In College Park, questions are piling up — and so is the blame. Where is the money going? Why are certain payments being made without clear contracts or council oversight? Who is accountable? City leaders are pointing fingers over a controversial $471,690 payment to Keller Williams realty company, and meanwhile, the condemnation of the Chelsea […]
Category: Adrianne Murchison
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Fired staffers scrutinize city manager’s past role, payments by College Park
A group of recently fired College Park employees are questioning not only the circumstances of their dismissals but also the city’s handling of vendor contracts and internal staffing decisions leading up to the terminations. Last Friday, SaportaReport met with five former city employees. Dr. Emmanuel Adediran, former city manager; Rose Stewart, former director of human […]
Posted inAdrianne Murchison, Columns
College Park spokesman, crisis advisor resigns citing city hall turmoil
Bill Crane, a longtime political analyst and the crisis communications consultant for the city of College Park is stepping down from his role, citing internal conflicts and a shifting environment within the city government. Crane, who was hired in the summer of 2024, has submitted his resignation effective June 30. His firm, CSI Crane, which […]
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Goodwill honors 781 graduates who overcame setbacks to build new careers
Goodwill of North Georgia is celebrating nearly 800 graduates of its career training and development program. A graduation ceremony, themed “Dive Deep into Success,” took place on Monday in the Ocean Ballroom of the Georgia Aquarium and marked a milestone for the graduates who’ve overcome personal and professional barriers, a statement said. Former NFL wide […]
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An unlikely duo tackles homelessness and new kind of extended-stay mindset
While a recent hotel closure in Roswell revealed some of the worst conditions found in extended-stay properties, Edward Fernandez runs a hotel he describes as the opposite — clean, secure, and centered on dignity. His 1st Place Hotel, located off Wesley Chapel Road in Decatur, took in several residents from the Economy Hotel, which was […]
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Fired College Park staffers speak out during city meeting, challenge dismissals
Four former College Park employees who were fired on May 20 came forward during public comment at a recent city council meeting, demanding answers and alleging wrongful termination. Rose Stewart, the city’s former director of human resources and risk management, spoke on behalf of herself and three other former employees: Jerry Silver, a former code […]
Posted inAdrianne Murchison, Columns
Condemned College Park apartment complex called a ‘humanitarian emergency’
College Park officials say all residents have now been relocated from the condemned Chelsea Gardens Apartments. The city condemned the apartment complex in April. Residents say the apartment units are plagued by excessive mold, water shutoffs, rodent infestations, and collapsing infrastructure. According to the city, most of the displaced tenants were moved with assistance from […]
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Large-scale sculptures turn Woodruff Park into a living canvas of public art
A striking new sculpture garden by acclaimed Nigerian artist Olu Amoda is on view at Woodruff Park through June 17. The exhibit, titled “Memory in the Material,” transforms the park’s landscape with seven large-scale sculptures forged from bolts, nails, and reclaimed metal. The installation is a part of the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District and Arts […]
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Venture capitalist partnership to fund underrepresented businesses in fintech
A new funding opportunity for underrepresented entrepreneurs in the fintech industry is being launched in Atlanta. The Pinnacle Atlanta Innovation Accelerator, a joint effort by Pinnacle Financial Partners, Tarkenton Companies and gener8tor venture capital firm will invest in up to five early-stage companies annually, with each receiving a $100,000 investment, mentorship and access to a […]
Posted inAdrianne Murchison, Columns
College Park plans $5.4M landmark botanical garden
College Park marked a milestone last week with the ceremonial signing of a lease agreement with Fulton County to establish a botanical garden at Camp Truitt. College Park plans to spend $5.4 million toward the creation of the new public garden, which will have walking trails, a visitor center, and educational facilities across 32 acres. […]
Posted inAdrianne Murchison, Columns
College Park firings bring accusations of political power play, maneuverings
Staff terminations at College Park City Hall continued last week after the firing of former city manager Dr. Emmanuel Adediran. Rose Stewart, the former director of Human Resources and Risk Management, and Jerry Silver, a former Code Enforcement supervisor, said they believe their firings are tied to Councilman Roderick Gay. The revolving door of staff […]
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Atlanta Caribbean Carnival Parade returns celebrating culture and unity
The flair and rhythm of the Atlanta Caribbean Carnival Parade will takeover downtown streets on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thousands are expected to attend the parade. The parade began in 1988 and represents people from the Caribbean islands. The Atlanta Caribbean Carnival Bandleaders Association was formed in 2003 to advocate for performers […]
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Sandy Springs revokes law that critics say silenced free speech
Sandy Springs is repealing a controversial ordinance aimed at curbing the expression of hate speech, after determining the law is constitutionally flawed. Cory Isaacson, the Georgia legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union, said, the ordinance would have “shutdown speech and expression across the whole city” During a city council meeting, Tuesday, Isaacson praised […]
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College Park ousts city manager at council meeting with no clear explanation
College Park has fired its city manager just eight months after promoting him from an interim role. Dr. Emmanuel Adediran left city council chambers during a Monday meeting after council approved the vote to terminate his position. Councilman Roderick Gay introduced the motion to terminate him “for cause,” citing “willful misconduct” and alleging “dishonesty in the […]
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Chattahoochee riverfront spurs development beyond Serenbe
As Serenbe is primed for a $1.7 billion expansion over the next 10 years, the rolling pastures and woodlands of Chattahoochee Hills and its riverfront invite a deeper glimpse into the region’s future. SaportaReport recently joined a guided tour along parts of a 53-mile corridor described as the southern portion of “Chattahoochee River Valley,” exploring […]
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Roswell honors veteran Carolyn Richardson for distinguished service
Roswell honored retired Air Force Lt. Col. Carolyn Richardson with a proclamation during Monday’s city council meeting. Richardson, a local resident, was recognized as an Esteemed Veteran of Roswell for her 21 years of military service. The recognition from Mayor Kurt Wilson’s office was read at the start of the meeting. The mayor customarily pays […]
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Morehouse announces public health trailblazer as new president
Dr. F. DuBois Bowman, a nationally respected biostatistician and public health scholar, has been appointed the 13th president of Morehouse College. Bowman is dean of the University of Michigan School of Public Health and holds the Roderick J. Little Collegiate Professorship of Biostatistics, and is widely recognized for creating interdisciplinary approaches that center innovation, service, […]
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Shuttered hotel exposes the trap between unsafe housing and homelessness
A question remains in light of the dangerous conditions families endured at a now-shuttered Roswell hotel — and after cries for help at a similarly troubled apartment complex in College Park: How did we get here? “More than 100 rooms were occupied at the Economy Hotel when Roswell officials moved to shut it down last […]
Posted inAdrianne Murchison, Columns
Hotel shutdown highlights homeless families, housing crisis and sex-trafficking
Small children running and playing near the entrance of the Economy Hotel in Roswell on Thursday were seemingly unaware of the looming crisis: their families would soon be without a home. Outside, staff from the Fulton Emergency Management Agency and the Roswell Fire Department helped keep the children engaged. Inside, workers from The Drake House, […]
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Condemnation of Chelsea Gardens apartments spark residents’ fear and outcry
Chelsea Gardens apartment residents continue to plead for help as they face eviction from their homes. Residents spoke out for the second time at Monday’s College Park City Council meeting. During public comment, resident Dontavious Moore said workers are tearing apart unoccupied units while residents are still living in nearby apartments. Water service interruptions have […]
