The symbolism is rich. A significant and historic building on Auburn Avenue is being brought back to life with the upcoming move of Georgia Works, a nonprofit that provides housing and employment to homeless men who are drug and alcohol free and willing to work.
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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Gov. Brian Kemp gives his first talk to Atlanta Rotary since becoming governor
During his first talk to the Rotary Club of Atlanta since he was elected governor in 2018, Gov. Brian Kemp evaded the question about whether he would be running for the U.S. Senate in 2026.
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AHA celebrates $40 million Choice grant and approves funding for hundreds of affordable units
It was an Atlanta Housing Authority board meeting like none other in recent memory.
Eugene Jones, AHA’s president and CEO, announced during the board meeting that Atlanta had received an unprecedented $40 million Choice grant to revitalize the Bowen Homes neighborhood.
Posted inColumns
Points of Light’s new CEO won’t be based in Atlanta
The global nonprofit – Points of Light – has named Jennifer Sirangelo as its new president and CEO beginning Sept. 5. But she is not moving to Atlanta.
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Michael Thurmond: Georgia founder James Oglethorpe should be our ‘North Star’
The story of how James Oglethorpe (1696-1785) went from being a slave trader to abolitionist serves as a beacon for Georgia to celebrate its founding values.
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BeltLine rail moves forward with MARTA board vote
MARTA’s board of directors voted unanimously Thursday afternoon to move forward with the extending the Atlanta Streetcar to the BeltLine and north to Ponce City Market.
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Atlanta architects Scogin and Elam donating their talents to MOCA’s new home
Two world-renowned architects (a husband and wife team) – Merrill Elam and Mack Scogin – are giving back to the city where they learned their craft.
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Legendary Georgia journalist Bill Shipp dies at 89
To me, he will always be “Big Bad Billy Boy Shipp.” Bill Shipp, a veteran Georgia journalist and political commentator, passed away Saturday evening. Shipp, who was born Aug. 16, 1933, was just one month shy of his 90th birthday.
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SaportaReport celebrates 14 years — thanking our friends, sponsors and contributors
It’s amazing we’re still here. Back in February 2009, I launched SaportaReport.com as sidekick platform so I could weigh in on civic issues.
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Bernice King and Isaac Farris remember Christine King Farris, 95
This story has been updated with information about memorial service. Willie Christine King Farris outlived everyone in her family who was part of her generation – specifically, her two brothers: Martin Luther King Jr. and A.D. King. On June 29, Mrs. Farris passed away peacefully at the home of her daughter, Angela Christine Farris Watkins. […]
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Andrew Young: ‘In many ways, it was Atlanta’s golden age’
It’s been nearly 27 years since Atlanta hosted the 1996 Summer Olympic Games – an occasion that changed the city forever.
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Former Atlantan Ed Hula to receive IOC’s Pierre de Coubertin Medal
Longtime journalist Ed Hula will receive the prestigious Pierre de Coubertin Medal from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on June 23.
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Alliance Theatre names Tinashe Kajese-Bolden and Chris Moses as artistic directors
Since last October, Tinashe Kajese-Bolden and Chris Moses have been serving as interim artistic directors of the Alliance Theatre, filling in after Susan Booth left to become artistic director of Chicago’s Goodman Theatre. The board of the Alliance Theatre announced today that after a national search, Kajese-Bolden and Moses will assume permanent roles as artistic directors. […]
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Healing the divide: Matt Westmoreland and Liliana Bakhtiari offer hope
The plans for a new public safety training center have polarized Atlanta into two camps – those for and those against. That was evident during a confrontational Atlanta City Council meeting that began at 1 p.m. June 12 and lasted for nearly 17 hours with an overwhelming number of speakers passionately arguing against what they have labeled as “cop city.”
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Suwanee-based InVeris hires former Atlanta police chief – Erika Shields
Erika Shields is back in Atlanta, joining the leadership team of InVeris Training Solutions Inc., a Suwanee-based company, effective June 16.
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An inside look into Arthur Blank, his family and his foundation
Arthur Blank, a premier business and philanthropic leader, was the invited guest speaker at the Rotary Club of Atlanta’s Father-Son Day along with his three sons – Kenny Blank, Joshua Blank and Max Blank. Stephanie Blank, his second ex-wife, moderated the program.
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Unlike past revolving door, Atlanta’s airport general manager – ‘B’ Bheodari – staying put
Balram “B” Bheodari, general manager of Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, attended an industry conference in Denver earlier this month when he was offered a job making significantly more money than his current $310,000 annual salary.
Posted inColumns
Creating the city we want through ‘incentive zoning’
A beautiful mature tree adorns the steep front yard of a historic home in the southwest Atlanta Pittsburgh community. The home represents so much of what we want as a city. Historic preservation. Affordability. Tree conservation. Density. Sustainable development. The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation and the Atlanta Land Trust held an open house on […]
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Reflections: Tale from Piedmont Park’s past offers lessons for today
Seeing thousands of people enjoying the Atlanta Jazz Festival this weekend reminded me of the disaster that could have been.
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Tom Fanning passes baton to Chris Womack at Southern Co. annual meeting
The Southern Co. annual meeting Wednesday marked a historic transition as Chris Womack became the utility company’s CEO, succeeding Tom Fanning, who will continue to serve as its executive chairman. “Having grown up in southern Alabama in the 1960s and to stand where I am today is a very humbling experience,” said Womack, a subtle […]
