びびなび : アトランタ : (アメリカ合衆国) Atlanta

** Note From The Mayor
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January 2025
https://youtu.be/Ag9tDjXfvQw

Click here to watch a video on the plight of Atlanta's unhoused.

Happy New Year, Atlanta!


In a surprising turn of events, Atlanta has seen more snow and ice this month than we’ve seen in years but this time we were prepared and ready to act. I want to thank the men and women of ATLDOT, the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Preparedness, Department of Watershed Management, APD, AFRD, E-911, Georgia Power, GDOT, the Governor’s Office and many others who collaborated to deliver exceptional service. Each of these departments and agencies worked tirelessly to ensure our residents were safe and our roads were equipped for travel. We spent more than 50 hours in the Joint Operations Center and coordinated efforts to address challenges in real time. We also opened 4 warming centers to protect our most vulnerable residents and accommodated over 400 people with warm meals, beds, and essential services.


Speaking of our most vulnerable residents, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the life of Cornelius Taylor, a member of our community that lost his life as a result of a devastating incident that took place during an encampment closure. I want to reassure the people of Atlanta that I care deeply about each and every life in this city. This tragic accident demonstrates the need to reevaluate and reassess how we can better serve and provide assistance to those in need.


It is important to me that every person in this city has a roof over their head and I am committed, now more than ever, to building a City of Opportunity for All.


I have participated in the Point-in-Time Count with Partners for HOME for the last 8 years. We invested $60M in our unhoused community, the largest investment in City history. And my administration has built more affordable housing than any other administration to date. These investments were not made to advance my political career but to uplift and empower our unhoused population. It was meant to give them options, so they know that living under a bridge or sleeping on a park bench is not the only option. The Melody is an option. Bonaventure is an option. Ralph David House is an option. That’s just to name a few.


This year, I look forward to providing more options for all our residents. Atlanta, I hope you’ll join me in this work.


** What’s going on in Atlanta?
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Major Investments in Atlanta’s Water Infrastructure

Residents and businesses along Peachtree Road can breathe a sigh of relief as water service was fully restored following an overnight repair effort last week. Crews from the Department of Watershed Management worked tirelessly to replace a damaged 16-inch pipe in the greater Buckhead area, restoring water to the community in under 12 hours.


Beyond this immediate repair, Atlanta’s aging water infrastructure is receiving a significant boost thanks to the Water Infrastructure Enhancement Act. Championed by Senator Jon Ossoff and Senator Raphael Warnock, and introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congresswoman Nikema Williams, this legislation was signed into law earlier this month as part of the Water Resources Development Act reauthorization. It expands federal support for critical water infrastructure improvements across the city and provides a portion of the needed funding needed for system replacement over the next 20 years.


With this new law, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is now authorized to take on additional projects focused on drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure. These improvements will enhance water quality, increase resilience, and improve quality of life for families and businesses throughout Atlanta and ensures that more essential upgrades can move forward.


This federal support aligns with the Department of Watershed Management’s ongoing commitment to modernizing infrastructure including: levee upgrades at the RM Clayton Reclamation Center and West Area Control Facility, water system enhancements to improve reliability and reduce disruptions, sewer system modernization and flood mitigation Initiatives.


With this additional funding and resources, Atlanta is poised to improve water infrastructure for generations to come.

Crime Reduction

Public safety is always top of mind for the Dickens Administration, and we are again seeing results. Crime dropped significantly citywide in 2024, with major reductions in homicides, robberies, auto thefts and more. With our One Safe City approach, Chief Darin Schieurbaum and the Atlanta Police Department removed thousands of guns from the streets and dismantled drug operations in the city. And knowing that public safety is more than policing, Chief Rod Smith and the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department saw a 22% reduction in fire fatalities in 2024 due to their readiness and training as well as improved fire prevention measures. AFRD has also helped to promote public safety with their “Safe Spots” program which offers residents a safe place if they are experiencing violence.


This is a new era for public safety in Atlanta and our city is safer as a result.

New Technology & Gaming Lab Opens at MLK Natatorium

In an exciting partnership between the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Mayor’s Office of Technology and Innovation, and the Department of Atlanta Information Management, the City launched a high-speed, high-tech computer lab and esports gaming center at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation Center and Aquatic Center. This center allows young Atlantans who participate in afterschool programming to explore esports, technology, and digital media. They are able to develop skills and gain knowledge in multiple industries while enjoying themselves with peers. Our legacy residents who take part in Atlanta’s Primetime senior programming will also have access to the innovative lab – making this an intergenerational endeavor. We are creating spaces for our young people and young at heart to explore and dream.

Solar Power System Installed at Airport’s Fire Station #40

A brand-new solar power system was installed at Fire Station #40 this month. The solar power system was made possible through our flourishing partnership with Cherry Street Energy, a company who is also supporting operations at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport with clean energy. It is the City’s goal to advance our clean energy to 100% and reduce our cardon emissions, and we are moving closer to that goal. Everything we are doing is to ensure that Atlanta is a City Built for the Future and our commitment to sustainability runs deep.

Point-in-Time Count

Mayor Dickens joined Partners for HOME and more than 200 volunteers representing 50 nonprofits and advocacy groups for this year’s Point-in-Time Count. This is an imperfect, but important process that gives local governments an up-to-date picture of the scale and nature of the crisis they face in their communities. It also gives the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development a snapshot of the nation’s unsheltered population. As volunteers walked almost 132 square miles to count and speak with individuals experiencing homelessness, they collected data regarding living situations, mental health and substance use histories. The results of the count is expected to be released in the next few months.

Metropolitan Place Groundbreaking

Affordable housing is about building healthy, thriving, and connected communities where families want to live. Atlanta’s metropolitan corridor was in great need of affordable housing and the City, with the help of public-private partners, saw an opportunity to create something special. At completion, the Metropolitan Place Apartments will deliver 176 modern mixed-income units, an onsite fitness center, clubhouse, and picnic area – all features that will encourage community and togetherness. The apartments are expected to be completed by early 2027.


** ATL Social Conversations
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#EggsandIssues

Mayor Dickens joined hundreds of the state’s business leaders and lawmakers to kick off the 2025 legislative session at the Annual Eggs and Issues Breakfast. This event highlighted key priorities for Georgia’s economy and workforce development.


** #MidtownBikeLaneBarrier
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With the installation of 300 concrete bike lane barriers along 10th Street, from Piedmont Avenue to Monroe Drive, the Midtown Bike Lane Barrier Mural Project is going to create a safer corridor in one of Atlanta’s busiest neighborhoods while also creating a more secure connection between the Atlanta Beltline Eastside Trail and Midtown.

#BlueHeronNaturePreserve

The Blue Heron Nature Preserve, the 30-acre greenspace, invites visitors to experience a personal connection with nature through conservation, education, and art. With 76 species of protected wildlife, the Preserve upgraded its native garden by adding plants and mulch. The City also unveiled a brand-new sign along Roswell Road for the Preserve. If you’re looking for adventure, check out Blue Heron Nature Preserve.

#StarfishBall

The Starfish Ball, benefitting the nsoro Educational Foundation, brings together a powerhouse of corporate visionaries, global dignities, and philanthropic champions for a night of glamour and purpose. And this year was no different. Driven by a mission to transform the lives of youth transitioning out of the foster care system nationwide, scholarships were given to students pursuing higher education and future employment.

Atlanta welcomed approximately 80,000 visitors for the CFP National Championship game.

Atlanta city skyline with skyscrapers and trees


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