Category: David Pendered

Another significant figure in the history of Atlanta’s civil rights movement, and the state GOP, has passed away – former city alderman and state Rep. Rodney Mims Cook, Sr.

Cook, who died Sunday, is remembered for his work to help struggling communities when he served on the old Board of Aldermen. Cook’s efforts on behalf of civil rights in the state Legislature were noted Tuesday by Atlanta Councilperson Michael Julian
Bond, whose father was supported by Cook when state lawmakers barred the elder Bond from taking the seat he had won in Georgia’s House of Representatives.

“My family is forever grateful for Mr. Cook’s bravery and righteous fervor in defense of my father during a very frightening and difficult time,” Bond said in a statement.

Georgia First Lady Sandra Deal is slated to announce Monday that Georgia is creating a one-stop shop to help pregnant women and mothers of infants get all the assistance their communities provide.

The new initiative, Great Start Georgia, aims to promote the welfare of young children by helping their mothers and others who care for them. Mother and child will be guided through the process of locating and accessing existing programs.

The program intends to address the precarious conditions facing Georgia’s children. The state now ranks 37th in terms of child well-being, according to the 2012 Kids Count Data Book released last summer by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

The silent thud of public response to the pending completion of the Fall Line Freeway is an indication of how far the politics of roads in Georgia have evolved in 25 years.

There was a time the very words “developmental highway,” which is what the Fall Line Freeway is, sparked strong response from friends and foes. However, there was barely a peep after the state announced Wednesday the final contract to complete the road was let – for $53.8 million with completion set for 2015.

A new center to promote cultural and economic exchange with the 55 nations of Africa is being promoted for the Centennial Olympic Park area of downtown Atlanta.

Sen. Donzella James (D-Atlanta) advocates the idea of establishing such a center in Senate Resolution 9, which she has pre-filed for consideration by the General Assembly once it convenes Jan. 14.

The proposed center is part of James’ much broader push for the state Department of Economic Development to foster relations with the 55 nations of Africa. The resolution outlines specific roles for Atlanta, Atlanta’s airport, the state port in Savannah, and the state of Georgia to play in the proposed relationship.

Two matters that will affect the future of transportation options in DeKalb County and other eastern counties of the metro region are likely to rise in debate when Legislature convenes.

One involves the fate of the 432,000 commuters who use Xpress buses to travel through DeKalb. Funding for the commuter bus system is slated to end in June unless Gov. Nathan Deal and the General Assembly provide operating funds.

The other issue is DeKalb’s proposed sales tax to pay for road and sidewalk improvements. The Legislature has to authorize the tax before voters could cast their ballots.

Carter’s Inc. will face clawback penalties if it does not create at least 200 jobs in Atlanta that pay certain wages and benefits, according to terms of the $350,000 grant Carter’s received from Atlanta’s development authority.

Meanwhile, Carter’s will receive at least $30 million in assistance for its corporate relocation to the Phipps Plaza area. Funding sources cited in the terms of the city’s grant to the apparel maker include one that’s unnamed, “and other sources from State of Georgia.” Carter’s market cap is $3.2 billion.

The grant from Atlanta provided just enough incentive to convince Carter’s board to approve the relocation to Atlanta from Shelton, Ct., according to Tom Carroll, Carter’s vice president for real estate and construction.

Atlanta may end the year with no final resolution of questions raised by the federal government about some of the $3 billion in airport concessions contracts Mayor Kasim Reed signed March 12.

The Federal Aviation Administration said it may appeal a ruling that favors the vendors chosen by the city, which was issued late Thursday by the state Department of Transportation. The FAA had ordered GDOT to review its decision to award four winning vendors a federal preference that may have helped them win their contracts.

Reed’s administration did not respond to either the GDOT ruling or the FAA response. Instead, the administration issued a statement concerning the decision by a losing concessionaire to stop its litigation. The company was not part of the FAA’s review.

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The four companies at risk of losing their concessions contracts at Atlanta’s airport will not lose an important certification that helped them win their contracts.

The Georgia Department of Transportation determined the companies will not be decertified as disadvantaged business enterprises, GDOT spokesperson Jill Goldberg said Thursday.

The Federal Aviation Administration had ordered GDOT to review the certifications, contending the companies did not deserve the federal preference. The FAA was notified of GDOT’s decision Thursday afternoon.