Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms officially entered the race for governor on Tuesday morning, joining what’s expected to be a crowded field of candidates vying to replace Brian Kemp as Georgia’s next top executive. In a wide-ranging interview with Capital B Atlanta on Tuesday, Bottoms explained her decision to run for governor, her plans […]
Politics & Policy
Posted inPolitics & Policy, Public Services
Why Electricity Rates in Georgia Rose $516 Per Year on Average
Rising energy costs have become a major financial hurdle for Black Georgians in recent years, with power bills at times matching or exceeding what some in Georgia pay for their monthly rent or mortgage. Georgia Power customers like Jennifer Morton told Macon’s 13WMAZ in July that her most-recent monthly power bill was $1,200. “We went […]
Posted inIncarceration, Policing, Politics & Policy, Public Safety
Overcrowded and Understaffed: Fulton County Jail Gets Money to Hire More Deputies
Fulton County commissioners voted on Wednesday to allocate additional funding to staff Sheriff Patrick Labat’s office, following a scathing November U.S. Department of Justice report that cited understaffing as a cause of rampant, unchecked violence at Fulton County Jail. Vice Chair Bob Ellis introduced the resolution, which will support the hiring and retention of new […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy, State Politics
Why Jason Esteves Puts Georgia’s Housing Crisis at the Center of the Governor’s Race
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jason Esteves recently voiced support for the growing Target boycott, as he and other state Democratic Party leaders continue working to mend fences with Black Georgia voters. “My wife has had a [Target Circle 360] subscription, and she canceled it as a result,” Esteves said during an April phone interview with Capital […]
Posted inCity Politics, Cop City, Policing, Public Safety
Inside ‘Cop City’: What Atlanta’s Controversial Training Center Looks Like
The Atlanta Public Safety Training Center — the southern DeKalb County facility colloquially known as “Cop City” — officially opened its doors Tuesday after four contentious years of development. The 85-acre campus will serve as the training grounds for the city’s police and firefighters, yet it has received strong pushback due to its environmental impact, $67 million […]
Posted inBlack Businesses, Economic Justice, Money, Politics & Policy
As Target Boycott Continues, Local Black Businesses Reap the Benefits
What began in Atlanta as a 40-day “Target fast” in March has evolved into a full-blown economic movement aimed at making corporate America pay for broken promises — and uplifting Black-owned businesses in the process. “It is time for us to stand 10 toes down about something,” said Pamela Booker, a 46-year-old Stone Mountain resident, […]
Posted inElections
How to Keep Your Voter Registration Active Amidst Georgia’s Massive Purge
Voting rights advocates are urging Black Georgians to take appropriate steps this year to ensure they’re not impacted by mass voter registration cancellations and voter eligibility challenges. Nearly half a million people are due to have their Georgia voter registrations canceled no later than July, meaning they won’t be able to cast ballots in key […]
Posted inEconomic Justice, Politics & Policy
Target Boycott Phase Two: Organizers to Expand Movement
Greear Webb hasn’t set foot in a Target or spent any money there in two months — a conscious departure from what was once his go-to retailer for affordable apparel and toiletries. The 24-year-old Emory Law School student and Midtown resident is one of an estimated 10,000 members of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy
‘She Should Have Hung in There’: Voters Saddened By Nikema Williams’ Resignation
U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams’ resignation as chair of the Georgia Democratic Party didn’t sit well with some constituents in her district as the party, backed by an overwhelming majority of Black voters, seeks a new direction heading into a pivotal midterm election cycle next year. Williams — who became the first Black woman ever to […]
Posted inEnvironmental Justice, Politics & Policy
BioLab Fined $61,000 After Georgia Lawmakers Fail to Pass Regulatory Legislation
This story was originally published on February 4, 2025, and has been updated. Kiya Stanford remembers clearly the fallout from the BioLab chemical fire that wrapped Conyers and surrounding areas in a cloud of toxic smoke in September. She recalls the pungent odor that lingered in the air for several days; the fear of exposure […]
