Latest news with #AtlantaCityCouncil
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Atlanta City Council approves $3B budget for 2026
The Brief The Atlanta City Council approved a $3 billion budget for fiscal year 2026, focusing on public safety, housing, infrastructure, and youth programs. Key spending priorities include strengthening police and fire services, affordable housing, infrastructure upgrades, economic development, and expanded youth programs. Additional measures include infrastructure improvements, small business support, and environmental considerations for new data centers. ATLANTA - The Atlanta City Council unanimously approved a $3 billion operating budget for the 2026 fiscal year on Monday, including a $975.4 million general fund, marking the fourth consecutive year the Dickens administration has passed its budget without opposition. What we know The budget, which takes effect July 1, allocates funding across multiple city departments and major funds, with investments in public safety, housing, infrastructure, and youth programs. What they're saying "This budget represents our shared commitment to building a city that invests in its people, strengthens our infrastructure and looks to the future," Mayor Andre Dickens said in a statement. "I am grateful to the City Council for their collaboration in advancing a budget that puts public safety, economic growth and sustainability at the forefront." Chief Financial Officer Mohamed Balla called the package a "balanced budget" that reflects "smart, responsible planning—prioritizing impact, equity and long-term value for Atlanta residents." By the numbers Among the spending priorities: Public safety and community programs: Funding to strengthen police and fire services and expand youth engagement and violence prevention programs. Affordable housing and homelessness support: Continued investments in housing developments and services for residents experiencing homelessness. Infrastructure and transit: Upgrades to roads, sidewalks, and public transit systems. Economic development: Programs to attract new businesses and support small business growth. Youth and education: Expanded after-school programs and youth employment initiatives. Big picture view In other action, the council approved a series of measures ranging from infrastructure improvements to small business support: An ordinance requiring reflective roofing materials in new construction to reduce urban heat (25-O-1310). A resolution accepting $80,000 in upgrades from the Atlanta Hawks Foundation for the Pittman Park Recreation Center (25-R-3507). Renewals of contracts with 10 vendors to continue afterschool programs through the Centers of Hope initiative (25-R-3515, 3516, 3518). A resolution to study challenges small businesses face in securing affordable retail space and explore possible solutions such as tax incentives and lease subsidies (25-R-3503). An ordinance mandating special-use permits for new data centers, with environmental considerations for water and energy use (25-O-1063). A $3 million agreement with the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District for pedestrian wayfinding improvements (25-R-3449). Additional funding of up to $250,000 for the Silver Comet Connector trail project (25-R-3508). Authorization for the city's public defender office to accept a $156,000 grant to provide immigration deportation defense services (25-O-1305). Several new proposals were also introduced Monday, including a $61.3 million sewer replacement project in southwest Atlanta, a reallocation of federal funds for affordable housing, and an agreement with Cobb County to provide wastewater treatment services in some parts of the city. The council also issued proclamations recognizing National Safety Month, Paralegal Week and the National Puerto Rican Day Parade. The Source The details in this article were provided by the city of Atlanta.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Hartsfield-Jackson moving forward with cell service infrastructure deal after city council approval
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport announced Thursday that they were going to start upgrades for enhancing wireless service on the grounds. According to officials, the Atlanta City Council approved carrier agreements for a distributed antenna system at the airport last Monday. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Now that it's been approved by Mayor Andre Dickens, the airport will begin the process of upgrading its wireless services and improving cellular coverage throughout the passenger facilities. The carriers that will work with the airport to complete the work and provide services were T-Mobile and AT&T, officials said. TRENDING STORIES: Did you get a text like this? GA Dept. Of Drivers Services warns it's a scam 'Life doesn't feel real:' Family mourns GA 9-year-old found shot in car Marietta hotel fined women hundreds for smoking, but they say other activities tripped sensors 'Investing in innovative infrastructure like the new DAS is how we maintain ATL's reputation as a global force to be reckoned with,' said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. 'As the gateway to our city and the world, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport must meet and exceed the digital demands of today's travelers and tomorrow's innovations. This upgrade ensures our airport remains a global leader in connectivity, safety, and the overall passenger experience.' According to the announcement, the upgrade will transition the airport from 4G infrastructure to 5G, with mechanisms in place to allow any future carrier's signal, including expansion of service with other partners. Airport officials said the upgrades will also improve passenger experiences, upgrade radio signal distribution for public safety personnel and further reinforce the facility's commitment to safety and operational excellence. Right now, the airport said it was using 'outdated equipment that has reached end-of-life,' with limited parts available for repairs and a design that makes it difficult to modernize. 'As the world's busiest and most efficient airport, we are committed to delivering a world-class travel experience in every dimension — including connectivity,' said ATL General Manager Ricky Smith. 'This DAS upgrade is a critical step in future-proofing our facility and meeting the digital expectations of our guests.' [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Sen. Jason Estevez talks about his campaign for governor
