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  • About Us     The SaportaReport Team: Maria Saporta is a longtime Atlanta business, civic and urban affairs journalist with a deep knowledge of our city, our region and state.  Currently, she is a freelance journalist who writes a weekly column and news stories for the Atlanta Business Chronicle.
 Until the end of August, 2008, Maria spent 27 years with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and became its business columnist in January, 1991. Maria received her Master’s degree in urban studies from Georgia State University in 1980 and her Bachelor’s degree in journalism from Boston University.
 In addition to the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Maria is writing a monthly column for the Association for Corporate Growth newsletter and is working with InsiderAdvantage/PollPosition.  Maria was born in Atlanta to European parents and has two young adult children. Lyle Harris is passionately commited to fostering an open and lively exchange of ideas and forging sustainable policy solutions critical to addressing metro Atlanta’s myriad challenges. In his 25-year journalism career, Lyle has worked for the Washington Post, the New York Daily News, and most recently, spent 17 years as a reporter, TV critic and editorial board writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. After resigning from the AJC in 2007, Lyle was a media and…
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Maggie Lee

Open records, open meetings and the uses of sunshine law for everyone

August 6, 2018, 6:43 pm/2 Comments

If there’s any policy you care about, if you are a supporter of any activist group that works on politics or policy — it’s worth knowing about those “sunshine” laws, and maybe using them yourself.

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Maggie Lee

MARTA board reviewing Gwinnett deal, vote expected next month

August 2, 2018, 6:48 pm/1 Comment

MARTA’s service area may be about to get a lot bigger. That is, if Gwinnett voters decide they want to join. A contract between the two is set to go in front of county voters in March, and the transit agency’s board will consider the same language as early as next month.

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Maggie Lee

Gwinnett schedules referendum on joining MARTA

August 1, 2018, 9:42 am/2 Comments

“Success lives here,” goes the official saying about Gwinnett. “But it commutes to Atlanta,” goes an unofficial rejoinder. Well, Gwinnett has taken the first step in setting up more transit, scheduling a public vote on whether to set up a new sales tax to pay to join MARTA.

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Maggie Lee

The affordable housing that’s hidden in plain sight

July 30, 2018, 6:23 pm/4 Comments

Atlanta’s creating more luxury apartments than low-cost ones, which is part of why many people worry that the age of an affordable Atlanta is coming to an end. But what might be a big part of an affordable housing fix is hidden in plain sight.

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Maggie Lee

Georgia candidates start new round of campaigning with talk of jobs, values

July 27, 2018, 6:15 pm/0 Comments

After both parties (mostly) picked their candidate teams this week, Democrats were quick to make a pitch as the party of jobs in a business-friendly Georgia. And Republicans talked about jobs too, but the GOP kicked off its unified campaigning with a rally heavy on conservative values.

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Maggie Lee

Activists call on Atlanta to shut out ICE

July 26, 2018, 12:49 pm/3 Comments

“It shouldn’t be that Atlanta, an icon of the civil rights movement, has six minutes from here a detention center.”

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Maggie Lee

Atlanta police chief asks for an assist from some judges

July 20, 2018, 6:52 pm/3 Comments

“I can’t explain some of the decision-making,” Shields said. “There are a couple of judges that routinely let people go.”

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Maggie Lee

Atlanta agency head reprimanded, but keeps job, after review of spending

July 20, 2018, 11:43 am/3 Comments

Eloisa Klementich will stay on as leader of Atlanta’s development authority, but loses her employment contract after a review of a nonprofit that’s linked to the agency and Klementich herself.

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Maggie Lee

President Donald Trump endorses Kemp for Georgia governor

July 18, 2018, 5:13 pm/0 Comments

President Donald Trump made an endorsement that may prove pivotal in a tight race: Republican Georgia gubernatorial hopeful Brian Kemp has his support.

