http://fultoncountyga.gov/images/stories/Elections/2013/Elections/3_FULTON_ELECTION_SUMMARY_REPORT.pdf
Dedicated to enhancing civic engagement and encouraging a positive community impact for southwest Atlanta.
Monday, November 18, 2013
Friday, November 15, 2013
City of Atlanta Parks and Recreation Survey
Follow the link below to take park in an important survey.
Share your needs and priorities for Parks and Recreation facilities in the City of Atlanta.
Your opinions and ideas will have an impact on the Parks Master Planning process.
To show our appreciation for completing this important survey, you will receive a coupon for 20% off an upcoming City of Atlanta Parks and Recreation program or membership.
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Stop, research, and make an educated vote
Tired
of your community looking bad and feeling unsafe? Tired of feeling like your tax
dollars are not well spent? Tired of paying for city services that you are not
receiving? Frustrated with living next
door or near abandoned, rundown and unkempt properties?
If
you answered yes to any of these questions, then you must also be ready to hold
the policy makers in the City of Atlanta accountable. If you live in Southwest Atlanta, the elected
officials who influence the quality of life in your community (clean and safe streets,
usable recreation space-with programming of interest to the community,
landscaped right of ways, maintained infrastructure, consistent code
enforcement, active economic development planning, etc) include:
Mayor
Kasim Reed
City Council
C.T.
Martin
Kiesha
Lance Bottoms
Cleta
Winslow
H.
Lamar Willis
Aaron
Watson
Michael Julian Bond
The City Council is the chief policy making body for
the City of Atlanta. As a
legislative body, the council’s main role is to make laws. The Council also has
oversight of multiple agencies, boards, and commissions. Additionally,
the Council plays a key part in the budget process and financial well being of
Atlanta.
Before you vote, educate
yourself
Stop,
research, and make an educated vote. Don’t rely on someone
else to explain the issues to you, or tell you which candidate to support.
Look
around your street, the schools in your area, your community at large and
determine what major issues you think need to be addressed? What issues are the
Also, it is important to consider the character of the candidates. Ask yourself questions like, “Why do I trust
one candidate more than another? What are their perceived strengths and
weaknesses?
Here
is a short list of important questions to ask yourself before you cast your
vote:
1. Do you trust this person?
Do a
little research…don’t be afraid to do a quick Google search…see if what they
have a history of saying one thing and then doing another.
2. Does this person
understand the job they are seeking? Do they understand the financials of the
City?
If
the candidate doesn't understand the responsibilities of that office or the
financial condition of the City how can he or she be expected to spend our money
wisely?
3. Does their
vision for the City work with yours?
Whatever
you feel is right for the future of the city, try to find candidates who shares
your vision (clean and safe streets, high paying jobs on your side of town,
improved recreational facilities, arts and entertainment, outdoor activities, etc)
4. Will they represent
southwest Atlanta or just their own special interest?
When
you review their voting record or their remarks around the city, will it be
clear that their record reflects that they are representing their constituents
well or the interest of others.
5. Can they
play well with others, but effectively represent their constituents?
The
Council is made up of fifteen members. Sometimes in order to be an effective
representative the council member will need to persuade others of the merits of
their ideas and to go along with them and get something accomplished.
6. Are they open to input
from the citizens?
In order
to be an effective representative it is important that an elected official stay
in close contact with the people who voted them into office. How often did you see the incumbent in your
community in a listening capacity (prior to election season, when not pushing
something on their agenda)? Does the
candidate have a formal process for receiving citizen input? Does their voting record reflect citizen
input?
7. Who does the candidate associate with?
Are
you worried about who else is supporting the candidate or if they might be
swayed by special interest? Look at
their campaign
donors.
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Monday, September 9, 2013
Community Grant Opportunity-Community Engagement
AmeriCorps grants are awarded to eligible organizations proposing to engage AmeriCorps members in evidence-based or evidence-informed (e.g., based on proposed program’s data or a similar program’s data) interventions to strengthen communities. An AmeriCorps member is an individual who engages in community service through an approved national service position. http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=242033
Friday, September 6, 2013
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Community Grant Opportunity (National Endowment for the Humanities)
Agency Name: National Endowment for the Humanities
http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=241056
Description: Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections (SCHC) helps cultural institutions meet the complex challenge of preserving large and diverse holdings of humanities materials for future generations by supporting preventive conservation measures that mitigate deterioration and prolong the useful life of collections. Libraries, archives, museums, and historical organizations across the country are responsible for collections of books and manuscripts, photographs, sound recordings and moving images, archaeological and ethnographic artifacts, art, and historical objects that facilitate research, strengthen teaching, and provide opportunities for life-long learning in the humanities. To preserve and ensure continued access to such collections, institutions must implement preventive conservation measures, which encompass managing relative humidity, temperature, light, and pollutants in collection spaces; providing protective storage enclosures and systems for collections; and safeguarding collections from theft and from natural and man-made disasters. As museums, libraries, archives, and other collecting institutions strive to be effective stewards of humanities collections, they must find ways to implement preventive conservation measures that are scientifically sound and sustainable. This program therefore helps cultural repositories plan and implement preservation strategies that pragmatically balance effectiveness, cost, and environmental impact. Such a balance can contribute to an institution's financial health, reduce its use of fossil fuels, and benefit its green initiatives, while ensuring that significant collections are well cared for and available for use in humanities programming, education, and research.
