Metro
Council approves pursuit of downtown streetcar system
7/7/2010The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Atlanta City Council on Tuesday approved a plan to seek federal funds for the installation of a $72 million streetcar system along the lower half of downtown, at the same time offering a stern budgetary warning -- slow down the spending.
“I am going to vote for it and hold my nose,” Councilman C.T. Martin said. “We really need to find some money and we need to stop spending money until we get some relief on this debt.”
10 more cities get grants for volunteer czars
6/30/2010NEW YORK -- Atlanta, Houston, Baltimore and Little Rock, Ark. are among the 10 cities receiving grants to hire a senior city official who will help develop a program to increase volunteerism.
The other cities are Pittsburgh, Orlando, Fla., Baton Rouge, La., Chula Vista, Calif., Richmond, Va. and Austin, Texas.
They were to be announced Wednesday by the Rockefeller Foundation and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's foundation, which are funding the grants.
MARTA board approves service cuts
6/29/2010The cash-strapped MARTA board Monday approved double-digit cuts in rail and bus service to balance a fiscal 2011 budget buffeted by the recession.
The $389.6 million budget, which takes effect July 1, will reduce rail service by 14.2 percent, eliminating early-morning trains on weekends and shortening trains on most weeknight routes.
Atlanta budget hits home stretch
6/21/2010The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Kasim Reed’s first major test as mayor will come this week as the Atlanta City Council weighs his proposed $558 million spending plan for 2011.
Facing a $48 million budget gap, Reed has proposed a budget that includes several fee increases for certain municipal services, but no tax increases.
But Reed has also pushed to add new spending on several key projects, few of which have been received favorably by all members of the Atlanta City Council.
Feelings toward Atlanta facing calming change
6/7/2010ATLANTA - The prevailing sentiment toward Atlanta may be changing.
Generations of politicians have won elections running against the state's capital city, its crime, traffic and high taxes. People who have chosen to live in other parts of the state feel their decision is validated every time someone badmouths the big city.
Atlantans have also enjoyed hearing reminders of why they opted to live in the metro area rather than their hometowns.
Metro Atlanta school budget woes
5/21/2010
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Schools across the Atlanta area are slashing their budgets. Here’s how they are making ends meet:
President Obama endorses Rep. Johnson for re-election
4/23/2010
LAWRENCEVILLE — Rep. Hank Johnson now has the support of the White House in his re-election bid.
President Barack Obama endorsed Johnson, a Democrat who represents the 4th Congressional District, which includes the Lilburn and Norcross areas of Gwinnett along with portions of DeKalb and Rockdale.
“Congressman Johnson has done an outstanding job,” Obama said Thursday. “Together, we are fighting to renew our economy. Together, we passed historic health care reform. I am proud to stand with Hank and support his re-election.”
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