Atlanta Civic Circle

Thank you and goodbye Dear readers, We are sad to share that this is our final letter to you. Atlanta Civic Circle…... https://atlantaciviccircle.org/2026/06/01/thank-you-and-goodbye/

Most council members skipped the public’s only budget hearing, as Atlantans demand more money for parks, not police Just three council members, plus council president attended — despite record public turnout

Proposed changes could make Atlanta City Council public comment less of a time suck Councilmember Byron Amos wants public comment before proclamations, while SCHR wants to streamline donated time rules

TADs can jumpstart mayor’s $5.5B revitalization plan, but other public funding needed Experts and say the city will need other funding sources to make the Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative a reality.

Public outcry stalls proposal to replace Beltline light rail with bike, scooter lanes At least 25 Atlantans spoke against District 8 Councilmember Mary Norwood’s proposal.

Follow ACPC’s live coverage of Atlanta’s budget hearing. Cities like Boston and Chicago are rethinking how residents shape public spending. Atlanta has yet to follow suit. Here’s what ACC wrote last year: atlantaciviccircle.org/2025/05/28/a...

All but three statewide races head to a runoff A lot of primary races on both sides of the aisle are going to runoffs on June 16

Metro Atlanta legislative primary runoffs to watch These are the primary runoffs for Georgia House and Senate races that we’re tracking

Despite strong Democratic turnout, progressive judicial challengers mostly came up short Voters say they needed more info

Three Fulton County Commission posts go to Democratic primary runoffs  The hotly contested three-way Democratic primary for Fulton County Commission Chair will be settled in a runoff between incumbent Robb Pitts, who won 35% of the vote, and former District 4 Commissioner Mo Ivory, with 40%. …

Dickens pitches pared-back TAD extensions to fund $5.5B neighborhood plan The administration drops Beltline, Perry-Bolton TADs and adds anti-displacement, accountability measures.

Looking for election day coverage? We're partnering with @atlantaciviccircle.org and @capitalbatl.bsky.social to provide live coverage throughout the day and across election watch parties tonight.

Housing density advocates fear Atlanta’s zoning code rewrite will deliver more of the same “It’s definitely not an overhaul, and that’s pretty much by design. They’re not trying to upzone."

Sports betting PACs make big wagers on Georgia legislative races DraftKings, FanDuel and other industry players are using PACs to support Gold Dome candidates on both sides of the aisle

City council advances contested Kirkwood senior complex, after zoning review snag  The micro-apartments for homeless seniors would include supportive services.

Atlanta Housing to offer $60K in down payment assistance for Section 8 renters AH’s CEO, Terri Lee, aims to help rent-voucher recipients transition to homeownership.

Planning to select a Republican ballot in Georgia's May 19 primary? ACC expalins who's running for what seat. Plus, our Build Your Ballot tool is back. 🗳️ #gapol

Picking a Democratic ballot in the May 19 primary? ACC explains the key positions and who's running. Plus, our Build Your Ballot tool is back. 🗳️ #gapol

City Council considers audit of Housing Help Center Councilmember Kelsea Bond says Atlanta needs to know if its eviction-prevention system is working.

As Atlanta struggles to implement a 2024 blight tax, DeKalb rolls out its own A city audit found that Atlanta has not yet collected a dollar of its blight tax.

Atlanta Mayor finally tells firefighters he’ll sign union contract, as they push for pay increases Atlanta City Council unanimously approved the collective bargaining agreement over a year ago

Teamsters rally against Home Depot on May Day, as hundreds join Atlanta march The Democratic Socialists of America and a coalition of unions organized the evening May Day March

Atlanta City Council president’s first town hall served up a buffet of city liaisons Part Atlanta government expo and part Q&A, the two-hour event connected Atlantans to the right offices for their concerns

What you need to know about the judicial races on your ballot These are the nonpartisan races for the May 19 primary election

How Atlanta spends its housing trust fund is murky. New legislation seeks transparency. “There’s a universal desire to have a more digestible explanation for how these dollars are used."

City council advances firefighter pay-raise bill, amid union contract dispute with city Atlanta City Councilmember Wayne Martin introduced legislation Monday directing the city “to provide for equitable and competitive” pay for its firefighters by July 1, when the city’s 2027 fiscal year begins —…

Pre-World Cup, council members ask how Atlanta will police homelessness Georgia lawmakers passed a bill pressuring cities to enforce laws targeting unhoused people.

Fulton Chair candidates debate jail, housing, transit, elections and TADs Here are their responses to key questions about the county’s future.

With The Beacon’s debut, Atlanta hits 500 rapid housing units for homeless people Officials say the initiative shows how to move chronically unhoused people into stable homes faster.

Georgia Supreme Court challengers vow to take on corporate power Jen Jordan and Miracle Rankin say the state’s highest court doesn’t serve the people’s interest

Brewing legal beef over TAD extensions threatens $5.5B neighborhood renewal plan The dispute could determine whether billions of dollars fund the Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative.

DeFlock Emory Coalition demands university remove Flock license-plate cameras The DeFlock Emory Coalition said it has identified 10 Flock cameras on Emory property.

How four statewide elected offices affect your housing and living costs Georgia’s lesser-known commissioners have more impact on the cost of living than you might think.

Q&A: Four Fulton County Commission seats are up for election. So what does it do? What are Fulton residents actually voting for? 

Judge rejects HUD overhaul of grants to house the homeless, to Atlanta provider’s relief McElroy called the sudden policy shift a “slapdash imposition of political whims.”

Which bills did the Georgia Legislature ultimately pass on Sine Die? Most of the housing, civil liberties and elections bills we've been tracking stalled.

The unexpected candidate: Why newbie DSA member Mathewos Samson is running for the legislature A newly open Democratic seat sparked Samson’s bid for Atlanta’s House District 58

During the ‘96 Olympics, ‘jails became homeless shelters.’ Will the World Cup be different? Unhoused Atlantans fear a familiar playbook as the city gets ready to host global soccer fans.

Oversight report on mayor’s $10B plan reveals fissures over extending TAD funding Key commission members balked at the recommendation to negotiate extending TAD timelines.

Senate District 7 special election and primary to appear on Duluth-area May 19 ballots This has raised concerns voters may wonder why they are voting twice for the same seat.

Thousands turned out for ‘No Kings’ protests across Atlanta – including one luxury retirement community Photos and voices from Saturday’s protest

After months-long barista strike, Starbucks to resume bargaining with SBWU union Thousands of unionized Starbucks baristas walked off the job on Nov. 13 last year for SBWU’s longest strike.

Countdown to Sine Die: What housing and free-speech bills can still become Georgia law?  Here’s a summary of where things stand with less than a week to go before the 2026 session ends.

How Georgia’s governor and other top elected officials affect housing With elections nearing, housing affordability is top of mind for many voters.

Special election for Fulton Commission District 4 will be Nov. 3. The candidate qualifying period for the special election has yet to be decided.

Musical chairs in three Atlanta legislative districts Surprises in candidate qualifying for races for SD 44, HD 90, and HD 58.

City Council advances ICE controls, as Atlantans ask why mayor didn’t sign fire union contract The full council will vote on both ICE resolutions on April 20.