David Pendered Archives - SaportaReport

Articles by David Pendered

David Pendered

Hyperloops on Trump agenda as Gwinnett digests MARTA referendum results

March 20, 2019, 9:10 pm/0 Comments

As MARTA and its advocates in Gwinnett County look beyond the unofficial negative transit vote Tuesday, the Trump administration is looking forward to a transportation future replete with innovations including hyperloops and autonomous vehicles – albeit with no details about how to pay for it or the nation’s existing infrastructure needs.

Atlanta BeltLine to data centers: Please stay away

March 19, 2019, 7:43 pm/0 Comments

To protect the Atlanta BeltLine from unsightly data centers, Atlanta is trying to set some boundaries around their size, proximity and appearance. The move begins as the city and region are emerging as a hotbed for buildings that house computer systems.

Familiar feud: Healthcare lobby resists changing law that regulates competition

March 18, 2019, 4:25 pm/0 Comments

Doctors and health care executives can’t agree with lawyers, farmers and business owners over how to update a law that oversees the expansion of health care facilities in Georgia. This is a major part of the impasse that’s to be resolved if the General Assembly is to enact reform before the session ends in two weeks.

Lawmakers may reduce sand dune protections as hurricane threat unabated

March 17, 2019, 10:22 pm/1 Comment

State lawmakers may ease restrictions on the construction of decks and patios next to sand dunes, plus crosswalks over dunes, even as the lead author of NOAA’s Atlantic Ocean hurricane outlooks issued this month a preliminary warning that the upcoming hurricane season will be as dynamic as the one that pummeled Georgia in 2018.

Pair in rented peacock plumes brought down by federal authorities

March 15, 2019, 10:24 am/0 Comments

They were like barnyard roosters strutting around in rented peacock plumes, driving rented Bentleys and jetting off for the weekend to Chicago or the Caribbean – until the chiropractor and his accomplice were convicted of healthcare fraud committed in a Buckhead highrise, according to accounts of their federal trial.

Georgia Tech to launch master’s degree in sustainability this autumn

March 14, 2019, 8:07 pm/0 Comments

The growing demand for leaders in the realm of sustainability is the subject of a new master’s degree program Georgia Tech intends to launch this autumn.

Atlanta’s new clean energy plan shares aspirations with proposed Green New Deal

March 11, 2019, 1:18 pm/3 Comments

Atlanta’s newly adopted Clean Energy Plan to guide the city’s planned transition to 100 percent clean energy shares some similarities with the Green New Deal legislation filed in Congress, and arrives just in time for this week’s Climate Realty Project training session that’s headlined by Al Gore.

Wall Street analysts remain bullish on WellStar despite possible regulatory reform

March 10, 2019, 10:00 pm/0 Comments

Wall Street credit analysts gave little heed to potential changes in state regulations of Georgia’s hospital industry when they issued last week a stable rating to WellStar Health System.

Delta’s top credit rating reflects lower costs of hub at ATL airport: Moody’s report

March 7, 2019, 10:07 pm/1 Comment

As state lawmakers consider taking over Atlanta’s airport, Delta Air Lines, Inc. on Wednesday received a top credit rating from Moody’s Investors Service that builds on a recent rating that said one of Delta’s key credit strengths is the lower costs of doing business at Atlanta’s airport.

Census proceeds with $500 million marketing plan for embattled 2020 Census

March 6, 2019, 7:46 pm/0 Comments

The Census Bureau on Monday unveiled the $500 million communication platform for the 2020 count of the nation’s population – “Shape your future. START HERE.” The release comes as the decennial count remains mired in litigation brought by several states and the NAACP.

Metro Atlanta ranks in top third of global rankings of traffic congestion

March 5, 2019, 11:40 am/1 Comment

Moscow is ranked as the world’s worst city for traffic congestion, but motorists there travel 3 mph faster than drivers in Atlanta when it comes to the rate of travel on the last inner city mile, according to a report that could fuel conversation at Tuesday’s meeting about express lanes along Ga. 400.

Arts, culture in ATL: ARC approves long-awaited plan to expand programs

March 4, 2019, 4:45 pm/0 Comments

The murals, performances, farmers markets and soccer events becoming more prevalent at MARTA rail stations are the types of arts and culture offerings the Atlanta Regional Commission intends to foster across the region through a new strategic plan.

Bribery, favoritism, retaliation cited in Atlanta’s oversized pay for overtime hours

March 3, 2019, 4:47 pm/6 Comments

A manager at Atlanta’s airport awarded overtime hours to her husband, son and nephew rather than giving other employees a chance to earn the extra pay, a situation that is just part of the abuse of overtime pay identified in the city’s internal audit of overtime pay.

