Axios Atlanta

June 27, 2023
Welcome to Tuesday. Let's get started.
π₯΅ Today's weather: Sunny and hot. High around 90ΒΊ. Drink plenty of water and take frequent breaks if you're working outside.
π― Situational awareness: The city today will unveil the Atlanta Children's Eternal Flame Memorial, which honors the victims in the Child Murders case.
πͺ΄ Thanks to our members for helping us grow. Join them today!
Today's newsletter is 911 words β a 3.5-minute read.
1 big thing: Helping DACA students attend college
Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios
A Georgia Republican lawmaker is trying β again β to convince his colleagues to grant DACA recipients in-state tuition, despite four years of failing.
Why it matters: Roughly 3,000 undocumented and DACA students graduate from Georgia high schools each year, according to the Higher Ed Immigration Portal.
- While the U.S. Constitution guarantees them a K-12 education, these students are left in the lurch without affordable university or technical college access.
Driving the news: Ahead of next year's legislative session, state Rep. Kasey Carpenter told Axios he's doubling down on efforts to pass the Georgia Workforce Development Act.
- His district is in deeply conservative Northwest Georgia, but the city of Dalton has among the state's highest Hispanic/Latino populations at 53%.
Between the lines: The situation at the border makes it "hard for Republicans to support anything that makes sense in regard to immigration," he said.
- The problem, he said, is convincing his colleagues to take the time to explain that to their constituents and "walk the plank" on the issue in primaries every two years.
But, but, but: Reyna Montoya, founder of Aliento, an Arizona nonprofit advocating for undocumented immigrants, notes that legislation limited to DACA recipients won't be very effective. She recommends including all undocumented students, with residency and high school graduation requirements.
- Today's 9th and 10th graders were born in 2007, when DACA eligibility cuts off, she pointed out.
- "Even if the DACA program was open technically, it would be almost impossible to continue to support the current high school population," she told Axios.
The other side: Carpenter has heard these criticisms but said he's focused on, "what can we get across? I think the bill as it sits has a chance of passing."
- "We haven't even been successful with the language we're working with," he told Axios.
2. ποΈ Portman plots next Beltline project
A concept for the proposed Junction Krog project, looking southeast toward Krog Street Market. Rendering: Courtesy of Portman Holdings
A developer's conquest of the Atlanta Beltline's Eastside Trail is roaring ahead with the purchase of three parcels along the popular path near Krog Street Market.
Details: Portman Holdings' planned mixed-use project β the second phase of its Junction Krog development that's currently under construction across the street β calls for retail and offices on 1.3 acres along Irwin and Sampson streets, the AJC reports.
- Current tenants include Irwin Street Market (home to the popular Jake's Ice Cream, which this month opened a Hapeville location and is scouting a College Park hub) and Atlanta Bicycle Barn.
Of note: Portman picked up the parcels from John Morrison, who told the Atlanta Business Chronicle he bought them in the early 2000s for $230,000 β back when they butted up to an overgrown and unused set of railroad tracks.
- Today the properties face the Beltline, making Morrison one of the luckiest real-estate investors in modern Atlanta history.
- Morrison plans to hang on to parcels where Virginia Cotton Dock Lofts and Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall are located.
State of play: Portman wants to complete and open Krog Junction's first phase before starting work on the recently acquired parcels, the AJC says.
What we're (patiently) watching: When the market is strong enough to finally redevelop Midtown Place, arguably the biggest cluster of a shopping center in the city.
3. π³οΈβπ LGBTQ+ representation in elected offices
Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios
More than 25 elected officials in Georgia identify as LGBTQ+, according to the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute's Out for America report.
- Six are mayors.
- Three are judges.
- Six are state legislators.
- 13 are serving elsewhere in local government.
Zoom in: The vast majority of these officials, including all state lawmakers, are from the greater metro Atlanta area.
- They include Doraville Mayor Joseph Geierman, South Fulton Mayor khalid kamau, and Atlanta City Council members Liliana Bakhtiari, Keisha Waites, Alex Wan and Matt Westmoreland.
Of note: Only one official in Georgia β Doraville City Councilmember Stephe Koontz β identifies as transgender.
Zoom out: The report found some 1,185 LGBTQ+ elected officials are currently serving in the U.S. β or 0.23% of all elected officials.
- The country would have to elect 36,232 more LGBTQ+ officials to "achieve equitable representation in government," the report states.
The bottom line: The Williams Institute estimates 4.5% of Americans β and 4.5% of Georgians β identify as LGBT.
4. Stat du jour: Reported antisemitic incidents climb


Georgia saw a sharp increase in the number of antisemitic incidents reported in Georgia between 2021 and 2022, according to the Anti-Defamation League annual audit released in March.
By the numbers: Last year, there were 80 reported incidents of harassment and vandalism, up from 49 in 2021.
Context: The latest incident occurred Saturday in East Cobb where a handful of people waved Nazi flags and other signs with antisemitic messages outside the Chabad of Cobb synagogue.
- A similar incident was reported in Macon over the weekend.
- Antisemitic flyers have also been distributed in communities across north metro Atlanta, including Sandy Springs, Kennesaw and Roswell.
- Local, state and federal elected officials, including Gov. Brian Kemp, Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, House Speaker Jon Burns and others have condemned the group's actions.
Of note: A bill that would have made antisemitism a hate crime in Georgia did not pass the legislature.
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5. Five-ish Points: Atlanta's OG music mogul
Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios
An Atlanta realtor died after a tree fell on him during Sunday night's thunderstorms. (Fox 5 Atlanta)
π¨πΎ Jermaine Dupri is an "OG" in Atlanta's R&B, rap and hip-hop industry. (AJC)
ποΈ Researchers say metro Atlanta has approved fewer private housing units than in previous years, which could contribute to the current squeeze. (The Atlanta Voice)
ποΈ A 140-acre mixed-use project dubbed the Coal Mountain Town Center will soon break ground in northern Forsyth County. (Urbanize)
πΎ Kristal is going to order these to protect Hannah's paws from the hot pavement. Hopefully she will wear them.
π Emma's pup tore up his own paw pad byβ¦running too much. Go hard or go home?
π Thomas is planning to skip the headaches of shuttling between terminals at the Atlanta airport by trying out this public transit hack.
This newsletter was edited by Jen Ashley and copy edited by Natasha Danielle Smith and Alex Perry.
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