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Maggie Lee

Ga. Gov. Nathan Deal endorses Cagle as successor; poll puts GOP runoff close

July 16, 2018, 5:31 pm/0 Comments

In a tight Republican runoff in the race to succeed him, a popular Gov. Nathan Deal says that the candidate to continue his own tradition is Casey Cagle.

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Maggie Lee

Atlanta Housing seals deal with outgoing boss for $260,000-plus

July 14, 2018, 8:49 am/4 Comments

Atlanta’s housing authority has finalized a deal with its outgoing CEO, and will pay $260,000 in severance as Catherine Buell transitions into a paid consulting role.

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Maggie Lee

State cash for metro transit? Some GOP candidates more on board than others

July 13, 2018, 4:15 pm/2 Comments

Georgia’s majority-Republican legislature has warmed to mass transit funding in metro Atlanta and other areas — a bit. Some of the GOP contenders for top office are more on board with the trend than others.

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Maggie Lee

BeltLine boosters to MARTA: rail, now

July 12, 2018, 10:39 am/4 Comments

As MARTA ponders how to spend a new Atlanta sales tax worth $2.5 billion over 40 years, BeltLine rail advocates say a ring of rail belongs at the top of the priority list.

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Maggie Lee

Atlanta Housing votes for East Lake refinance, renovations

June 27, 2018, 11:12 pm/1 Comment

Applause and some shouts of joy answered a unanimous vote of the board of Atlanta’s housing authority on Wednesday afternoon — it came from Villages of East Lake residents and supporters who’ve been lobbying for a deal to finance neighborhood renovations.

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Maggie Lee

Know your “affordable housing”

June 25, 2018, 5:00 pm/11 Comments

Atlanta’s in an affordable housing “crisis,” it’s got a “shortage.” But two people talking about “affordable housing” might not mean the same thing.

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Maggie Lee

MARTA board votes to maintain $1 streetcar fares

June 22, 2018, 4:36 pm/2 Comments

The MARTA board won’t make the Downtown Atlanta streetcar fares free, as was discussed by the agency — it’ll remain $1 to ride. 

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Maggie Lee

Three tax incentive deals for big developments divide Atlanta board

June 21, 2018, 4:11 pm/0 Comments

The board of Atlanta’s investment authority on Thursday approved deals that include tax breaks worth $16.1 million over ten years meant to help jumpstart three big developments. But with an eye toward property tax bills going out soon to homeowners, critics asked whether the city needs to be handing out breaks for these works.

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Maggie Lee

Atlanta executive order closes city jail to ICE detainees pending assurance that family separation has ended

June 20, 2018, 5:45 pm/10 Comments

Atlanta’s jail will close its doors to detainees held by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement — at least for a while — under an executive order signed Wednesday by Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.

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Maggie Lee

Ebenezer and partners bail out 10, for start of campaign

June 20, 2018, 1:44 pm/0 Comments

Campaigners looking to cut the nation’s incarceration rate say cash bail policies unjustly punish poor people who sit in jail awaiting trial as wealthy people bond out. Over the last few days, those campaigners in Atlanta have stepped up the action, starting by bailing out about 10 folks.

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Maggie Lee

$100 million state transit bond marked for Ga. 400 rapid bus works

June 19, 2018, 4:20 pm/

A state that’s been reluctant to bankroll buses and the train in its biggest metro has announced a major mass transit spend by Georgia standards — $100 million. That’ll be a substantial downpayment on rapid bus service along Ga. 400.

Read more →
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  • Philanthropy

    Philanthropy

    Georgia’s campaign to end low literacy gains momentum through collective impact

    By Britta Hallberg, guest author from Literacy For All, a donor-advised fund of the Community Founda...


  • Arts & Culture Seen

    Arts & Culture Seen

    Inspiring those who inspire us

    By Alvin Townley “When you’re in a combat zone, you exist in two worlds,” explained Colonel R...


  • Leadership in Action

    Leadership in Action

    Access to Justice

    By Natalie-Claire Woods Lyda, Editor, Peachtree Papers, The Junior League of Atlanta, Inc. The Uni...


