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JAN. 9 — JAN. 22, 2015 • VOL. 9 — NO. 1
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PAGES 9-20
City plans $252 million infrastructure bond vote BY COLLIN KELLEY AND JOE EARLE
Joel Lofton, 7, at left, jousts against Wayne Reeves, 12, during “The Middle Ages” program for students held at the Atlanta History Center on Jan. 5. The three-hour program taught youngsters about daily life during the Medieval period, and included jousting, encampment and an obstacle course. See additional photos on page 5.
PHIL MOSIER
Atlanta city officials plan to hold a public vote March 17 on a $252 million infrastructure bond although the final list of projects the bonds will pay for is still being worked out. “We’re a billion dollars behind [in repairs],” District 8 Councilwoman Yolanda Adrean said after the vote. “It’s absolutely imperative we begin chipping away.” City officials say Atlanta faces an infrastructure backlog of more than $900 million to repair or improve roads, bridges and sidewalks, and upgrade critical public buildings and facilities. Public information meetings to discuss the bond referendum will continue at various locations around the city through mid-February. Meetings are scheduled for the Atlanta Botanical Garden on Jan. 13, Atlanta SEE CITY COUNCIL, PAGE 6
Atlanta police to wear body-mounted cameras BY ELLEN ELDRIDGE
elleneldridge@reporternewspapers.net
Some police officers’ dashboard cameras start recording when the blue lights begin flashing. Soon, additional cameras may begin recording interactions between police officers and residents in Atlanta and Dunwoody. In about three months, local police officials say, officers in those two local communities will start wearing cameras mounted on their uniforms. Brookhaven police also are looking into using body cameras and say they are currently testing different models. And a state lawmaker has introduced proposed legislation requiring all police officers to wear the cameras. The national controversy arising from police-involved deaths in Ferguson, Mo., and New York City have left both police officers and their critics calling for more objective evidence of behavior during confrontations between officers and residents. Body-mounted cameras have been promoted as one
possible solution. Atlanta’s Deputy Chief C.J. Davis said the on-body cameras, which are expected to cost millions of dollars for equipment and storage, are worth the expense. Both officers and citizens behave better when they know someone is watching. “People have a tendency to alter their behavior in a positive way when they know they’re being recorded,” Davis said. But not every local agency agrees with the use of cameras mounted on officers. Sandy Springs says no to on-body cameras, at least for now, department spokesman Capt. Steve Rose said. “The privacy issues are a huge consideration by those whose agenda calls for mandating body cameras,” Rose said. “What is recorded—and imagine how graphic that could be in the SEE SOME LOCAL, PAGE 26
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Dunwoody Police officer Caleb Gilbert models an on-body camera.
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