The beverage shrine-turned-vacant building that was once the World of Coke isn’t going to get a new tenant — or a parking deck beside it — anytime too soon.
Author Archives: Maggie Lee
Maggie Lee is a freelance reporter who's been covering Georgia and metro Atlanta government and politics since 2008.
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Local governments shouldn’t weigh in on the appearance of houses, according to some Georgia lawmakers
“The reason our cities are the places you want to live is because of design standards,” Lilburn Mayor Johnny Crist said opposing the bill. He said aesthetics are part of what make a city interesting and attractive to new residents.
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Sales tax exemption, school stockpiles part of GA Capitol campaign to end “period poverty”
“I never dreamed that in 2019 this would be a problem. But it is,” said state Rep. Debbie Buckner.
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Bill from GA governor would expand public spending on health care, but critics say not by enough
Gov. Brian Kemp’s plan could cover a lot of people defined in some broad way, or it might be just a few, maybe with some specific, high-cost conditions.
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Different visions for Georgia’s Confederate monuments aired in state Senate committee
DeKalb County’s got a situation: it wants to get rid of the massive Confederate monument that it owns in downtown Decatur. But nobody wants it.
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With dollars short of building promises, Atlanta gets advice to do complete streets
The man overseeing cuts to a pair of major Atlanta public works programs says that so far, he’s hearing that the public wants to prioritize bike and pedestrian upgrades.
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Hundreds of seniors lobby Georgia capitol, demand funding, policy changes
“As the baby boomers come in, there are more that are going to need this help.”
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With Gwinnett MARTA vote nearing, leaders say it’s as big a deal as water, sewer, highways
“I’m telling you, the thought of having another half-million people in this county without additional transportation options, if there’s anything to keep me up at night, that would be one of them.”
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Atlanta Housing, BeltLine, private partners joining on eastside building
A development of below-market-rate housing may start rising on the eastside BeltLine as early as this summer.
Posted inMaggie Lee
Georgia — and other states — have rural prosperity on their minds. Now how to get it done?
The worry is building among Georgia policymakers that the differences between metro and country are too big, to the detriment of folks in rural Georgia. It’s among lots of states thinking about how to make up the difference.
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Georgia Power proposes edging further away from coal
Natural gas looks pretty economical for customers; and the demand for power isn’t growing so much.
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ERA, now?
The idea of ratifying ERA is getting some serious bipartisan support in the Georgia Legislature — about 36 years after the deadline to change the Constitution to guarantee equal rights for people regardless of sex.
Posted inMaggie Lee
Georgia’s new governor pitches budget: here’s a look at what is — and isn’t — in it
Georgia will have about $27.5 billion to spend in the year that begins in July. The new governor is making proposed teacher raises a centerpiece. Democrats are pressing to spend on a Medicaid expansion.
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Tax credits for private schools: the new lieutenant governor is a fan, but they remain controversial
Georgia’s new lieutenant governor says private schools are an important part of education, and he wants to expand a program that provides them indirect public support. But Georgia has little idea which students benefit from this program or how private schools serve those students.
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Fulton agency approves nearly $100 million in property tax abatements
Fulton County’s development agency on Tuesday approved tax abatements worth nearly $100 million over 10 years in Atlanta, more than half of that for MetLife Inc.’s mega Midtown development.
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Women, people of color in Georgia Senate call out crummy committee assignments
“The eyes of Georgia are watching, especially the women of Georgia, who are now engaged in voting in record numbers. Thank goodness they’re voting and they’re engaged … ”
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Upcoming stop on Georgia House’s transportation agenda: freight
A powerful Georgia state lawmaker is about set in train a good look at railroads, to get more freight moving through Georgia more quickly. That might also mean better drives for folks in cars.
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40 days of Georgia legislature begin and Atlanta’s got a wish list
The Georgia Legislature starts its annual session with a new governor and a lot of new members. The city of Atlanta wants a couple of adjustments to state law, but that’s not all of interest to the city and its residents.
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New round of public meetings scheduled on trims to Atlanta public works projects
As Atlanta decides how to try and cover road, sidewalk and other repairs with a pot of money that’s not big enough, city residents can expect to see three scenarios on what high-profile projects in two programs may — or may not — get done.
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MARTA leader calls for “moon shot” metro Atlanta transit effort
With an audience of elected leaders from all over metro Atlanta and beyond, MARTA’s leader said the region needs to have a “big goal” as it looks toward the next 40 years of transit.
