Monthly Archives: April 2019

‘Live from Woodruff Park’ Concert Series Kicks Off Tomorrow

Derek Prall 04/30/2019

Image via atlantadowntown.com.

The “Live from Woodruff Park” concert series returns tomorrow, May 1.

The kick-off show will be headlined by Gritz and Jelly Butter, and emceed by Camille Russell Love, the executive director of Atlanta’s office of cultural affairs, according to event materials.

Live from Woodruff Park is free to the public, and food is available for purchase on site, as well as at the many nearby bars and restaurants, event materials indicate. The series is family-friendly and picnic baskets, blankets, chairs and on-leash pets are all allowed.

Concerts in the series are held every Wednesday in May, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m., according to event materials. Opening bands start around 5:40 p.m., and headliners go on around 7 p.m. The stage is located on Woodruff Park’s main lawn, bordered by Edgewood Ave., Peachtree St., Auburn Ave., and Park Place.

Additional headlining acts this month include the “queen of blues guitar,” Beverly Watkins and Atlanta vocalist Ruby Velle, according to event materials. For a complete list of acts and other events, click here.

Metro ATL

Oglethorpe University President Announces He Will Step Down Next Year

Derek Prall 04/30/2019

Image via Wikipedia.

Oglethorpe University President Lawrence Schall announced he will be stepping down next year. Schall has served as the university’s president since 2005 and is the longest-serving sitting college or university president in Georgia.

“I have been privileged to serve this university and have put my heart and soul into leading it to a strong, secure place,” Schall said in a statement. “I could not be prouder of the thousands of graduates who have crossed Oglethorpe’s commencement stage since I arrived in 2005. As I consider how far we’ve come as an institution during that time, I am immensely optimistic about Oglethorpe and its future. I am grateful my path in life brought me to the extraordinary city of Atlanta and to Oglethorpe, a community that strives to ‘make a difference.’”

Schall’s presidency brought financial improvement and stability to the University, he oversaw extended periods of increases in enrollment and campus growth and he strengthened connections between the university and the city, university materials indicate.

Since Schall took office, Oglethorpe increased its net assets by 174 percent, while reducing total debt by 51 percent, according to university materials he university increased its annual revenue by 152 percent; increased its endowment by 157 percent; increased enrollment by 50.8 percent and increased its philanthropic giving with more than $130 million raised.

During his tenure, Schall has been an advocate for DACA students or DREAMers, university materials indicate. In 2019, Oglethorpe partnered with TheDream.US to offer scholarships to undocumented students. Oglethorpe was the first partner institution in Georgia and the first across the county in a “locked out” state, where DREAMers coul not receive in-state tuition or state financial aid.

Shall also founded College Presidents for Gun Saftey in 2012, following the Sandy Hook tragedy, gaining the support of more than 300 college and university presidents and education leaders from across the country for gun safety on campuses, according to the university.

Politics

City Council’s Finance/Executive Committee to Hold Work Session on Participatory Budgeting

Derek Prall 04/29/2019

Image via the Atlanta City Council.

The Atlanta City Council’s Finance/Executive Committee is holding a work session tomorrow, Tuesday, April 30 at 11 a.m., to discuss an ordinance introduced by Amir Farokhi that would institute a “participatory budgeting” (PB) program in Atlanta.

Simply put, PB sets aside a portion of the city’s budget to be divided among it’s 12 districts, according to council materials. Residents are then asked to propose ideas for local projects to be funded by these funds, which are then voted on. Ideally, the winning project or projects are implemented within 12-18 months after the voting period ends.

“PB exists in cities big and small across the country and around the world,” Farokhi said in a statement. “They each have their own approaches but they all promote citizen engagement, improve outcomes for residents, and build trust in government. I’m hoping we can build a program worthy of Atlanta.”

The informal information session is open to the public, city officials and council members, and will feature two guests – Jillian Johnson, mayor pro tempore of Durham, N.C., and Carlos Menchace, a councilmember from New York City – two communities where PB programs are already in place, according to council materials. The session will be held in Committee Room 1 at Atlanta’s City Hall.

