The Atlanta City Council has approved a controversial plan to build a public safety training center at the Prison Farm site. Proponents are cheering what they say is a crime-fighting landmark, while opponents are indicating the political battle may have just begun. The 10-4 vote in a Sept. 8 virtual meeting was preceded by 17 […]
Tag: public safety training center
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City Council delays public safety training center action to hear 17 hours of public comment
The Atlanta City Council has delayed a possible vote on the controversial public safety training center until Sept. 8 to hear out an estimated 17 hours of public comments. The council’s Sept. 7 agenda included the lease agreement allowing the training center’s construction on the former Atlanta Prison Farm site. At the 1 p.m. start […]
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Public safety training center opposition group calls for delaying vote until election, creating mitigation agreement
In advance of a possible Atlanta City Council vote Sept. 7 on the controversial public safety training center, the main opposition group is demanding the issue be tabled until after the election. And if the project can’t be stopped altogether, the group says, it wants a detailed community benefits agreement. In a Sept. 6 letter […]
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Smaller public safety training center site plan is pitched; transparency criticism continues
By John Ruch As Atlanta’s controversial public safety training center heads toward a possible City Council vote just after Labor Day, its backers pitched a new, smaller site plan and an intent to form a community advisory committee at a Sept. 2 virtual meeting. Officials emphasized community-inspired changes to the concept and answered many public […]
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Atlanta Fire Rescue Foundation says it had no role in training center site selection
By John Ruch The Atlanta Fire Rescue Foundation says it played no role in picking the controversial location of a proposed public safety training center, contradicting an official site recommendation report, and later said it considers the choice “viable.” “When the Atlanta Fire Rescue Foundation was asked to participate, the site was already determined,” said […]
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Atlanta City Council delays vote on controversial public safety training center, tightens legal language
By John Ruch The Atlanta City Council has delayed its vote on a controversial public safety training center at the former Prison Farm for three weeks, responding to pressure from opponents concerned about a lack of public input and impacts on forest and neighborhoods. The council also voted at the same Aug. 16 meeting to […]
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Atlanta City Council asked to vote on public safety center despite unknowns
So many unanswered questions.
In light of mounting opposition to its initial proposal, the Atlanta Police Foundation hastily presented an alternative plan at last Wednesday’s finance committee meeting of the Atlanta City Council for a new public safety training center on the site of the historic Prison Farm property in DeKalb County.
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Public safety training center plan heads to City Council with chorus of opposition
The controversial plan to build a public safety training center at the former Atlanta Prison Farm site is heading to City Council for consideration Aug. 16 in a downsized version that is still opposed by a coalition of community and activist groups. The council’s Finance/Executive Committee on Aug. 11 approved a version of the plan […]
