Fresh Loaf

Just another night in Buckhead

City Councilman Kwanza Hall surprised his colleagues with a proposal yesterday to examine whether allowing Atlanta bars to close later would be a boon for the city’s nightlife and budget. From the AJC’s ubiquitous Eric Stirgus:

Hall introduced legislation Monday requesting the city study the revenue opportunities of expanding the hours to sell liquor from 2:30 a.m. to 4 a.m. City Council President Lisa Borders sent the legislation to the council’s Finance/Executive committee for further discussion. Hall wants a summary report by Jan. 30.

Hall said the sales tax money from extending the hours could fund public safety improvements. He said the city could enact the longer hours in areas of Atlanta where it’s more practical.

“I think we need to look at revenue,” said Hall, whose district includes portions of Castleberry Hill, Midtown and the Old Fourth Ward, where nightlife is more prevalent than other parts of the city. “Who knows how many millions of dollars we’ve lost?”

Some councilmembers weren’t pleased with Hall’s proposal. Councilman Howard Shook, who represents Buckhead neighborhoods that pushed for the earlier bar hours, said Hall’s idea would be “dead on arrival.” City Council President Lisa Borders called the idea “absolutely irresponsible.” Buckhead Coalition President Sam Massell said the additional revenue wasn’t worth the potential headache.

But Hall’s been tweeting about the proposal nonstop and wants residents’ opinions, which is why we’ve created this high-tech “blog.” Comments will be printed and hand-delivered to the appropriate council committee by bowtie-wearing monkeys holding balloons. The event will be filmed. And if council lets bars stay open later, we’ll release the monkeys back into the wild. It’s up to you, people.

UPDATE: Hall elaborates on his proposal in the comments below.

(Courtesy Wikimedia Commons)

Bookmark It

On Dec. 1, an abysmally small percentage of Atlanta voters will return to the polls for the city runoffs:

Reed celebrates on election night

MAYOR

As the city saw on Nov. 3, Kasim Reed’s an expert finisher who passed Lisa Borders heading into the home stretch and now carries that momentum into the runoff.

But it won’t be easy to beat Mary Norwood, whose supporters hail from all corners of the city and arguably are more enthusiastic than Reed’s, and thus more likely to flock to the polls on Dec. 1. Last week’s results also confirmed previous polls that suggest Norwood seems to have a lock on north Atlanta’s white vote, which may convince the Reed campaign to try to peel away her strong support among black voters. If Reed decides to employ racial politics, the race could turn ugly and divisive.

“Reed has to increase his black voters, but it would be to his detriment to make an overt racial appeal,” says Emory political science professor Michael Owens. ” I suspect you’ll see his surrogates and supporters do that for him.”

(more…)

Bookmark It

Alex Wan’s week kicked off on the right note as the Buckhead Coalition announced their endorsement of him in the Dec. 1 runoff against Liz Coyle for Atlanta City Council – District 6.

The influential Buckhead business group rarely gives direct endorsements, instead opting to make their choices known by large campaign contributions through a PAC.  But they held off from making a contribution in the District 6 race, most likely because the district does not fall in Buckhead, and instead went for the traditional endorsement.

Bookmark It

Do you think we made a mistake in our 2009 political endorsements? Are you voting for the same candidate as us? Talk to staff writers Scott Henry and Thomas Wheatley on this blog tomorrow from 1:30-2:30 p.m. NOW! to get answers to your questions about the Nov. 3 mayoral and City Council elections.

And until then, let us know who you’re voting for by taking part in our polls for City Council Post 2 At-Large, City Council Post 1 At-Large, City Council president and mayor.

Update: Like Billo very wisely said, “Fuck it! We’ll do it live!“

Bookmark It

Adam Brackman

Before qualifying ended, the race to claim Councilman Ceasar Mitchell’s at-large post looked like a clown car.

Nine political hopefuls had filed to run for the citywide seat, including perennial candidates, a former councilman and a handful of unknowns. When it came time to pay the $1,184 fee to run, however, only four men and women remained.

Thankfully, Adam Brackman was one of them.

