Hundreds of residents throughout southwest Atlanta turned out in droves Monday night at the Georgia State University Convocation Center to debate a data center development being planned for their community. The project, which would be built near the West End MARTA station, has led to divisiveness amongst new and legacy residents in the southwest neighborhoods […]
Atlanta City Council
Posted inEnvironmental Justice, Health, Politics & Policy
SW Atlanta Residents Block Alcohol Sales at Controversial Gas Station
When Faye Floyd opened her email just hours before a key zoning meeting for her southwest Atlanta community, she wasn’t expecting the message that followed. The developer behind a controversial gas station planned for 3397 Greenbriar Parkway SW had withdrawn an application for an alcohol license — a move Floyd and other southwest Atlanta residents […]
Posted inCity Politics, Economic Justice, Gentrification, Politics & Policy
Dickens Takes On Atlanta’s ‘Tale of Two Cities’ Problem in State of the City Address
Fixing stubborn inequality in Atlanta was the focus of Mayor Andre Dickens during his latest State of the City address Wednesday night. His remarks highlighted the noteworthy accomplishments and national recognition the city has received during the mayor’s tenure — dramatic reductions in violent crime, graduation rate increases for Atlanta Public Schools, achieving a AAA […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Incarceration, Policing
World Cup Sparks Fears of Unhoused People Being Jailed
With just over 100 days remaining until Atlanta hosts its first World Cup match, activists and local officials are pushing the city not to repeat the same “cleanup the streets” program that led up to the 1996 Olympic Games. An estimated 30,000 Atlantans were displaced from their homes in the six years prior to the […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Young Thug Ruling Reveals How Asset Forfeiture Hits Black Georgians
The final chapter of the longest trial in Georgia history has finally come to an end now that a Fulton County Superior Court judge has ruled that law enforcement must return the property they confiscated from Young Thug during his 2022 arrest. The Atlanta rapper had spent more than 300 days on trial between November […]
Posted inEnvironmental Justice, Politics & Policy
The Data Center Atlanta Thought Was Dead Is Back on the Table
A data center proposal that was previously shot down has resurfaced in southwest Atlanta along with the debate over land use, equity, and who benefits from development in historically disinvested communities. The project, planned for a site near the West End MARTA station and bordering communities like Adair Park, Pittsburgh, and Mechanicsville, has been hotly […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Politics & Policy
Family of Rapper Shot 17 Times by Atlanta Officer Demands Accountability
Family and friends of Linton Blackwell took to the podium at City Hall on Monday to express their frustration with the Atlanta City Council over the lack of accountability for police officers who use lethal force. “I want to understand why this officer, Gerald Walker, is not being held accountable for my brother’s death. He […]
Posted inCity Politics, Politics & Policy
Mayor Dickens Lays Out His Vision for Atlanta in His Second Term
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 […]
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 […]