http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=241056
Description: Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections (SCHC) helps cultural institutions meet the complex challenge of preserving large and diverse holdings of humanities materials for future generations by supporting preventive conservation measures that mitigate deterioration and prolong the useful life of collections. Libraries, archives, museums, and historical organizations across the country are responsible for collections of books and manuscripts, photographs, sound recordings and moving images, archaeological and ethnographic artifacts, art, and historical objects that facilitate research, strengthen teaching, and provide opportunities for life-long learning in the humanities. To preserve and ensure continued access to such collections, institutions must implement preventive conservation measures, which encompass managing relative humidity, temperature, light, and pollutants in collection spaces; providing protective storage enclosures and systems for collections; and safeguarding collections from theft and from natural and man-made disasters. As museums, libraries, archives, and other collecting institutions strive to be effective stewards of humanities collections, they must find ways to implement preventive conservation measures that are scientifically sound and sustainable. This program therefore helps cultural repositories plan and implement preservation strategies that pragmatically balance effectiveness, cost, and environmental impact. Such a balance can contribute to an institution's financial health, reduce its use of fossil fuels, and benefit its green initiatives, while ensuring that significant collections are well cared for and available for use in humanities programming, education, and research.
Monday, September 2, 2013
Monday, August 26, 2013
Friday, August 23, 2013
Community Grant Opportunity-Art Works
National Endowment for the Arts Research: Art Works
Deadline: November 5, 2013
FY 2014 Research: Art Works Application Guidelines
http://www.grants.gov/web/
Deadline: November 5, 2013
FY 2014 Research: Art Works Application Guidelines
http://www.grants.gov/web/
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Are you familiar with InvestAtlanta? If not, it is time to be...
http://demo.investatlanta.com/BusinessDevelopmentIA/
The Invest Atlanta board has approved $1.26 million in Westside Tax Allocation District (TAD) tax increment funding for energy-efficient upgrades at The Walton Building, which is being redeveloped into a 110-room hotel. The nine-story, circa-1910 building, currently operating as a residential hotel and located in the Fairlie-Poplar Historic District, will participate in the Atlanta Better Buildings Challenge, launched in 2011 as part of a national initiative by President Barack Obama to make the nation’s commercial buildings 20 percent more energy efficient by 2020. The TAD funds will pay for part of a $3.1 million energy-efficiency project that includes window replacement and insulation, high-efficiency heating and air conditioning, lighting with occupancy sensors and laundry water recycling.
The Invest Atlanta board has approved $1.26 million in Westside Tax Allocation District (TAD) tax increment funding for energy-efficient upgrades at The Walton Building, which is being redeveloped into a 110-room hotel. The nine-story, circa-1910 building, currently operating as a residential hotel and located in the Fairlie-Poplar Historic District, will participate in the Atlanta Better Buildings Challenge, launched in 2011 as part of a national initiative by President Barack Obama to make the nation’s commercial buildings 20 percent more energy efficient by 2020. The TAD funds will pay for part of a $3.1 million energy-efficiency project that includes window replacement and insulation, high-efficiency heating and air conditioning, lighting with occupancy sensors and laundry water recycling.
Monday, August 19, 2013
You pay a solid waste fee, but are you receiving the services you paid for?
If you are a property owner in
the City of Atlanta you pay an annual solid waste fee (http://www.atlantaga.gov/index.aspx?page=505).
The
services under this fee include community cleanup activities such as street
sweeping; servicing of litter receptacles placed around the city's public
places and common area, neighborhoods, parks, and downtown area; dead animal
pick up; clearing of right-of-ways, illegal signage removal; disposal of debris
from evicted tenants and vacant lot clean ups, storm debris removal and illegal
dumping.