Brackman, a 42-year-old resident of south Atlanta’s Benteen Park, has risen through the ranks of neighborhood-based politics to stand out as a fresh-faced candidate with an arsenal of ideas — and a strong dose of enthusiasm — that could greatly enhance a council where nearly half the members will win their seats without opposition.

(more…)

Bookmark It

Aaron Watson

It’s a shame that some of the candidates for City Council’s Post 2 At-Large can’t be farmed out to other district races with less impressive rosters. As it is, we’re forced to decide between three seemingly qualified and capable guys running for the same open seat.

There’s Weslee Knapp, an engineer and real estate broker who thinks his private sector expertise could knock down walls in City Hall’s bureaucratic maze. Amir Farokhi is a 31-year-old attorney and Grant Park resident whose smart-growth vision for Atlanta doesn’t just sound exciting, but doable. And Aaron Watson, a corporate finance lawyer, boasts a long record of leadership that includes the Atlanta Public Schools board, the Atlanta Housing Authority and the Piedmont Park Conservancy.

All the contenders have big ideas and want to effect change. But only Watson has the record to back it up.

(more…)

Bookmark It

Last night, candidates aiming to replace outgoing Atlanta City Councilwoman Anne Fauver in District 6 gathered at Inman Middle School to win residents’ hearts and minds.

We’re sure it was a crowded house — District 6 includes such politically active neighborhoods as Virginia-Highland, Morningside, Candler Park and Midtown, among other hamlets. And since there isn’t a clear-cut frontrunner among the six candidates vying for the open seat,  voters probably wanted to hear some opinions on the issues.

We couldn’t attend the gathering, mainly because we were in Athens talking to whippersnappers about the future of journalism. (Keep your heads up, yo!)

If you were there, we’d love to hear your take. And if you don’t write anything, it means you hate America. Consider this an open thread.

Bookmark It

Georgia Equality, the statewide LGBT advocacy group, has announced their support for Lisa Borders for mayor and Ceasar Mitchell for city council President.

If you need the latest on either the mayoral or city council race, Scott Henry abides.

Here’s Georgia Equality press release:

At a time when public safety and the need for strong leadership are on the minds of all Atlantans, the Georgia Equality Board of Directors has voted to endorse Lisa Borders in the 2009 election for Atlanta Mayor, as well as Ceasar Mitchell for the position of Atlanta City Council President.

Borders, the current City Council President, stands out among a group of highly-qualified mayoral candidates running this year. The Georgia Equality Board of Directors found Borders to be the candidate with the best fluency and understanding of the issues important to LGBT Atlantans, as well as the candidate best-equipped to govern a city in need of a decisive leader with keen insight into public safety and municipal management.

(more…)

Bookmark It

Jesus, and we thought the Atlanta City Council District 6 race was crowded.

Atlanta City Councilman Jim Maddox’s surprise decision not to seek re-election has apparently caused a District 11 free-for-all. At the end of qualifying on Friday, nine candidates had filed to run to represent the southwest Atlanta district.

There are some familiar names who wants to take over Maddox’s office. Former Fulton Commissioner Reginald Eaves, Jr., is one. He’s got a interesting past. Another is Morris “Mo” Finley, a former councilman whose last attempt at office was city council president in 2001. (He won only three percent of the vote.) Keisha Lance Bottoms, who last year ran an unsuccessful bid against Fulton County Superior Court Judge T. Jackson Bedford for his seat, also wants to represent the district.

Councilmembers Carla Smith, Kwanza Hall, Natalyn Archibong, Howard Shook, Felicia Moore and C.T. Martin will run unopposed, which essentially means they’ve already won another term. The only way to make it on the ballot now is as a write-in candidate. And good luck with that.

There are a lot of familiar names in the races. Perennial candidates, former elected officials, rabble-rousers and the like. See who you can spot.

After the jump, the list of who qualified to earn a place on the Nov. 3 ballot.

(more…)

Bookmark It

Clarence Turner, one of eight candidates running for Atlanta City Council Post 1 At-Large, says he’s ending his bid for office.

From a Turner campaign press release:

After careful consideration and deliberation, I have decided to end my pursuit for the Atlanta City Council Post 1 At-Large seat in this 2009 election. My decision is based on personal and financial readiness.

