Author Archives: JONATHAN SPRINGSTON

More Updates from Grady CEO

Over on APN is a story about a meeting held last week in East Atlanta at the First Iconium Baptist Church between Grady Health System CEO Michael Young, his staff, and about 30 activists, mainly representing the Grady Coalition. Below are some more revelations from the meeting that we did not include in the APN story. For example, Young said […]

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Plan to Cut Public Defenders Could Leave Hundreds without Lawyers

(APN) ATLANTA — At least 1,850 indigent, or low-income, defendants in Fulton and DeKalb Counties could be without legal representation at the end of July if a plan to purge an Atlanta public defender’s office moves forward. Mack Crawford, director of the Georgia Public Defender Standards Council (GPDSC), a statewide organization that provides oversight and financing for indigent defense, announced […]

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MARTA Faces More Cuts as Sales Tax Proposed for Transportation

With additional reporting by Matthew Cardinale. (APN) ATLANTA — After three straight years of no meaningful action on transportation funding, advocates and state officials are hopeful the Georgia General Assembly and Gov. Sonny Perdue will get it right in 2010. SALES TAX PROPOSALS Perdue made the first move on January 14, 2010, when he announced his support for a referendum […]

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Activists Meet with US Rep. Johnson’s Staff on Health Care (UPDATE 1)

Additional reporting by Matthew Cardinale. (APN) TUCKER — Activists from leftist groups like Moveon.org are pushing US Congress and the White House to follow through on comprehensive healthcare reform. Despite passage of different versions of comprehensive health care reform in the US House and Senate, reconciliation of those bills was complicated by the recent loss of the Massachusetts US Senate […]

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Activists Push Comprehensive Immigration Reform

(APN) ATLANTA – A coalition of activists, led by the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials (GALEO) and Atlantans Building Leadership for Empowerment (ABLE), rallied Wednesday, January 20, 2010, at the Georgia state capitol to bring attention to the need for comprehensive immigration reform. Advocates are pushing a Congressional bill sponsored by US Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-FL) called the Comprehensive […]

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2010 Georgia Budget Proposal Cuts into Nearly All Departments

(APN) ATLANTA — Gov. Sonny Perdue kicked off his final budget push by preparing State lawmakers to make painful cutbacks. The $18.6 billion Fiscal Year 2010 budget contained billions of dollars in cuts, but a 13.7 percent decline in tax revenues mean even more sacrifices. “We’ve got to maintain core services for our citizens, but this recession and this economy […]

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Georgia Bill Would Ban Racial Profiling, Mandate Data Collection

(APN) ATLANTA — A group of Democratic State lawmakers and advocates banded together Tuesday, January 26, 2010, to announce the introduction of legislation to prevent law enforcement officers from engaging in racial profiling. “We know that if your skin color is different or you’re a religion other than Christian, you will be singled out,” the Rev. Tracy Blagec, Vice President […]

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Multi-State Water Dispute Discussed at Metro Chamber Forum

(APN) ATLANTA — The Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce (MACOC) hosted business leaders and State lawmakers at a forum Thursday, January 14, 2010, to discuss the region’s water woes and recent recommendations made by a State task force. Georgia has been engaged in a two-decades long struggle with Florida and Alabama over water rights. A court ruling last year put […]

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State of State Speeches Vague, Unimpressive

(APN) ATLANTA – Gov. Sonny Perdue delivered his annual State of the State address before a joint Session of the Georgia General Assembly on Wednesday, January 13, 2009, his last before leaving office next January. Perdue spent much of the nearly 40 minute address sermonizing and recounting moments in history when US citizens overcame adversity rather than outlining solutions to […]

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Grady Extends Dialysis Deadline amidst Human Rights Inquiry

(APN) ATLANTA — The Grady Health System decided last week to continue providing free dialysis care through a private provider for another month, Atlanta Progressive News has learned. Grady closed its outpatient dialysis clinic in October 2009 and agreed to provide free treatment through Fresenius Medical Care for about 50 undocumented, uninsured patients until January 03, 2010. During that time, […]

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Reed reorganizes APD command structure

Mayor Kasim Reed announced promotions and lateral reassignments within the Atlanta Police Department (APD) during his first press conference as mayor at City Hall on Tuesday. “We hope that it will improve the morale,” Acting Chief George Turner said of the changes. Acting Chief Turner (center) speaks while Mayor Reed (right) looks on. – Photo by Jonathan Springston, Senior Staff Writer, […]

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