Every year, the partisans of countless causes push for state funding; some win and some lose. A question on Georgia ballots would put land conservation and stewardship a step above that fight, by setting aside part of an existing tax to pay for it.
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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Atlanta City Council to consider measures to rebuild the Gulch with tax breaks
Atlanta City Council is wading into some proposals about if to allocate (and millions and millions) of tax dollars to private developers to try and encourage building in a pair of special zones on either side of the Connector. Ground zero is Downtown’s Gulch.
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Activists allege immigrant abuse at Atlanta jail in ICE closure campaign; jailer says record shows high standards
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has hit “pause” on a contract that sees the city jail hold ICE detainees. Activists say one reason she should end it permanently is poor conditions at the jail. The city’s corrections leader says his facility is up to the best standards.
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While Washington, D.C. considers prison reform and more, Georgia offers an account
The president is asking for Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal’s advice on prison reform, while some members of Congress demand a bill that also includes remaking sentencing rules. On a trip to Georgia, Trump’s attorney general warned against too much change.
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BeltLine publishes affordable housing road map
About halfway to its 2030 deadline, the BeltLine has just published a road map meant to help catch the agency up to its promise to build housing that’s affordable for working folks. The agency’s leader says they’ll need help getting there.
Posted inMaggie Lee
Open records, open meetings and the uses of sunshine law for everyone
If there’s any policy you care about, if you are a supporter of any activist group that works on politics or policy — it’s worth knowing about those “sunshine” laws, and maybe using them yourself.
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MARTA board reviewing Gwinnett deal, vote expected next month
MARTA’s service area may be about to get a lot bigger. That is, if Gwinnett voters decide they want to join. A contract between the two is set to go in front of county voters in March, and the transit agency’s board will consider the same language as early as next month.
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Gwinnett schedules referendum on joining MARTA
“Success lives here,” goes the official saying about Gwinnett. “But it commutes to Atlanta,” goes an unofficial rejoinder. Well, Gwinnett has taken the first step in setting up more transit, scheduling a public vote on whether to set up a new sales tax to pay to join MARTA.
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The affordable housing that’s hidden in plain sight
Atlanta’s creating more luxury apartments than low-cost ones, which is part of why many people worry that the age of an affordable Atlanta is coming to an end. But what might be a big part of an affordable housing fix is hidden in plain sight.
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Georgia candidates start new round of campaigning with talk of jobs, values
After both parties (mostly) picked their candidate teams this week, Democrats were quick to make a pitch as the party of jobs in a business-friendly Georgia. And Republicans talked about jobs too, but the GOP kicked off its unified campaigning with a rally heavy on conservative values.
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Activists call on Atlanta to shut out ICE
“It shouldn’t be that Atlanta, an icon of the civil rights movement, has six minutes from here a detention center.”
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Atlanta police chief asks for an assist from some judges
“I can’t explain some of the decision-making,” Shields said. “There are a couple of judges that routinely let people go.”
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Atlanta agency head reprimanded, but keeps job, after review of spending
Eloisa Klementich will stay on as leader of Atlanta’s development authority, but loses her employment contract after a review of a nonprofit that’s linked to the agency and Klementich herself.
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President Donald Trump endorses Kemp for Georgia governor
President Donald Trump made an endorsement that may prove pivotal in a tight race: Republican Georgia gubernatorial hopeful Brian Kemp has his support.
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Ga. Gov. Nathan Deal endorses Cagle as successor; poll puts GOP runoff close
In a tight Republican runoff in the race to succeed him, a popular Gov. Nathan Deal says that the candidate to continue his own tradition is Casey Cagle.
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Atlanta Housing seals deal with outgoing boss for $260,000-plus
Atlanta’s housing authority has finalized a deal with its outgoing CEO, and will pay $260,000 in severance as Catherine Buell transitions into a paid consulting role.
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State cash for metro transit? Some GOP candidates more on board than others
Georgia’s majority-Republican legislature has warmed to mass transit funding in metro Atlanta and other areas — a bit. Some of the GOP contenders for top office are more on board with the trend than others.
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BeltLine boosters to MARTA: rail, now
As MARTA ponders how to spend a new Atlanta sales tax worth $2.5 billion over 40 years, BeltLine rail advocates say a ring of rail belongs at the top of the priority list.
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Atlanta Housing votes for East Lake refinance, renovations
Applause and some shouts of joy answered a unanimous vote of the board of Atlanta’s housing authority on Wednesday afternoon — it came from Villages of East Lake residents and supporters who’ve been lobbying for a deal to finance neighborhood renovations.
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Know your “affordable housing”
Atlanta’s in an affordable housing “crisis,” it’s got a “shortage.” But two people talking about “affordable housing” might not mean the same thing.
