Atlanta News

From the Atlanta Daily World:

CEO Lawyer Ali Awad Wins $75,000 Settlement in Perry Greene Harassment case, Announces in Press Conference with CAIR-Georgia The Georgia Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-GA), the local chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization (CAIR), today joined CEO Lawyer Ali Awad, of the CEO Lawyer firm, for a … Continued

The post CEO Lawyer Ali Awad Wins $75,000 Settlement in Perry Greene, Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Ex Harassment case appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

From WABE Local News:

The Southern Poverty Law Center is speaking out against new executive orders from President Donald Trump aimed at restoring Confederate monuments and reshaping how U.S. history is taught. SPLC Chief […]

From WABE Politics News:

A bill to certify community health workers in Georgia failed to pass after the state Senate ended its session early on Sine Die. The bill had support in both chambers […]

From the Saporta Report:

It’s easy to muster sympathy for CDC scientists doing critical research and National Park rangers protecting the environment, but this April, the nation’s tax collectors could use some love as well.

The post Firing the tax collectors is no way to reduce the national debt appeared first on SaportaReport.

From the Saporta Report:

To see fuller versions of the photos, click on any image and swipe right or left.

The post Signs of the Times – various dates appeared first on SaportaReport.

From the Saporta Report:

Plans for a facility in Erie, Pa., that would process plastic into smaller pieces to be burned in Gary, Ind., were thrown away earlier this month. The project would have been one of the largest such facilities in the U.S., taking in plastic from a 750-mile radius. International Recycling Group (IRG) announced the cancellation of […]

The post Plans for a plastic waste recycling mega facility were scrapped; why some environmentalists see this as a win appeared first on SaportaReport.

From WABE Local News:

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recognizes April as National Fair Housing Month. The Fair Housing Act of 1968 prohibits housing discrimination. However, housing scholar Richard Rothstein […]

From the Saporta Report:

In the closing hour of the 2025 Atlanta Dogwood Festival, Brian Hill stood alone, watching the last musical performance of the three-day-long festival.  “I’m having an emotional moment,” said Hill, while fighting back tears. “I love this festival.” Hill has been executive director of the Atlanta Dogwood Festival for 17 years — steering the event […]

The post Brian Hill says it’s his last year running the Atlanta Dogwood Festival appeared first on SaportaReport.

Analysis: Atlanta home-price increases lagging most other U.S. cities Josh Green Mon, 04/14/2025 - 15:09

For aspiring metro Atlanta homeowners discouraged by median housing prices that have ballooned by 60 percent since the COVID-19 pandemic began, findings in a new nationwide analysis of cities could be encouraging. 

For current homeowners around Atlanta, not so much. 

Homes.com has tracked hundreds of thousands of home sales across the country and found that median home prices in metro Atlanta continue to grow—but at a pace considerably slower than the national average. 

The median sales price of houses sold in metro Atlanta increased by 1.4 percent year-over-year this March, which was “significantly cooler” than the growth seen last year, when prices bumped up by more than 6 percent over 2023 numbers, according to the analysis by Homes.com, a residential real estate marketplace and a brand of CoStar Group. 

That means metro Atlanta ranked near the bottom (No. 32) in terms of home-price growth in the 40 largest U.S. cities. 

Homes.com

Interestingly, Homes.com’s findings indicate the highest home-price appreciation in March was regionally concentrated in colder cities in the Northeast and Midwest—and was lowest in traditionally hot Southern markets. 

“Cleveland led the way, with prices increasing over 10 percent in the past year, followed by Chicago, New York, and Pittsburgh,” notes an analyst summary. “By contrast, the South only had one market, Austin, in the 10 biggest price increases but had five of the 10 bottom markets.”

Nationally, median home prices had climbed 2.2 percent in March compared to a year ago. 

Homes.com

In metro Atlanta, the 1.4-percent yearly increase ending in March meant median home prices climbed about $5,000, rising from $370,000 to $375,000, per Homes.com’s findings. 

That means metro prices are still lower than the median home price nationally, which in March clocked in at $380,000, per the analysis. (A silver lining for metro ATL? Maybe). 

Here's a look at how metro Atlanta stacked up among its U.S. peers over the year that was, according to Homes.com's findings: 

Homes.com

....

Homes.com

...

Follow us on social media:

Twitter / Facebook/and now: Instagram  

• Atlanta scores spot on shortlist of ‘most visited cities’ (Urbanize Atlanta) 

Tags

Homes.com Atlanta home prices Atlanta Housing Market Metro Atlanta Housing Atlanta Housing Prices For sale in Atlanta Atlanta homes Metro Atlanta Median Home Prices Atlanta Housing Trends

Images

Homes.com

Homes.com

Homes.com

Homes.com

Subtitle For better or worse...

