What is believed to be the nation’s first-ever county-led reparations research task force has just received funding in Fulton County. The Fulton County Board of Commissioners executive session on Jan. 18 approved the overall county budget in a vote of 4-3, which included funding for the task force. The budget was approved for $250,000 after […]
Author Archives: Mark Lannaman
Posted inLatest News, Mark Lannaman
Partnership for Inclusive Innovation looking to continue momentum into 2023
The Partnership for Inclusive Innovation (PIN) is headed into 2023 hoping to continue solidifying Georgia as a center for innovation. PIN came out of a task force led by Georgia’s Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan who was looking to position Georgia as the tech capital of the East Coast.It is described as a “foundation crossed with […]
Posted inLatest News, Mark Lannaman
Soccer in the Streets finds new executive director
Soccer in the Streets, which has found much success in recent years from its popular program Station Soccer, has named Elijah Miranda as its new executive director. The move comes after previous director Phil Hill stepped away from the position. Miranda has a background in public health and has previous nonprofit experience in New York. […]
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Atlanta Region Transit Link Authority calls for special board of directors meeting
The Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority (ATL) elected new executive director Jannine Miller at a specially-called board meeting on Thursday, Nov. 5. ATL, along with the State Road & Tollway Authority (SRTA) and Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) were previously served by interim-director Heather Aquino of the Georgia Regional Transit Authority. Chris Thomilson previously headed the […]
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Cincinnati’s revitalization effort, and how Atlanta could be headed the same way
On a recent trip to Cincinnati, I got to visit the Over-the-Rhine (OTR) — the city’s most popular Downtown district vibrant with shops, restaurants, people and more. It was fun enjoying relatively walkable streets and amenities. It even reminded me of parts of Atlanta. Which kind of has me worried. The brief time I spent […]
Posted inColumns, Mark Lannaman
Georgia Public Service Commission allows Georgia Power to hold off on net metering expansion
The popular Georgia Power net metering program will not expand in Georgia in 2023. The tri-annual Georgia Power Integrated Resource plan hearings before the Georgia Public Commission — not to be confused with the tri-annual Rate Case — encompassed a few topics including expanding or starting a new net metering program, where homeowners with rooftop […]
Posted inColumns, Mark Lannaman
Georgia Tech developing climate action plan
By Mark Lannaman The Georgia Institute of Technology, known colloquially as Georgia Tech, is in the midst of planning its future — and is making sure climate action is at the forefront. To prioritize this, Georgia Tech’s Sustainability Next Task Force, created in 2021, is developing the school’s Sustainability Next Plan. The Sustainability Next Plan […]
Posted inColumns, Mark Lannaman
Historic Oakland Cemetery hosts first ever Day of the Dead ceremony
Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos in its traditional Spanish, has a new home in Atlanta. Historic Oakland Cemetery hosted its first Day of the Dead ceremony on Sunday, Nov. 6 from noon to 5 p.m. The event was a joint effort between the Consulate General of Mexico in Atlanta and the […]
Posted inColumns, Latest News, Mark Lannaman
AFSC launches new series to teach people how to protect themselves from eviction
By Mark Lannaman The American Friends and Service Committee (AFSC) launched its training series titled “How to Defend Your Home” on Thursday, Oct. 27. The series is intended to help renters learn the best practices, techniques and the rights tenants have when facing eviction. The free training workshop comes with a newly released manual from […]
Posted inColumns, Mark Lannaman
Atlanta City Council moves to approve downtown street resurfacing
The Atlanta City Council approved Resolution 22-R-4417 authorizing $6.2 million to repave streets in Downtown Atlanta, but not before an amendment was added to take advantage of the opportunity to make streets safer.
Posted inColumns, Mark Lannaman
Georgia Tech officially opens the new John Lewis Student Center
The John Lewis Student Center at the Georgia Institute of Technology held its official opening on Thursday, Sept. 29.
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Krog Street Tunnel to be Closed for Months
The debate on whether or not you should turn left from Dekalb onto Krog is settled for the moment — no lefts or rights — at least not at night. The popular local landmark Krog Street Tunnel will be closed for the next few months between 7 pm and 6 am Sunday through Friday, with […]
Posted inColumns, Mark Lannaman
A bell for peace instead of bullets gets its traditional tower at the Carter Center
A multinational effort at The Carter Center has just been realized. On Friday, Sept. 30, The Carter Center had its opening ceremony for a traditional Japanese bell tower to house its “Peace Bell.”
Posted inLatest News, Mark Lannaman
The Conclusion to the Peoplestown Decade of Resistance
After a 10 year fight, the Peoplestown saga has reached a conclusion. In 2012, catastrophic flooding in the legacy neighborhood of Peoplestown started what would become a long battle between residents and the city. Then-mayor of Atlanta Kasim Reed promised that no residents would have to move, according to resident Bertha Darden. That promise soon […]
Posted inMark Lannaman
The ironic case of student luxury apartments
Student luxury apartments. The phrase itself almost sounds oxymoronic. Luxury apartments for a group of people who have traditionally been known to not have money — the phrase ‘broke college student’ didn’t appear out of thin air — Doesn’t make much sense. Constructing apartments in a luxury bracket for students who are paying tens of […]
Posted inMark Lannaman
Atlanta and Bogotá: What can our transit learn from each other
During my trip to Bogotá, I found that it and my home city of Atlanta can learn a lot from each other’s ideas when it comes to transit. The cities of Atlanta and Bogotá are quite different. Bogota is one of the largest cities in South America, with a population around 8 million and a […]
Posted inMark Lannaman
World’s largest hydrogen fuel blending demonstration completed in Smyrna
A multi-organizational effort proved successful in completing what Georgia Power calls the world’s largest hydrogen fuel blending demonstration. This will help pave the way for future hydrogen implementation in the Southeast. Georgia Power teamed up with Mitsubishi Power and Electric Power Research Institute to make the project demonstration happen at Georgia Power’s Plant McDonough-Atkinson in […]
Posted inLatest News, Mark Lannaman
The City of Atlanta responds to heat wave — but is it enough?
By Mark Lannaman As temperatures rise to dangerous levels, the city of Atlanta has responded by opening a cooling center to protect vulnerable communities from the heat. Residents of Atlanta without central air, homeless people and more were able to enjoy the cooling center “Wednesday, June 15, 2022, through Friday, June 17, 2022, 12 p.m. […]
Posted inLatest News, Mark Lannaman
Microsoft meets with Grove Park residents for feedback on 90-acre campus plan
Microsoft held its first meeting with neighborhood residents for the planned 90-acre campus coming to Grove Park this past Saturday. The Microsoft Campus Community Workshop brought together hundreds of neighborhood residents, Microsoft employees and partners including Cooper Carry and Integral Group to envision the future of the campus, and of Grove Park. Residents gave their […]
