Monthly Archives: May 2010

Column: Arthur Blank wins 2010 Four Pillar Award

Date: May 31st, 2010, 6:05 pm

By Maria Saporta
Friday, May 28, 2010

The Four Pillar Award — one of the most prestigious recognitions given annually in metro Atlanta — will be given this year to multifaceted business leader Arthur Blank.

The Council for Quality Growth, on the evening of Oct. 14, will honor Blank primarily because of his philanthropic endeavors and his dedication to improving communities, according to Michael Paris, the council’s president and CEO. The annual tribute will be held at Continue reading →

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Who are the good guys and who are the bad guys; and from where should we buy our gas?

Date: , 5:51 pm

What’s a socially- and environmentally-conscious consumer supposed to do?

I haven’t bought gas at an Exxon station since 1989 following the disastrous oil spill of the Exxon Valdez oil tanker hit a reef in Prince William Sound on March 24, 1989.

It was a matter of principle. Exxon’s response to the oil spill was slow, defensive and insensitive. All these years, I have not wanted to spend my money on a company like Exxon.

On the other hand, I truly believed BP was worthy of my money.

I really got to see what BP was made of back in 2000 when I was working on a column about our upcoming smog season.

At the time, the state of Georgia had passed requirements for Continue reading →

Posted in Maria's Metro | 11 Comments

Atlanta’s pension problems can be solved through defined contribution plan

Date: , 2:46 pm

By Guest Columnist JOHN MATTHEWS, a commercial real estate investor and an MBA graduate of Goizueta Business School

Atlanta’s public employee pension system is a structurally flawed retirement program that does not serve taxpayers, does not serve city workers and puts our city at risk of financial insolvency.

Significant changes will have to be made to the pension plan in order to prevent the city from entering either permanent economic decline or outright failure. If the city wants to put itself and its employees on a permanent path to long-term fiscal security, our city
Continue reading →

Posted in Guest Columns | 4 Comments

Column: Woodruff campaign may not reach goal again

Date: May 27th, 2010, 12:16 am

By Maria Saporta
Friday, May 21, 2010

The Woodruff Arts Center corporate campaign only has a matter of days — until the end of May — to meet its $8.6 million goal.

Unless there’s a last minute dramatic and significant gift, the Woodruff Arts Center will experience its second year in its history of having a campaign that did not meet its goal. The first time was only last year, when the goal was $9 million and the Woodruff campaign was only able to raise $8.6 million.

Because of the distressed economy, the Woodruff campaign Continue reading →

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Burkhalter joins McKenna Long

Date: May 24th, 2010, 7:00 am

By Maria Saporta
Friday, May 21, 2010

There is life after the legislature.

Mark Burkhalter, a former state representative who served briefly as speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives, is joining McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP as a senior strategic adviser.

Burkhalter will lead the law firm’s public affairs efforts in the United Kingdom, where he already has established a consulting practice.
Continue reading →

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The King Center’s eternal flame is burning brightly again thanks to Atlanta Gas Light

Date: May 23rd, 2010, 10:10 am

Something was wrong.

Walking along Auburn Avenue during the Sweet Auburn Festival, we stopped by the crypts of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King — one of the most sacred spots in Atlanta.

We sat next to the eternal flame and realized that the coals were cold and the eternal flame had been extinguished.

How could that be? Wasn’t an eternal flame supposed to burn forever?

Underneath the flame, there was a plaque saying that the eternal flame had recently been refurbished by the Atlanta Gas Light Co., the keeper of our city’s Shining Light Awards.

So sitting there, I sent an email to John Somerhalder, CEO of Continue reading →

Posted in Maria's Metro | 3 Comments

Four keys to how HB 277 can mean a better transit system for metro Atlanta

Date: May 22nd, 2010, 1:53 pm

By Guest Columnist RAY CHRISTMAN, executive director of the Livable Communities Coalition

After a three year debate, the Georgia General Assembly passed last month HB 277, The Transportation Investment Act of 2010, which provides the opportunity for the Atlanta region (and other regions of the state) to pass a one percent sales tax dedicated to transportation improvements.

The bill’s passage generated much celebration among transportation advocates of all stripes who had worked for years on this goal. And it induced a good bit of teeth gnashing as well, particularly by those who felt the legislation unnecessarily penalized MARTA.

But with the bill passed and the rules and processes in place for moving forward, it is now time to turn Continue reading →

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Atlanta Falcons want outdoor stadium by Dome

Date: May 21st, 2010, 11:43 pm

By Scott Trubey and Maria Saporta
Friday, May 21, 2010

The Atlanta Falcons want an open-air stadium as a replacement to the 18-year-old Georgia Dome, and they have a site in mind on property just north of the Georgia World Congress Center.

But such a plan may be a Hail Mary pass.

The state authority that owns and operates the 71,000- Continue reading →

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CNU18 folks pray for a city built for people and bicycles

Date: , 11:37 pm

By Maria Saporta

There was some preaching going on at the Tabernacle this week.

But the preaching had nothing to do with God.

Instead, the sermons all had a theme — our cities would be healthier if we relied more on two wheels and two feet than driving around on four wheels.

David Byrne, the front man for Talking Heads, likes to the see the world from a bicycle. When the band is touring, Byrne makes a point of riding his bicycle around the cities he’s visiting.

The end result? A book called: “Bicycle Continue reading →

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Column: Newell Rubbermaid changes nearly complete

Date: May 20th, 2010, 6:18 am

By Maria Saporta
Friday, May 14, 2010

Newell Rubbermaid Inc. moved its headquarters to Atlanta in January 2004. Then the company hired Mark Ketchum to be CEO in October 2005. And it hasn’t been the same since.

The amount of change was readily apparent at this year’s annual shareholders meeting on May 11 at its headquarters at Three Glenlake Parkway.
Continue reading →

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