The Brief State Sen. Jason Estevez has launched his campaign for Georgia governor and received early endorsements from Atlanta City Council members, state lawmakers, and education leaders. Estevez emphasized his experience as an educator, school board member, small business owner, and legislator as key qualifications for addressing the state's challenges. The Democratic primary is expected to grow more competitive, with former Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms already in the race and potential bids from Michael Thurmond and Stacey Abrams. ATLANTA - Georgia's midterm elections may still be months away, but the race for governor is already heating up. What we know Sen. Jason Estevez, the first Democrat to officially launch a campaign for the office, has received a wave of early endorsements from a diverse group of state and local leaders. PREVIOUS: Sen. Jason Esteves announces campaign for governor of Georgia Atlanta City Council members, state lawmakers, members of the Atlanta Public School Board, and a DeKalb County commissioner released a joint statement backing Estevez's bid for governor. What they're saying Councilman Doug Shipman voiced his support publicly on X, formerly Twitter, writing, "I'm excited to endorse Jason Estevez for governor. I've worked with him for many years and know his dedication and commitment to a better Georgia." "I think those leaders who came out and endorsed me yesterday are folks who are on the ground, have been doing the work in our communities for many years and understand that Georgia needs a governor that not only is going to speak to the issues that need to be solved, but has been doing the work his whole life trying to tackle those issues, and that's who I am," Estevez said. He cited his background as an educator, school board member, small business owner, and state senator as qualifications that give him the experience needed to lead the state. "I'm running for governor because I believe that Georgia deserves better, that we have a state that's made progress but is leaving way too many folks behind," Estevez said. What's next Georgia's Democratic primary could become increasingly competitive. Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced her candidacy last week, and both DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond and former Democratic nominee Stacey Abrams are reportedly considering a run. RELATED STORIES Keisha Lance Bottoms announces run for governor, vows to unite Georgia Keisha Lance Bottoms explains why she is best choice for governor Sen. Jason Esteves announces campaign for governor of Georgia Rep. Lucy McBath pausing potential run for Georgia governor in 2026 Estevez remains confident. "The key is making sure that we stay focused on the issues that matter to most Georgians," he said.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Keisha Lance Bottoms Interview: ‘I'm Standing Up and I'm Fighting Back'
When Keisha Lance Bottoms first ran for mayor of Atlanta in 2018, part of her campaign's appeal was that she was deeply rooted in Black Atlanta. Supporters loved to wear T-shirts emblazoned with 'My mayor's name is Keisha' from the barbershop to the neighborhood BBQ. Proudly repping the city's southwest side, she declared victory after a heated run-off against a feisty white opponent whose campaign threatened to end Atlanta's 44-year run of Black mayors. With promises to address an affordable housing crisis and public safety, and to clean up city government after several employees from the previous administration were indicted in a federal bribery investigation of City Hall, Bottoms confidently took the helm as Atlanta's 60th mayor. But the honeymoon didn't last long. Bottoms, only the second Black female mayor in Atlanta's history, was soon facing headwinds under the overreach of the first Trump administration, a crushing pandemic, and protests over the police murder of George Floyd. For many, their lasting image of Bottoms — and one that thrust her onto the national scene — was as an impassioned and frustrated politician denouncing vandalism and violence in the city's streets. Pleading for calm during a press conference, she called out protesters for tearing up their beloved city during demonstrations over the death of Floyd. 'What I see happening on the streets of Atlanta is not Atlanta,' Bottoms said. 'This is not a protest. This is not in the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr. This is chaos.' After her remarks went viral, she was soon being name-checked as a potential 2020 running mate for Joe Biden. The woman who was the only Atlanta mayor to serve in all three branches of government was quickly branded a rising star within the Democratic Party. Which is why supporters and critics alike were puzzled when Bottoms issued an open letter online announcing her decision to no longer seek a second term in 2021. Titled 'Dear Atlanta,' the message was clear that her time in office had taken a toll. 'The last three years have not been at all what I would've scripted for our city,' Bottoms said at her final press conference, where she referenced managing a debilitating cyberattack on City Hall records and additional racial unrest after the Atlanta police shooting of Rayshard Brooks in 2020, and referred to President Donald Trump as 'a madman in the White House.' But the former prosecutor and married mother of four, who also spent eight years on the Atlanta City Council and logged two years as a Fulton County Superior Court judge, wasn't completely finished with politics. Bottoms headed to Washington to serve in the White House as director of the Office of Public Engagement and as a senior adviser to President Joe Biden from 2022 to 2023. And now, as the country grapples with the whipsaw nature of Trump's second term, Bottoms, 55, told Capital B Atlanta she launched her gubernatorial campaign because she felt a renewed call to elected service. 'November was a turning point for me.' Bottoms said in a telephone interview on the morning of her gubernatorial announcement. 