Business

Midtown Alliance Seeks Public Input

Derek Prall 04/29/2019

Image via Midtown Alliance.

The Midtown Alliance is asking for the community’s input and perceptions on a wide range of topics to improve the neighborhood.

The 2019 Community Survey aims to collect important data the organization will use to make Midtown a better place to live and work, according to program materials. Topics covered include shopping, transportation, the use of public spaces and public safety initiatives.

“We’ll use the results to plan for emerging issues and improve our programs,” survey materials read. “We haven’t done this since 2016, so it will be interesting to see what has changed.”

Answers will be kept confidential and will be summarized so that responses cannot be linked to respondents, according to survey materials. It takes about 10 minutes to complete the survey, and the results will be shared later this summer.

Click here to take the survey.

Entertainment

YMCA Hosting ‘Healthy Kids Day’ Events Across Atlanta

Derek Prall 04/26/2019

The swimming pool at the Carl E. Sanders YMCA in Buckhead. Image via YMCA.

On Saturday, April 27, 18 YMCA locations across metro Atlanta will be celebrating the organization’s 28th annual YMCA Healthy Kids Day. The event is a national initiative to improve health and well-being of children and their families.

The events will feature obstacle courses, family Zumba and yoga classes, healthy snack stations and other activities designed to help families develop healthy habits at home. Georgia has the 18th highest obesity rate for youth ages 10 to 17, according The State of Obesity. To combat this trend, the YMCA says its critically important to establish healthy habits in children – particularly during the summer, when their time is less structured.

“When kids are out of school, they can face hurdles that prevent them from reaching their full potential,” YMCA materials state. “Research shows that without access to physical and learning activities, kids fall behind academically. Kids also gain weight twice as fast during the summer than the school year.”

Events will take place at the Arthur M. Blank Youth Center, The Villages at Carver the East Lake YMCA and many others across the metro area. To find an event near you, click here. To learn more about programing and volunteering efforts, click here.

Transit

MARTA Hosting Bus Operator Job Fair

Derek Prall 04/25/2019

Image via Wikipedia.

Looking for a job? The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) will be holding a bus operator job fair on Saturday, April 27 at their headquarters from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

MARTA is looking for both full and part time bus operators, according to program materials. Starting pay is $16.38 an hour, with a top rate of $23.17. Additionally, employees enjoy paid training, benefits and unlimited use of the MARTA system.

To be considered, applicants must possess a valid CDL driver’s license or a CDL permit with passenger endorsements, according to MARTA materials. They’ll need to bring with them a resume with a vaild email address and phone number, and possess a social security card and a GED, a high school diploma or a higher degree.

MARTA headquarters is located at 2424 Piedmont Road NE. Applicants are encouraged to ride the train to Lindbergh Station – the building is located directly across the street.

Politics

Mayor Announces $60 Million Affordable Housing Investment

Derek Prall 04/25/2019

Image via Wikipedia.

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms today announced the city will be investing $60 million in new affordable housing projects. These funds are expected to create and preserve more than 2,000 affordable units across the city.

“This is a prime example of what can happen when government, the private sector, and our nonprofit partners join together for the common good,” Mayor Bottoms said in a statement. “Today represents the new era of cooperation among our public and private partners that will help Atlanta remain a place where working families, and residents at all income levels, can afford to live and build their dreams as we become One Atlanta.”

The new funds were approved by Atlanta Housing Board of Commissioners on Wednesday evening, and are made possible through partnership with Atlanta Housing and Invest Atlanta, according to city materials. The money will be used to build new units, preserve existing units, and kickstart community revitalization efforts.

Bottoms has pledged to invest $1 billion in housing affordability with the goal of producing and preserving 20,000 affordable units by 2026, according to city materials. With this new funding, the city has reached 20 percent of this goal.

