Category: Sections

By Maria Saporta
Story has been updated

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed briefed the executive committee of the Metro Atlanta Chamber this morning on the state transportation funding bills, the city’s pension crisis and Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

“Those are the core issues that they care about,” Reed said after spending about 45 minutes meeting with the business organization.

Reed said there still is an opportunity to “get a meaningful transportation bill this session,” and he urged the business leaders to “redouble our efforts” in the

By Maria Saporta

The grand opening of a one-mile trail in Northwest Atlanta on Saturday marked the continued progress of the Atlanta BeltLine.

Idyllic weather, warm thoughts and celebratory statements set the mood as a host of leaders spoke of the wonderful asset the trail will be for Atlantans and those who live around Tanyard Creek Park, located near the intersection of Northside Drive and Collier Road.

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, City Council President Ceasar Mitchell, Atlanta BeltLine’s Brian Leary, the city’s acting Parks and Recreation Commissioner Paul Taylor, the BeltLine Partnership’s John

By Maria Saporta

Wayne Clough, the 10th president of Georgia Tech, will always have a special place in the heart of the technology institute.

For starters, he is the first and only Georgia Tech president who also was an alumnus of the university. He was president for 14 years — from 1994 to 2008.

Then, on Monday, Erroll Davis, chancellor of the Board of Regents, declared Clough as Georgia Tech’s president emeritus.

And lastly, Clough’s legacy will be immortalized in bricks and mortar in the heart of Georgia Tech’s campus.

By Maria Saporta

Two Japanese television stations were on hand today to cover the Sam Nunn Bank of America Policy Forum taking place at Georgia Tech over the past two days.

The topic? “Path Toward a World Free of Nuclear Weapons: the Euro-Atlantic Challenge.”

Once again, Atlanta and Georgia Tech’s Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts has become a focal point to discuss policies related to the international threat of nuclear weapons.

“This path toward a world free of nuclear weapons is going to be much harder than just nuclear weapons,” said former U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn (D-Georgia), who is now

By Maria Saporta

Two bridges were crossed Wednesday evening when the Council for Quality Growth held a reception for all the region’s mayors and county commission chairs at the Georgian Club.

The reception of about 300 people also included dozens of business executives, state elected officials, civic leaders and heads of metro organizations, such as the Atlanta Regional Commission.

The reception helped bridge the divide between leaders from the urban core and those from the suburbs and exurbs. It also helped bridge the divide between the region’s mayors and county

Bad, bad news.

As a prisoner on death row, C-TRAN, the bus service in Clayton County, has lost another appeal to stay alive beyond March 31.

The Federal Transit Administration, in a letter to U.S. Rep. David Scott (D-Atlanta) is denying to review of its earlier decision to permit C-TRAN to use a pot of federal funds to turn over some of the bus operation to the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority.

Scott had written a letter on March 15 urging the FTA to allow the use of Congestion Mitigation Air Quality Funds to allow GRTA to initiate its Xpress buses on at least some of C-Tran’s routes.

By Maria Saporta

It was an all-star cast that showed at today’s Atlanta Rotary Club meeting.

First, Ted Turner received the Atlanta Rotary’s Legends Award, and he was accompanied by friends and family members.

Second, Donna Hyland, president and CEO of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, was the keynote speaker attracting her own cadre of friends and associates, including philanthropist Bernie Marcus and her board chair Doug Hertz.

Turner was introduced by his colleague and friend Taylor Glover, president of Turner Enterprises.

By Maria Saporta

The Atlanta Development Authority — economic development arm of the city of Atlanta — has named an interim president beginning April 1.

Ernestine Garey, who has been ADA’s managing director for housing finance, will fill the position that has been held by Peggy McCormick since March 31. McCormick submitted her resignation today saying her last day on the job will be on March 31. McCormick has worked with the city since 2002 when she serve as co-chair of Mayor Shirley Franklin’s transition team.

Mayor Kasim Reed, who chairs ADA’s

The city of Atlanta is facing a “Birmingham moment,” Mayor Kasim Reed told the Bultler Street YMCA’s Hungry Club Forum today.

“There’s a new day in Atlanta,” Reed said. “Atlanta is at a new Birmingham moment, a 2010 Birmingham moment.”

Then he explained that in the 1960s, Birmingham was the dominant city in the Southeast with a “robust steel industry.” But it elected a self-proclaimed racist, George Wallace, as governor; and Birmingham’s police chief Bull Connor became a national symbol of bigotry.

Reed said that by comparison, Georgia elected a moderate, Carl Sanders as