A tight labor market remains a big story in metro Atlanta and the Southeastern United States, and the latest economic survey by the Federal Reserves shows employers remain resistant to raising wages to attract workers.
Category: David Pendered
Articles by David Pendered
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As e-bikes loom as commuting option, Atlanta scrambling to regulate their use
Atlanta is trying to get a handle on the use of electric bicycles, which are proliferating in the city and presenting new threats to pedestrians when the pedal-assisted e-bikes are ridden or parked on sidewalks, trails and in parks. The debate is to begin Wednesday in the Atlanta City Council’s Transportation Committee.
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Atlanta’s Design Awards offer chance to contemplate the city being built
In the yin and yang duality that illustrates Atlanta’s development cycles, the annual Design Awards presented by Atlanta’s Urban Design Commission represent a moment to pause and take stock of the city’s built environment, of what has been lost and gained.
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New home for chimney swifts to open in Piedmont Park’s bird-friendly habitat
The Atlanta Audubon Society has embarked on addressing a housing crisis encountered by the once-common chimney swifts – a lack of nesting places in tree cavities and the chimneys that gave the birds their name.
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2018 farm bill: Two Georgia groups represent divide over partisan proposal
Two organizations in Georgia are among those that represent the split opinions over the farm bill that Congress is to take up when it returns from recess on June 4 – the Georgia Farm Bureau and the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute.
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Plant Vogtle: Construction status reports by Georgia Power, Moody’s Investors Service
A new report on the construction status of the Vogtle nuclear plant, released Wednesday by Moody’s Investors Service, provides greater detail than a May 10 statement released by Georgia Power and cites a number of risks that could further delay the plant’s opening date.
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First sign of the ATL: Xpress bus system moving to Breeze cards in 2018
The Xpress commuter bus system that operates in 12 metro counties is phasing out its magnetic ticket system as of Dec. 31 and shifting to the Breeze card. The move is an early step in the effort to unify the transit systems that serve metro Atlanta.
Posted inColumns
Georgia’s water wars: Three lawsuits pending after Supreme Court rules on Florida case
Metro Atlanta and Georgia are far from the finish line in the water wars. Even after the U.S. Supreme Court rules by June 30 on the case brought against Georgia by Florida, three federal lawsuits remain pending.
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Potential state takeover of Atlanta’s airport among issues raising concerns at City Hall
Three measures approved by the state Legislature this year are triggering concerns among members of the Atlanta City Council – a study committee to evaluate the state takeover of Atlanta’s airport; a call for Atlanta to permanently close a portion of Mitchell Street adjacent to the Capitol; and carving out a piece of Stockbridge to create a City of Eagle’s Landing.
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Atlanta councilmembers, mayor’s staff to discuss ‘honest government’ legislation
The Atlanta City Council intends to repair breaches in the city government’s protocols on transparency and honesty, and on Wednesday a council committee agreed to meet with Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms’ staff to work out the details. A meeting date was not set.
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All Georgia cities at credit risk from proposed City of Eagle’s Landing, Moody’s reports
The credit quality of all cities in Georgia is threatened by the proposal to carve land out of Stockbridge to create a City of Eagle’s Landing, according to a new report by Moody’s Investor’s Service.
Posted inColumns
Tech’s future police headquarters designed to promote health of occupants
Georgia Tech’s planned police headquarters is designed to comply with a fairly new set of standards that aim to improve the health and wellness of those who spend time inside the building. In at least one instance, the standard is tighter than LEED standards.
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Georgia death row case awaits review by U.S. Supreme Court
A petition regarding a heinous double murder in Jackson County in 1997 is now pending before the U.S. Supreme Court, and a respected blog that covers the court has highlighted this death penalty case as one to watch.
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First loggerhead turtle nest of 2018 found on Cumberland Island
Sea turtle nesting season has begun on Georgia’s coast. The first loggerhead turtle nest of the year was found Tuesday on Cumberland Island, and state wildlife officials expect the number of this year’s nestings to be above average for this threatened species.
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Upcoming talks about new transit plan likely to focus on benefits to commuters
The public awareness campaign for the ATL and metro Atlanta’s new transit project is starting. The central message that’s emerging is that transit will be improved even if voters don’t approve more funding via sales taxes.
Posted inColumns
Atlanta may turn to zoning to spark affordable homes, renew a neighborhood
Atlanta’s latest effort to create affordable housing is underway in Carey Park, a Northwest neighborhood the city plans to rezone to a classification intended to promote development of houses for those with low to moderate incomes.
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Benefactor to match donations to Atlanta Humane Society, up to $3,000 per donation
A benefactor is helping homeless animals in care of the Atlanta Humane Society by matching donations to the shelter that are made through Thursday, up to $3,000 per donation. The humane society is asking for donations as it is taking in hundreds of kittens and puppies at the start of birthing season.
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Three teens from metro Atlanta on team that won state bird-a-thon
Three high school students from Atlanta and Decatur were on the team that won the 13th annual Department of Natural Resources bird-a-thon. They identified 161 bird species, the most spotted by any team.
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Downtown Atlanta’s Food Truck Fridays move to Woodruff Park, start this week
Food Truck Fridays returns Friday to Downtown Atlanta in a new location, moving to Woodruff Park as part of the effort by civic leaders to strengthen the park’s growing role as the outdoor living room for the city’s central business district.
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Georgia making progress on reducing air pollution, EPA advises Gov. Deal
Georgia is making headway with its efforts to reduce air pollution. Seven counties in metro Atlanta are the only ones that don’t meet federal air quality standards for ozone and they are expected to come into compliance without additional controls, according to a statement released Wednesday by state environmental officials.
