(APN) ATLANTA — On August 28, 2014 Georgia Stand Up hosted an education town hall attended by some members of the Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education, including Leslie Grant (District 1), Byron Amos (District 2), Matt Westmoreland (District 3), and Chairman Courtney English (Seat 7-at-large). The public pressed Board Members to take a clear stance on Gov. Nathan […]
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With additional reporting by Anna Simonton and Matthew Charles Cardinale. Photograph by Steve Eberhardt. (APN) ATLANTA — The Georgia General Assembly wrapped up the 2015 legislative session on Thursday, April 02, 2015. There were a few progressive highlights in the majority-Republican Legislature, including a solar power lease agreement bill; a limited medical cannabis bill; and more flexibility for MARTA […]
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(APN) ATLANTA — The House Education Committee will soon decide whether to advance Gov. Nathan Deal’s controversial proposal to allow the state to take over and privatize struggling schools. At a hearing on Wednesday March 18, 2015, State Representatives and members of the public expressed both deep concern and some enthusiasm over the proposal, which, as Atlanta Progressive News […]
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(APN) ATLANTA — The City of Atlanta’s lobbyists at the Georgia Legislature last week circulated a map proposing a major expansion of the southwest quadrant of the city further to the west, through the annexation of a significant portion of unincorporated south Fulton County. While the City had been previously exploring annexation of the Sandtown and Loch Lomond communities, […]
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With additional reporting by Matthew Charles Cardinale (APN) ATLANTA — On Thursday, March 05, 2015, the full State Senate voted to engross SB 129, the controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Bill, in a vote of 38 yeas to 17 nays. The bill passed the Senate in a vote of 37 to 15. Engrossment means that the bill cannot be changed; […]
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Photograph by Steve Eberhardt (APN) ATLANTA — On Wednesday, January 21, 2015, the fifth anniversary of the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision of the Supreme Court of the U.S., State Sen. Nan Orrock (D-Atlanta) and Rep. Karla Drenner (D-Avondale Estates) announced the introduction of resolutions calling for a U.S. Constitutional Amendment to allow U.S. Congress to place common-sense […]
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(APN) ATLANTA — U.S. District Judge William Duffey has denied a motion to dismiss the case brought by several same-sex couples in Georgia, challenging Georgia’s statutory and constitutional provisions prohibiting same-sex marriages. The court’s denial of the motion means that the case, Christopher Innis, et al., v. Deborah Aderhold, et al., can now go forward. In 1996, the Georgia […]
Read more(APN) ATLANTA — Republicans maintained control of all statewide Georgia positions, despite ethics scandals plaguing Republican Gov. Nathan Deal and Attorney General Sam Olens, and despite apparent voter suppression on the part of Secretary of State Brian Kemp. However, one progressive victory was won when Clayton County voters decided to join MARTA and pay a one penny sales tax to […]
Read more(APN) ATLANTA — In this year’s General Election, along with a state constitutional amendment that would cap the income tax rate at six percent, voters in Georgia will have a chance to vote on a second constitutional amendment question and a referendum. http://www.atlantaprogressivenews.com/interspire/news/2014/09/17/income-tax-cap-referendum-if-passed-takes-progressivity-off-table.html SECOND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT QUESTION The second constitutional amendment question deals with reckless driving fees […]
Read more(APN) ATLANTA — At the Monday, September 15, 2014, Full Council Meeting, the City Council of Atlanta passed a resolution, 14-R-4121, sponsored by Councilman Michael Julian Bond (Post 1-at-large) expressing the support of the City of Atlanta for a 28th Amendment to the Constitution of the U.S., clarifying that U.S. Congress has the authority to limit campaign contributions. Mayor Kasim […]
Read more(APN) ATLANTA — At the Full Council Meeting of the City Council of Atlanta on Tuesday, September 02, 2014, the Council passed a resolution that had been introduced by Councilwoman Felicia Moore (District 9), calling for the Atlanta Police Department (APD) to conduct a feasibility study within 90 days for implementing body cameras for all APD officers. The Council also […]
Read more(APN) ATLANTA — Atlanta City Councilman Michael Julian Bond (Post 1-at-large) plans to introduce a resolution calling for a 28th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, at the Tuesday, September 02, 2014 Full Council Meeting. The Constitutional Amendment, if adopted and ratified, would clarify that U.S. Congress has the authority to enact campaign contribution limits. The resolution […]
Read more(APN) ATLANTA — On April 22, 2014, Lambda Legal Defense, a national legal organization, filed a federal class action lawsuit in Atlanta on behalf of seven Georgia residents and others who are injured by Georgia’s same-sex marriage bans. Georgia’s legislature banned same-sex marriage in 1996. Then, just to make sure it would be even more difficult to overturn […]
Read more(APN) ATLANTA — In a unanimous opinion, on June 03, 2013, the Supreme Court of Georgia ruled that the 2008 statewide ballot referendum, which sought to retroactively approve unconstitutional Tax Allocations Districts (TADs) in the State of Georgia, effectively brought the TADs back to life, despite the fact that the same Court had found the TADs to be previously […]
Read more(APN) ATLANTA — The Supreme Court of Georgia held oral arguments yesterday, Monday, January 07, 2013, in the appeal of the case challenging the bond validation for Atlanta’s Perry-Bolton Tax Allocation District (TAD). The case is John Sherman and Christopher Eichler v. City of Atlanta, et al. Irwin Stolz, Jr., a former Court of Appeals Judge in Georgia, argued for […]
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