So what will I do now? That’s a great question. I will now redirect my efforts to more grassroots initiatives such as the nonprofit my wife and I established, The Turner Family Foundation, which we will use as an umbrella for initiatives like providing micro-grants to youth artists for art supplies. We will also be operating the annual Y.O! forum through our nonprofit. I also plan to get more involved with my friend’s like ATAC, Making the Transition Inc., Neighbor In Need and many more.

He also says he’s looking forward to spending more time with his wife and daughter. He hasn’t decided to make an endorsement in the race. Incumbent Councilman Ceasar Mitchell is vacating the seat to run for City Council President.

Turner’s full announcement is after the jump.

(more…)

Bookmark It

Steve Brodie, one of six contenders in the crowded race for the Atlanta City Council District 6 open seat, has received the endorsement of the city’s 1,100-member police union.

In a statement (PDF) released yesterday by Brodie’s campaign, Sgt. Scott Kreher, president of the International Brotherhood of Police Officers Local 623, said the wooer of water ballerinas is unique because  he’s  “providing specific ideas for improving public safety in Atlanta and the action steps needed to fund improvements….The other District 6 Candidates are working to develop slogans and [Brodie is] seriously proposing plans.”

”I am honored and proud to be endorsed by the police,” Brodie said. “The Police Union’s endorsement
of my candidacy illustrates their confidence in me as a City Council member and their belief that I will
initiate real changes to make Atlanta safer.”

Here’s the public-safety plan to which Kreher referred. (Ben at Terminal Station has a good anecdotal post on why candidates should be giddy when they get such nods of support.)

Brodie’s opponents in the race to represent the district that includes the Midtown, Candler Park, Virginia-Highland neighborhoods are Bahareh Azizi, Tad Christian, Liz Coyle, Miguel Gallegos (who recently earned the Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council’s endorsement) and Alex Wan.

Bookmark It

Except they’re not calling it a curfew. Instead, it identifies what will now be called a “Child in Need of Supervision.” If you’re the parent of a CNS, you can be hit with a $1,000 fine and locked in prison for up to two months.

So, who is a CNS?

Any minor age six (6) through fifteen (15) years old who loiters, wanders, strolls or plays in or upon the public streets, highways, roads, alleys, parks, playgrounds or other public grounds, public places, public buildings, places of amusement, eating places, vacant lots, unsupervised by an adult having the lawful authority to be at such places, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on any school day shall be considered a Child in Need of Supervision.

There are exceptions, which include home-schoolers, minors who have already finished high school and kids who are on a field trip or otherwise have school permission to be out and about.

CNSs are to be brought back to school by the cops, who can cite the parents if they “knowingly fail to act” if their kids are wandering the neighborhoods. The first citation earns a warning. Subsequent citations can result in the aforementioned jail time. But there’s good news for negligent parents: Instead, they can work off their punishment on a prison work crew. Good times.

(more…)

Bookmark It

Steve Brodie, one of six candidates in the Atlanta City Council District 6 race to represent the Midtown, Virginia-Highland and Candler Park neighborhoods, is first out of the gate with nontraditional campaign commercials.

Bookmark It

Councilman Ceasar Mitchell, who was carjacked at gunpoint over the weekend, has revived a piece of legislation he proposed last year that would set a daytime curfew for children between the ages of 6 and 16.

Now, before everyone piles on with snide comments, as happened with an earlier blog post, allow me to note that this is not Mitchell’s sole answer to the apparently growing teen crime wave (I inaccurately used the word “antidote”). He has also pushed for more foot patrols — as opposed to cops simply driving around — and more resourses for the Red Dog squad.

But here’s his description of his curfew proposal, fresh from the press release:

“This ordinance will hold parents or guardians of minors accountable for their children who go unsupervised during certain hours on school days, said Mitchell.  ”Before, above, and beyond teachers, principals, and the police, the primary responsibility to direct, discipline, and monitor a minor rests with that minor’s parent or guardian.  Therefore, it is not too much to ask for a parent to be involved in and ultimately responsible for the whereabouts of their child during school hours.”

