It’s still voting season, so check your county’s election board page for hours and locations. Fulton’s page is here.
If you need a free COVID-19 test, Fulton County lists locations.
If you need a flu shot, they’re available at county health offices and many pharmacies. Check VaccineFinder for locations.
On to other happenings in metro Atlanta:
Georgia joins Google anti-trust suit
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr is one of 11 state attorneys general who has signed onto a federal Department of Justice antitrust lawsuit against Google.
“On behalf of Georgians, our office joined this lawsuit to address Google’s potential anti-competitive conduct in order to maintain a fair and free market for consumers, advertisers and all companies now reliant on the internet economy,” said Attorney General Chris Carr in a press release announcing the suit.
About a year ago, Carr signed onto a Google antitrust investigation with 49 other attorneys general.
The AG who actually sued this week allege that Google is forcing or buying its way into peoples’ online lives in ways they can’t practically avoid. Thus, the states say, Google is stifling competition and reaping monopoly profits.
The AGs’ complaint to a federal court in Washington D.C. doesn’t lay out what remedy they are seeking. Different business practices? Time will tell.
A key moment in the case should happen as early as next month, when Americans pick a president. If Democrat Joe Biden enters the White House, his Department of Justice might show little interest in a lawsuit that would take years and might turn out to have relatively modest aims.
Democrats from the U.S. House Judiciary Committee have already proposed that Congress get started rewriting antitrust law and maybe breaking up big tech firms.
All the attorneys general who have signed onto the lawsuit are Republicans.
Google’s senior vice president of global affairs responded via blog post, calling the lawsuit “deeply flawed.”
“People use Google because they choose to, not because they’re forced to, or because they can’t find alternatives,” wrote Kent Walker.
-By Maggie Lee
Lisa Kennedy named new CEO of Center for Visually Impaired
The Center for the Visually Impaired (CVI) has a new president and CEO.
The board of CVI has selected Lisa Kennedy, who has been serving as the interim president since March after the retirement of Fontaine Huey, as its new leader.
Kennedy first began working with CVI as a development and fundraising consultant. She stepped into the interim role at the beginning of the Coronavirus outbreak, and she headed CVI’s transition to remote services with the onset of the pandemic restrictions.
“Under her leadership, CVI’s program managers and staff have risen to the challenge of meeting the needs of people impacted by blindness and vision loss in innovative ways,” said Andy Kauss, CVI’s board chair. “In a very short time, she has established procedures and metrics that better align CVI’s service delivery model with the needs of our clients while simultaneously initiating the essential strategic thinking that will define our future. She has clearly demonstrated the leadership qualifications and abilities to lead CVI, and we are thrilled to have her at the helm.”
CVI is a comprehensive and fully accredited nonprofit providing rehabilitation services for individuals who are blind and visually impaired in Georgia, serving people of all ages with all levels of vision loss. By the way, October is National Blindness Awareness Month, a time aimed to bring awareness to the impact of visual impairment on people of all ages.
-By Maria Saporta
Slutty Vegan coming to Edgewood
Edgewood’s plant-based dining options are expanding, with a new location of popular eatery Slutty Vegan, set to open Oct. 24 at 4 p.m. with new items.
“Edgewood is the exact neighborhood where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. grew up, and with his birth home being located directly behind Slutty Vegan, I know he has my back,” said Pinky Cole, CEO and founder of Slutty Vegan, in a press release announcing the upcoming ribbon-cutting.
But like the West End and Jonesboro locations, this Slutty Vegan is take-out only right now, due to COVID-19.
-By Maggie Lee
New board member for ACE
Candy Moore, senior vice president and Southeast community development manager for Wells Fargo in Atlanta, is the newest board member at Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs.
ACE is a “community development financial institution,” which means its mission is to serve small businesses underserved by mainstream finance. It works in 68 Georgia counties, including all of north Georgia and metro Atlanta.
“Candy’s leadership, passion for ACE’s work and deep experience with premier financial institutions and other non-profit organizations will add significant value to our board as well as to ACE,” said Matthew D. Bozzelli, deputy general counsel (East) for Southern Company and ACE’s board chair in a press release announcing Moore’s arrival.
-By Maggie Lee
“Heroes from home” donate more than $245,000 to fight homelessness
HOPE Atlanta, a century-old nonprofit that fights homelessness, announced it raised $245,000 in its 100 Days of Hope campaign.
The hundred days and an online event stood in this year for the normal in-person annual Heroes for Hope fundraising event.
“Thank you for making tonight happen, for of the community that’s come together, not only tonight and for this event but really throughout this pandemic,” HOPE Atlanta CEO Jeff Smythe told the online audience last week. “It’s really been a heroic effort since day one.”
-By Maggie Lee