MARTA manager sentenced for role in fraud prosecuted Justice Department

March 2, 2019, 12:27 pm/1 Comment

The sentencing in federal court this week of a former MARTA department administrator brings to a close a scheme in which two top transit officials and an associate defrauded MARTA of more than $500,000.

Disease-causing bacteria in water off Georgia beaches now routine presence

March 1, 2019, 4:10 pm/0 Comments

Beachgoers were advised they may get sick if they enter the water along portion of three of Georgia’s coastal islands in February because of high levels of a waterborne bacteria associated with disease. The waters have been declared safe, but the warnings remind of the potential harm caused by runoff from manmade or other sources.

Emory area could see skyscrapers under Atlanta’s proposed rezoning

February 28, 2019, 1:00 pm/1 Comment

Office towers of an unlimited height could be permitted on a portion of land brought into Atlanta through the annexation of Emory University and the surrounding area, according to the rezoning proposal.

MARTA seeks to improve wait times at bus stops with new shelters, amenities

February 25, 2019, 4:59 pm/2 Comments

MARTA bus riders and postal couriers may as well share the same unofficial creed, since both endure the elements – “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night….” A ray of sunshine is rising for MARTA riders.

Atlanta may collect scooter crash data; LA study found head injuries most common

February 24, 2019, 5:07 pm/0 Comments

Head injuries, broken bones and abrasions are common injuries when riders crash their standing electronic scooters, according to a recent study from California. A proposal to track such data in Atlanta is pending before the Atlanta City Council.

Atlanta Audubon’s growing wildlife sanctuary program now includes Briarlake Forest Park

February 21, 2019, 5:23 pm/0 Comments

The Atlanta Audubon Society has certified yet another public park as a wildlife sanctuary, this one near Northlake Mall in DeKalb County and the latest in the society’s fast-growing program to provide havens for birds and critters.

Proposal for multi-year study of state’s health care system adds to debate

February 21, 2019, 10:25 am/0 Comments

A state Senate committee this afternoon is to take up two bills that offer completely different approaches to restructure the state’s system that oversees the expansion of health facilities, a topic expected to draw such a large crowd that the meeting is scheduled in the Senate’s largest committee room.

Poverty & Equity

The Depth of Our Shallowness
By John Berry, Chief Executive Officer, St. Vincent de Paul Georgia Last week the news was full of s...
Region Matters

How Zoning (Don’t Yawn!) is Helping Atlanta Deal with Population Boom
From granny flats to duplexes, the city of Atlanta may soon see a wider variety of housing options �...
Sustainable Communities

The Powerful Opportunities for Women in Sustainability
By Andrea Pinabell, President of Southface Institute As I walked into my freshman Chemical Engineeri...
Philanthropy

Creating a brighter tomorrow for Atlanta’s children
If we want our children to be successful, we must work to ensure they’re living in environments wh...
Global Health

Prenatal Vitamins: A Lifeline for Mothers and Babies Worldwide
By MAP International The young mother drew the blanket close to shade her baby. The sun burned down...
Law & Public Policy

Dentons Launches NextTalent, Bringing Innovation to Talent Management
Ed. note: This article originally appeared on www.dentons.com Washington, DC—Dentons, the world’...
People, Places, Parks

When the Kids Are Away, Let the Public Play
George Dusenbury, State Director for The Trust for Public Land in Georgia Rachel Sprecher, Executive...
Leadership in Action

Celebrating 22 Years of Tour of Kitchens
By: Cameron Ellis, Chair, Tour of Kitchens, The Junior League of Atlanta, Inc. For one weekend at th...
Transit

MARTA SHOWCASES BENEFITS OF PUBLIC TRANSIT AHEAD OF GWINNETT COUNTY VOTE
The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) is prepared to expand if voters in Gwinnett...
Arts & Culture Seen

A year of Artist in Residency at Anne O Art Gallery
By Diana Toma Spring 2018 arrives and I’ve been dreaming about creating large-sized paintings...
Metro Business

2019 ChooseATL Influencers Work to Tell Atlanta’s Story and Their Own
The story of metro Atlanta evolved over the course of decades to include everything from pioneering...
Higher Education

New Ph.D. Program Trains Students In Tackling Complex Urban Challenges
By Jan Nijman, Director and Distinguished University Professor, Urban Studies Institute at Georgia S...
Financial Inclusion

Bespoke: Cedric Brown and his Collections
By Anita Ward, Operation HOPE As a toddler, Cedric Brown expressed himself best with a pencil, paint...
Historic Westside

One Man’s Journey with Westside Works
Intro by John Ahmann: Demonstrating the power of We, this week’s column is a powerful personal t...