He calls the measure “a good step in the right direction,” not the answer to the city’s crime problem.

We’ll have to wait to see if his colleagues agree. The Council is on summer reccess and next meets Aug. 17.

Bookmark It

When we first reported on the city’s proposed sustainable building ordinance, a monster piece of legislation that would require most new construction in Atlanta to be more eco-friendly, word was that it was expected to sail through. After all, what better time than one of the worst development markets in recent memory to push for a policy that’s poised to make the city more green and help future residents save cash on their energy bills?

Well, things changed. At yesterday’s Atlanta City Council Community Development and Human Resources committee meeting, councilmembers decided to table the legislation.

The basic line we’re hearing from sources is that there were some provisions in the ordinance that stakeholders wanted to “review.” That’s code for “wait a gosh darn minute, we’ve got some concerns!”

(more…)

Bookmark It

Atlanta City Councilwoman Anne Fauver recently voted against a study to help make the Peachtree Streetcar project eligible for federal stimulus funding. She says the Beltline is better positioned for federal funds, questions the streetcar’s scope, and wonders who will maintain the estimated $120 million project if it’s built.

On July 20, the Midtown and Downtown business associations offered the City a $600,000 grant to do a feasibility study on a streetcar line along Atlanta’s famed Peachtree Street and to prepare the City’s application for $300 million of stimulus money.

I voted against the legislation to accept the grant. It passed 11-3 so the feasibility study and the application for Federal money will be done. My position is based on the following:

The Franklin Administration asked for the legislation to be fast-tracked. Council had not had a work session or public hearing on the project. We never specifically endorsed the Streetcar proposal. The Streetcar is not THE top priority in Connect Atlanta, the City’s first comprehensive transportation plan either.

(more…)

Bookmark It

On Tuesday, July 28, an Atlanta City Council committee will discuss the long-planned “sustainable building ordinance,” a beast of a bill that dictates green-building standards for new construction. Supporters say it could make Atlanta one of the most environmentally friendly cities in the country.

The legislation — which has been in the works since last summer — is a key part of the Sustainable Atlanta Initiative, a multi-pronged approach to meet Mayor Shirley Franklin’s goal to reduce the city’s carbon footprint. (PDF of Sustainable Building Ordinance) Included in the ordinance are water-conservation measures, energy-efficiency guidelines, material requirements and various other green-building standards.

At more than 65 pages, the bill covers everything from sink fixtures in your home to spray wands at the car wash. Buildings must meet one or four green-building certifications, including EarthCraft or LEED certification. Under the current language, only new commercial, residential, institutional and industrial buildings taller than three stories would be required to comply with the ordinance. Single-family homes, structures that don’t require running water or electricity and historic buildings would be exempt. The ordinance would take effect one year after passage. It’s an ambitious initiative and worth a look.

Green building codes have the tendency to become hot-button issues. Some traditional builders and developers have argued that the standards are unfair, expensive and that government has no right to set mandates to reduce the effects of global warming. Architects and urban planners usually applaud them because they enforce methods that are lend to better-built homes that lessen our impact on the environment while also saving homeowners money.

We’ve called the usual suspects to see if there’s any concern in their camps. We haven’t heard back just yet.

After the jump, I’ve pasted one paragraph that caught my eye for its potential impact on people who might enjoy the occasional Pall Mall in their chic, hi-rise apartment.

(more…)

Bookmark It

The Atlanta City Council yesterday approved a deal that could once again see streetcars running along Peachtree.

The Midtown Alliance and Central Atlanta Progress have offered up to $600,000 for MARTA to study the streetcar project, which last year was placed on hold after the city realized its budget woes.

Yesterday’s deal also allows officials to determine if the project could compete for up to $300 million in federal transportation stimulus cash. According to City Council President Lisa Borders’ mayoral campaign website, streetcars could become a reality in five years.

The $1 billion streetcar project, which includes new parks and streetscapes along the streetcar route, proposes connecting Fort McPherson to Buckhead. The first phase eyed for implementation — estimated at $120 million before the market tanked — would connect Midtown to downtown and include an east-west tourist loop stretching from the King Center to Centennial Olympic Park.

