On Wednesday, Dec. 6, Atlanta RMHC is breaking ground to build a new facility at the new Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Hospital campus where Arthur M. Blank Hospital is being constructed at North Druid Hills Road and I-85. The hospital will begin serving patients in fall 2024.
Author Archives: Maria Saporta
Maria Saporta, executive editor, is a longtime Atlanta business, civic and urban affairs journalist with a deep knowledge of our city, our region and state. From 2008 to 2020, she wrote weekly columns and news stories for the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Prior to that, she spent 27 years with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, becoming its business columnist in 1991. Maria received her Master’s degree in urban studies from Georgia State and her Bachelor’s degree in journalism from Boston University. Maria was born in Atlanta to European parents and has two young adult children. She launched SaportaReport in February 2009.
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Doug Shipman seeks balance with his picks for Atlanta City Council leaders
Atlanta City Council President Doug Shipman carefully selected his 2024 committee assignments, making sure to rotate leadership among various city council members.
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Mayor Andre Dickens gives update to Atlanta Rotary, hints at a deal with WellStar
A warmly received Mayor Andre Dickens gave a State of the City update to the Rotary Club of Atlanta on Dec. 4, touting several accomplishments since he had last spoken to the organization in May 2022. The program began with a spotlight on a joint initiative between Rotary and the city – the Early Childhood […]
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Atlanta Housing CEO search critical in city’s goal for affordable housing
The search for a new leader of Atlanta Housing has taken on greater significance given the city’s ambitious goal to add 20,000 affordable housing units by 2030 – with Atlanta Housing expected to deliver 10,000 of those units.
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World Pediatric Project acquires Atlanta-based Childspring International
World Pediatric Project, a non-profit based in Richmond, Va. that provides pediatric surgical and diagnostic care, is acquiring Atlanta-based Childspring International, a humanitarian organization specializing in connecting children to pediatric medical care. The two organizations signed the transaction in late November.
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Atlanta needs to better protect and expand its tree canopy
For nearly a dozen years, there’s been aborted effort after aborted effort to strengthen Atlanta’s tree ordinance and expand the city’s tree canopy. Fortunately, after months (even years) of little to no progress, there’s now movement.
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Protected land around Amicalola Falls State Park triples in size
The Conservation Fund and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources announced Nov. 21 the addition of 2,000 acres to the Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area in north Georgia – more than tripling the state conservation lands around Amicalola Falls State Park.
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For the sake of the planet, let’s move away from gas leaf blowers and lawn equipment
Few sounds make me angrier than gas-powered leaf blowers. Every time I hear them, they disturb our environment by emitting hazardous fumes and noise pollution in our communities. In fact, gas-powered leaf blowers are among the greatest contributors to air pollution in Georgia and beyond. A new report by Environment Georgia Research & Policy Center […]
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Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens as next chair of ARC: ‘I will bring my whole self’
Several milestones were reached on Nov. 8 when the board of the Atlanta Regional Commission unanimously elected Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens to be its next chair beginning Jan. 1.
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ARC unanimously elects Andre Dickens as next board chair
At its regular board meeting on Nov. 8, the ARC board voted unanimously (in a voice vote with no nays or abstentions) to elect Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens as its next chair. He will serve for a two-year term beginning on Jan. 1.
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Piedmont Park Conservancy’s Doug Widener: ‘It was meant to be’
Doug Widener, the new president and CEO of the Piedmont Park Conservancy, believes he was destined to move to Atlanta.
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ISB Gala celebrates Atlanta’s diverse faiths and its dedication to peace
The annual gala of the Islamic Speakers Bureau (ISB) was particularly poignant this year. Founder Soumaya Khalifa began by expressing what a difficult period she and ISB have been going through since the Oct. 7.
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2023 National Philanthropy Day luncheon: ‘We are about building community’
Philanthropic giving is celebrated every year at the National Philanthropy Day luncheon. The 2023 event took place Nov. 2 at the Georgia Aquarium.
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A new record: Women now top 25 percent of directors on Georgia’s public companies
For the first time ever, women now make up a quarter of all directors on the boards of Georgia’s public companies, according to OnBoard, an organization that’s been keeping count for decades.
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Chris Womack becomes new chair of Partnership for Inclusive Innovation
The Partnership for Inclusive Innovation, a unique initiative that supports innovation throughout Georgia, has just appointed Chris Womack, president and CEO of the Southern Co., as its new board chair.
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Time and time again, Atlantans have spoken: Build BeltLine rail
It’s so frustrating to keep revisiting the issue of whether to build rail on the BeltLine after years of repeated voter and citizen support for the concept.
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Delta CEO Ed Bastian receives prestigious Four Pillar Award
Upon receiving the Four Pillar Award from the Council for Quality Growth, Oct. 12, Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian declared his everlasting love for Atlanta.
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2023 TEDWomen conference puts Atlanta in the global spotlight
A common refrain emerged after the three-day convening of TEDWomen in Atlanta from Oct. 11 to 13 when 1,200 people came for the first ever gathering of the group in the city.
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Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens sole nominee for ARC board chair
It is all but certain the Atlanta Regional Commission’s next board chair will be Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens – a first for an Atlanta mayor in the history of the regional planning agency.
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MARTA’s CFO Raj Srinath leaves at a crucial time for transit agency
The departure of MARTA’s chief financial officer, Raj Srinath, is being viewed as Atlanta’s loss and Jacksonville’s gain.