Department of Public Works
Main Office: 404-330-6240
Main Office: 404-330-6240
Customer Service Center: 404-330-6333
• solid waste, recycling, and yard trimming collection issues
• bulk pick-up scheduling
• new Herbie Curbie or Recycling Bin requests
• pothole reports
• malfunctioning street light and broken street sign reports
(after hours, call 404-658-7863 or 404-290-7058)
•
right-of-way maintenance, street sweeping and dead animal removal requests
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Friday, August 16, 2013
Helping buyers finance energy-efficient homes
Helping buyers finance energy-efficient homes
If you have an interest regarding this bill or questions about it, contact your Senator, Johnny Isakson (http://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-me)
If you have an interest regarding this bill or questions about it, contact your Senator, Johnny Isakson (http://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-me)
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Community Grant Opportunity (Higher Education Institutions)-Bridges to Baccalaureate Program
Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health: Bridges to Baccalaureate Program (R25)
Deadline: October 18, 2013; September 25, 2014; September 25, 2015
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-13-333.html
http://www.grants.gov/web/
National Institutes of Health: Bridges to Baccalaureate Program (R25)
Deadline: October 18, 2013; September 25, 2014; September 25, 2015
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-13-333.html
http://www.grants.gov/web/
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Eye Sores and Blight
Tired
of seeing property in your neighborhood that looks like this?
Do
something. Submit a code violation (http://www.atlantaga.gov/index.aspx?page=474)
and contact your Councilmember. Also
pass this info along to your neighbors, the more the merrier.
If
you live on near this house contact Keisha Lance Bottoms at (404)
330-6054 or kbottoms@atlantaga.gov
Monday, July 29, 2013
Eye Sores and Blight
Tired
of seeing property in your neighborhood that looks like this?
Do
something. Submit a code violation (http://www.atlantaga.gov/index.aspx?page=474)
and contact your Councilmember. Also
pass this info along to your neighbors, the more the merrier.
If
you live on near this house contact Keisha Lance Bottoms at (404)
330-6054 or kbottoms@atlantaga.gov
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Eye Sores and Blight
2597
Benjamin E. Mays Drive
Tired
of seeing property in your neighborhood that looks like this?
Do
something. Submit a code violation (http://www.atlantaga.gov/index.aspx?page=474)
and contact your Councilmember. Also
pass this info along to your neighbors, the more the merrier.
If
you live on near this house contact Keisha Lance Bottoms at (404)
330-6054 or kbottoms@atlantaga.gov
Monday, July 22, 2013
Friday, July 12, 2013
Friday, June 28, 2013
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Monday, June 17, 2013
Friday, June 7, 2013
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Fulton County School Board approves tentative 2014 budget
By Amira Perryman
The Fulton County Board of Education has unanimously approved of a $1.17 billion total operating budget for the 2013-14 school year. The budget proposed by Superintendent Robert Avossa shows a .6% decrease from last year and no increase in millage property taxes, yet includes a 3% salary increase for employees and a 10% increase in academic and athletic supplements. There are no furlough days in the current budget and teachers are seeing their first raise since 2009. Class sizes will also remain the same as last year.
"The past few years have been tough financially for school systems but the Fulton School Board made difficult funding decisions [in past years], and this puts us in a much better financial situation today," said Superintendent Robert Avossa.
Fulton County Schools adopted a new budgeting approach this year that closely aligns funding needs with the district’s priorities, said a press release sent out by the system. The current 2014 budget was developed using a process called “modified zero-based budgeting,” which requires that the budget be based on demonstrated need rather than just approving incremental increases or decreases and developed from the bottom up.
The Fulton County Board of Education has unanimously approved of a $1.17 billion total operating budget for the 2013-14 school year. The budget proposed by Superintendent Robert Avossa shows a .6% decrease from last year and no increase in millage property taxes, yet includes a 3% salary increase for employees and a 10% increase in academic and athletic supplements. There are no furlough days in the current budget and teachers are seeing their first raise since 2009. Class sizes will also remain the same as last year.
Budget officials attribute the positive aspects of the budget
to the improving outlook of the economy, conservative budgeting over the past
several years, and other factors.
“I feel confident that this budget will serve the district’s
growing needs and keep our focus
on students,” said Superintendent Avossa. “The school board’s keen fiscal
oversight and diligence has made Fulton County Schools one of the most
financially stable school systems in Georgia.”