'Like so many people, I woke up after the election wondering what could I do in this moment.' Bottoms reenters the political spotlight in the Peach State looking to focus on expanding Medicaid, eliminating income tax for teachers, taking on corporate landlords to create more access to affordable housing, and supporting small-business owners. She would become just the second Black woman in state history to run for governor on a major party ticket if she wins her party's nomination next May. Stacey Abrams became the first in 2018 when she launched her first of two historic bids. Abrams has expressed interest in a third attempt next year, but so far hasn't made it official. Other prominent Georgians who have expressed an interest in running for governor, but have not made an official declaration, include Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, both Republicans, and former DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond and state Rep. Derrick Jackson, from Tyrone, who are both Democrats. Fellow Democrat Jason Esteves, a state senator representing Atlanta, and Republican Attorney General Chris Carr are the only other declared candidates in the 2026 gubernatorial race so far. Carr threw his hat in the race in late November. Esteves entered the contest on April 21. The Bottoms campaign released a video entitled 'For Georgia' to announce her gubernatorial run after weeks of speculation she would enter the race. She pulled no punches as she criticized Trump's impact on Georgia residents. 'This is a defining moment for Georgia and for our country,' Bottoms said in the video, which features an homage to her late grandmother and her five-generation lineage that hails back to a Georgia plantation. 'With chaos in Washington, Georgians need a leader who will stand up for them. I'm running for governor to fight for Georgia families and deliver the leadership they deserve.' In a wide-ranging interview with Capital B Atlanta on Tuesday, Bottoms explained her decision to run for governor, her plans to take on Trump's DEI ban and ICE raids, abortion rights, and what she's prepared to do in order to reenergize Black voters to send her to the Gold Dome. Here are highlights from our conversation with Keisha Lance Bottoms. The interview has been edited for clarity and length. Keisha Lance Bottoms: I served as mayor of Atlanta for three years under Donald Trump as president, and although I didn't vote for Trump, I don't think that'll be a surprise to anybody. I did hope that this Trump 2.0 term would be different, and in so many ways, it's been worse. So my service as mayor, my decision not to seek reelection, was about that season in my life, and we are all in a different season. I'm standing up and I'm fighting back. And for me, fighting back means that I am presenting myself as a candidate for governor. My family goes back five generations, at least in this state, we are able to trace our family to a plantation in Crawfordville, Georgia. So I know this state well. I know the opportunities that it's offered to my family. I know what's possible when you have leaders fighting for you. That's why I'm running for governor. As mayor of Atlanta, expanding our affordable housing stock was a cornerstone of our administration, even in the midst of the pandemic and all the challenges that presented, we were able to add 7,000 affordable and workforce housing units to our stock in Atlanta. And when it comes to corporate landlords, I've been paying very close attention to a bill that was presented in Virginia, and it sought to put a cap on the type of companies that could make these investments in communities. We're not trying to restrict people from being able to buy property and to use their money, but what we are particularly focusing on are corporate landlords who are buying up entire communities. They're buying up entire neighborhoods. It's making it difficult for people to be able to afford houses. For those who are renting homes, it's often difficult for them to get somebody on the telephone to respond to the challenges that they are having if they need a repair in their home. … We're going to look across the country and see what's working best to help manage corporate homeownership … in the state of Georgia. So, I have to remind people, it wasn't just 2020 that we were able to turn Georgia blue. We also sent Sen. [Raphael] Warnock back to the Senate in '22, and we saw that there was a split ticket. The state went red for the governor's race, and it went blue in the Senate race. So we know that it's possible, and we will continue to remind people just how significant one election can be for their livelihoods. If you think about what Donald Trump has done to employees across Georgia, from gutting the CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] to laying people off and moving government offices, all of this is the result of one election. … We're the cradle of the Civil Rights Movement in Georgia, and being able to remind people in the same way that John Lewis reminded us, our vote is [the] most powerful tool we have, and we can't ever afford to sit out elections. So it's going to be about visiting communities across Georgia, earning the vote, the respect and the support of people across the state. I'm going to talk directly to Black men … listening to them directly about why they have been discouraged [and] what has maybe made them say, 'I don't know that anybody is listening to me.' We can't take anybody for granted, and I think Black men are getting a bad rap. Our democracy doesn't hang in the balance because one group has said that they are frustrated and they don't feel heard. It's about all of us. So I'm going to talk directly to Black men — I've got a lot of them in my house, so I hear a lot — but listening to [Black men] directly about why they have been discouraged [and] what maybe made them say, 'I don't know that anybody is listening to me.' What I did as mayor, we were not directly responsible for public health, that's the responsibility of the county. But it didn't stop me from putting a leader in place to make sure that we were seamlessly coordinated with the county and the state on our health-related issues. I had no idea that we would face a pandemic. But I knew we needed coordination on things like our HIV/AIDS rates and other chronic diseases that were plaguing people in Atlanta. So in the same way, as governor, I'll make sure that we have people in place who are serious about public health. It won't be a situation like we've seen with the [Georgia Maternal Mortality Review] committee that was charged