Fresh Loaf

CLINTON: Wins West Virginia; Obama courts bluer collars.

LEAVE IT TO BEAZER: Atlanta-based Beazer Homes announces it lost more than $400 million in fiscal 2007. It’s also still the target of federal investigations over its mortgage lending practices.

MARRIOT MARQUIS: The 52-story downtown hotel was evacuated last night, with no reported injuries, after a fire created a cloud of chlorine gas in the parking garage basement. Here’s AccessNorthGa’s take on what happened.

LANDLINES: Lame.

COMMUTISM: High gas prices are fueling more carpooling, bussing and train riding in Gwinnett.

HOLDING WATER: Gov. Perdue visits the muddy shores of Lake Lanier to sign the Water Conservation and Drought Relief Act of 2008, which will expedite the creation of new reservoirs.

THE HOLE TRUTH: A large hole has appeared in a White County dam, and officials say the entire dam is in danger of failure.

Bookmark It

In regards to the infamous YouTube video, MARTA has finally released a statement on the arrest of a female who allegedly verbally assaulted a fellow rail passenger.

Statement from MARTA Chief of Police Wanda Dunham:

MARTA police have arrested the individual who was allegedly involved in a verbal assault on a rail customer. A video of the incident, which MARTA police have determined occurred on March 10, 2008, was recently posted on the Internet. Nafiza Ziyad, 25, is being held in DeKalb County jail and has been charged with Simple Assault, two counts of Certain Acts in Transit and Disorderly Conduct. The arrest late Thursday, May 8, 2008 came after MARTA officials were able to interview the actual victim of the train harassment.

When this incident was brought to our attention, we immediately began tracking down any and all leads to ensure that this person was brought to justice. This arrest was the result of hard work and relentless follow-up by the Criminal Investigations Division of the MARTA police as well as invaluable tips and assistance from the public. MARTA is working closely with DeKalb County Solicitor-General Robert James to prosecute this individual to the fullest extent of the law.

I want to reiterate that this is an extremely isolated incident and that customer safety and security are our highest priorities. We regret that the many citizens who witnessed this incident did not utilize the emergency call button that is available in all rail cars to directly contact the rail operator or contact MARTA police so that we could have responded to this situation immediately. MARTA police officers regularly patrol the trains and are available at rail stations to provide assistance. Customers can also reach MARTA Police communications directly by dialing (404) 848-4911 or by pressing #MPD on any AT&T, Verizon, or Sprint/Nextel cellular phone. Blackberry users press #673.

Bookmark It

Atlanta entertainment blogger Sandra Rose says Soulja Girl (a.k.a. the young woman depicted in a recent web video yelling and rapping abusively at an elderly woman on a MARTA train), was arrested and released on bail Friday. Rose does not reveal the alleged Soulja Girl’s full name, but does post what appears to be a mug shot.

In a previous post, Rose says a woman claiming to be Soulja Girl’s sister told V-103’s Ryan Cameron Show Friday that her sister suffers from bipolar disorder.

From SandraRose.com:

Soulja Girl’s sister and baby daddy called into the Ryan Cameron Show on V-103 today. Soulja Girl’s sister told Ryan that her sister was diagnosed with bipolar disorder 5 years ago and the incident on the train was the result of her sister not taking her meds.

She said Soulja Girl was turned into police by their mother yesterday and she is being held on $300 bail.

On a more meta-note, people love them some public-transit drama. According to the ViralVideoChart, this thing “spread like wildfire.”

(Thanks to Grayson for passing along the Sandra Rose link.)

Bookmark It

After gazing into their crystal balls and consulting with Weather God Flip Spiceland, DOT honchos have canceled this weekend’s resurfacing work on I-75/85.

If for some bizarre reason the sun decides to shine and the road crews should begin to work, be on the lookout for activity on southbound lanes between between University Avenue and 10th Street. Look for alternate routes and remember to drive safe.

As always, if you’re looking to get out and about, always take a minute to see if you can get there on public transit. Your cheerful scribe used MARTA last night to get to some rock concert and it was an enjoyable experience. No word of “pressing charges” or anything.

Bookmark It

According to MARTA, the passionate young lady who displayed a variety of talents in a video we posted yesterday has a warrant issued for her arrest.

