Thursday, May 23, 2013
The city is in talks to bring free wifi to Buckhead, too.
Sometime in 2014, anyone visiting Piedmont or Grant parks in Atlanta will be able to enjoy free Internet access along with the parks' other amenities. According to Creative Loafing, the city plans to install free Internet access for the two parks and possibly for some Atlanta recreation centers, the Atlanta Beltline and even possibly the Buckhead Community Improvement District. City officials are in talks with Buckhead CID, Central Atlanta Progress and the Midtown Alliance about bringing free wi-fi to each of those business districts. Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed originally wanted a wi-fi network to cover the entire city, but the city cannot afford a citywide network. The cost for installation of the necessary infrastructure and subsequent …
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Brooks plead 'not guilty' before Judge Alan Baverman on Wednesday, May 22nd.
UPDATE: According to the AJC, "State Rep. Tyrone Brooks Sr., accompanied by former Gov. Roy Barnes as his attorney, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to fraud and tax evasion charges." Judge Alan Baverman allowed Rep. Brooks to remain free on a $25,000 bond until his trial. Former Georgia Governor, Roy Barnes, reportedly told the judge that he is representing Tyrone Brooks for free. The two plan to have a press conference on Thursday in Marietta. Georgia State Representative, Tyrone Brooks, begins his fight in court on Wednesday as he faces Magistrate Judge Alan Baverman in regards to a 30 count indictment. Rep Tyrone Brooks represents District 55, and has a long history in the southwest Atlanta community and in the civil rights struggle. …
Monday, May 20, 2013
On Monday, May 20 from 5 – 6 pm.
(The following is an announcement submitted by the office of Atlanta City Council) Major crime in Atlanta is down 18 percent since 2010. However, the recent rash of petty thefts, including iPhone thefts or "Apple picking", has created the perception that crime is worse than ever. On Monday, May 20, from 5 – 6 pm, Atlanta City Council President Ceasar Mitchell will host his first “Twitter Chat” to hear the public’s opinions and ideas on how best to combat crime in the city. Monday’s chat is an invitation from the Council President for anyone on Twitter to participate in an open exchange about crime in Atlanta and to share ideas on solutions to continue the decline. Questions addressed during the Twitter Chat will be selected both in …
Sunday, May 19, 2013
The live coverage is over, but replay the live blog to see what all the hype was about.
President Barack Obama gave the 129th commencement address speech on a wet and rainy Sunday afternoon, May 19th, at Morehouse College. Obama began his remarks to an excited yet wet crowd,most of whom had been seated as early as 6 am. at approximately 11:30 am. The sky opened just before the speech began, and the crowd was treated to a steady downpour throughout. Obama quipped that, “I would be out there with you, but the Secret Service gets nervous.” Obama was greeted with a big cheer when he emerged from a building adjacent to the stage with Morehouse College president John Silvanus Wilson, a former White House aide. The invocation was given by Rev. Raphael Warnock of Ebenezer Baptist Church, Martin Luther King, Jr.’s famous church. …
Thursday, May 16, 2013
The news of the indictment broke on Thursday afternoon.
State Representative Tyrone Brooks of House District 55, which covers a sliver of midtown Atlanta near Ansley Mall and stretches down to a larger portion of southwest Atlanta, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Thursday. According to a CBS Atlanta report, "Brooks, 67, of Atlanta, was charged by a federal grand jury in a 30-count indictment that includes charges of mail, wire and tax fraud." Federal authorities have said that they believe Brooks misappropriated nearly $1 million from his Universal Humanities charity, which he founded in 1990, along with another organization that he founded, the Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials. The AJC says that, "U.S. Attorney Sally Yates told reporters Thursday that Brooks used …
Monday, April 29, 2013
In case you ride MARTA, read about their new security protocols.
Our friends at MARTA have just sent Cascade Patch a press release about the security changes that they are implementing after the deadly Boston Marathon bombings. According to the written statement by Cara Hodgson, MARTA is "heightening security on the transit system." Hodgson says that there are no imminent threats towards the transit system or its riders, but that they want to be proactive and take this opportunity to be even safer. MARTA is taking the following proactive measures: The MARTA Police Department (MPD) is working directly with federal, state and local agencies, including the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) and the Transit Security Administration (TSA) in Washington, D. C. to stay updated on any recommendations …
Friday, April 26, 2013
The pedestrian path along one side was scheduled to be opened in January, now it is almost May.
Have you noticed that one side of the 17th Street bridge is still closed to pedestrian traffic? A Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) spokesperson told Midtown Patch in January, that the work would be done by the end of the January month. It is now nearly May and pedestrians are still forced to use just one side of the busy bridge. This is extremely inconvenient for MARTA passengers and other bus passengers that are dropped off and/or picked up from that side of the road. It is also a hassle for residents who live on that side of the road. They are now forced to either cross traffic, or walk a few hundred feet backwards to be able to cross at a crosswalk. In August 2011, a portion of the decorative railing on the bridge came …
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
The Atlanta Police Department main zone precincts will accept unwanted, unused or expired prescription drugs between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. April 27.
The Atlanta Police Department is participating in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, April 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Midtown citizens can turn in unwanted, unused or expired prescription drugs for safe disposal. Learn more about the National Drug Take-Back Day. On April 27, the APD Main Zone Precincts will collect these drugs from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Zone 5 will accept the drugs at their CID Precinct at 398 Centennial Olympic park Drive. Look up your zone here.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Observers say the issue of allowing guns on college campuses is likely to resurface. What do you think of the idea?
Georgia Senator Frank Ginn (R-Danielsville) introduced Senate Bill 101 this past legislative session, which would have allowed guns on university campuses. On Tuesday, during an Athens-area legislative delegation meeting with the ACC Commission and mayor of Athens, Ginn asked them if they had an opinion about the bill that failed to pass. How did they feel about having guns on campus? "For me, it's a volatile issue," Ginn said. "Between now and the next session, y'all maybe put that on the agenda for discussion." Commissioner Jerry NeSmith said that he supports the Second Amendment and that he himself has owned guns. He said he would prefer that Ginn work on the issues the Commission told the delegation are important for Athens. "Gun …
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Phase 1 to add 12.5 acres to park.
The planned Piedmont Park expansion has begun. The work is part of the Piedmont Park Conservancy's ongoing plan to incorporate the master plan for the signature greenspace. The construction work continues Phase 1 of the expansion and will bring an additional 12.5 acres of green space in the are of the park that's closest to where the park hits Piedmont Avenue, as well as Monroe Drive. When done, it will add nearly 100 trees, a mulch path in the Walker Woods section and foot bridges along the Clear and Orme Creeks, Atlanta City Councilman Alex Wan, whose district includes Midtown, said in an update to constituents. The development plans also includes adding three pedestriam entrances to the park. The work is expected to be complete in June…
Mark Lenthen
7:06 pm on Friday, May 24, 2013
Hacking over WIFI is a huge threat. This happens at hotels and coffee shops all the time. The best thing you can do is install security software from sites like http://www.wifisugar.com more ›