Neighborhood Citywide

Background Image

Image

Before/After Images

Sponsored Post Off

From WABE Local News:

Since 2013, Decaturish.com has served its readers exclusively online. But now the community news outlet is expanding. Georgia-based Appen Media and Decaturish.com have launched a new print edition. It’s called […]

From the Saporta Report:

In Atlanta, homelessness is no longer confined to the streets. It’s creeping into places where stability once seemed certain. Families working full-time, grandparents raising grandchildren, and individuals drowning in medical debt are all facing the looming threat of losing the roof over their heads. These pressures, stacked upon one another, are tipping people into housing […]

The post Caught in the Gap – The Overlooked Barriers to Housing Stability appeared first on SaportaReport.

From the Saporta Report:

This weekend, thousands of people will pack into Pullman Yards for the 20th annual SweetWater 420 fest with a lineup of local bands and beyond, all centered around a “fan-first experience” that pays homage to festival roots. The festival is hosted every year by SweetWater Brewing Company, an Atlanta-based craft brewery owned by Tilray Beverages.  […]

The post SweetWater 420 Fest aims for sweet spot with mid-sized 20th festival appeared first on SaportaReport.

From WABE Politics News:

Georgia brewers say they are stretched thin as the cost to make their products will likely rise under President Donald Trump’s import taxes. Joseph Cortes is the executive director of […]

From the Atlanta Tribune:

Fathers Incorporated’s (FI) Gentle Warrior Academy (GWA) is set to host its most monumental graduation to date. On April 12, 2025, over 100 fathers — the largest cohort in GWA history — will graduate from FI’s transformative fatherhood programs during the FIRE 100 Graduation at the renowned Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA. The event will […]

The post Fathers Incorporated to Host Historic FIRE 100 Graduation at Morehouse School of Medicine appeared first on Atlanta Tribune.

From WABE Politics News:

President Donald Trump on Friday urged Congress to “push hard for more Daylight at the end of a day” in his latest dig at the semiannual changing of clocks. Trump, in […]

From the Saporta Report:

If you ask Georgia parents of young children to rate their anxieties these days, most will put finances at the top of their lengthy lists. Specifically, they’re plagued by the high price of child care and its impact on their employment opportunities, their family budgets, and our state’s economy.  When Georgia’s legislative session ended in […]

The post With the Legislative Session Complete, Struggling Georgia Parents Will Receive Some—If Not Enough—Support appeared first on SaportaReport.

From the Atlanta Tribune:

Dr. Lomax joins the ranks of legendary pioneers, recognizing a lifetime of transformative leadership advancing the future of education through innovation, partnership and purpose Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and chief executive officer, UNCF was honored April 9 with the prestigious GSV 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award at the ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego—one of the […]

The post UNCF President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Michael L. Lomax Receives GSV’s 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award appeared first on Atlanta Tribune.

From WABE Local News:

It’s not too often that a city gathers to explore a centuries-old cemetery together after dark, but that’s the magic of “Illumine.” The annual art exhibition and light installation experience […]

Arts Atlanta:

A new eight-week series traces the evolution of the American Western. :: Gabe Wardell and Eddy Von Mueller met way back in 1998. Wardell was the program director for the Atlanta Film Festival and Mueller wrote about film for Creative Loafing and conducted workshops for IMAGE Film & Video. Their paths have been intertwined ever since,...

From the Saporta Report:

In a recent SaportaReport story about the Sandy Springs mayoral race, I referred to candidate Dontaye Carter as “Black.” The sentence came just before a few lines on his platform, which includes a call for greater city support of minority-owned businesses and deeper engagement with Sandy Springs’ diverse communities. That single word — Black — […]

The post When a campaign story creates backlash and conversation on race appeared first on SaportaReport.

From the Saporta Report:

By Hannah E. Jones, Park Pride’s Marketing & Communications Manager While quality parks are Park Pride’s medium, stronger communities are our primary goal. Our 2025 Inspiration Award winners are part of the network of hardworking and dedicated community members who help us advance this mission.  Through our annual Inspiration Awards, we honor local park champions […]

The post Meet Park Pride’s 2025 Inspiration Award winners, five dedicated park champions appeared first on SaportaReport.

From WABE Arts and Culture News:

Landmark Midtown Art Cinema is presenting an 8-week series featuring an iconic and original genre of American filmmaking—Westerns. From April 15 to June 3, film scholars Eddy Von Mueller and Gabe […]

Arts Atlanta:

Meet Zach Person, one of the festival’s artists-at-large. :: One look at the SweetWater 420 Fest announcement and you might think you’re in a time machine. The swirling rays of sunshine, waterfall vortex and brightly colored flowers recall a time in history when the narrative zeitgeist told of a counter-cultural way of seeing and being...

From WABE Politics News:

Community celebrations being planned to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary next year are at risk of being significantly scaled back or canceled because of federal funding cuts under President Donald Trump’s administration, according to […]

Letter to Editor: Canceling Eastside light rail is waste of time, precious money Josh Green Mon, 04/14/2025 - 08:24

Perhaps it seems like longer ago, but only a month has passed since Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens revealed that city leaders were shifting focus away from building light rail on the Beltline’s Eastside Trail after years of planning for an estimated $230-million Atlanta Streetcar extension there.

