Monthly Archives: November 2009

By Maria Saporta

Foreclosure on the Peachtree-Pine homeless shelter has been averted, at least for now.

Two lenders had filed for foreclosure notices that was supposed to go forward on Dec. 1.

But on Monday, the Metropolitan Atlanta Task Force for the Homeless was able to reach a temporary agreement with the lenders to keep the shelter open for at least another three months.

William “B” Wardlaw, who has been the Continue reading →

By Maria Saporta

The Metropolitan Atlanta Task Force for the Homeless has been at odds with the downtown business community and others — ever since it purchased the Peachtree-Pine building 12 years ago and turned into the city’s largest shelter.

Now William “B” Wardlaw, the Task Force’s top benefactor and supporter, acknowledges that the shelter’s days are numbered.

Two of the Task Force’s lenders — the Denver-based Mercy Loan Fund and the Institute for Community Economics — Continue reading →

By Maria Saporta

Mayoral candidate Mary Norwood has received a significant endorsement from State Rep. Margaret Kaiser, a Democrat who represents House District 59.

In a telephone interview late Wednesday afternoon, Kaiser said that her first inclination had been to remain neutral in the mayor’s race.

But as the race has entered its closing stretch, Kaiser felt it was important for Norwood to be recognized for her leadership style.

“It was time for more pro-active Continue reading →

By Maria Saporta

It was a first for me.

For three hours this afternoon, I interviewed the eight candidates currently in run-offs in key City of Atlanta races in a novel format that included video streaming to the web world through the use of social media.

The forum was organized by the Committee for a Better Atlanta, a coalition of several business and civic organizations interested in electing the most qualified people to elected offices.

The interviews, which took place at the Continue reading →

By Maria Saporta

When students return to Morehouse College in January after the holidays, their ranks will be down by between 60 and 80 fellow classmates.

Morehouse College President Robert Franklin told the Atlanta Kiwanis Club today that the economy is taking its toll on some of the historically-black college’s most financially vulnerable students.

“Many of our students can’t afford to come back,” Franklin said.

Morehouse College is only one of three Continue reading →