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Category Archives: Fulton County Commission

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

July 23, 2015 ANNA SIMONTON

(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, […]

Annexations Whittling Away at Unincorporated south Fulton

March 2, 2015 MATTHEW CHARLES 3 comments

With additional reporting by Barbara Payne. Map courtesy of Andre Walker. (APN) ATLANTA — The remaining unincorporated areas of Fulton County, all located in south Fulton, are slowly being gobbled up by mostly under-the-radar annexations. The City of Union City annexed 8.2 acres and an additional one acre last year. Now, Union City is looking to annex more, […]

Republicans, MARTA Prevail in Georgia’s 2014 General Election

November 6, 2014 GLORIA TATUM Leave a comment

(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 […]

Fulton County’s Authority to Raise Property Tax Heads to Court

August 18, 2014 BARBARA PAYNE Leave a comment

(APN) ATLANTA — In a fight between north Fulton County and Fulton County Government that has been going for many decades, the members of the Fulton County House Republican caucus–plus former State Rep. Ed Lindsey (R-Atlanta)–are suing Fulton County for voting to raise the millage rate, or property tax rate, in Fulton County by some 17 percent on August 06, […]

APN Releases Fulton County Commission Scorecard for 2014

May 12, 2014 MATTHEW CHARLES Leave a comment

(APN) ATLANTA — With big changes in store for the Fulton County Commission pending the outcome of the 2014 elections, Atlanta Progressive News reviewed nearly nine years of coverage of the Commission from the APN archives to develop a Fulton County Commission Scorecard for 2014, based on nine controversial votes. As previously reported by APN, the Republican-led Georgia […]

Overview of 2013 Legislative Session, post-Crossover Day

March 11, 2013 MATTHEW CHARLES

(APN) ATLANTA — The Georgia General Assembly wrapped up its Crossover Day on Thursday, March 07, 2013, which was the thirtieth day of the forty-day legislative session. This is the last day that legislation has to pass in either the State House or State Senate in order for the legislation to be taken up this year in the other respective […]

House Bills Would Reshape, Reform Fulton County Commission

February 15, 2013 MATTHEW CHARLES

(APN) ATLANTA — There are three bills concerning Fulton County currently pending in the Georgia Legislature that would drastically reshape the County’s governance structure, tax base, and employee benefits to meet the wishes of North Fulton Republicans, while a fourth bill threatens to break off North Fulton and re-form Milton County. House Bills 170, 171, and 172 deal with reforming […]

Common Cause Georgia Makes Progress on Pay-to-Play Reform

October 17, 2012 CHERYL ROSENBLUM Leave a comment

(APN) ATLANTA — Just over a year since the Board of Commissioners of Fulton County rejected pay-to-play reform, and just a few months since Mayor Kasim Reed bashed the notion of pay-to-play reform during remarks before the City Council of Atlanta, Common Cause Georgia and its ethics reform partners have made great strides in gaining support for pay-to-play reform, both […]

Fulton Rejects Atlanta IGA without Bullhook Ban

August 11, 2012 MATTHEW CHARLES Leave a comment

(APN) ATLANTA — On August 01, 2012, the Board of Commissioners of Fulton County voted down a request to enter into a new Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) to provide animal control services for the City of Atlanta. While the vote took place with no discussion, there was an elephant in the room, at least figuratively speaking: the City of Atlanta […]

Race, Party, and Buckhead-Baiting in HD57 Primary (UPDATE 1)

June 25, 2012 MATTHEW CHARLES Leave a comment

(APN) ATLANTA — The House District 57 is quickly turning into one of the ugliest Atlanta political races in recent years, with the campaign of State Rep. Rashad Taylor (D-Atlanta) and his supporters apparently engaging in using political party, race, and geography to attack State Rep. Pat Gardner (D-Atlanta), her supporters, and anyone who dares to question where Mr. Taylor […]

Waites, Others Run for Vacant State House Seat in Special Election

January 14, 2012 MATTHEW CHARLES Leave a comment

Waites Runs for Vacant House Seat in Special Election (APN) ATLANTA — Keisha Waites, who recently ran for the Fulton County Board of Commissioners District 6 seat in 2010, is running for an empty State House seat in District 60. The election is one of two Special Elections to be held February 07, 2012. HD 60 includes southeast Atlanta, […]

Fulton Declines to Limit Contractors’ Campaign Donations

August 22, 2011 MATTHEW CHARLES Leave a comment

(APN) ATLANTA — On Wednesday, August 17, 2011, the Board of Commissioners of Fulton County voted down a proposal, 2 to 4, by Commissioner Emma Darnell (District 5), which would have prevented contractors from making donations to any County Commissioner within one year of applying to do business with the County. Darnell and Bill Edwards (District 7) supported the […]

Fulton County Bans Use of Elephant Bullhooks in Circuses

June 21, 2011 MATTHEW CHARLES Leave a comment

(APN) ATLANTA — On Wednesday, June 01, 2011, the Fulton County Commission banned the use of elephant bullhooks in circuses, after months of lobbying by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and Georgia Animal Rights and Protection (GARP), delivering a victory to the animals and their human advocates. The vote was four to one, with two absent. The […]

Grady Plans to Close Community Clinics, Fulton Opposes Closures

April 24, 2011 CHERYL ROSENBLUM Leave a comment

(APN) ATLANTA — The Grady Memorial Hospital Corporation (GMHC), the privatized, non-profit Board that took over management of Grady Hospital two years ago, has decided to close two community clinics, drawing the opposition of the Fulton County Commission and advocates, and heightening tensions between the County and the corporation. Atlanta Progressive News warned, when Fulton and Dekalb were considering privatizing […]