Inside City Hall: ‘I’m frustrated, you’re frustrated, everybody’s frustrated’
A remark from Councilman Matt Westmoreland summed up the mood among City Council members last week surrounding the discussion over the Peachtree Street “shared spaces” project, which we told you about in last week’s Inside City Hall:
“I’m frustrated, you’re frustrated, everybody’s frustrated,” Westmoreland said during last Wednesday’s transportation committee meeting.
Earlier in the meeting, Councilman Amir Farokhi grilled ATL DOT Commissioner Josh Rowan about why the installation, which dedicated two lanes on Peachtree to pedestrian and bicycle traffic, was taken down with just a few days’ notice.
Rowan (whose department wasn’t behind the initial installation) said the bollards and planters were always meant to be temporary and wouldn’t last the two to three years it would take to build something permanent.
But Rowan signaled there could be an appetite for a permanent “shared Peachtree” project in the future, saying the department could assess the pilot and “come back with potential solutions to make it permanent.”
Local mobility advocates remain disappointed, since funding has been already identified for planning future phases.
Without going into specifics, Westmoreland said the city was met with “obstructionism,” and the blame falls with neither mayor nor a particular department.
”We will win by the end of the day... That’s just how the game goes sometimes,” he said.
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City officials are keeping an eye on developments in the federal trial of Mitzi Bickers ― a political operative and former city employee accused of bribery.
Bickers attorney recently alleged the FBI used former city contractor Elvin “E.R.” Mitchell Jr. to set Bickers up, and Mitchell denied those claims.
Several other witnesses, including former Jackson, Miss., Mayor Tony Yarber, also testified as the prosecution outlined allegations that Bickers used her influence in getting Yarber elected mayor to try to swing public contracts her way.
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Atlanta’s general fund budget is expected to grow by $83 million over the next five years, according to the finance department at City Hall.
In a presentation to a City Council committee on Wednesday, officials projected the city’s revenue will grow from $710 to $793 million by 2027, fueled mostly by rises in property tax and sales tax revenue amid positive economic outlooks.
Expenses are set to rise too, with employee pay and contracted service costing the city more and more over the years. You can see the full five-year financial plan online.
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Georgia’s senators helped secure millions in federal funds for the city through earmarks in the federal appropriations bill — another sign of how the Democratic majority in Congress is assisting Atlanta’s priorities. According to intergovernmental affairs director Kenyatta Mitchell, the city is getting $5 million toward the construction of the Beltline Southside trail and $3 million for the joint effort with the county to repurpose part of the city detention center into a diversion and services center.
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Beginning this summer, 90 luxury units are being built in the Woodland Hills community of East Atlanta. The mixed-use development off Moreland Avenue will be known as Halidom, according to IST Management Services, a business consulting company and the project’s anchor tenant. Halidom will also feature a restaurant and retail space, a nature park along Intrenchment Creek, and a new international headquarters for IST.
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Local leaders last week joined the loved ones of former Atlanta mayor Sam Massell during his funeral service Wednesday, recognizing and paying tribute to his contributions to the city.
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Atlanta’s homicide detectives have made arrests in 72% of this year’s killings, according to Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant last week. Dickens’ message to would-be offenders during a press conference: “If you think you want to commit a crime in this city, you might want to think again. We have our eyes on you and you will be caught.”
Wilborn P. Nobles III covers the Atlanta mayor's policies for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Wil (not "Willie" or "William") previously covered Baltimore County government at The Baltimore Sun, but he never finished "The Wire." He also covered education for the Times-Picayune in his hometown of New Orleans, so he tries to avoid discussions about football. Wil used to play tuba for his high school marching band, but he eventually put down his horn to intern at The Washington Post. The Louisiana State University graduate enjoys gardening, comedy, and music.
J.D. Capelouto is a local news reporter covering City Hall and all things intown Atlanta for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. His work focuses the City Council, neighborhood issues, public safety, housing and transportation. J.D. was born and raised in Atlanta and has lived in the city all his life, except for four years at Boston University, where he studied journalism and learned how to dress for cold weather. He’s been with the AJC since 2018, and has previously written for The Boston Globe and the Thomson Reuters Foundation. When he’s not reporting or scrolling through Twitter, J.D. enjoys pop culture podcasts, “Survivor” and visiting various pools around Atlanta.
Send us tips and feedback at Wilborn.Nobles@ajc.com and Joseph.Capelouto@ajc.com.
About the Authors
J.D. is a local news reporter covering intown Atlanta and Atlanta City Hall for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Wilborn P. Nobles III covers Atlanta City Hall for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He began covering DeKalb County Schools for The AJC in November 2020. He previously covered Baltimore County for The Baltimore Sun and education for the Times-Picayune in New Orleans. He interned at the Washington Post. He graduated from Louisiana State University.