  • People, Places, Parks

    People, Places, Parks

    The Underappreciated Economic Benefits of Georgia’s Outdoor Industry

    By Georgia Conservancy Advocacy Director Leah Dixon and Coastal Director Charles McMillan “Local a...


  • Region Matters

    Region Matters

    Plannerisms: Learn About…First & Last-Mile Connectivity

    By Kate Sweeney Plannerisms, ARC’s series of audio shorts, gives you a clear explanation of planni...


  • Poverty & Equity

    Poverty & Equity

    LET JUSTICE FLOW

    Last week I was in Washington, DC, with social justice leaders from Catholic Ministries from across...


  • Higher Education

    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...


  • Metro Business

    Metro Business

    Georgia Rises Up with New Sports, Technology and Higher Education Rankings

    Photo above provided by Metro Atlanta Chamber via the ATL Brand Box. Super Bowl LIII recently broug...


  • Historic Westside

    Historic Westside

    NFL Foundation, Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation & Atlanta Super Bowl Host Committee unveil $2.4 million renovation of the Westside’s John F. Kennedy Park

    By Westside Future Fund Each year, the NFL seeks to improve the surrounding communities of the Super...


  • Law & Public Policy

    Law & Public Policy

    ‘Cybersecurity’ and ‘Privacy’ Aren’t the Same Thing

    By Sam Olens, This column originally appeared in the Daily Report As with any government action, a...


  • Financial Inclusion

    Financial Inclusion

    EVERYTHING I EVER NEEDED TO KNOW ABOUT BUSINESS I LEARNED RIDING MOTORCYCLES

    By Anita Ward, President, Operation HOPE When I was 12 I drove my first motorcycle into a tree at th...


  • Global Health

    Global Health

    Clarkston Summit lays foundation for deeper community engagement

    By Rebecca Baggett, MPH, Director, Programs and Communications, Emory Global Health Institute On Nov...


  • Sustainable Communities

    Sustainable Communities

    The Role of Housing Authorities in Addressing Metro Atlanta’s Housing Crisis

    Born out President Roosevelt’s Depression-era New Deal program in 1937, public housing authorities...


  • Transit

    Transit

    MARTA DOUBLES RIDERSHIP OVER SUPER BOWL WEEKEND

    The Metropolitan Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) moved over a half-million customers during the thre...


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  • Melanie Bass Pollard Hoping the campus will continue to recognize the importance of trees in our lives and make a point to replant in the same place. While... –
    On: Tech pays tribute to fallen willow oak that dates to late 1800s

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  • R Gibbs I have not rented to Section 8 (specifically the Atlanta Housing Authority) because they consistently provide estimates that are at least one thousand dollars less... –
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  • Frank W Gilkeson Your map is erroneous. Not sure where you got it. Your map does not show the intersection of SR60/SR400 where the new hospital will be... –
    On: New hospital planned in North Georgia as one reopens temporarily to protect state certificate

  • Steve Hagen I often wonder if a person is in need of food or shelter or mental health, where do they most often go for help? Should... –
    On: Atlanta councilmember’s donation from council account to serve homeless, hungry

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Maria’s Metro

  • SunTrust PlazaAtlanta loses a key Fortune 500 HQ with SunTrust mergerFebruary 11, 2019 - 2:54 pm
  • pedestrians Super BowlNFL praises Atlanta’s walkability during Super Bowl, but Northside Drive still lackingFebruary 4, 2019 - 5:54 pm
  • Jennifer Ide Felicia MooreNew legislation shows Atlanta’s City Council is no longer a ‘rubber stamp’January 28, 2019 - 6:36 pm

David Pendered

  • augusta lock, savannah riverPlanned removal of 1937 lock, dam to help fish spawn in Savannah River draws criticismFebruary 17, 2019 - 4:54 pm
  • tech, tree, exhibitTech pays tribute to fallen willow oak that dates to late 1800sFebruary 15, 2019 - 4:38 pm
  • Intown Collaborative MinistriesAtlanta councilmember’s donation from council account to serve homeless, hungryFebruary 14, 2019 - 10:01 pm