with examining issues with women who died in childbirth, and when the governor didn't like the results they came up with, they abolished the committee. We want to rely on science. We want to rely on data. We want to have solutions because in Georgia, we have some of the highest rates in the nation, whether it's chronic diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure to the challenges we've seen with maternal mortality rates. So I'll make sure that I have people who aren't afraid to tell me the truth to lead us in public health and also making sure we're getting ahead of the curve and coordinating and standing in the gap — especially for those programs that are being gutted by Donald Trump. So I will use everything in my power as governor to take us back to Roe v. Wade, the law of the land for 50 years that served this country well. I would use the power of the governor's office to put us back where we were with the parameters of Roe v. Wade. We now have a six-week abortion ban. And what people need to realize, especially when you're looking at the situation that the Smith family is facing, it's not just about women who are attempting to terminate pregnancies. You know, it's the South, people are still very conservative [with] their thoughts on abortion and what that means. I respect that, but it's also about women who are experiencing miscarriages. And now it's about a young woman who has been declared brain dead, and her family does not have the ability, in consultation with her doctor, to make a decision as to whether or not she'll remain on life support. I don't think any family, no matter what you think about abortions, wants to be faced with that dilemma. So I will use everything in my power as governor to take us back to Roe v. Wade, the law of the land for 50 years that served this country well. As it relates to Target, I certainly understand the sentiment. I had a great deal of respect for Target and what it did in terms of promoting Black vendors. So I respect and hold in high regard our ability to mobilize. I am concerned about how it will affect Black brands that are carried in Target. … I'm concerned about people who work at Target. In some communities, it's the only grocery store they have access to in their communities. So it really is a double-edged sword. I hope that not just Target, but all other companies looking at how they are handling DEI don't just swing the pendulum the other way because they're concerned about pressure. Sit down with leaders like Jamal Bryant and other leaders who are saying, 'We have ideas about how you can do things better and differently.' … As it relates to DEI in general, we're seeing the hands of time turn back. And what we don't need to do is allow people to define DEI as something negative. DEI is not just about Black people. It's about women. It's about communities that have not had a seat at a table, LGBTQ communities. It's about white women who are seeking to get contracts and entrée into industries that they otherwise may not have had an opportunity to have entrée into. We can't allow that to now be defined as something dirty and ugly. I'm deeply concerned about the administration's efforts to suspend due process and to eliminate habeas corpus. [Trump's] trying to gut the Constitution before our eyes. I'm deeply concerned about the administration's efforts to suspend due process and to eliminate habeas corpus. [Trump's] trying to gut the Constitution before our eyes. I don't think anybody wants dangerous criminals on our street, and that doesn't have anything do with an immigration status. … We need to be thoughtful about how we are pursuing our policies [and] not just do gimmicky things to say you are working on immigration. Be thoughtful about how you're going to address the immigration challenges that we have had in this country. The way to do that is not to eliminate positions for immigration judges. Add more people who can help process asylum applications. Look at what's working right and expand from there. Don't just jump off this cliff because you think it's politically expedient to do something that gets attention and doesn't solve any other real issues that we have. I supported the training center, and I think it would have been great if the petitions had been counted and that process had gone through as well. But I'm glad that the training center is open. We want well-trained police officers and firefighters in our communities. The police academy was in disrepair. The fire academy was even worse. But whether you agreed or disagreed, it was necessary. People have to remember, police are responding to everything. If it's someone who's having a domestic issue at their home, or somebody who's responding to a fender bender, we have to have police officers. They're necessary in our society. We want our firefighters to be trained to respond if, God forbid, we have a fire at our home, and we have to have somewhere to train them. I think ultimately, the way the funding was allocated was very different than what was initially negotiated by our administration. But each administration gets an opportunity to put its thumbprint on what moved forward and what was done. So I can't speak to decisions that the current administration had or decisions they made, but I still support the academy. I'll work with Trump where I can work with Trump. And those things he's doing to hurt Georgians — I'm going to fight for us. I served as mayor for three years while Trump was in office, so I'm no stranger to having to stand up to his administration and to push back on policies that are unfair to our cities. I won't hesitate to push back on policies that are harmful to people across Georgia. I've been in battle with him before, so I'm not afraid to do it again. My grandmother would be so tickled by this. I know it's nothing that she ever could have imagined. I remember when I was getting ready to go to law school, she kept saying, 'Can't you teach [at a school] like me? You had enough schooling.' [She was a] practical woman, but always cheering me on in every single thing I ever set my mind to do. I know she's smiling down from heaven, a great cloud of witnesses. I'm just very proud to have her featured in this ad. Additional reporting by Chauncey Alcorn The post Keisha Lance Bottoms Interview: 'I'm Standing Up and I'm Fighting Back' appeared first on Capital B News - Atlanta.