(more…)

Bookmark It

Morningside resident Tad Christian says he’s joined the increasingly crowded race to represent District 6 on the Atlanta City Council.

Christian, who just completed a one-year term as President of the Morningside Lenox Park Civic Association, is now the sixth candidate to join the race to fill departing Councilwoman Anne Fauver’s seat.

From a press release announcing Christian’s candidacy:

Christian is an active member of the Morningside neighborhood, sits on the City of Atlanta’s Board of Zoning Adjustments, is a volunteer on the operations committee at Morningside Elementary School, and a maintenance volunteer at Morningside Presbyterian Preschool. “I am always working to resolve problems that plague our city neighborhoods, and this volunteer action led to me being elected as President of our neighborhood association,” said Christian. “I really want to take the knowledge and experience I have gained thorough volunteer service and participation on various zoning boards, to the City Council, where I can have a greater impact on improving a full range of issues facing our City.”

Before becoming a stay-at-home father, Christian worked 12 years in business development and industrial engineering.

Christian’s opponents in the race to represent the Morningside, Virginia-Highland, Midtown, Druid Hills and Candler Park neighborhoods are: Georgia Tech scientist Bahareh Azizi, Midtown business consultant Steve Brodie, community activist Liz Coyle, political newcomer Miguel Gallegos and Midtown businessman Alex Wan. And we’ll go ahead and say God and Jane Fonda, because it feel like just about everyone is gonna jump in this contest.

(Courtesy Tad Christian campaign)

Bookmark It

Leading up to Liz Coyle’s jump into the District 6 race for Atlanta City Council, there were questions as to whether the Atkins Park resident would have to resign from her position as community representative on the Beltline board of directors.

Candidate Liz Coyle

At first Coyle planned to step down from the post, a nonpaying, citywide gig to which the Council appoints a community member. Then, at a monthly meeting of an advisory board tasked with overseeing how taxpayer dollars are spent on the 22-mile loop of parks, trails and transit, Coyle told members she was advised by the Atlanta Development Authority’s counsel that she didn’t have to.

Neither does Alex Wan, one of Coyle’s many opponents in the District 6 race. He serves on the ADA’s TAD and finance committees. (Here’s a list of ADA board members.)

Some residents, however, are raising questions in the politically active district (and in the comments of Fresh Loaf posts). Some of them deal with confusion over the candidates’ status on the boards, others involve concerns that candidate still serving on boards could pose a potential conflict of interest.

Can Coyle and Wan run for office and serve on the boards? Yes, they can. To understand why, you’ve gotta examine ADA’s organizational structure.

(more…)

Bookmark It

It’s a case of damned if you do and damned if you don’t — but especially damned if you do-over.

Today, the Council is scheduled to approve the city’s single largest contract — an action some Atlanta officials fear will only result in protracted legal wrangling.

The management contract for Hartsfield-Jackson Airport’s 30,000 parking spaces is the Big Kahuna of city contracts, generating more than $100 million in annual revenue, of which the private contractor can expect to pocket about $22 million.

For the last few generations, that contractor was Pennsylvania-based Parking Co. of America — one of the most conspicuous holdovers from the not-altogther-bygone era of City Hall history in which favored companies saw their contracts quietly renewed year after year without a formal bidding process.

Earlier this year, the city decided to hold competitive bids for the parking contract. But, apparently the airport staff was a little rusty on bid evaluation and it screwed up the process before a winner was announced. So the contract was re-bid.

This time, the announced winner was Chicago-based Standard Parking Co. According to the Atlanta Bidness Chronicle, two of the losing bidders — Nashville-based Central Parking Systems and ATL Airpark, a consortium of local companies led by Lanier Parking — have already filed official protests against the result.

Hartsfield GM Ben DeCosta maintains that the second bid process was air-tight and and will withstand legal challenges. Maybe he’s right, but some in City Hall are already bracing for the costly lawsuits. At this point, there’s little the Council can do but approve the contract and deal with the fallout.

