Politic-ATL: Housing, Beltline parking, rap lyrics
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Housing, Beltline parking and rap lyrics were hot topics of conversation at Atlanta City Hall this week.
🏘️ Housing: Atlanta is launching a new permitting process for affordable housing projects.
- To introduce the new process, all next week the city is hosting information sessions, project consultations, plan reviews, permit issuance for eligible applications and a reception for anyone interested in housing.
- Register online by Thursday.
🛤️ Beltline parking: City Council this week passed legislation to eliminate minimum parking requirements within a half-mile of the Beltline.
- Councilman Jason Dozier said in a statement that the ordinance will create a more walkable, bikeable and transit-friendly Atlanta.
- It applies to every building within a half-mile of the Beltline, except restaurants and bars.
🎵 Lyrics: The Atlanta City Council wants the Georgia General Assembly to limit the use of music lyrics as evidence in criminal trials.
Be smart: It comes amid criticism that Fulton County's YSL RICO prosecution is using some of the rappers' lyrics as evidence.
Flashback: Councilman Antonio Lewis introduced this resolution in 2022, solely focused on rap music.
- The ordinance returned this year with language protecting all music genres and the council approved it on Monday.
What they're saying: Councilman Howard Shook opposed the resolution because he said the matter falls within the judicial branch.
- Councilman Amir Farokhi voted for the ordinance but also doubted its impact, saying state lawmakers don't "take what we say very seriously most of the time."