By Maria Saporta For the past several weeks, I’ve been absorbed with the story of Richard Jewell – thanks to a book and movie that have resurfaced controversial memories of more than 23 years ago. Jewell was the security guard at Centennial Olympic Park the night of the bombing that caused the death of two […]
Category: Maria’s Metro
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WarnerMedia’s honor of Ted Turner: ‘It’s not enough’
Plain and simple. Ted Turner deserves more.
On Dec. 6, WarnerMedia brought its top brass to Atlanta to dedicate the media company’s Techwood campus to Ted Turner. They also unveiled a mural and a plaque describing Turner as “the original maverick pioneer in the media industry” and as a “champion of the environment.”
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Preserving lives and buildings along MLK corridor can revive ‘Main Street’
It’s a story of rebirth – the human kind and the physical kind.
A benefit concert for the Westside Singing Ambassadors on Nov. 29 at 960 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard provided a symbolic spark of what once was and what could be again.
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Giving thanks for the uplifting moments in our lives
Recently it has felt as though I’ve been spending too much of my energies complaining and worrying about the current state of affairs.
So, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I began to count our blessings, and I realized there are so many that they won’t all fit in one column.
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Mayor Ivan Allen Jr., a bridge builder, to be honored with a bridge and walking museum
The tapestry of Atlanta’s civil rights history is getting a colorful new thread with the addition of the new Ivan Allen Jr. Legacy Bridge.
An official dedication of the bridge will be held on Monday, Nov. 25, and it will highlight the contributions of one of Atlanta’s greatest mayors. Allen served as Atlanta’s mayor between 1962 and 1970, one of the most tumultuous times in the city’s history.
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Public speaks out on behalf of Atlanta’s trees
Atlanta residents are speaking loud and clear. Trees matter.
For nearly two years, the city and its consultants have been working on a new tree ordinance. Countless community meetings have been held. And the public has been promised draft legislation of a new ordinance since June.
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Mourning the loss of dozens of trees along Peachtree in Midtown
It is not a good time to be a tree in Midtown Atlanta.
Trees are being cut down at three high-profile sites along Peachtree Street – and what’s most amazing is that in each of these cases, these trees have been in public hands – either the city of Atlanta or the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.
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As we wait for high-speed rail, please bring back the AMTRAK station bus stop
Here we go again.
The Georgia Department of Transportation on Oct. 22 hosted a public presentation to present three possible corridors for high-speed rail service between Atlanta and Charlotte.
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Atlanta’s ‘can do’ spirit fading into ‘dysfunction junction’
Some days living in Atlanta is depressing.
Last Thursday (Oct. 17), was one of those days – marked by two events back-to-back.
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Making Atlanta proud – Purpose Built Communities
Atlanta-based Purpose Built Communities is gaining traction with a $6 million grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and a total of seven new community members in its network.
Those two significant developments were announced at Purpose Built Communities 10th annual conference, meeting in Atlanta Monday through Wednesday at the Loew’s Atlanta Hotel in Midtown.
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Getting to know Tyler Perry – a personal tale
Ever since former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed first gave Tyler Perry the opportunity of buying 330 acres at Fort McPherson five years ago, I have criticized the deal.
My greatest concern was a fear Perry would seal off this incredible public treasure and create a fort inside a fort.
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Sally Flocks passes the PEDS baton to Cathy Tyler
A significant leadership transition has occurred at PEDS, the top advocacy organization for pedestrians in metro Atlanta.
Sally Flocks who founded PEDS in 1996, officially stepped down as its top executive in September.
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Atlanta needs collective action to gain greater economic opportunity
The struggle continues.
Two different Sundays in two different churches reinforced the fact that we still have so much more work to do to make sure that Atlanta is a place where everyone can thrive.
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APS faces rocky future with non-renewal of Meria Carstarphen’s contract
The recent move by the Atlanta Board of Education to not extend Superintendent Meria Carstarphen’s contract raises serious concerns about the future of Atlanta’s public schools.
I have a sinking feeling about the board’s lack of wisdom or strategic thinking about what the future holds.
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Nora Saporta teacher of the year award stokes up memories of Mama, Papa, Dick Munroe and Luis Maza
For the past few days, I’ve been spending time with my parents.
Although they have been gone for more than 20 years, their spirits shine brightly in Atlanta and within me.
Two recent events really solidified that fact.
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Community leaders rally behind APS Superintendent Meria Carstarphen
An amazing coalition of leaders has formed to support extending the contract of Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Meria Carstarphen.
U.S. Congressman John Lewis (D-Atlanta) has become one of the most outspoken leaders on her behalf – sending a letter to members of the Atlanta Board of Education.
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Leadership Atlanta 2020 – the 50th anniversary class
I have joined a cult – in the best sense of the word.
This past weekend, I attended the opening retreat of Leadership Atlanta’s 2020 class, and I will add the mandatory – best class ever.
Our weekend experience has shifted my whole attitude about my decision to apply and participate in this nine-month-long adventure – from trepidation to excitement.
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Architect Alex Garvin reflects on Atlanta and the BeltLine
It’s hard to pigeon-hole Alex Garvin. Yes, he’s an architect. But he’s also a professor, an author, a public servant, an urbanist, a visionary and someone who has had a major impact on Atlanta.
Garvin was in Atlanta last week to give a talk Aug. 15 at a luncheon organized by Central Atlanta Progress and the Urban Land Institute –Atlanta
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Atlanta needs to keep Meria Carstarphen as its school superintendent
Under the leadership of Superintendent Meria Carstarphen, the Atlanta Public Schools has experienced tremendous – and verifiable – gains over the past five years.
But, for reasons hard to explain, Carstarphen’s future in Atlanta is up in the air.
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Fort Mac developments in doubt due to messy backroom deals
A real life tug-of-war is playing out at the Fort McPherson Local Redevelopment Authority.
At stake is the future development of 144 acres of the 480-acre property that once was the Fort McPherson army base in southwest Atlanta.