General Fund
|
$836,526,001
|
School Nutrition Service Fund
|
$42,687,233
|
Debt Service Fund
|
$21,082,032
|
Special Revenue Fund
|
$48,102,644
|
Capital Program Fund
|
$203,801,412
|
Student Activity Fund
|
$19,807,100
|
Total All Funds
|
$1,172,006,422
|
The only negative to the current budget is the loss of federal
funds due to sequestration, which will cause a reduction of up to 40
paraprofessional positions for the special education program. While exact
figures have not been released by the federal government, Fulton School
officials are anticipating a 6 to 8 percent cut in Title VI-B funds, which
translates to a reduction from $704,000 to $1.2 million from this year.
A spokesperson for the department said cuts will impact only staff that do not work directly with students, and are there more as a "second set of hands" for teachers. Currently, there are 530 paraprofessionals in the Fulton School System. The cuts represent less than a 10 percent reduction. In the current budget, instruction – at nearly 67% of the general fund – remains the largest allocation of money, with the remaining 33% budgeted for pupil transportation, maintenance and operations, and other functions. The budget accommodates for enrollment growth in schools, rising healthcare costs, and contributions to the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia, which are major expenditures.
A spokesperson for the department said cuts will impact only staff that do not work directly with students, and are there more as a "second set of hands" for teachers. Currently, there are 530 paraprofessionals in the Fulton School System. The cuts represent less than a 10 percent reduction. In the current budget, instruction – at nearly 67% of the general fund – remains the largest allocation of money, with the remaining 33% budgeted for pupil transportation, maintenance and operations, and other functions. The budget accommodates for enrollment growth in schools, rising healthcare costs, and contributions to the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia, which are major expenditures.
"The past few years have been tough financially for school systems but the Fulton School Board made difficult funding decisions [in past years], and this puts us in a much better financial situation today," said Superintendent Robert Avossa.
Fulton County Schools adopted a new budgeting approach this year that closely aligns funding needs with the district’s priorities, said a press release sent out by the system. The current 2014 budget was developed using a process called “modified zero-based budgeting,” which requires that the budget be based on demonstrated need rather than just approving incremental increases or decreases and developed from the bottom up.
The school board approved the final budget during their June 4th
meeting.
For a recap of final approval: http://view.liveindexer.com/ViewIndexSessionSLMQ.aspx?indexSessionSKU=mgw5qluWBK7MkS8c0zrdQA%3D%3D
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Talk about transparency in goverment...
The Fulton County School board has begun indexing Board of Education Meetings to make them easier to search.
http://portal.fultonschools.org/departments/superintendent/communications/broadcast/Pages/BoardMeetings.aspx
It would be great if City of Atlanta Council meetings and Atlanta Board of Education meetings were indexed too. Indexed meetings would definitely make it easier for residents to keep up with what's going on in their government.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Atlanta Council President Ceasar C. Mitchell Hosts Back To Business Conference
Atlanta Council President Ceasar C. Mitchell Hosts Back To Business Conference: Atlanta City Council President Ceasar C. Mitchell, in partnership with the US Government Services Administration (GSA), will host his second Back To Business Conference.
Monday, June 3, 2013
Beltline officials pray feds will help them mimic Eastside Trail in southwest Atlanta
Beltline officials pray feds will help them mimic Eastside Trail in southwest Atlanta: Project seeks $18 million to fund 2.4-mile trail
Atlanta Public School-Budget Status?
By Amira Perryman
The Atlanta Public Schools Board has been working thus far
to pass a $568 million budget by the end of the month for preliminary approval.
The Atlanta Board of Education Budget Commission met on Monday, May 20th, to
discuss the proposed budget for the fiscal year of 2014. There are still many
points in the budget that need to be addressed, namely the need for significant
cuts to close the $61 million budget gap. The board has until May 30th to pass
a preliminary budget for a final vote the following month.
The board debated proposing three teacher furlough days, eliminating
a 3 percent salary bonus to employees who haven’t received a raise in five
years, and smaller class sizes during their meeting. While teacher furlough
days would decrease the budget gap, decreasing class size to align with Georgia
regulations would increase the budget gap by at least $24 million.
Select board members voiced during the meeting that they
were content with current class sizes under the condition that they would not
increase. Others wished to see class sizes decrease in the coming school year.
According to state law, public school classroom sizes cannot exceed 32 students
for regular classes and 25 for AP classes. These regulations have been ignored
by the Board of Education of many districts, including Atlanta.
Superintendent Erroll Davis said his goal is to avoid having
cuts affect education quality. According to Davis, "We're dealing with
across-the-board reductions. It's impossible to get through this without making
reductions everywhere. We obviously want the least impacted reductions at the
schoolhouse, but it may not be possible to escape totally."
