CCI Policy Updates: Week of May 4 - May 8

The Center for Civic Innovation’s mission is to inspire people to take action, invest in promising homegrown ideas, and advocate for policy change. Especially during this global pandemic, it can be hard to stay on top of local information regarding what’s happening. That's why we started this blog 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 the public to engage.

Week of May 4 Policy Updates:

• The Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education held its first virtual monthly board meeting (presentations and discussion, community meeting, legislative action) on Monday. Board members held a series of virtual Q&As and a Spanish language town hall (junta comunitaria en español) with the sole finalist for superintendent, Dr. Lisa Herring.

• The Atlanta City Council met on Monday and adopted a series of COVID-related ordinances ratifying earlier executive orders and passed various resolutions that call for the establishment a plan to address homelessness at the airport, the collection of demographic data on COVID-19 patients, the forgiveness of small business loans, and the support of local businesses. (summary)

• Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced the appointment of an interim commissioner for the Department of Public Works, the opening of applications for the Strength in Beauty Fund, a new creATL Relief Fund for creative industry workers, and the lowering of flags to half-staff for COVID-19 victims. She also spoke with City Council by phone to provide updates.

• The Fulton County Board of Commissioners met on Wednesday. The County has received $104 million from the federal government via the CARES Act. While the City of Atlanta has received its own allocation of $88.4 million, other cities in Fulton are asking for a share of the county’s money.

Opportunities for Engagement Next Week:

• Monday, May 11

  • Voter registration deadline for June 9th election. Visit the Secretary of State’s website to register, check your status, or update your information.

  • Atlanta City Council Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee – 2:00pm (agenda) – will receive its quarterly updates from the Atlanta Police Department and the Office of Code Enforcement and will discuss an ordinance to create a Code Enforcement Trust Fund.   

  • NPU X – 7:00pm (agenda) 

• Tuesday, May 12

  • DeKalb County Board of Commissioners – 9:00am (agenda)

  • Atlanta City Council City Utilities Committee – 10:00am (agenda)

  • Atlanta City Council Community Development/Human Services Committee – 1:30pm (agenda) – will hear updates from the Department of City Planning and the Atlanta-Fulton County Land Bank Authority and vote on an ordinance to allocate $1.5 million in emergency assistance to provide shelter options and supportive services for people experiencing homelessness.

  • NPU T – 7:00pm (agenda)

• Wednesday, May 13

  • Atlanta City Council Transportation Committee – 9:30am (agenda) – will discuss a resolution to close select streets and/or traffic lanes to cars and open them to pedestrians and cyclists.

  • Atlanta City Council Finance/Executive Committee – 1:30pm (agenda)

• Friday, May 15

  • City of Atlanta Impact Fee Worksession – 1:00pm (notice)

• District 2 Atlanta City Councilor Amir Farokhi’s Downtown Decides participatory budgeting program is in its final voting stage through May 31st. Atlanta residents who live, work, or visit Downtown are encouraged to participate.

• Have you responded to the 2020 Census? As of May 7th, the self-response rate in the City of Atlanta is 50.2% – 8.8% below the final self-response rate in 2010.

• The deadline to request an absentee ballot for the June 9th election is approaching. Check with DeKalb County or Fulton County on how to request and submit an absentee ballot request form. 

What We’re Reading/Watching/Hearing:

• Mute Your Mic! Virtual City Council Is in Session. – CityLab reports on the ups and downs of local governments that have continued to meet remotely or distanced during this pandemic.

• Local cities are doing OK under Open Meetings Act in virtual era, AG’s Office says – Reporter Newspapers reports that the State Attorney General’s office has not received any complaints about the City of Atlanta’s virtual meetings, although a complaint was made to the Atlanta City Council which has changed its public comment process to a voicemail system.

• What a Pandemic Can Teach Us About the Future of Criminal Justice – This opinion piece published by Governing argues that the stopgap measures local governments are taking now in response to this pandemic should push out old habits and bring about new ones.

• Local Advocates Concerned About Anti-Asian Racism Amid Pandemic – WABE reports on concerns about hate crimes. While Georgia currently has no law against them, Governor Brian Kemp has now stated his openness to approving one in response to the murder of Ahmaud Arbery.

• Cutting your budget? So will Georgia, Fulton, Atlanta and other local governments. / Pandemic could jeopardize funding for More MARTA, other transportation plans – Saporta Report looks into the financial implications for local governments and authorities due to drastic reductions in revenue.

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.

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