“MARTA police were notified about this video last Friday and launched an immediate and aggressive investigation into the incident. After canvassing the East Lake Station where the suspect reportedly exited the train, we received an anonymous tip that this incident possibly occurred on March 31, 2008 between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. The tipster also indicated the suspect has been known to ride Bus Route 22. MARTA police were able to positively identify the individual allegedly involved in this incident and have secured a warrant for her arrest.”

“We want to assure the public that this is an extremely isolated incident and that customer safety and security are our highest priorities,” stated MARTA Chief of Police Wanda Dunham. “We regret that any customer had to endure such harassment while using our system. I also wish the many citizens who witnessed this incident would have contacted the MARTA police so that we could have responded to this situation immediately. We are asking that anyone who witnessed this incident please come forward to provide additional first hand information, which may lead to additional charges against the suspect. If you have any information about this incident, please contact MARTA Police Detectives at (404) 848-4911.”

“MARTA police officers regularly patrol the trains and are available at rail stations to provide assistance. Emergency call buttons are also located in all rail cars, which go directly to the rail operator in case customers need to request immediate assistance. Customers can also reach MARTA Police communications directly by dialing (404) 848-4911 or by pressing #MPD on any AT&T, Verizon, or Sprint/Nextel cellular phone. Blackberry users press #673.”

Bookmark It

Radiohead plays Thursday at Lakewood Amphitheater and, being the eco-conscious angst-ridden gents they are, have suggested fans use public transit if possible.

MARTA will be operating a shuttle service between the Lakewood/Fort McPherson station (s4) and the venue tomorrow night. Gates to the venue will open to MARTA customers at 5:30 p.m.The shuttle stops running one hour after the amphitheater closes. Fare’s $1.75 and covers both the shuttle and rail services. Parking at MARTA stations is free as long as you’re not there for more than 24 hours.

So jump on the North-South line and make Thom Yorke smile, maybe even cry. If you’d like to see how you can get from home to the MARTA station without having to drive at all, click here and tell the navigation droids what they want to know.

Bookmark It

You might want to wear headphones or at least turn down the volume for this one. (For those afraid to blindly click: Freestyling, senior citizen badgering, wild accusations, MARTA, video.)

UPDATE: Erick over at Peach Pundit, citing a confidential source at one of the 29 La Quinta Hotel locations in the state, says the governor will sign the guns-in-Girl-Scouts-meetings bill, or whatever the Hades those liberals are calling that thing these days.

UPDATE, THE SEQUEL: Youtube’s now got it.

UPDATE, YET AGAIN: MARTA released a statement about the incident, announcing that a warrant has been issued for the female’s arrest.

(Thanks to Brooke Hatfield)

Bookmark It

Two nights ago, I spoke with a friend in France who said that while she feels sorry for us Americans and our shock about high gas prices, the collective opinion of Europeans is “welcome to the club.” We’re finally paying the true cost of energy as they always have and — shock! — it’s a lot.

And in metro Atlanta, where decades of inaction on public transit has been almost a badge of honor for shortsighted legislators, people are realizing how woefully underfunded one of the best alternatives is now that they need it the most.

(more…)

Bookmark It

CONNECT THE WORKERS Rev. Timothy McDonald of First Iconium Baptist Church says movement and mobility are a human right and essential to getting people to hospitals, jobs and families.

Two groups hoping to help metro Atlantans move about our world came head to head last night at the Transit Planning Board’s final presentation of Concept3, its regional people-moving vision.

Prior to the plan’s presentation at the Fulton County Library’s downtown branch, several organizations outside rallied to call attention to their own two-year plan which they say places emphasis on riders dependent on public transit to live their daily lives. Concept3, they argued, was “racist” and “white supremacist” in its scope, eschewed the workers who often don’t own cars and don’t travel during peak hours, and served merely as a way to funnel residents of outlying counties into and out of the city — its goal was to relieve congestion rather than connect people. Missing from the equation was a people’s voice on the MARTA executive board, they said. They said the TPB needed to disband and that MARTA be given full authority over public transit in the region.

The ire grew to a boil inside the library’s auditorium when Terence Courtney of Atlanta Jobs With Justice heatedly addressed Cheryl King of the TPB and repeated the groups’ demands. Chief among the concerns he listed was accessibility for the disabled and ensuring that public transit would connect people to areas where they could find sufficient work. King reminded Courtney that the plan is not set in stone and the purpose of the presentation was to gain insight into residents’ needs.

