CCI Policy Updates: January 14, 2022

The Center for Civic Innovation's mission is to increase civic participation and elevate more effective solutions in Atlanta by inspiring people to take action, investing in the work of local community leaders, and advocating for policy change. We believe that informed and civically-engaged residents are the key to making Atlanta the city we all know it can be.

We started this Weekly Policy Update series to provide our community with important and relevant policy updates. Each post recaps the past week and provides a look ahead at what's on the agenda next week, including opportunities for everyone to engage within the community. We hope you’re inspired to take action, support and invest in local community leaders, and advocate for public policy that reflects the needs and voices of everyone who calls Atlanta home.

Policy Update – January 14, 2022

MARTA CEO Death

The CEO and general manager of MARTA died by suicide at the East Lake Station. Collie Greenwood has been chosen by the agency’s interim director.

MARTA CEO Jeff Parker has died (SaportaReport)

MARTA CEO Jeffrey Parker has died (Axios)

New School Board

The Atlanta Board of Education was sworn in on Monday. The ceremony was attended by the mayor, council president, and six council members. The board elected Eshè Collins as chair and Aretta Baldon as vice-chair.

Nine Members Sworn In During Atlanta Board of Education Inauguration (Talk Up APS)

New Mayor’s Cabinet

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens has announced key members of his cabinet including Lisa Gordon as Chief Operating Officer, Courtney English as Senior Advisor, Austin Wagner and Theo Pace as Deputy Chiefs of Staff, and Kenyatta Mitchell as Director for Intergovernmental Affairs.

Mayor Dickens Announces Key Appointments to His Administration (press release)

Buckhead Mini-Precinct

Buckhead is getting another police mini precinct to address neighborhood’s concerns about violent crime. However, Buckhead’s zone saw an almost 8% decline in violent crime last year and the steepest drop in overall crime among all six zones.

New Atlanta Police Department Precinct Set for One Buckhead Plaza (press release)

Buckhead to get a new police precinct (Axios)

Atlanta officials unveil new Buckhead police precinct (AJC)

City Council Committees & Legislation

The Atlanta City Council met in committees for the first time this week. Committees elected their vice chairs and discussed goals and objectives for the year. Next week they’ll meet as a full council to vote on a proposal to create a Buckhead Public Safety Task Force and other legislation.

On the Agenda: Atlanta City Council Significant Legislative Items for Tuesday, Jan. 18 (press release)

Buckhead City Legislation

The Buckhead City legislation in the Georgia State Senate has been assigned by Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan to the Democrat-controlled Urban Affairs Committee. Legislation has been introduced by Rep. Shea Roberts that would require a super-majority of all Atlanta voters to approve Buckhead’s de-annexation if they want to incorporate as a new city within the next five years. 

Duncan deals a blow to Buckhead cityhood push (AJC)

Opponents seek to force Buckhead cityhood into citywide, supermajority vote (SaportaReport)

Opportunities to Engage Next Week:

Monday, January 17

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday

Tuesday, January 18

• 1:00pm – Atlanta City Council Meeting

• 3:00pm – Invest Atlanta, URFA, and DDA Finance Committees Meeting

• 6:30pm – NPU K

• 7:00pm – NPU Y

Wednesday, January 19

• 10:00am – Fulton County Board of Commissioners Meeting

• 7:00pm – NPU I

Thursday, January 20

• 9:00am – Invest Atlanta Board Meeting (canceled)

• 10:00am – MARTA External Relations Committee Meeting

• 6:30pm – Southeast Study Group Virtual Public Meeting: Subarea 4 Master Plan Update

• 8:00pm – NPU G, NPU Q, and NPU S

Friday, January 21

• 1:00pm – AFCRA Community Recreation Special Project Committee

At the NPUs:

• All of the Neighborhood Planning Units have returned to meeting this month after some took a break in December. Many have new leadership following elections back in November. Leadership – old and new – will be taking training classes from the Department of City Planning this month.

What We’re Reading:

• City council term limits are a popular idea. But would they result in better representation? (Atlanta Civic Circle)

• Commission suggests supersizing Atlanta's housing opportunity bond program (Atlanta Civic Circle)

• Atlanta Public Schools halts plan to demolish historic school (Axios)

• Biden's takes his full-court press on voting to Georgia (Axios)

• MARTA unveils new rail cars (Axios)

• A look at Gov. Kemp's Georgia budget in a flush financial year (Axios)

• Reporter's Notebook: Councilmember Norwood's private election monitoring finds no issues (SaportaReport)

• Newly-elected Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens attends ARC board meeting (SaportaReport)

• Federal investigations into funds at ATL airport remain ongoing: bond document (SaportaReport)

• SafeHouse and GSU expand medical care for those without homes (SaportaReport)

• Why we know so little about what's behind the Buckhead City Committee (AJC)

• Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens gives speech to Georgia legislators at annual Eggs & Issues Breakfast (AJC)

To make these updates better, we need your input! What was most informative or helpful? What did we miss? Please email us at policy@civicatlanta.org.