20-05-2025
- Politics
Former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms launches bid for Georgia governor
ATLANTA -- Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms says her single term as Atlanta mayor gave her 'battle-tested executive leadership' that she can offer to Georgia voters as she runs for governor. Bottoms, 55, officially launched her campaign Tuesday, becoming the second well-known Democrat to jump into the 2026 race. State Sen. Jason Esteves of Atlanta announced his campaign in April. 'As we are facing the uncertainty and the anxiety that's being created in Washington right now, I'm running to be a fighter for Georgia," Bottoms told The Associated Press on Monday. 'I want to be able to fight and deliver for our communities, whether it's from expanding Medicaid, to delivering for our small businesses, to making sure that people have a pathway to vocational and career training or college,' she said. Bottoms and Esteves hope to succeed Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, who can't run again at the end of his second term. On the Republican side, Attorney General Chris Carr kicked off his campaign in December, while Lt. Gov. Burt Jones is expected to announce that he's running sometime this summer. Among other Democrats, former DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond has expressed interest, and two-time candidate Stacey Abrams could choose to run again. Also running as a Democrat is the Rev. Olujimi 'Olu' Brown, a Methodist minister. A lawyer and former magistrate judge, Bottoms won election to the Atlanta City Council in 2009 and was reelected in 2013 before outgoing Mayor Kasim Reed endorsed her as his successor. Bottoms narrowly was elected and served one term that was defined by the pandemic. Every Atlanta mayor since World War II had sought a second term before the day in 2021 when Bottoms shocked Georgia's political establishment by saying she would not. But she says that didn't reflect a lack of desire for public service. 'Not having the energy to do the job, that was not the case. In fact, I ran through the tape,' Bottoms said, arguing she continued to accomplish things until the end of her term. As an early supporter of former President Joe Biden, Bottoms was among those considered to be his vice president. After stepping down as mayor, she joined the Biden administration as director of the White House Office of Public Engagement. Bottoms said she's not worried about being associated with an unpopular Biden. She also said she thinks her record on crime and public safety is a positive one, even though her administration struggled with the same COVID-19 era rise in murders as did other cities nationwide. "As mayor I gave our police and firefighters a historic pay raise. I actually supported the building of the public safety (training) center in Atlanta that's servicing people across the region,' Bottoms said. 'So I have a very strong record when it comes to public safety.' Proponents say the $118 million project, now complete, was sorely needed to replace outdated facilities. One early night of Atlanta protests following the death of George Floyd in 2020 ended with the burning of a police car and broken windows downtown that were broadcast worldwide. Bottoms won national praise that night for ordering protesters to 'go home' as she stood alongside Atlanta hip-hop stars Killer Mike and T.I. But weeks after Floyd's death, Rayshard Brooks, a Black man, was killed by an Atlanta police officer after a struggle following a field sobriety test. Atlanta's police chief resigned hours later. After one of the officers was criminally charged, Atlanta police officers called in sick in waves. Later, protesters burned down the Wendy's where Brooks died and an 8-year-old girl, Secoriea Turner, was killed when the car she was riding in was shot at near the restaurant. The turmoil led then-President Donald Trump and Kemp to repeatedly attack Bottoms' leadership. But Bottoms is betting that it's Trump that Democratic voters will view as the chaos agent.
