Fresh Loaf

CBS Atlanta ASKED THE TOUGH QUESTIONS© — but didn’t get any answers — about a city-owned piece of property on Holtzclaw Street in Reynoldstown. (Click the photo to the right for the video.)

Residents say the building — which still has running water and electricity — has become a “hobo hotel.” It’s filled with mattresses, blankets, and even has a delightful shower set-up that’s constantly spurting water in case a passerby might wanna freshen up.

Tony McNary, who’s always game for tough questions, says he’ll go to city officials’ front doors if they don’t return his calls. As someone who uses this building every morning for long luxurious showers, I request city officials please avoid answering their front doors until I find a new place to go.

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Remember the daring robbers who broke into a Grant Park home and made off with a flat-screen TV? You probably saw it on the YooToobz, the world’s most powerful crime-fighting tool next to David Caruso.

Now other Atlanta residents are putting the site to use.

Surveillance camera footage recently uploaded to YouTube shows a person allegedly trying to break into cars at the Milltown Lofts in Reynoldstown on Aug. 9. The first video, filmed around 3:30 a.m., shows a man moseying through the parking lot and unsuccessfully trying to enter a black Toyota 4Runner.

Three hours later, the same man returns. He peers into the same car and then walks behind a silver pick-up truck. Several minutes later, the man is seen strolling past the camera and rolling a keyboard.

(more…)

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On Sunday, July 26, nonprofit arts center WonderRoot will host a “cops and robbers”-themed shindig to celebrate the  reopening of its digital media lab. (A recent break-in resulted in the loss of five computers, forcing the lab’s temporary closure.)

From WonderRoot Executive Director Chris Appleton:

Join us this Sunday at 8pm for a ‘Cops and Robbers’ themed reopening party of the WonderRoot digital media lab. As most of you have heard, there was a burglary at WonderRoot last week and we were forced to temporarily close our digital media lab. And while we are both sad and disappointed about the break-in, there is exciting news to report. The Digital Lab will reopen this upcoming weekend and we want you to join us in celebrating.

We would like to send a special thanks to the community for all the concern and willingness to help out. In fact, because of some of you the police were able to recover some of the stolen computers. We have been overwhelmed with the kind words and support expressed in light of the unfortunate events. This is why we want to celebrate. WonderRoot wants all of you to know that we are committed to continue providing state-of-the-art facilities. We believe that empowering the community with these resources will lead to a stronger, healthier, and more sustainable Atlanta.

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A weekend break-in at WonderRoot Community Arts Center that forced the closure of its digital media lab won’t impact the Reynoldstown nonprofit in the long term, its executive director Chris Appleton says.

“It’s unfortunate it’s happened here,” Appleton tells CL. “A space that’s worked toward bettering and building the community. We’re sad that some people are not respectful of the work the artists have created.”

The five computers that were taken were all insured, Appleton says, so the digital media lab will most likely be back up and operating by next week.

“We’re not going to let it stop us or slow us down,” he says.

He says he was surprised by the outpouring of support from WonderRoot and community members. Minutes after he sent an email to notify artists about the break-in, Appelton says, he received 30-40 responses asking if the center needed any assistance.

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An Atlanta attorney has announced her candidacy to represent East Atlanta, Cabbagetown and West DeKalb neighborhoods in the state House.

Asha Jackson, an East Atlanta resident and partner at Atlanta firm Carlock, Copeland and Stair, is the second person to join the House District 58 race. Robbin Shipp, the district’s former representative, resigned last month.

“I’m extremely excited about this opportunity for our district,” Jackson said in a press release. “It’s an honor to be asked to run and follow up on the good work done by Rep. Shipp. There are a lot of challenges facing our neighborhoods – the need for better schools, more good jobs with good benefits, and more affordable healthcare – I know together we can make Fulton and DeKalb counties an even better place to live, work and raise our families.”

(more…)

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The vacant state House seat serving the Reynoldstown, Cabbagetown and West DeKalb neighborhoods has at least one name gunning for it — Cabbagetown resident Michael McPherson.

The 34-year-old candidate — Democrat, of course — serves on the Cabbagetown Initiative Community Development Corporation and Stacks/Fulton Cotton Mill HOA Advisory boards. He was a member of a recovery effort after the March 2008 tornado that slammed the neighborhood.

If elected, McPherson says he’d push for legislation to help community groups similar to those that assisted in the tornado recovery effort — especially those which aided senior citizens. He also says he’d analyze proposed tax breaks to ensure they don’t sap cities and counties’ abilities to fund public services.

He says in a press release: “I will weigh all the so-called tax relief initiatives against the effects they will produce, such as property tax breaks that produce nominal results for the individual, yet impact local governments so severely that services like Fire and Police are cut across the board.”

(more…)

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A Democrat state representative serving the Reynoldstown, Cabbagetown and west DeKalb neighborhoods resigned from office today, citing concerns that her new job as a Fulton County prosecutor presented a conflict of interest under Georgia law.

Robbin Shipp, who’s served one term in the Georgia General Assembly, submitted her resignation to Gov. Sonny Perdue this morning.

Georgia law prohibits lawmakers from also working in state government. The Fulton County district attorney’s office is an arm of the state’s judicial branch.

Shipp joined the DA’s office as a senior assistant district attorney in October 2008 after serving as Grady Health System’s general counsel. At the time, she says, both she and DA Paul Howard inquired with the State Bar of Georgia if her dual roles as prosecutor and state representative posed a conflict of interest. She says the state bar issued unofficial opinions that said she was in the clear.

During the legislative session, however, Attorney General Thurbert Baker’s office raised concerns with Howard about her service in the General Assembly.

(more…)

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Awesome news. Developers say the full-service grocer planned for the old Atlanta Dairies location will be a “mainstream” store, but not a high-end chain such as Whole Foods or Fresh Market. Regardless, if you live nearby, you’re getting a place within walking distance to buy food.

(Thanks to Paul Donsky at the AJC)

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