Atlanta Progressive News

(APN) ATLANTA — The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners agreed Tuesday, September 25, 2007, to defer voting on Grady Hospital issues before them for two weeks. The Board decided to delay action on eight resolutions introduced by Commissioners Larry Johnson (District 3) and Connie Stokes (District 7) on September 11, 2007, because Members said they need more time to review […]

(APN) ATLANTA — Two Georgia General Assembly Committees held separate hearings at the Georgia Capitol on the Grady Health System, Wednesday, September 19, 2007. Members of the Greater Grady Task Force presented their final report to the Senate Urban Affairs Committee. Meanwhile, the House Special Committee on Grady heard some testimony on the Emory-Grady relationship. Task Force member Tom Bell, […]

(APN) ATLANTA — The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has begun an investigation in response to a complaint filed by resident leaders in Atlanta regarding the Atlanta Housing Authority’s plans to demolish all Atlanta public housing, Atlanta Progressive News has learned. “To answer your question about the complaint, yes, we have received it and we are looking […]

    (APN) ATLANTA — Activist Terence Courtney, director of Atlanta Jobs with Justice, was forcibly escorted out of a residents’ association meeting by Atlanta Housing Authority (AHA) security on Wednesday, August 22, 2007, he and two resident leaders told Atlanta Progressive News. “We were expecting a normal meeting,” Eleanor Rayton, President of the Palmer House highrise resident association, said. […]

(APN) ATLANTA — The Atlanta Housing Authority (AHA) has expanded upon its scrutiny of landlords who want to house a family receiving a voucher from AHA, Atlanta Progressive News has learned. One landlord who recently encountered the changes also told Atlanta Progressive News that the added scrutiny may discourage more landlords from accepting vouchers from AHA. The move by AHA […]

(APN) ATLANTA — “It’s a town hall meeting, but the town isn’t invited!” Terence Courtney, director of Atlanta Jobs with Justice, said. “They’re running from us. We want a [true] public process.” At first, it seemed the public would get a truly public forum to discuss the Grady Health System crisis, where all sides–policymakers, pro-business elite, and anti-privatization advocates–could convene […]

(APN) ATLANTA — After months of speculation, former US Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) has withdrawn her name as a candidate for the Green Party nomination, Atlanta Progressive News has learned. “As I’m sure you know, I have been approached by many within the Green Party over the preceeding [sic] year who have asked that I consider seeking the nomination of […]

By Lanine Toote, Special to The Atlanta Progressive News (APN) ATLANTA — Atlanta City Councilman CT Martin (District 10) has sparked debate over whether to amend Section 106-129 of the City of Atlanta Code of Ordinances to permit law enforcement officials to arrest or fine people for “the indecent exposure of his or her undergarments.” Currently the ordinance focuses only […]

(APN) ATLANTA — So far, Atlanta Housing Authority has not been responsive to press queries from Atlanta Progressive News, or document requests from public housing resident leaders. PRESS QUESTIONS SENT ALMOST ONE MONTH AGO This reporter, on behalf of Atlanta Progressive News, emailed a list of questions to Rick White, spokesperson for Atlanta Housing Authority, on August 16, 2007, now […]

(APN) ATLANTA — The Fulton County Board of Commissioners approved $15 million for the Grady Health System on Wednesday, September 05, 2007, but it did not happen easily, or without strings attached. The debate among Commissioners was a tempest, featuring angry speeches, passionate opposition, and embarrassing tirades. The debate came hours into the meeting, and itself lasted well over an […]

(APN) ATLANTA — The Grady Coalition hosted “The People’s Forum” on Tuesday, September 04, 2007, to rally concerned citizens and Grady Health System employees against plans to privatize the system and to raise awareness of the need for additional funding. Rev. Timothy McDonald, of First Iconium Baptist Church and a member of the Grady Coalition, said The People’s Forum was […]

This article was originally published by the Inter-Press Service. GAINESVILLE, Florida, Sep 24 (IPS) – Campus police at the University of Florida tackled, then Tasered — or shocked with high-voltage electricity — a journalism student last week, renewing a vigorous debate in the United States and abroad on police abuses of power and the struggle to preserve free speech. Since […]

By Joe Parko, Special to The Atlanta Progressive News (APN) ATLANTA — A news report from CBS affiliate, KSLA-TV, of Shreveport, Louisiana, has confirmed the federal government is training so-called Clergy Response Teams (CRTs) to quell dissent should martial law ever be declared in the US. The report confirms the existence of a nationwide program of the Federal Emergency Management […]

(APN) ATLANTA — The under-funding crisis facing Grady Hospital has led some politicians in Atlanta to call for privatization of this public hospital which provides a large portion of Georgia’s indigent care. A report by the Greater Grady Task Force recommends turning over management to a private, nonprofit corporation in order to attract funding from banks, the State of Georgia, […]