Monthly Archives: July 2015

Georgia Power Mum on Claim that Nuclear Expansion Unneeded

psc testimony

Photograph by Glenn Carroll.  With additional reporting by Atlanta Progressive News.   (APN) ATLANTA — Nuclear Watch South (NWS) used Georgia Power’s own data to show that Georgia Power’s energy capacity is overbuilt and that Vogtle 3 and 4 are not needed, at a June 23, 2015 Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) hearing.   The hearing was for the 12th […]

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What We’re Reading – Wednesday, July 29, 2015

To access the links, please click to view the full post.   Decatur Residents Concerned About Loss of Diversity WABE radio http://wabe.org/post/decatur-residents-concerned-about-loss-diversity   Poll Finds Big Gaps in Rural Health Care Albany Herald newspaper http://www.albanyherald.com/news/2015/jul/26/poll-finds-big-gaps-in-rural-health-care/   APD Body Camera Purchase Held Up Amid Procurement Dispute Atlanta Journal-Constitution http://www.myajc.com/news/news/local-govt-politics/apd-body-camera-purchase-held-up-amid-procurement-/nm2nN/   Georgia Sues Website for Publishing State’s Annotated Laws WABE radio http://wabe.org/post/georgia-sues-website-publishing-states-annotated-laws […]

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Atlanta Councilman Receives Threat after Stone Mountain Resolution Passes

michael bond stone mountain

(APN) ATLANTA — On July 20, 2015, the City Council of Atlanta approved and adopted 15-R-3870, a resolution by Councilman Michael Julian Bond (Post 1 At-Large), calling for Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal to approve and implement a study group to determine what additions, if any, could be added Georgia’s well-known icon, Stone Mountain.   The carving there depicts three figures […]

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AC Finally On at Friendship Towers Senior Highrise, Three Months and a Court Order Later

AC

(APN) ATLANTA — Following three months of senior-led activism and a court order, the air conditioning is finally repaired and working at Friendship Towers, a senior high-rise subsidized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).   Atlanta Progressive News previously reported that fed-up tenants took their complaints to HUD after the building manager, Glass Ratner, and the […]

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What We’re Reading – Sunday, July 26, 2015

Click on full post to click links.   Richmond Becomes First City in Contra Costa to Approve Rent Control Contra Costa Times (California) http://www.contracostatimes.com/richmond/ci_28520869/richmond-becomes-first-city-contra-costa-approve-rent   Hearing on New Vogtle Nuclear Reactors Provides New Information on Mounting Risks and Costs Clean Energy http://blog.cleanenergy.org/2015/07/07/hearing-on-new-vogtle-nuclear-reactors-provides-new-information-on-mounting-risks-and-costs/   Georgia Charter Schools: Uneven Results and Delays in Closing Failing Ones Get Schooled blog, Atlanta Journal-Constitution http://getschooled.blog.ajc.com/2015/07/16/georgia-charter-schools-uneven-results-and-delays-in-closing-failing-ones/ […]

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MARTA Pushes Eight Billion Dollar Expansion, Half Penny Sales Tax

marta 8 billion map

(APN) ATLANTA — The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) is now pushing for a package of rail line expansions, including the north line, the east line, and a new Clifton Corridor line, that would cost an estimated eight billion dollars and that would be funded in part by a half penny sales tax in Fulton, DeKalb, and Clayton Counties. […]

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MARTA Pilots Farmers Market at West End Station

marta fresh

(APN) ATLANTA — MARTA commuters will now have easy access to fresh, farm-grown produce; the public transit authority has opened a weekly “pop-up produce market” at the West End station.   The Fresh MARTA Market is open every Friday from 2pm until 6pm through October 2015.  The grand opening was held on Friday, July 17, 2015.   MARTA conducted a […]

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Atlantans Had Productive White House Visit for LEAD Symposium

SNAP DC

(APN) ATLANTA — On July 02 and 03, 2015, police officers, prosecutors, elected officials, community leaders and healthcare professionals from more than thirty U.S. cities gathered in Washington, D.C. to discuss the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program.   As previously, exclusively reported by Atlanta Progressive News, Atlanta Councilman Kwanza Hall (District 2); Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard; Atlanta […]

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How Atlanta, Fulton, DeKalb Could Stop Criminalizing Mentally Ill People (UPDATE 1)

haven for hope

(APN) ATLANTA — After DeKalb police officer Robert Olsen killed Anthony Hill, a young Black man suffering a mental health crisis, Atlanta Progressive News traveled to San Antonio, Texas, to report on a program that has changed how police deal with mentally ill people in that city.   http://atlantaprogressivenews.com/2015/03/23/feature-in-san-antonio-anthony-hill-wouldve-been-helped-not-shot/   In this follow-up, we look at how the criminal justice, […]

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Deputy Indicted, Lied for No Knock Warrant in Baby Bou Bou Case

bou bou 2

(APN) ATLANTA — A former Habersham County Deputy, Nikki Autry, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on four counts of criminal civil rights violations for providing false information to obtain a “no-knock” search warrant.   The no knock warrant allowed a police raid on the Phonesavanh family’s home that resulted in their 18 month-old baby being critically injured […]

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Activists Summon Judge to Consider Income-Based Traffic Fines

SONG

(APN) ATLANTA — The Chief Judge of Atlanta’s Municipal Court had a surprise waiting for him when he arrived at work on July 09, 2015.  It was a nine foot-tall summons.   Members of Southerners On New Ground (SONG) were at the courthouse that morning with the oversized summons to greet Judge Christopher Ward and charge him with “failure to […]

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Metze, Johnson Win Runoff; Bennett and Davis head to Runoff

marie metze picture

(APN) ATLANTA — Marie Metze and Mereda Johnson emerged victorious in the Tuesday July 14, 2015 Special Election, while J. Max Davis and Taylor Bennett are going into a Run-off Election.   In the race for DeKalb Commissioner District 5, Mereda Johnson beat George Turner with 53 percent of the vote.   Johnson will assume a seat representing south DeKalb […]

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Atlanta’s NPU-R Illegally Bans Members From Open Meetings

ben and ron

(APN) ATLANTA — The Georgia Attorney General’s office has opined that the officers of Atlanta Neighborhood Planning Unit R violated a city ordinance when they banned two outspoken members from participating in public meetings.   In May 2015, Ben Howard, 82, a well-known senior advocate, and Ron Shakir, an activist who has run for City Council, were expelled from the […]

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City of Atlanta Sets Aside Paltry Sum for Massive Beltline Debts Owed to Schools

lady justice revised

(APN) ATLANTA — While there is no end in sight to the Beltline-Atlanta Public Schools (APS) dispute, the Atlanta City Council has set aside four million dollars for a possible eventual settlement.   The Council could have made an outright good faith payment, but decided to put it in a contingency fund, pending a settlement agreement.   The problem is, […]

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APN Endorses Catherine Bernard; George Turner; Shelitha Robertson

catherine bernard

(APN) ATLANTA — Atlanta Progressive News’s Board of Director is pleased to endorse Catherine Bernard for the State House District 80 seat formerly held by State Rep. Mike Jacobs (R-Brookhaven), in the Special Election being held Tuesday, July 14, 2015; and George Turner for DeKalb County District 5 in the Special Election Run-off being held on the same date.   […]

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