Bookmark It

Remember that mystery candidate for Atlanta City Council District 6 that we hinted at a few days ago? Well, there’ll be no more waiting, fine commenters! She’s in!

Bahareh Azizi, a Georgia Tech scientist, announced her candidacy on Saturday for the increasingly crowded race to represent the Midtown, Morningside, Druid Hills and Virginia-Highland neighborhoods at City Hall.

According to an emailed press release, Azizi launched her campaign during Saturday’s 40th annual Peachtree Road Race. She says the announcement dovetails with her campaign’s “commitment, endurance and a willingness to join the people of our city on the streets of Atlanta.”

In 2007, she was the co-host of Science Investigators, a PBS pilot show. According to a press release about the show’s first episode, Azizi investigated the disappearance of a certain species of frogs in New York and drove an electric car that went from 0 to 60 mph in three seconds. Wheee!

(more…)

Bookmark It

Ivory Young

One says she’s had trouble sleeping because of anonymous threats. Another received a nasty phone message described as “the most disgusting, vulgar thing I’ve ever heard.” Others have gotten e-mails labeling them the “Hate Eight.”

Yes, the eight Atlanta City Council members who voted Monday to approve a 3-mill property tax increase have been reminded over the past few days that, no matter how sincere your intentions, you can’t please everybody.

For weeks now, most of the folks who voted for the tax hike — Carla Smith, Ivory Lee Young, Jr., Natalyn Archibong, Anne Fauver, Felicia Moore, C.T. Martin, Joyce Sheperd and Ceasar Mitchell — have said most constituents indicated a willingness to pay more in taxes in return for an end to police furloughs.

With the city bean-counters expecting only $490 million in annual revenues — down from nearly $650 million a couple years back — the alternatives to a tax increase, according to Mitchell, would’ve been cutting back on weekly trash pick-up, eliminating the recycling program, closing more rec centers and parks or, perhaps, additional employee furloughs.

But now the Eight are catching hell from people whose top concern was higher taxes.

Once the dust settles on the vote and the hate mail subsides, Council members agree, the newly un-furloughed city workers are going to need to step up their game in order to meet heightened taxpayer expectations.

“There can be no excuses now for poor service delivery,” says Young. “From here on, it’s zero tolerance for mediocrity.”

Bookmark It

The race to represent Morningside, Druid Hills, Virginia-Highland and Midtown residents at City Hall gets bigger by the week.

The Southern Voice reports that Miguel Gallegos has officially entered the contest, joining Liz Coyle, Alex Wan and Steve Brodie. Councilwoman Anne Fauver has said she would not seek a third term in office.

We’re hearing another potential candidate has been seen handing out campaign information in Piedmont Park. That mystery person hasn’t officially filed their papers yet. When she does, however, be prepared for this race — which is already spinning with political dynamics — to get even more interesting.

Gallegos, who the Voice reports is openly gay, doesn’t have a website just yet. Hey, Miguel! Send us a line sometime!

Bookmark It

Jim Maddox, caught between naps

The Atlanta City Council voted today to raise property taxes by 3 mills, an outcome we’d been predicting for weeks. But the actual vote count — 8 to 7 — was closer than anyone expected it to be. Not because Council members believed the tax hike was a bad idea. Hell, with only one or two possible exceptions, even those who voted against it were privately praying it would pass.

No, the vote was so close because several of our Council members possess, as Teddy Roosevelt once said, “the backbone of a chocolate eclair.”

Exhibit A is Jim “40 Winks” Maddox, the self-proclaimed “Dean of the Council” because he’s warmed a chair in City Hall for more than three long decades. Today, Maddox shocked his colleagues by voting against the tax hike and the $541 million budget. This is a guy who, two months ago, said publicaly that he didn’t think Mayor Franklin’s proposed 3-mill increase was big enough!

“I’m prepared to approve a tax increase to end the furloughs for all employees,” he announced at a budget hearing at the end of April.

But that was before he picked up three challengers for his beloved Council seat. So, today, without giving anyone a heads up, the lily-livered Maddox cravenly hung his colleagues out to dry.

Here’s guessing the next Council retreat is going to be awwwkward.

(more…)

Bookmark It