Jamil’s Georgia

  • Farewell columnJanuary 8, 2018 - 6:59 pm
  • A radical southern womanDecember 18, 2017 - 8:21 pm
  • Camp Toccoa and the histories that give us a “sense of place”December 4, 2017 - 4:51 pm

Eleanor Ringel Cater

  • Cold War‘Cold War’ – a well-acted and ‘luminous’ black-and-white movieFebruary 11, 2019 - 11:08 am
  • Stan & Ollie‘Stan & Ollie’ – a poignant, loving look into iconic comedy teamFebruary 3, 2019 - 12:41 pm
  • if Beale Street Could Talk‘If Beale Street Could Talk’ – a quietly poetic, yet courageous, movieJanuary 28, 2019 - 10:01 am

Tom Baxter

  • An open seat race emerges in “a microcosm of the new Georgia”February 11, 2019 - 6:02 pm
  • Stacey Abrams Brian KempWhen no one agrees what “winning” is, victory becomes a matter of opinionFebruary 4, 2019 - 6:40 pm
  • Blown calls and botched announcements reflect an age of uncertaintyJanuary 28, 2019 - 5:56 pm

Lyle Harris

  • An ode to my Dad, newspapers and mass transitJuly 31, 2018 - 8:32 pm
  • More MARTA? More art tooJuly 23, 2018 - 9:08 pm
  • Southside Aerotropolis development’s transit study takes flightJune 25, 2018 - 8:34 pm

Seen in Atlanta

  • Industrious Kirkwood – Pullman Yard “Before” by Kelly JordanFebruary 11, 2019 - 11:08 am
  • Super Promo by Kelly JordanFebruary 4, 2019 - 11:13 am
  • Juggling styles on Ponce by Kelly JordanJanuary 28, 2019 - 4:12 pm

Photo Picks

  • Photo Pick: “Superbowl 53 in Atlanta” by Kemet Alston with Diverse SocietyFebruary 11, 2019 - 6:38 pm
  • Photo Pick: RaceTrac offered free gas to TSA employees on Jan 25- Photos by Evey WilsonFebruary 4, 2019 - 10:13 am
  • Photo Pick: Lee Thomas is Georgia Trend’s 2019 Person of the YearJanuary 28, 2019 - 7:56 pm

WABE

  • Learn4LifeFour civic giants work to improve Metro Atlanta educationJanuary 3, 2017 - 5:01 pm
  • Commentary: New YMCA should preserve Westside historyDecember 12, 2016 - 9:14 pm
  • Erika Shield Mayor Reed Chief TurnerCommentary: Turner’s legacy in Atlanta won’t be forgottenDecember 8, 2016 - 9:39 am

ATL Business Chronicle

  • Joshua Blank Arthur BlankArthur Blank has built Atlanta into one of the NFL’s premier citiesFebruary 10, 2019 - 6:28 pm
  • Georgia Trend Lee ThomasColumn: Awards luncheon spotlights Georgia’s film industry successFebruary 10, 2019 - 3:38 pm
  • PepsiSuper Bowl puts Coke, UPS, AT&T and Mercedes in a difficult spotFebruary 3, 2019 - 3:34 pm

Stories of Atlanta by Lance

  • He missed the bus but eventually got to AtlantaFebruary 11, 2019 - 4:20 pm
  • A boost for resurgenceFebruary 4, 2019 - 2:47 pm
  • An eternal supplyJanuary 28, 2019 - 5:38 pm

Maynard Eaton

A past offering on SaportaReport by Maynard Eaton

Moments by Chris Schroder

A past offering on SaportaReport on key moments in people’s lives captured in videos and stories

Michelle Hiskey & Ben Smith

A past offering on SaportaReport by Michelle Hiskey and Ben Smith

Saba Long

A past offering on SaportaReport by Saba Long
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