Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens delivered his inaugural address Monday afternoon, marking the official start of his second and final term in office. The ceremony, which was held at Georgia State University’s Convocation Hall, brought together city leaders and community members for a speech outlining his vision for Atlanta’s next chapter. Dickens, a native of the […]
Atlanta City Council
Posted inLocal Politics, Politics & Policy
Runoff Elections: South Fulton Elects Its First Female Mayor
The Blackest city in America elected its first female mayor on Tuesday. South Fulton City Council member Carmalitha Gumbs will become the city’s latest mayor in January after defeating her runoff election opponent, Mark Baker, by a sizable margin, according to unofficial vote totals. More than 13,400 people cast ballots in the contest, according to […]
Posted inGentrification, Housing, Politics & Policy
Mayor’s TAD Plan Sparks Gentrification Fears for Southwest Atlanta Activists
Atlanta community activists advocating on behalf of low-income Black families are raising gentrification concerns about Mayor Andre Dickens’ $5 billion neighborhood reinvestment initiative. The program calls for the extension of existing tax allocation districts (TADs) to help pay for revamping majority-Black neighborhoods on the city’s southwest side. TADs — also referred to as tax incremental […]
Posted inElections, Politics & Policy
2025 Atlanta Election Guide: Key Races and Candidates to Watch
As Election Day nears, local candidates are making their final push in what has been a monthslong campaign season. Data from the Georgia secretary of state’s office showed 13.4% voter turnout for all active registered voters and 12% turnout for Black voters during the early voting period, which ended Oct 31. This year, Capital B […]
Posted inElections, Politics & Policy, Voting
Election 2025: What to Know Before You Head to the Polls
Voters head to the polls tomorrow for an election cycle that will decide the next mayor of Atlanta, four seats on Atlanta’s Board of Education, and two seats on the state’s impactful Public Service Commission. This fall’s contests will also decide all 15 seats on the Atlanta City Council, the next City Council president, and […]
Posted inElections, Politics & Policy, Public Safety
What Does Public Safety Look Like to You? A City Council Candidate Asks Atlantans.
Creating a climate where people feel safe in their communities can be one of the most difficult tasks an elected official takes on. Public safety is an umbrella term for a network of community, law enforcement and public health officials working together to create that sense of security. This election cycle, both candidates running for […]
Posted inCity Politics
Atlanta City Council Candidates Address Senior Citizen Concerns In Greenbriar
Cynthia Hildreth is tired of waiting for southwest Atlanta’s Greenbriar Mall to add additional stores. She wants her next city council member to make sure it happens sooner rather than later. “There was supposed to be some stores and activity at Greenbriar Mall, which hasn’t happened,” the 73-year-old grandmother told Capital B Atlanta. “The same […]
Posted inEnvironmental Justice, Health, Politics & Policy
Atlanta Neighborhood Says City Failed to Protect Them From Unwanted Gas Station
When Amber Burks became the first person to move into Aviary Park, a new townhome complex on Greenbriar Parkway, she was excited to see how the community would transform and grow over time. But what she didn’t expect three years ago was for the neighborhood to be in an ongoing feud with the city over […]
Posted inLocal Politics, Politics & Policy
Rohit Malhotra Aims to Improve Black Economic Mobility in City Council Role
Improving economic outcomes for Black people living on the margins who were born and raised in Atlanta remains the top priority for Rohit Malhotra in his bid to become the next Atlanta City Council president. The 38-year-old self-described “policy nerd,” who lives in Grant Park, is the founder of the Center for Civic Innovation, a […]
Posted inClimate Change, Environmental Justice, Politics & Policy
New Tree Rules Bring Higher Removal Fees and Help for Seniors
The Atlanta City Council has approved revisions to the city’s long-standing tree protection rules, marking the most significant update in over two decades. The unanimous decision by the council introduces increased fees for tree removal and establishes a new senior citizen tree assistance program. Despite these changes, some council members and environmental advocates express concern […]