Eric Goldberg, an Inman Park resident and transit enthusiast, was dismayed by that decision.

Goldberg fears the pivot toward building out rail in other, less densely populated parts of the city will set transit progress back by years, while Atlantans see no tangible proof that tax dollars are being wisely spent. The following Letter to the Editor has been lightly edited for clarity and length.

...

Dear Editor: 

Mayor Andre Dickens’ recent decision to backtrack on building light rail on the Eastside Trail of the Beltline is the equivalent of a football team about to go in for a score from the one-yard line then abruptly forfeiting.

MARTA executed a $13-million contract with design and engineering firm HDR in June 2023 to shepherd Streetcar East through final design. 

Construction was set to start on the project—2.3 miles of rail connecting the existing downtown streetcar to the Beltline, then extending onto the Eastside Trail from Irwin Street to Ponce City Market—in 2025. 

Timeline for completion: 2028.

In the 10 years leading up to final design, tens of millions of dollars were spent readying the project for construction start through rail-corridor design and engineering studies.

All told, that’s $20 million-plus invested, conservatively, the Dickens administration is walking away from in spent infrastructure dollars necessary to get a light-rail project ready for the building phase. Money MARTA will never get back.

Dickens says he’d prefer to start light-rail construction on a four-mile stretch of the Southside Beltline. No one would argue light rail shouldn’t be built on the Southside Beltline. 

Transit-rich future for the Beltline's Southside Trail? Atlanta BeltLine Inc.

But if the goal is to show progress and get the project started, implementing Beltline rail in phases (similar to how the recreation trail has been rolled out), then Atlantans shouldn’t hold their breath about Beltline light rail being built anytime soon.

Before light rail can be built on the Southside Trail, the same engineering and design process that occurred on the Eastside Trail to pave the way for construction must happen on the Southside rail corridor. That was an eight-year process on the Eastside Trail.

So when Dickens projects rail construction will start on the Southside Beltline rail in 2029, he’s either not being honest or is ill-informed. 

Why not start construction as planned on an Eastside Trail that’s shovel-ready and paid for by the More MARTA tax Atlantans approved in 2016? (Remember, $230 million of the More MARTA pot of money had been set aside for Streetcar East.)

Meanwhile, the necessary design and engineering studies on the Southside Trail could happen simultaneously, readying that stretch for construction as soon as possible.

Perhaps it has something to do with the pressure the mayor felt from a politically connected Eastside interest group that lobbied to stop the project, alongside a handful of developers and business owners concerned about short-term disruption.

And while the mayor says his decision to start on the Southside is driven by equity, it’s not equitable if no rail is built over the last four years of his term. 

It’s not equitable if residents from other parts of the city aren’t able to use transit to access the Eastside Trail, the densest section of the Beltline and an opportunity zone that’s chockablock with jobs, entertainment, and schools.

Since rail won’t be built on the Southside Trail anytime soon, isn’t the mayor just punting on Beltline rail overall?

Former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, a Dickens confidante who aided in his rise from little-known councilman to mayor, once said politicians’ favorite projects are the ones with 10-year timelines. Why? Because the politician rolling out the plan to be completed in 10 years needn’t be there to see it through. 

Financing Beltline rail is another area in which the mayor’s calculations seem overly rosy. Dickens recently told the Atlanta Press Club he hopes to extend the Beltline Tax Allocation District to pay for transit and affordable housing along the Beltline beyond 2030 when the current TAD expires.

But as hard as it was in the recent past to get Atlanta Public Schools and Fulton County to agree to the TAD (and stay in it), it’s awfully presumptuous to think they’ll agree to extending it.

And what of the $230 million in More MARTA money that had been earmarked for Eastside Trail light rail that Dickens said he’d like to apply to Southside rail construction? It’s not clear he’ll be able to use that money on Southside rail without a referendum.

Where does this leave transit-starved Atlantans who’ve been waiting for Beltline rail since 2016? With some promises, but in the wake of Dickens pulling the plug on Streetcar East, not much else.

...

Follow us on social media:

Twitter / Facebook/and now: Instagram  

• Beltline news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta)

Tags

Streetcar East Extension project Streetcar East MARTA Beltline Atlanta BeltLine Andre Dickens Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens Atlanta Light Rail Light Rail More MARTA More MARTA Atlanta Program Eastside Trail Southside Trail Letter to the Editor Letters to Editor Letters to the Editor Opinion HDR HDR Architecture

Subtitle Following years of design, pivot to Southside Trail leaves “transit-starved Atlantans” wanting, writer asserts

Neighborhood Citywide

Background Image

Image

Before/After Images

Sponsored Post Off