Atlanta has paid respects to a “warrior” in the battle against human trafficking, and the recognition of Deborah Richardson reminds of her view that the issue is not prostitution, but humans being bought and sold.
Category: David Pendered
Articles by David Pendered
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A Georgia vote reveals innate tension between energy, environmental policies
The complete story of last week’s vote in Congress to ban offshore oil drilling isn’t evident in the final tally of votes. A “No” vote from Georgia’s representative from the coast belies his efforts to support the opposition to drilling off Georgia’s coast that’s been voiced by his constituents and Gov. Brian Kemp.
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Planned quarry expansion flies under radar near ATL airport, in Chattahoochee basin
A proposal to expand a rock quarry near Atlanta’s airport has flown under the radar amid the controversy over a plan to mine sand near the Okefenokee Swamp. The local quarry owner excavated wetlands in an unregulated venture in previous work at the site and later bought mitigation credits, and the planned expansion follows settlement of a federal antitrust lawsuit, federal records show.
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Private wildlife sanctuaries open to public Saturday as part of Atlanta Audubon tour
The private gardens of four homes will be open to visitors Saturday as part of the Atlanta Audubon Society’s tour of seven certified wildlife sanctuaries, which is part of a month-long celebration of “Georgia Grows Native for Birds Month,” as proclaimed by Gov. Brian Kemp.
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More EMTs to be located inside airport’s passenger terminal to reduce response times
Atlanta’s airport is soon to have a staff totaling an additional 10 to 20 emergency medical technicians stationed inside the terminal, enabling help to arrive more quickly at the side of persons in need of medical treatment, according to Atlanta’s fire chief.
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Chip Rogers: Former Senate majority leader now battling Airbnb, and others
Former state Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers announced Tuesday he’s leading a new battle after his years championing charter schools in the Georgia Legislature – fighting “illegal short term rentals,” such as Airbnb, on behalf of the hotel association he leads.
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Warehouses seek close-in locations to reduce costs, delays of traffic congestion
Warehouse owners are joining home buyers in seeking close-in locations that can shorten commutes. The trend could increase, given that the state transportation commissioner has said the delivery of goods to homes in metro Atlanta already is, “a challenge.”
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Buckhead plan aims to reduce solo commutes by providing affordable homes in Buckhead
The related challenges of affordable housing and traffic congestion are paired in a new report in Buckhead. Civic leaders have devised a proposal to increase the number of affordable homes in order to enable staffers to reside closer to work and not need a car to commute.
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Fewer drug tests, less job experience: New hiring norms as labor shortage hits employers
Employers in the Southeast have eliminated some drug testing because of the labor shortage. The Southeast is the only region in the nation where cutbacks in drug testing were mentioned in the latest edition of the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book.
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Plan calls for saving oak trees, widening sidewalks at Brookhaven shopping center
A proposal to save five specimen oak trees in exchange for tweaking the sidewalk requirements at a busy shopping center along Peachtree Road in Brookhaven, near MARTA’s Brookhaven Station, has received preliminary approval from city planners.
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Atlanta opens door to future Druid Hills’ annexations, affirms preservation rules
Atlanta has put the force of city law behind promises to protect the historic integrity of the Druid Hills neighborhood and not seek to annex adjacent properties for 10 years. Of note, the city specifically held the door open for future annexations in the area, according to legislation adopted Tuesday by the Atlanta City Council.
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ATL edging toward Vision Zero, a policy of no deaths when vehicles strike humans
The job posting for Atlanta’s first transportation commissioner calls for experience with implementing Vision Zero, a mobility policy that includes reducing vehicular speed on city streets in order to improve safety for folks not in vehicles.
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Marietta naval officer who rescued sailor part of team that saves many west of Guam
As it turns out, the Marietta naval officer who led the rescue by helicopter of a recreational sailor in the Pacific Ocean was on a mission that’s surprisingly common in waters west of Guam. Stranded folks are plucked out of harms way fairly often by U.S. teams from a base in Guam.
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Politics of federal hurricane relief on display in N.C. as storm approaches Georgia
Hurricane damage repair costs have prompted North Carolina highway officials to announce layoffs of more than 500 road maintenance workers, and to predict delays in repairing storm-damaged roads in the future. Politics may have a role in this transportation scuffle, along with other skirmishes in a two-party state on a level that Georgia hasn’t yet experienced.
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Tenacity pays off as partners build warehouse to compete in tough retail sector
They never gave up. And after 30 years or so of efforts, the two partners and their families celebrated on Thursday the construction start of a warehouse in Tucker that is to be the foundation of the next generation of their furniture store – reflagged from Underpriced Furniture to Georgia Furniture Mart.
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Plant Vogtle: Fairly strong credit rating awarded $275 million in construction bonds
A partner in the Plant Vogtle nuclear power plant project has received a fairly positive rating from Moody’s Investors Service on debt it plans to sell in September to continue its share of construction funding. That said, analysts advised potential investors of pending challenges and reminded of the upcoming construction status report due by Aug. 30.
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Black homebuyers down 50 percent in Atlanta; summit aims to reverse trend
Almost lost in the discussion of affordable housing is the precipitous decline of black homebuyers and black homeownership. At a summit Wednesday at the Carter Center, housing specialists are to examine the roots of the problem and potential policy solutions.
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Master planned Pinewood Forest likely to outlast any changes at Pinewood Studio
Pinewood Forest has always been a concept town – a place where high tech helps create a nostalgic sense of simpler times, where the noise of air conditioners is largely replaced by silent geothermal cooling systems. Its future growth seems as secure as any residential development, a regional planner observed – even amid the changes surrounding Pinewood Atlanta Studios.
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Federal judge places resolution of Georgia’s water lawsuit in Trump administration
The federal judge in Brunswick who ruled in favor of Georgia’s lawsuit seeking to overturn an Obama-era water rule has thrown it to the Trump administration to decide which waterways in 11 states are overseen by the federal government and which are controlled by the states.
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Gov. Kemp’s spending cutbacks follow historic pattern: Moody’s Investors Service
Gov. Brian Kemp has ordered a 4 percent reduction in state spending starting Oct. 1 and a 6 percent cut starting next July 1. The move is in keeping with the long line of Georgia governors who have cut spending as revenues decline and maintained a high credit rating, according to Moody’s Investors Service.
