Atlanta Streets Alive is helping change how we view our city’s streets.More than 120,000 Atlantans turned out on Sunday for the Atlanta Streets Alive along Peachtree Street from south downtown to 16thStreet.It was the perfect opportunity to test out a proposal by the City of Atlanta to reimagine three key blocks of Peachtree Street – from Margaret Mitchell Square to Baker Street.
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Tree protection: ‘Atlanta City Design’ to shape discussion over new tree ordinance
Some people fear a tree is going to fall onto their home and cause damage if not death. The new tree ordinance Atlanta is to begin drafting this month is to address this concern, as well as the widespread alarm over tree removal for new buildings and an ambitious goal about the tree canopy.
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Second round of voting starts for Westside city council seat; candidates meet in forum
Atlanta’s going to get a freshman city council member from the Westside’s district 3, in a special election runoff. Some of the votes will depend on what people think of candidates who have — and who haven’t — been in office.
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Kemp glad nothing happened on state takeover of Atlanta airport
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp told the Rotary Club of Atlanta Monday that sometimes you can be thankful that legislation never made it out of the Georgia legislature.In this case, he was referring to bills that would have either involved a state takeover of Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport or would have created a legislative oversight committee to review the airport’s operations.
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Sad song: ‘The Old Town Road’ ends at Margaritaville
By King Williams Any day now, the city of Atlanta will approve the demolition permits for 141 Walton Street and 152 Nassau Street, home of the first-recorded country music song. This demolition is for the construction of a Jimmy Buffett Margaritaville Bar and Hotel. The irony is that we are witnessing another large moment in […]
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‘Best of Enemies’ – a well-acted civil rights story worth telling
In a way “The Best of Enemies” could be likened to a made-for-TV version of “The Green Book.” But even if that’s meant as a compliment from a flat-out fan of the recent Oscar winner (which I am), it’s still a bit demeaning. Though the movies share a Civil Rights theme and a first-they-bicker-then-they bond plot, “The Best of Enemies” has its own distinct voice. That’s due, for the most part, to its pair of high-powered stars, Taraji P. Henson and Sam Rockwell.
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Atlanta races ahead of consultant’s advice in proposed Transportation Department
Atlanta’s proposal to create a freestanding Department of Transportation – reporting exclusively to the mayor – was part of the long-term plan suggested by the city’s management consultant, but only after a slow transition to a new department. The Atlanta City Council begins its deliberations on April 22.
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What Atlanta decides on tree canopy could benefit people as well as urban forest
By Guest Columnist KATHRYN KOLB, a naturalist who serves as director of EcoAddendum and also consults with communities on tree ordinances
As more of Atlanta’s trees fall to new development, the city plans to update its Tree Protection Ordinance. New tree ordinance revisions are being drafted in the next few weeks, so the time is now to embrace the moment and help our city’s leaders take the responsible road forward in protecting more of our irreplaceable trees and superlative urban forest.
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Unlike Atlanta, New York aims to improve transit with congestion tax, not sales tax
New York City has a new method to improve mobility – by charging a congestion tax to raise money to improve transit. Atlanta hasn’t broached this approach and appears committed to sales taxes to pay for regional transit improvements.
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Proposed state oversight of 104 local airports would include Gwinnett’s growing field
A pending renewal and expansion on the runway of Gwinnett County’s airport evidently is the type of job that some state lawmakers had in mind when they talked about greater state involvement in local airports. Gwinnett’s airport also highlights the impact of the state’s 104 publicly-owned, public use airports.
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Georgia Capitol recap: Atlanta airport, rural transit bills fail to move, and more
In news of what the state Legislature didn’t approve this year, put: any takeover or oversight of Atlanta’s airport. Or a tax break for jet fuel. Or a boost to rural transit.
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Georgia lawmakers send medical cannabis cultivation bill to governor
That would solve a problem for people who have a state medical marijuana card, but no place to buy the liquid they use to fight the side effects of chemotherapy, the frequency of seizures or other disorders.
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Obama blocked Trump from offshore oil drilling; House votes to oppose drilling
President Obama’s administration blocked President Trump from expanding the area open to offshore oil drilling, including off Georgia’s coast, a federal judge has ruled. On a related front, the Georgia House approved Tuesday a resolution opposing the exploration and drilling for oil off Georgia’s coast.
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Delta CEO Ed Bastian: Don’t politicize the operations of the Atlanta airport
Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian on Monday shied away from commenting specifically about an effort in the Georgia House to create an oversight committee rather than a full takeover of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.Bastian, who spoke before the Rotary Club of Atlanta Monday, gave a brief interview with the Atlanta Business Chronicle after his talk.
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City and APS launching a pilot program to turn school lands into public parks
It’s such a simple notion.Atlanta can greatly add to public green space and parks by partnering with the Atlanta Public Schools to open up school property to the public.The idea is getting traction in Atlanta. The city of Atlanta, the Trust for Public Land, the Urban Land Institute-Atlanta and the Atlanta Public Schools are about to launch a pilot program that would welcome the public to use school grounds after hours and on weekends.
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Reports suggest shine is coming off metro Atlanta’s image as land of equal opportunity
Jaw-dropping is one word for a description of Atlanta by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. The Fed’s report is one of a trio that paints a less than flattering image of metro Atlanta on issues of gender pay equity and economic mobility for children, and as a magnet for millennials.
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‘Gloria Bell’ – Julianne Moore stars in thrilling character study
How good is Julianne Moore?So good that even when she’s sitting with her back to the camera, you can’t take your eyes off her.That’s how she’s introduced in Sebastian Lelio’s quietly moving and intelligent “Gloria Bell,” a remake of his 2013 Chilean film. We’re at a seemingly mythical singles bar catering to the middle-aged. Gloria, who’s been divorced for over a decade, goes there often. She likes the drinks, she likes the music and she likes – loves– to dance. If she meets a guy there, well, that’s okay, too.
Posted inMaggie Lee
Decatur’s unwanted Confederate monument isn’t going anywhere soon
Georgia’s state Legislature has OK’d triple damages for monument vandals. One opponent called this an attempt to suppress debate about public monuments to the Confederacy. Left behind is a bill that would’ve helped DeKalb get rid of a Confederate obelisk that no one wants.
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Let’s start talking highway removals in Atlanta
By: King Williams What started as an initial tweet on my Twitter timeline concerning freeway removals has led to a great online conversation on what to do concerning our highways. So hear me out before you say “we don’t have money for X, Y, and Z.” The city and state are willing to spend money […]
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Solar ready homes could be Atlanta’s next step toward 100 percent clean, renewable energy
By Guest Columnist JENNETTE GAYER, director of Environment Georgia
When you look at a rooftop, what do you see? A protective shelter for a family or a business, sure, but do you also see a missed opportunity? I do.
In a world facing so many environmental challenges – from polluted air and water that threatens the health of our communities, to a rapidly changing climate – our existing infrastructure must be a part of the solution.
