Atlanta Progressive News

The ACLU of Georgia is apparently no longer operating out of downtown’s Citizen’s Trust Bank building. According to auto-reply messages received last week by APN, their new address is: 1900 The Exchange, Suite 425, Atlanta, GA 30339

The Atlanta Transit Riders Union just sent APN the following statement on the MARTA crisis.  Layoffs, budget cuts, and foreclosures are all signs of a deepening economic crisis that is affecting every sector of our society. While trillions of dollars are spent on wars and to bail out Wall Street and the banks, very little of that money is getting […]

This is simply unacceptable. How long before the Obama administration and Congress put this issue on their priority lists? From The New York Times: After decades of steady progress, the safety of the nation’s food supply is no longer improving. And in the case of salmonella — the dangerous bacteria recently found in peanuts and pistachios — infections may be creeping upward, […]

Vice President Joe Biden announced Thursday the release $2 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds for child care and disease prevention. This money will help health and human services programs targeted to children.  “Parents are worried about finding a job or keeping the job they have and they shouldn’t have to worry about affording quality child care,” […]

The General Services Administration (GSA) announced today that it will use American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds to purchase 17,600 new vehicles for the federal government. The vehicles will be fuel efficient hybrids, each produced by one of the American auto makers: General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler. “As a part of our commitment to the American auto industry, I […]

A committee of the Atlanta Regional Commission recommended today that the Commission send $25 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment (ARRA) money, currently earmarked for long-term transit projects in Atlanta, to MARTA to help the Authority make up a $24 million gap in its operating budget, according to a report in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The Georgia General Assembly this year […]

The Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs announced today they are creating a joint electronic medical system in order for the two departments to share veterans’ medical information, according to a report from CNETNews.com. Read President Obama’s full remarks about the venture. From CNET: The Joint Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record project will track soldiers’ lifelong medical histories […]

Dr. Beth Farokhi, a progressive, is considering a run for State Education Superintendent in 2010, she tells APN.   “I’m in the throes of trying to make a firm decision,” she said.  The position is still held by Kathy Cox.  In 2006, APN supported Carlotta Harrell for the seat, but former US Rep. Denise Majette (D-GA) was the Democratic candidate, […]

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported this afternoon that Atlanta City Councilman Ceasar Mitchell has decided not to run for mayor and is instead running for Atlanta City Council president. Mitchell filed the proper forms Tuesday. From the AJC: Mitchell said in a telephone interview he changed course after a recent reexamination of his background, experience and desire for public service. “Given where we […]

Vermont became the second state in one week to legalize same-sex marriage after its Legislature voted to override Gov. Jim Douglas’s veto of a bill allowing same-sex couples to wed. Nine years ago, Vermont became the first state to allow civil unions. Now it is the fourth U.S. state to allow same-sex marriage, along with Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Iowa.  (Not counting […]

Councilwoman Felicia Moore recently told me in a phone conversation that she is expecting some opposition this year from someone named Darryl Moore.  Felicia worried the same last name thing might be confusing.  She did not know much about Darryl Moore and said she was not sure whether he had an organized campaign; only that he had simply filed an […]

The City Council of Washington, DC, has approved recognition of same-sex couples who get married in other states where it is already legal.  According to the Washington Post newspaper’s website, the Council will have to finalize their vote by voting again next month (why is not immediately clear). This sets up a likely constitutional battle with the US Congress, which […]

Doesn’t former US Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) feel crunchy now? Four months later, Minnesota has only one US Senator; Coleman has dragged out this process through first a recount and then a court challenge; and now, with the court ruling that more absentee ballots be opened, Franken’s lead has GAINED from 255 to 312. According to reports, Coleman still plans […]

Former US Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) told Atlanta Progressive News in a recent instant message conversation that people seem to be expecting that she is going to run for US Congress as a Green Party candidate, possibly in California.   MC: My question for you is whether u’ve thought about a Green Party run for US Congress (perhaps in CA?) […]