The Transform Westside Summit is back in business with in-person meetings at the Gathering Spot. That was apparent Friday morning when a full house came to hear Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens share his thoughts about his priorities on the Westside and for the City of Atlanta.
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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Delta’s Ed Bastian to Atlanta business leaders: Join the OneTen journey
In an unusual move, Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian is issuing an open letter to Atlanta’s business community to ensure Black talent is not being left behind by requiring employees to have a college degree.
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Atlanta leaders to pay special tribute to Desmond Tutu Sept. 28
South Africa’s Archbishop Desmond Tutu formed a special relationship with Atlanta, the Coca-Cola Co., Emory University and Clark Atlanta University.
Posted inColumns, Maria's Metro
Celebrating two 95-year-old Atlanta icons — Charlie Loudermilk, Christine King Farris
By Maria Saporta In the span of three days, Atlanta honored two of its 95-year-old icons. A celebration of life was held in honor of Charlie Loudermilk Sr., who died on Aug. 3. The event, held at the Peachtree Road United Methodist Church in the heart of Buckhead, was one-of-a-kind for Atlanta. For 90 minutes, […]
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Civic leader Danita Knight to become CEO of Atlanta’s YWCA
The YWCA of Greater Atlanta has selected Danita V. Knight to be its new CEO – succeeding Sharmen Gowens who announced her plans to retire earlier this year.
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Deron Davis stepping down as executive director of Nature Conservancy-Georgia
The Nature Conservancy in Georgia is undergoing a transition in leadership. Deron Davis, executive director of the Nature Conservancy-Georgia for more than eight years, will be stepping down Sept. 16.
Posted inColumns, Maria's Metro
Brian McGowan: an Amtrak station at Centennial Yards would be ‘fantastic’
During a standard presentation of the planned $5 billion Centennial Yards project, Brian McGowan spoke of the role the 50-acre railroad gulch has played in the development of Atlanta.
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AJC plans to discontinue daily print editions, but will keep a Sunday/weekend newspaper
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution will discontinue its daily print edition and go to a weekend print edition, but it will continue its digital news operation seven days a week, according to interviews with a half dozen people close to the newspaper.
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MARTA’s on-demand Reach pilot program ending Aug. 31 despite rise in ridership
MARTA Reach, six-month pilot program of on-demand transit, ended Aug. 31 – after ridership in the program increased by 50 percent in the last month.
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Atlanta BeltLine selects preferred route for complicated section of the Northwest Trail
When the 22-mile Atlanta BeltLine corridor was first proposed more than 20 years ago, the Northwest section always was viewed as the most difficult segment to complete the circle.
Posted inColumns, Maria's Metro
A redeveloped and revitalized Civic Center stirs our imagination
By Maria Saporta Selecting a team to redevelop the Civic Center property is just the beginning of what could be a turning point for intown Atlanta. The board of the Atlanta Housing Authority voted unanimously on Aug. 24 to begin formal negotiations with the redevelopment team of Washington, D.C.-based Republic Properties, Camden, N.J.-based Michaels Organization […]
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FTA administrator touts $19.3 million grant to MARTA for electric buses
Riding an all-electric bus, MARTA leaders Tuesday celebrated receiving a recent grant of $19.3 million from the Federal Transit Administration to purchase a total of 25 electric buses and install the charging infrastructure.
Posted inColumns, Maria's Metro
Cristo Rey Atlanta’s high school students succeed because of local employers
Excitement filled the gymnasium of the Cristo Rey Atlanta at its downtown campus on Aug. 19. It was Draft Day.
Posted inColumns, Maria's Metro
T. Dallas Smith & Co. succession story was set in stone on day one
The moment he started his firm in March 2007, T. Dallas Smith knew this day would come. Smith, who is on the eve of turning 60, is handing over the role of president of T. Dallas Smith & Co. to Leonte Benton, 38, who has been with Smith since the inception of the firm.
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New film-TV agency seeks to build ecosystem in Georgia with local writers
It’s the dawning of a new age for the film and television industry in Georgia – where there is a complete ecosystem that includes writers, financiers, directors, producers and the agents who represent them.
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Blank Foundation names two new members of its executive team
The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation has made two key additions to its management team – Wendy Feliz and Diana Champ Davis.
Posted inColumns, Maria's Metro
Charlie Loudermilk, Andrew Young friendship helped define Atlanta
Atlanta lost one of its most colorful leaders with the passing of Charlie Loudermilk, 95, on Aug. 3. Loudermilk, founder of Aaron’s, became a fixture in Atlanta for decades – as a philanthropist, as a booster of Buckhead, as chair of the MARTA board, as an advocate for the Republican Party and as a prankster with a playful personality.
Posted inColumns, Maria's Metro
Google’s Atlanta presence expanding in stature and office space
Google celebrated its love for Atlanta when opened its new Midtown office space on July 27. In its new office space, the technology company clearly has embraced Atlanta and Georgia – spotlighting its role as a center for civil and human rights for all as well as its multicultural offerings of music and entertainment.
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Atlanta’s Joe Handy to become CEO of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium
“I’m going back to the fishes,” Joe Handy said Thursday about his upcoming move to become CEO of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium on Oct. 3.
Posted inColumns, Maria's Metro
At long last, there’s hope for historic preservation on the Westside
A $1 million grant from the National Park Service to renovate two historic homes in Vine City is a sign that finally Atlanta is grasping the value of preserving our unique Black history on the Westside.
