A proposal in the state legislature to take over Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport would be hilarious if it weren’t so darn scary.Republican legislators, who usually argue for more local control and government closest to the people, are attempting a heavy-handed takeover of Georgia’s economic jewel – Atlanta’s airport.
Category: Maria’s Metro
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‘The Stitch’ seeks to bridge the divide created by the Downtown Connector
Ever since the Atlanta region began carving the city apart with highways in the 1950s and 1960s, civic leaders have explored ways to reconnect the disjointed areas by bridging over our interstates.In 1981, the late Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson was about to end his second term in office. President Jimmy Carter, who had just lost re-election, was looking for the right place to build his presidential library.
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E-scooters and bicycles need their own lanes in Atlanta
Move over automobiles. People are taking over.
In the central areas of Atlanta, a phenomenon of “micro-mobility” is transforming the way people are getting around.
E-scooters, one-wheelers, Segways, electric bicycles and regular bicycles (devices that usually travel at less than 15 miles an hour) are demanding their fair share of the street.
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Special Atlanta moments with two music masters – Itzhak Perlman and Gary Brooker of Procol Harum
Two 73-year-old musicians graced town over the weekend – performing in new venues – and proving that music bridges over generations and locations.
Itzhak Perlman, the internationally-renowned violin virtuoso, performed at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts, on Saturday evening. And the next night, Procol Harum’s Gary Brooker and his band performed at the City Winery next to Ponce City Market.
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Atlanta loses a key Fortune 500 HQ with SunTrust merger
This one really hurts.
Losing the corporate headquarters of SunTrust hit Atlanta below the belt – just as the city was basking in the light of hosting the successful Super Bowl LIII.
After all, one goal in Atlanta’s hosting of the Super Bowl was to promote the city’s brand as a great place for business.
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NFL praises Atlanta’s walkability during Super Bowl, but Northside Drive still lacking
Funny how the world works.
For decades, Atlanta has been viewed as an auto-centric, sprawling city with few accolades for being pedestrian-friendly or transit-accessible.
But listening to the folks from the National Football League and the Super Bowl Host Committee, Atlanta is being portrayed as a totally different city.
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New legislation shows Atlanta’s City Council is no longer a ‘rubber stamp’
For decades, Atlanta has had a strong mayor form of government with little push back from the Atlanta City Council.
But the past year under the leadership of City Council President Felicia Moore and the election of seven new members of Council, a totally different legislative body has emerged.
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King holiday – ‘celebration is fine; action is better’
I love Atlanta most during the annual King holiday week.
It gives us a moment reflect and recalibrate how well we’re doing in light of the lofty vision and ideals that Martin Luther King Jr. shared with us in his sermons, speeches and letters.
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We need to preserve our historic treasures on Peachtree Street
Be on the lookout.
Several historic buildings along Peachtree in downtown and Midtown are in jeopardy – facing an uncertain future as development encroaches on Atlanta’s most famous street.
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An open letter to Georgia Gov.-elect Brian Kemp
As you prepare to step into the governor’s office, you stand at a crossroads.
Will you be a governor who embodies the image you presented during the primaries – a gun-toting, anti-immigration, pro-religious liberty leader who divides our state?
Or will you be a unifying force who appeals to Georgia’s demographic diversity, its rural and urban areas as well as someone who will nurture economic development in all corners of the state?
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Tim Keane to Atlanta: No more ugly buildings; focus on quality design
When it comes to urban design, it’s a new day for Atlanta.
Atlanta’s Planning Commissioner Tim Keane wants our developers and architects to step up their game. And he’s willing to hold up their projects if they don’t live up to higher quality design standards.
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Atlanta United wins MLS Cup and unites Atlanta
The curse is broken.
Atlanta United’s 2-0 win over the Portland Timbers Saturday night broke a long string of our professional sports teams getting close to winning the big prize, and then falling short.
The nervous energy was apparent days before match began.
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New Westside greenspace shows potential for expanded Atlanta Waterworks Park
In a wonderful beginning, Atlanta welcomed its newest green space on Sunday – a 4.5 acre site that offers dramatic views of the city’s skyline.
The new greenspace is a result of the persistent hard work by a grassroots community group – Friends of Atlanta Westside Park and the Upper Westside Improvement District – to clear the overgrown land from brush, weeds and dead trees and create a park-like setting at 17th Street and Northside Drive.
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Saying good-bye to a grand old tree
For years, my neighbor, Ingrid, and I would take our dogs at the break of dawn to walk around the lakes at Piedmont Park.
It was a tradition we enjoyed – even on the coldest day of the year when a local television station interviewed us wondering why we were out walking on such a cold morning.
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Happy birthday Ted Turner – one of our living legends
In life, we meet a few special people who stand out above the rest.
For me, one of those special people is Ted Turner – someone who has changed our nation’s media landscape and someone who has done all he could to make the world a better place.
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Let’s hop on board to build an iconic multimodal station in the Gulch
With approvals from the Atlanta City Council and Invest Atlanta, the Los Angeles-based CIM plan to redevelop the Gulch is moving forward.
Now we can dream a little on how we can make the Gulch development a spectacular centerpiece for our city.
Posted inColumns
Atlanta’s zero milepost belongs at Atlanta’s zero mile mark
It’s just plain wrong.
Atlanta’s zero milepost has been moved seven miles away from its foundation near Underground Atlanta where it has been since the 1850s identifying the origins of our city.
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Atlanta housing leaders – once shunned – back on the scene
After an eight-year freeze between the administration of Mayor Kasim Reed and the pioneers of Atlanta’s modern day transformation of public housing, a thawing is taking place.
That thaw was evident on the night of Oct. 18 when top leaders in Atlanta and the nation attended Integral’s 25thanniversary celebration at the Fairmont in west Atlanta.
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City of Refuge helps fulfill Atlanta’s quest of ‘viable housing with dignity’
For the City of Atlanta, there’s nothing more important than affordable housing.
That’s what Richard Cox, the city’s chief operating officer, said at the ground-breaking of “The 1300” – a 47-unit apartment building across from the City of Refuge that will open next summer.
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Georgia Forward hopes new governor will adopt its vision
Macon, GA – Nothing like a hurricane to bring the state closer together.
Eight years ago, Georgia Forward launched its first forum to unify the state by convening leaders from every corner of Georgia.
It also happened to be a gubernatorial election year, and both candidates for governor – Nathan Deal and Roy Barnes – participated in the forum via a video teleconference.
