The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Inside City Hall
POLICE FOCUS IS ON ‘GANGS, DRUGS AND GUNS,’ NOT ABORTION LAW
Last week, the Atlanta City Council approved a resolution urging Atlanta police to make investigations into abortions their “lowest possible priority” if Roe v. Wade were to be overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. Just a few days later, on Friday, the court ended constitutional protections for abortion, setting the stage for Georgia’s 2019 “heartbeat” abortion law to take effect.
We told you ahead of that City Council vote about how the measure is non-binding, and it would be up to the mayor and APD to make any concrete policy changes when it comes to enforcement.
We learned last Tuesday that both Mayor Andre Dickens and interim police Chief Darin Schierbaum are aligned with the Council’s view on the issue, and don’t intend for the city to spend time and resources on investigations into abortions.
“I don’t believe the Atlanta Police Department should be involved in women’s health concerns,” Dickens told reporters at a press conference at APD headquarters. He later said i he was “sickened” by the court’s decision, and that it will “most grotesquely impact women of color and those who do not have the resources to travel to find safe and high-quality health care.”
Schierbaum said the priority of the police department is “gangs, drugs and guns.”
“That’s where our resources are focused. It’s where the expertise of this department is at this moment. That will not change,” the chief said.
Several City Council members publicly condemned the court’s decision. Council member Liliana Bakhtiari said the Council doesn’t want the city to criminalize or penalize people seeking abortions. Bakhtiari said they want to donate at least $300,000 to Access Reproductive Care-southeast, which funds and supports access to safe abortion services.
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City Council approved
the mayor’s proposed budget for the next 12 months, giving Atlanta a record-breaking $754 million general fund fueled by a projected increase in property and sales taxes.
The budget includes pay increases to all city employees and additional funding for police, fire and transportation. Councilman Alex Wan said the budget will also enhance the city’s aging infrastructure and efforts to build a greener, environmentally focused city.
Mayor Dickens’ office announced the budget will also provide more funding for pre-arrest diversion efforts, technology infrastructure upgrades, arts and culture, and parks and green spaces.
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City Council passed an ordinance to fund street sweeping and dead animal collections, among other sanitary services, through the city’s general fund.
“If you look at our sister cities, it’s really considered a best practice ... using the general fund to pay for what we call common good services,” said Councilman Dustin Hillis.
The Council revised the solid waste fee system as part of the city’s $19 million legal settlement, which originated from a lawsuit filed last year that alleged Atlanta failed to perform services at several condominiums, townhomes, and apartments.
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Your City Hall insiders
have info on several new council resolutions that will be considered in the coming weeks. Here are some of the measures we’re digging into:
■ A resolution to close Atlanta’s detention center to repurpose it into a health and wellness center, named after the late John Lewis.
■ A resolution to OK a $500,000 donation to the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation to support an eviction defense services pilot program for Atlanta residents.
■ A resolution urging the mayor to hire a chief sustainability officer to lead the Office of Resilience and to serve as the chairperson for Atlanta’s Clean Energy Advisory Board.
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National environmental
nonprofit The Conservation Fund purchased the 77-acre former Chattahoochee Brick Company site, making the property next to the Chattahoochee River in northwest Atlanta a step closer to becoming the city’s next park.
It will provide public access to the river and a memorial for the African American victims of the brick company’s convict lease labor practices.