
The news of Larry Hoover’s pardon by President Donald Trump on Wednesday cast a shadow over Atlanta’s own history with the Gangster Disciples. For the past few years, Atlanta’s top elected officials and law enforcement officers have engaged in concerted efforts to combat gang violence and recruitment throughout the city. Their fight may have taken […]
Posted inHealth, Politics & Policy, Public Services
CDC Cuts HIV Communications, Leaving Vulnerable Black Georgians in the Dark
As infectious diseases like measles, salmonella, and hepatitis quietly spread across the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has gone largely silent. Of particular concern for Atlanta residents is the CDC’s lack of communication about HIV. According to the CDC, Georgia had the second-highest HIV diagnosis rate and the second-highest rate of HIV […]
Posted inEconomic Justice, Politics & Policy
Atlantans Protest Target on 5-Year Anniversary of George Floyd’s Death
To mark the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s murder, hundreds gathered outside Target’s Conyers location at the behest of prominent local pastor Jamal Bryant. Bryant led protesters in a 9 minute and 29 second prayer, the same amount of time former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin had his knee on Floyd’s neck, killing him in […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy, Public Services
How this Statewide Election Impacts Your Power Bills
As summer returns and customers crank up their air conditioners to cope with the punishing heat, a little-known elected body that regulates energy prices in the state of Georgia is gearing up for a pivotal election. The body, known as the Georgia Public Service Commission, or PSC, has the power to determine what Atlanta power […]
Posted inEducation, Food Access, Health, Politics & Policy, Social Welfare, State Politics
Georgia Skips Feeding Kids This Summer as GOP Pushes SNAP Cuts
As Atlanta Public Schools are set to close for summer break next week, one of the main questions on Kimberly Dukes’ mind is how she will feed her children. The mother of 10, and executive director of the education advocacy group Atlanta Thrive, is well aware of the hardships many APS families face when schools […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy, State Politics
Keisha Lance Bottoms Interview: ‘I’m Standing Up and I’m Fighting Back’
When Keisha Lance Bottoms first ran for mayor of Atlanta in 2018, part of her campaign’s appeal was that she was deeply rooted in Black Atlanta. Supporters loved to wear T-shirts emblazoned with “My mayor’s name is Keisha” from the barbershop to the neighborhood BBQ. Proudly repping the city’s southwest side, she declared victory after […]