The race to approve a budget has been rushed and has left
many parents out of the loop, craving more information on decisions that will
have rippling effects. The North Atlanta Parents for Public Schools (NAPPS) as
expressed in their press release would like to see the following occur before
the Board of Education passes the new budget:
- All funds (both General and Special) are budgeted and accounted for public viewing and commentary.
- Classifications are processed in accordance with state guidelines so there is an “apples to apples” approach in showing % going to the classrooms, % in central office salaries, % toward outside vendors, etc.
- The budget process timeline is changed to be in keeping with other districts to have an earlier start time so that FY 2015 is presented no later than early February 2014.
- The Board sees a comparative analysis of the FY13 plan showing what was done for the year and where we are to date as well as a projection for the future.
- The Board and public are shown the ideal district budget and how that compares with where we are today and concrete steps for getting there. We would ask that the Board specifically address what % should be allocated to items like teacher salaries, central office salaries, outside vendor support, etc. The Board is provided with additional budget reduction options other than the class size waiver, so that teacher reductions and other classroom cuts are the last to be affected.
- The Board put the sale of the Atlanta International School property on hold until a cost benefit analysis can be conducted to ensure that the district is upholding its fiduciary responsibilities and considering long-term goals of the District.
For parents or concerned stakeholders looking for more
information on the 2014 budget Forensic Accountant Jarod Apperson has made a
helpful 17 minute video that describes the APS budget basics. He expresses some
of the same concerns as NAPPS, calling for the budget process to start earlier
and for a more transparent process.
More work needs to be done before a working budget is
approved by the school board, so there is still time for parents or concerned
citizens who have questions about the process or want to provide input to
contact their school board member (http://www.atlanta.k12.ga.us/site/Default.aspx?PageID=379).
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Why isn't the panhandling law enforced citywide?
These days, I am constantly getting asked for money when leaving establishments on Cascade Road and Martin Luther King Drive in southwest Atlanta.
Atlanta City Council passes new anti-panhandling law
Atlanta City Council passes new anti-panhandling law
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Atlanta Public School Systems’ Search for a New Superintendent
By Amira Perryman
The search for the new superintendent of the Atlanta Public
School System is underway, starting with the appointment of committee members
to the Superintendent Search Committee (SSC) and four days of meetings to
obtain input regarding the profile of the next superintendent from local
concerned stakeholders.
Once the profile criteria are established, the committee will
send it to the Atlanta Board of Education for review and approval. After
approval by the Board of Education, the search committee will use the profile
to attract and recruit potential candidates for the superintendent position.
The committee will also recommend three to five candidates for the Atlanta
Board of Education’s consideration.
Each member of the SSC brings a unique perspective, to the
committee. In addition to the opinions of the committee members, the direct
concerns of the community are also being taken into consideration. All of these
viewpoints will be taken into consideration during the search and selection for
the next superintendent.
The Atlanta Board of Education named Ann Wilson Cramer,
retired director for IBM Corporate Citizenship and Corporate Affairs for the
Americas, as chair of the SSC. Cramer has a history of supporting
education through volunteerism, board service and advocacy. She has served as
chair of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education (GPEE), the Carter
Center Board of Councilors, Communities in Schools-Georgia, and the Georgia
Chamber’s Education Committee. Cramer will preside over the SSC as they go
through the process of determining the district’s next superintendent, a
decision that will impact the children of Atlanta and the future of the city.
The committee members include:
- Mayor Kasim Reed or his designee (Duriya Farooqui, COO, City of Atlanta)
- Parent Organizations Representative – Abby Martin
- The parent groups recommended one person to represent their collective interests as stakeholders organization
- Teacher Organizations Representative - Verdailia Turner
- High School Student Council/Government Representative – Mr. Odessius Fitts, Washington, HS
- Atlanta Council of PTAs Representative – Melissa Hodge-Penn
- Representatives Chosen by Atlanta Board of Education Vote
- Dr. Cynthia Kuhlman, CF Foundation, Inc.
- Board of Directors Drew Charter School, Inc.
- Mr. Ernest Greer, Greenberg Traurig LLP
- Dr. Beverly Tatum, President Spelman College
- Ms. Ann Cramer, Coxe Curry and Associates
- Representatives Chosen by Atlanta Board of Education Chair (the ABE chair has appointed three board members and one ad hoc member)
- Emmett Johnson, At-Large Seat 9
- Cecily Harsch-Kinnane, District 3
- Courtney English, At-Large Seat 7
- William “Bill” Rogers, CEO SunTrust Bank
If you were unable to attend one of the meetings there is a
survey online open to any stakeholder wishing to express their opinion
regarding the search for the new superintendent. The survey only has six questions
and should not take more than five minutes to fill out.
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