Specifically, city materials indicate the funding will be used for several new and ongoing housing projects including:

Multifamily Gap Financing which will support the new construction and acquisition or rehabilitation of multifamily properties for long-term affordability.
Small Urban Infill Financing, which will fund small multifamily properties of less than 100 units and single-family infill development with mixed-income affordability.
A $10 million allocation to the Heritage Owner-Occupied Rehab Program – a joint effort from partners including Invest Atlanta, the city government, the Atlanta Housing Authority, Choice Atlanta, Synergy Real Estate and several other organizations to help lower-income residents remain in their homes and avoid displacement.

“This new funding is the result of true inter-agency collaboration,” Atlanta’s Chief Housing Officer Terri Lee said in a statement. “By creating new affordable housing mechanisms and having a laser-like focus in identifying funding opportunities, we can continue to help make Atlanta a city that everyone can call home.”

Beltline/ Crime and Public Safety

Woman Allegedly Robbed by Three Youths on Beltline

Derek Prall 04/24/2019

The area of the Beltline where the alleged attack took place. Image via Google Maps.

A woman claims three children with a gun robbed her on the Beltline on Easter Sunday, April 21.

The victim was walking west on the trail in southwest Atlanta when the group came up to her, asking to use her cellphone, police confirmed to WSBTV. When the woman refused, one of the youths flashed the gun tucked into his waistband and demanded her cellphone and ear buds.

The following Monday, April 22, Atlanta Police detained three males (ages 11, 12 and 12) they suspected were involved, Police officials told Atlanta Loop. Officers were able to confirm that the children detained were those described by the victim.

Police used surveillance cameras to find the suspects, WSBTV reports. Police said they’ve had incidences with the children before.

“We were actually able to make an identification from their previous history,” Atlanta Police Investigator James White told the TV station.

The 11-year-old and the 12-year-old that approached the victim were arrested and charged with armed robbery, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and possession of a handgun by a person under the age of 18, police officials said. One of the 12-year-olds arrested was determined to be the suspect with the weapon at the time of the robbery.

At this time, the third male has not been charged, but the investigation is ongoing, police officials told Atlanta Loop. Both of the juveniles were transported to Metro Regional Youth Detention Center.

Politics

Trump Visits Atlanta to Speak at 2019 Rx Drug Abuse and Heroin Summit

Derek Prall 04/24/2019

Image via www.donaldjtrump.com

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melina Trump arrived in Atlanta this afternoon to speak at the 2019 Rx Drug Abuse and Heroin Summit. They were greeted at the airport by Gov. Brian Kemp and other lawmakers.

During his speech, Trump touted his administration’s efforts to control illicit substances coming in through the nation’s southern border. “A lot of it is drugs and drugs are being gotten by us,” he said, according to CNN. “We are stopping the drug flow as much as we can. Soon we’re going to have a wall that’s very powerful … it will have a tremendous impact on drugs coming into our country.”

Trump also highlighted the First Step Act, a bipartisan criminal justice reform bill his son in law, Jared Kushner, helped pass last year, CNN reports. In just four months, 16,000 participating inmates are getting treatment for drug dependencies and addiction.

Trump also appeared to go off script when he read a line about pharmaceutical companies “rigging the system,” according to CNN. “I know all about the rigging the system because I had the system rigged on me, the president said, getting a laugh from the crowd. “I think you know what I’m talking about.”

Combating the opioid epidemic has been a priority for Trump’s administration, and the efforts have gained bipartisan support. According to the White House website:

As of October 2018, the administration had secured $6 billion in new funding over a two-year window to fight opioid abuse.
To curb over-prescription, the President implemented a Safer Prescribing Plan that will cut opioid prescription fills by one-third within three years.
The administration is working to secure land borders, ports of entry and waterways against smuggling.
In 2018, President Trump worked with Congress to pass the SUPPORT Act, the single largest legislative package addressing a single drug crisis in history.

As expected, the president’s visit created major traffic problems, but as of about 3 p.m. the downtown connector was reopened following his departure, the AJC reports. Heavy southbound delays up into midtown were reported.