Mental health – a survey new in June shows 50 percent of American adults say they feel isolated, and happiness is at a 50-year low. Three leaders met in a virtual town hall to share thoughts on these issues and more – Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera, renowned choreographer Bill T. Jones, and Tech student leader – and artist – Mykala Sinclair.
Category: Columns
Posted inColumns
‘Irresistible’ – Jon Stewart directs smart political satire
Oh, how we’ve missed you Jon Stewart.
Thankfully, he’s back with “Irresistible,” a cheerfully subversive bit of political satire that’s almost impossible to write about without giving the game away.
Posted inColumns
Citizens group proposes an alternative tree ordinance for Atlanta
Atlanta may get a new and improved tree ordinance after all. The Atlanta City Council held a Tree Ordinance Work Session on June 25 to discuss a proposed draft ordinance prepared by consultants and released March 20.
Posted inColumns
When ‘stay at home’ orders put children, women in easy reach of their abuser
Sheltering at home should provide comfort for people, but for our most vulnerable children it becomes a potential danger zone, and it disproportionately effects our children of color. For children who have been abused or trafficked, sheltering in place could be putting them back in the environments that caused them harm and trauma – back with their abusers or traffickers.
Posted inSean Keenan
A veteran of war and affordable housing advocacy, AH commissioner James Allen dies at 89
A passionate advocate for affordable housing and a staple of the city’s Westside communities, Atlanta Housing commissioner James Allen passed away Tuesday night at 89 years old, AH officials said during Wednesday’s board meeting.
Posted inColumns
Torn in two by COVID-19, General Assembly session enters its final days
By midnight Friday, the greatly reduced denizens of the General Assembly will have thrown whatever there is to throw in the air at the end of a session as contracted as this one, and departed.
They’ll be going home in an election year to a state beginning to feel the effects of budget cuts so sweeping the legislators even cut their own pay.
Posted inColumns
What companies gained, lost by going virtual in 2020
For corporate America, 2020 was the year of virtual annual meetings.
In the past three months – annual meeting season – nearly all of Atlanta’s major companies decided to go virtual rather than convene their shareholders in person.
Posted inKelly Jordan
World Refugee Day – Clarkston 2018-19 – Photos by Kelly Jordan
Note – continuing the series about great Atlanta events that we will miss in 2020, and hope to see again in 2021. Kelly
Posted inMaggie Lee
Hate crimes proposal drives Georgia legislators apart — but consensus may be near
Not all the splits in the Legislature are partisan.
Posted inColumns
Atlanta won’t be Wakanda, but a new version of Atlanta Way may be emerging
The 2.0 version of the Atlanta Way won’t retool the city into Wakanda. The efforts emerging from Atlanta City Hall do represent the start of a response to calls for justice issued by protestors following the death of George Floyd. The operative words in that last sentence are: Start of a response.
Posted inColumns
‘Knives Out’ – Daniel Craig as detective Benoit Blanc leaves us wanting more
A world-famous and quite wealthy mystery writer named Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) has been found dead. Apparently, it’s a suicide. His throat has been slit. His hand is on the bloody knife.
Posted inColumns
Negative wealth effect + isolation: How reduced socialization could worsen a pandemic recession
By Guest Columnist BOB WILLIS, CEO, Willis Investment Counsel
For decades, I have maintained a professional diary of my thinking as chief investment officer for an investment management firm located north of Atlanta. Earlier this spring, when the pandemic led to safety precautions at our office, I headed to my mountain cabin to work remotely – which stimulated more thought and reflection, and a lot of writing. Bear with me as I reveal a few excerpts from back then, and now.
Posted inSean Keenan
Police don’t need to join hands with protesters; they need to snitch on “bad apples”
On June 1, I penned an essay outlining my perspective on the first night of recent Black Lives Matter protests in Atlanta. Titled Atlanta missed the mark during the protests, but police and demonstrators can learn from the turmoil, the column appealed for unity between law enforcement and the people demanding accountability and justice for cops.
Posted inColumns
Georgia’s new voting machines, ‘fragile and error prone,’ get their first test
The good news last week was that in spite of an election system that failed them miserably, with a pandemic lurking and unrest in the streets, large numbers of Georgians came out to vote. Equipped sometimes with lawn chairs and umbrellas, they were determined, no matter the inconvenience, to make their voices heard. The bad news is they may have to make the same effort and more this fall.
Posted inKelly Jordan
Juneteenth Parade Atlanta – 2017-19 – Photos by Kelly Jordan
Note – continuing a series about great Atlanta events that we will miss this year but look forward to in 2021. Kelly
Posted inKelly Jordan, Media, Seen in Atlanta
Juneteenth Festival Atlanta – 2019 – Photos by Kelly Jordan
Note – continuing a series about great Atlanta events that we will miss this year but look forward to in 2021. Kelly
Posted inColumns
Confederate monuments: A chance to reassess the past with perspective of today
Calls to remove Confederate memorials in Atlanta coincide with a June 12 court order for the removal of the Confederate obelisk in Decatur. A similar debate – in 1870 – kept such a monument out of Five Points and in placed, instead, in Oakland Cemetery.
