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 […]
Politics & Policy
Posted inCity Politics
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 […]
Posted inState Politics
Five Issues Black State Lawmakers Plan to Tackle in 2023
The Georgia General Assembly’s next legislative session is set to begin on Jan. 9. Some of its highest ranking Black lawmakers, all of whom are Democrats, recently spoke with Capital B Atlanta to explain their policy agenda for next year and how it will impact Black voters. House Minority Leader James Beverly said Democrats’ overall […]
Posted inState Politics
Meet the New Chairman of Georgia’s Legislative Black Caucus
State Rep. Carl Gilliard has a simple message for Black folks as he prepares to take on a critical new leadership role in the Georgia General Assembly. “It’s movement time,” Gilliard said. “We are going to have to be more unified than ever. We need an agenda. We just can’t be reactive.” On Dec. 15, […]
Posted in2022 Midterm Election, Elections, Voting
Democrats Wary of Call to End Runoffs
Democratic lawmakers say they aren’t sure yet how Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger’s proposal to eliminate Georgia’s general election runoffs would affect Black voters, but they plan to find out before agreeing to support the move. State House Minority Leader James Beverly, a Democrat, said he was in Washington, D.C., preparing for a meeting with […]
Posted in2022 Midterm Election, Elections
Secretary of State Calls to ‘Eliminate’ General Election Runoffs
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger wants to “eliminate” the state’s general election runoffs, a system many say was created in the 1960s to mitigate the impact of Black voters on election outcomes. Georgia is one of only two states that requires candidates to face off for a second time if none receives more than […]
Posted inElections, Voting
How Black Voters Turned the Tide in Warnock’s Favor
It’s been about two years since Buckhead resident Greg Weeks came out to vote for anything or anyone, but during Tuesday’s U.S. Senate runoff race, he felt compelled to cast his ballot for Sen. Raphael Warnock. Weeks was “frightened” by the prospect of his opponent, Herschel Walker, representing him in Congress. He says a conversation […]
Posted inElections, What Black Voters Are Saying
What Warnock’s Win Means for Black Voters
West End resident Britney Ball was “ecstatic” late Tuesday night when she learned Raphael Warnock had beaten Herschel Walker in their highly publicized U.S. Senate runoff election. The 34-year-old Ball, an engaged mother of two, was at the Rock Steady Caribbean restaurant in West Atlanta with 12 of her friends around 11:30 p.m. when she […]
Posted inElections
‘I Am Georgia’: Read Raphael Warnock’s Victory Speech
After a marathon election battle culminated in victory on Tuesday night, all Sen. Raphael Warnock could do was smile. At the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in Downtown, the Democratic incumbent stood before chanting supporters, staff, and family, thanking everyone along the way. “After being on the ballot five times in the last two years — for […]
Posted inElections
Warnock Edges Out Walker in Runoff Race Photo Finish
Georgia voters are sending Sen. Raphael Warnock back to Washington for six years. The Ebenezer Baptist Church pastor won the historic U.S. Senate runoff race against his scandal-plagued Republican rival, Herschel Walker. With all of the precincts reporting, Warnock finished with 51.35% of the vote to Walker’s 48.65%. In all, more than 3.5 million votes […]
