Politic-ATL: Councilman's pot, policing, Chattahoochee and housing
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This week at Atlanta City Hall, we're diving into policing, the Chattahoochee River and housing funds.
🌿 Pot stop: Atlanta City Council member Antonio Lewis is facing charges for driving on a suspended registration and marijuana possession after a Feb. 2 traffic stop, the AJC reports.
- The AJC reports an officer stopped Lewis around 9:30pm near Peoplestown and smelled marijuana in Lewis' vehicle.
- The officer asked if there were substances in the car, and Lewis handed over a "blunt containing 4g of raw marijuana," the report says.
- Yes, but: Atlanta decriminalized marijuana in 2017, and Lewis was allowed to drive home after the stop.
⚖️ Settlement: The Atlanta City Council is considering a resolution to give $6,000 to people who witnessed the fatal police shooting of Rayshard Brooks.
- Melvin Evans, Jr., Danyel Killion and Michael Perkins alleged in a lawsuit that they were sitting in a vehicle near the Wendy's on 125 University Avenue on June 12, 2020, when they saw Atlanta Police officer Garrett Rolfe shoot Brooks.
- The witnesses alleged their vehicle was struck by a stray bullet, and resulting in emotional damages, the resolution states.
- What's next: The council may OK the resolution at Monday's regular meeting.
🚓 Policing: The City Council is considering legislation to accept $250,000 from the Atlanta Regional Commission to buy ballistic helmets for Atlanta police.
- ARC's funding comes from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Urban Area Security Initiative award.
- According to the ordinance, the federal program funds enhancements in "regional preparedness and capabilities in designated high-threat, high-density areas and encourages regional cooperation in emergency preparedness and response."
- Quick take: Lawmakers will likely OK this legislation at Monday's meeting.
🧱 Chattahoochee: Atlanta is launching a monthly series of seminars to address its long-term plans for the former Chattahoochee Brick Company site.
- Atlanta bought the 75-acre site in 2022 to create the city's first park with public access to the Chattahoochee River.
- The site will also host a memorial for the prisoners who were forced to work at the brick company without pay in grueling conditions in the late 19th and early 20th century.
- The first seminar starts at 1pm on Saturday at The Carter Presidential Center.
🏠 Housing: U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff announced Tuesday that the federal government is awarding nearly $1.8 million to Atlanta for housing preservation.
- The funds come from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Healthy Homes Production Grant program to complete home repairs and remediation projects.
- What they're saying: Sens. Warnock and Ossoff, and Mayor Andre Dickens, said in statements Tuesday that the funds will improve the quality of safe housing for families in Atlanta.