To its credit, the agency — while it may be another bureaucracy in the state’s slow-moving transportation realm — has pushed for transportation solutions for the southern part of the region and city, as well. King is black, as is Clayton County Commissioner Eldrin Bell, chairman of the board. Lest the agency receive new funding or revive its purpose, the TPB is already slated to disband within the next two years. Save for the Peachtree Streetcar, Concept3 does very little to speak about city-specific connections, but one could argue that area is being addressed by Mayor Shirley Franklin’s ConnectAtlantaPlan.

To view the transit riders’ plan, click here. To get more information about Concept3 and the TPB, click here.

(Photo by Thomas Wheatley)

Bookmark It

A new study by the Transit Planning Board shows metro Atlanta voters strongly support transit solutions rather than business as usual when it comes to people moving. In a telephone poll of 4,123 registered voters in 11 metro counties, an overwhelming majority of respondents say that while roads must be maintained and improved, regions need to invest in transit expansion and options for pedestrians.

The numbers from the report:

Increased investment in public transportation would strengthen metro Atlanta’s economy, create jobs, reduce traffic congestion, air pollution and fuel consumption (85% agree, 12% disagree).
Metro Atlanta needs to continue funding road construction, but also needs to spend additional money on new public transportation options (80% agree, 17% disagree).
My community needs more sidewalks and bike lanes (77% agree, 21% disagree).
My community needs more transportation options like commuter rail service, light rail, buses and trolleys (74% agree, 23% disagree).

In contrast, less than half of voters agree with the statement: Metro Atlanta can solve its transportation problems by building new and wider roads, without including new public transportation options (40% agree, 56% disagree).

The study also shows that a regional sales tax that offered a glimmer of hope to the metro Atlanta’s crippling congestion woes may have found strong support had it survived. Of those polled, 58 percent say they would have supported a funding strategy similar to the one that has helped cities such as Charlotte build a light-rail project. The study says voters of all demographics appear open to allow MARTA act as the implementer of those funds.

Perhaps most eye-opening is that 90 percent of those polled say they drive to work alone, with many commuting from neighboring counties into Fulton. Worrisome is that significant numbers of voters say they prefer driving to work. Of those asked who work full time, 31 percent say congestion is a “very serious” problem in metro Atlanta.

Public transit earned applause as well — 81 percent of respondents say they were satisfied with experiences on the service during the last year.

To view PDFs of the poll surveys, click here for DeKalb, here for Fulton, here for City of Atlanta, and here for Clayton.

The board, a coalition of the Georgia Department of Transportation, Atlanta Regional Commission, Georgia Regional Transit Authority, MARTA and other agencies, commissioned the study, which was funded by several community improvement districts throughout the region. To view the board’s vision of a more mobile metro region, click here.

(Photo by Jim Stawniak)

Bookmark It

Lost in the headlines about the DOT romance between former board Chairman Mike Evans and Commissioner Gena Abraham was the news that commuter rail earned a shot in the arm on Monday. The board passed a resolution that directs agency staff to determine how feasible a new funding concept would be to cover much of the costs — including the tricky operating costs — of a commuter rail network in metro Atlanta. Probable first on the list: A line between Atlanta and the awesomely named hamlet of Lovejoy. The project already has nearly $110 million in DOT funding earmarked as well as promised federal funding.

I heard what you said. “Lovejoy? Why not somewhere more populous and exciting, like Marietta? White Water’s fixing to open soon, yo.” My thoughts exactly.

But to create a vibrant rail corridor to Macon, a long-planned vision for the state, Lovejoy would be a good first stop. Also, when the idea was first brought to light years ago, the city to our south is as far as the money would take them. DOT Board member Larry Walker said that the money is there, time had been invested by certain parties, and it was the most feasible.

Walker says the resolution is not just a toothless vote that will add to the pile of such actions passed over the years.

“What’s the difference between this motion and the motions in the past?” said Robert Brown during Monday’s meeting.

“We want it done,” said Larry Walker, a board member who has been one of the biggest pushers for commuter rail. “We can keep coming back and talking about debt and what’s it going to cost, but we might be here in five years talking about the same thing.”

Walker’s not alone in wanting to see commuter trains run from Atlanta to Lovejoy.

“We’ve been talking about this too long,” said Bill Kuhlke, who became acting cha