News Roundup

The Atlanta Regional Transit Link Authority adopted the ATL Regional Transit Plan in December. There are 192 projects on the list costing a whopping $27 million, including the Clifton Corridor project that would connect the Lindbergh MARTA station to the Emory/CDC campus.

The Atlanta City Council approved legislation prohibiting the city or its contractors from purchasing, acquiring, or making available to the public noncompostable single-use plastic serviceware, such as bags, styrofoam, and straws. The ban applies to all city buildings, including the concourses and terminals at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

The Atlanta City Council has established the City View at Rosa Burney Park Housing Urban Enterprise Zone in the Mechanicsville neighborhood, which allows the city to designate an area or site to receive an abatement of taxes for the purpose of encouraging private investment in areas or sites which otherwise would unlikely be developed because of economic depression. This designation of a residential Urban Enterprise Zone is for 259 and 295 Richardson Street to be rehabilitated as 181 residential affordable housing units for families earning no more than 60 percent of the area median income.

The City of Atlanta scored its seventh consecutive perfect score on the Municipal Equality Index (MEI). With a total raw score of 107, the 2019 report awards the city its highest-ever score on the MEI, which reflects the inclusivity levels of a city’s laws, policies, and services impacting LGBTQ constituents.

Buckhead business executive Kelly Loeffler is the new U.S. Senator for Georgia, replacing incumbent Johnny Isakson, who stepped down mid-term for health reasons. Loeffler, a Republican, was appointed to the Senate seat Dec. 4 by Gov. Brian Kemp.