Latest news with #MichaelJulianBond
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Yahoo
Atlanta crime dips: APD release late crime stats
The Brief It may be getting safer to walk down Atlanta streets. Crime is down overall. The homicide rate dropped 23 percent from the same time last year. The mayor credits community policing, youth programs, and stronger relations with neighborhoods. ATLANTA - City leaders say the drop in homicides shows their crime-reduction efforts are working. People who spoke to FOX 5 say they see the difference. What they're saying Joann Hawkins says she can tell deadly violence in Atlanta is down. When asked what she noticed, Hawkins said, "Less crime, less arguments." Grace Vetuschi says she feels more secure. "Great to hear that our community is safer," Vetuschi said. By the numbers Atlanta police report the overall crime rate dipped 11 percent in the first four months of this year compared to the same time last year. Homicides dropped 23 percent. Atlanta police investigated 30 homicides year to date. That's down from 39 in 2023. "Anytime that it decreases, that's a good indication that something you're doing is being effective," said Council member Michael Julian Bond, post 1 at large. Bond, a member of the Public Safety Committee, says Atlanta is putting more cops on the streets. "We've been able to hire more police officers and have more people patrolling," Bond said. "They're focusing on gang activity, focusing on violent crimes, making sure they're on top of those types of things." Bond says initiatives to provide young people alternatives to crime are working. "We're going to continue to have Camp Best Friends, we're going to continue to have midnight basketball, we're going to continue to have the summer jobs program and all the activities we can provide to give young people something to do," Bond said. The bad news is the rates of certain crimes rose. Rape is up 24 percent. Robberies increased 26 percent. Bond says APD will increase policing efforts even more as the summer months heat up. The other side The Atlanta Police Department declined to provide a comment for this story. The Source Atlanta Police Department crime statistics
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Atlanta's municipal workforce returns to office
The Brief The City of Atlanta will ask all of its employees to return to work, except for those in the 311 department. The more than 8,000 employees should return on April 10. City Councilman Michael Julian Bond says returning to work will provide an economic boost to the areas near city buildings. ATLANTA - For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down city buildings in March 2020, Atlanta is requiring nearly all of its more than 8,000 municipal employees to return to the office. City officials say the return date is set for April 10. What we know The directive impacts all city officials except for 311 call center staffers, who will remain remote. Interim Human Resources Commissioner Calvin Blackburn III said the return applies even to those employees who have worked entirely from home over the past five years. They will now be required to report in person at least three days a week."[It's necessary] to keep Atlanta moving forward," Blackburn said. City officials say the move mirrors many private-sector trends and is expected to benefit neighborhoods surrounding city facilities, which have seen a downturn in foot traffic and small business revenue since the shift to remote work. What they're saying "This is really kind of addressing a return to normalcy," said City Councilman Michael Julian Bond. "Just like in the private sector, the city makes a substantial investment in the buildings that we maintain. There is a cost to that. When people return to the facility, there is an economic impact on the surrounding community — whether they're buying gas, lunch, groceries, what have you." "The mayor is always present, and so he's leading by example," Bond said. "I know it's great to work in your pajamas, because the City Council did it for almost two years, but you've got the call to serve the public — and this is the best way to serve them." The Source FOX 5's Aungelique Proctor talked to city officials in the mayor's office and council members for this story.
