Bill Powell has worked in transportation project planning and management in several agencies and now works with governments as a federal project reviewer. The District 1 Atlanta City Council seat would be his first elected office. He spoke to the Saporta Report via email. Campaign website Q: What’s your No. 1 concern for your district? […]
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 candidate Q and A: Oz Hill
After retiring from the U.S. Army, Oswald “Oz” Hill went to work as a consultant — and later as a city of Atlanta staff member — working in emergency preparedness, disaster mitigation, security planning and other areas. He’s now running for Atlanta City Council District 1 and spoke to Saporta Report via email. Campaign website […]
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Atlanta City Council candidate profiles: Post 2 at large
The race for a vacant at large City Council seat has attracted three men who are talking about ideas like free pre-K, decriminalizing marijuana and building a more equitable Atlanta.
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Atlanta City Council candidate Q and A: Bret R. Williams
Some comments have been edited for brevity and clarity. Bret Williams is a former federal prosecutor and is now in private legal practice. City Council would be the first elected post for the Virginia Highlands resident. Campaign website Q: What is your No. 1 concern for the city? A: Crime. … There are a couple […]
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Atlanta City Council candidate Q and A: Cory Ruth
Some comments have been edited for brevity and clarity. Cory Ruth is a partner at Mergence Global, an IT consulting firm. Atlanta City Council would be the first elected post for the Buckhead resident. Campaign website Q: What’s your No. 1 concern for the city? A: …If I had to choose a legacy item that […]
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Atlanta City Council candidate Q and A: Matt Westmoreland
Some comments have been edited for brevity and clarity. Matt Westmoreland was elected to the Atlanta Board of Education in 2013. Before that, the Midtown resident taught at Carver High School. Campaign website Q: What’s your No. 1 concern for the city? A: Equity and economic mobility. …I was born and raised in Atlanta, graduated […]
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Fulton leaders may seek state help to blunt property tax spikes
In the aftermath of a taxpayers’ revolt over a surge in many 2017 Fulton County home property tax bills, local government leaders are trying to figure out how to dodge the pitchforks and torches next time. A cap on home property tax increases could be part of the plan.
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Mayoral hopefuls’ pitch to business: partnership, permitting
Six top contenders for the mayor’s office told a business group’s forum that City Hall needs to change some of its ways.
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Atlanta City Council candidate profiles: Post 1 at large
All Atlanta voters have a say on this question in November: whether to transfer an Atlanta school board member over to City Council or opt for the candidate who’s represented all or part of the city on council for more than a decade.
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Atlanta City Council Candidate Q and A: Courtney English
Courtney English was first elected to the board of Atlanta Public Schools in 2009. In 2014, he was elected its chair. Now he’s running for Atlanta City Council’s as a citywide candidate for Post 1.
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Atlanta City Council Candidate Q and A: Michael Julian Bond
Some comments have been edited for brevity and clarity. Michael Julian Bond is running for reelection to Atlanta City Council Post 1, an at large citywide office. From 1994 to 2001, he represented parts of west and northwest Atlanta on Council. Campaign website Q: What’s your No. 1 concern for the city? A: I have […]
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Chief Counsel Elizabeth O’Neill named interim MARTA leader
MARTA Chief Counsel Elizabeth O’Neill will temporarily l take over leadership of the agency as it searches for a new permanent leader to replace outgoing General Manager and CEO Keith Parker.
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Mayoral candidates promise to find affordable housing cash
In a packed forum, top mayoral candidates said their ideas for raising money for affordable housing polices range from parking taxes to bonds, to maybe even casinos.
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Hundreds close Labor Day weekend with rally for dreamers
As much of Atlanta skipped work or school on Labor Day, a few hundred folks gathered Downtown to rally in support of immigrants who want the permanent right to work or go to school.
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City seeks to sell Civic Center to Atlanta Housing Authority
By Maria Saporta and Maggie Lee The City of Atlanta plans to sell the 19-acre Civic Center property to the Atlanta Housing Authority, Mayor Kasim Reed announced at a press conference Thursday afternoon. AHA would buy the site for $31 million, and it would partner with Weingarten Realty to develop retail and offices on the […]
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Mitchell, Reed spar over ethics, contracts policies
After Atlanta City Council President Ceasar Mitchell said the city and Mayor Kasim Reed should not rush into multi-year contracts during his administration especially as a federal corruption investigation is underway, the mayor spent most of an afternoon press conference blasting Mitchell.
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Crumbling sidewalks anger, endanger Atlantans
Years after the city inventoried millions of dollars in sidewalks and ramps that need work, plenty of obstacles still stand between Atlanta and accessibility.
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Atlanta searches for foreign investors, offers U.S. visas
Atlanta’s development authority is offering something to folks from other countries who invest in Atlanta builds: legal U.S. residency.
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Planners envision airport-area riverside park
There’s a move afoot to knit the uppermost Flint and its headwater channels into a network of parks and trails, turning areas around the airport into green destinations.
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Metro Atlanta population grows by more than 78,000
The 10 counties of metro Atlanta together have absorbed enough new residents to fill a good-sized city in just a year, according to a new estimate.
