Riley Bunch

A fatal shooting by an off-duty officer a year ago remains unresolved The GBI submitted its investigation into the incident to the Fulton County DA six months ago, but no charges have been filed.

NEW: “I still don’t believe my son is gone...with no answers, no accountability, no transparency." I sat down with Valerie Lans-Anderson to ahead of the year anniversary of her son being shot by an off-duty APD officer. No charges have been filed. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/2025/08...

NEW: The city's interim inspector general is closing cases - including probes into the mayor's office. But, although shared inside City Hall, those findings remain under wraps. Because the governing board that was given the power to make them public doesn't exist. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/2025/08...

Historic buildings in Atlanta being repurposed as affordable housing A century-old elementary school and former Atlanta Constitution printing facility are among the properties to be redeveloped as housing units.

A new fun one from me today: Historic buildings across Atlanta are helping the city reach its affordable housing goals. Including a near century-old elementary school that played a crucial role in the 1930s labor movement. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/2025/07...

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens names Courtney English interim chief of staff A top advisor to the mayor, English previously served as chair of the Atlanta Board of Education.

NEW: Mayor Dickens named one of his senior advisors, Courtney English, as interim chief of staff for the city. English was the youngest chair of the Atlanta Board of Education and launched two unsuccessful bids for City Council positions. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/2025/07...

Atlanta looks to lure police officers with $10K bonus ahead of World Cup The Atlanta Police Foundation announced it will offer $10,000 to already-trained officers as a way to skip onboarding and bolster the force ahead of next summer’s events.

Your Inside City Hall this week: Atlanta hopes to lure police officers ahead of the World Cup with $10K cash. Behind the scenes, APD is also working to crack down on overtime spending that made up half of the city's deficit last fiscal year. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/2025/07...

Atlanta bans vape shops near schools Both state and city lawmakers have struggled to regulate the industry that, they say, dangerously targets young people.

New: Atlanta bans vape shops near schools and implements other requirements over the controversial industry, while state leaders have struggled for years to pass their own meaningful changes to curb youth access. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/2025/07...

Demoliion of Atlanta Medical Center to begin Monday The abrupt closure of the 121-year-old hospital left a gap in the city’s health care system that has yet to be filled.

NEW: Three years after the hospital abruptly shuttered, the century-old Atlanta Medical Center is set to be demolished. For longtime residents in the neighborhood, new development also brings fears of displacement. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/2025/06...

Frustration over Atlanta’s project backlog dominates council races An audit released earlier this year found that only about $47 million of the $660 million Moving Atlanta Forward bond package approved by voters in 2022 had been spent.

NEW: Atlanta's political hopefuls gathered for the first forum of the upcoming 2025 city elections. Frustrations over long-awaited district infrastructure projects dominated the discussion. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/2025/06...

Georgia State Capitol skybridge gets OK from Atlanta City Council Atlanta City Council OK's state Capitol skybridge, backing down from earlier opposition.

After initially pushing back against the state's plans, Atlanta City Council ultimately signed over the air rights for a skybridge at the Capitol. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/2025/06...

Atlanta labor unions call for release of California union leader David Huerta Atlanta union members say service industry workers are under attack as the Trump administration cracks down on immigration.

FULL STORY: David Huerta’s arrest in LA highlighted the immigrant population that makes up a large portion of the country’s service industry. A federal magistrate judge just ordered the union leader be released on a $50,000 bond. #atlpol #ICEProtest www.ajc.com/news/2025/06...

Georgia Power defends second substation in Vine City area Residents rallied against the project after materials by Georgia Power said the substation would help support energy needs for Centennial Yards.

UPDATE: Yesterday, residents rallied on the corner of the proposed location hours before Georgia Power hosted community information sessions on the project. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/2025/06...

A Georgia Power substation on Atlanta's Westside? Residents say no Residents say the plan to place a substation in historic Vine City is case of environmental injustice.

New: Westside residents are pushing back against Georgia Power’s plans to add a second substation to the historically Black community of Vine City. The facility would sit one lane away from a single-family home neighborhood. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/2025/06...

Court orders release of police training center records Fulton County Superior Court Judge Jane C. Barwick ordered all documents related to the training center be handed over within 30 days.

New: A Fulton County judge ordered that the Atlanta Police Foundation must release records related to the public safety training center under the Open Records Act. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/2025/06...

Can ‘cool roofs’ help Atlanta combat extreme heat? City leaders want to find out Commercial developers and home builders may soon be required to use more energy-efficient roofing materials as Atlanta’s leaders explore ways to combat extreme heat.

New: Atlanta City Council is considering new stipulations around the materials used for building and replacing roofs to steer construction away from darker, sun-attracting colors to lighter, reflective colors. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/2025/05...

Trump grant rollbacks threaten $330M for metro Atlanta projects The ambitious Stitch development and Northeast Beltline trail extension could suffer huge losses of federal funding.

NEW: Trump's grant rollbacks threaten an estimated $330M in federal funds promised to metro Atlanta localities for projects that focus on pedestrian safety, green infrastructure and equitable development -- including the ambitious Stitch project. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/2025/05...

Nonprofit policy leader enters race for Atlanta City Council president A longtime Atlanta nonprofit leader and self-proclaimed “policy nerd” has entered the race for Atlanta City Council president.

Happy Monday, Atlanta! I am back from a week off and coming in hot with your Inside City Hall newsletter: Policy nonprofit leader joins the race for Atlanta City Council president. And a new audit shows city employees racking up paid leave. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/2025/05...

Atlanta City Council questions Mayor Andre Dickens' budget for FY26 Dickens administration aims to cut about 150 city jobs this year to help make up projected deficit.

The mayor's proposed public safety spending, in particular, was questioned by council members and even described by one as "a little bit out of control." #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/atlanta...

Atlanta City Council urges state patrol to curb high-speed chases A resolution approved unanimously by the Atlanta City Council urges the state to amend GSP's pursuit policy restricting chases to specific cases.

ICYMI: Atlanta City Council is urging the state to crack down on high-speed pursuits after the death of a teenage bystander last month. An @ajc investigation found GSP executed 6,700 high-speed chases within a five-year period. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/investi...

Andre Dickens details plan to erase Atlanta $33M deficit According to the mayor’s office, the original $33 million deficit — about 3% of last year’s general fund budget — has already been reduced by half.

New: The mayor's FY26 budget proposal showed big increases across departments despite a projected $33M budget deficit this year. That's because the city is working quickly to erase that overrun before City Council passes the next budget in June. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/atlanta...

Atlanta police training center opens after years of pushback Mayor Andre Dickens celebrates opening of training center after years of pushback

ICYMI: Opponents of Atlanta's training center were characterized at its opening with words like "lies," "violence" and "criminals." The facility was the target of attacks by more extreme protesters but hundreds spoke out peacefully at City Hall. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/atlanta...

Want to name a building after yourself at Atlanta’s public safety training center? Donations top at $2M for the academic center. But if you can’t quite reach that, a horse stall is only $50,000. #atlpol

I’m at the ribbon cutting for Atlanta’s public safety training center. The facility is fully open after years of debate, multiple lawsuits, $68M in public funding, an unfinished referendum effort, the death of a protester and dozens more people facing criminal charges. #atlpol

Study on first-ever LGBTQ center in Atlanta needs community input Organizers of a feasibility study on Atlanta's first LGBTQ community center are asking city residents what they want to see at the center.

Happy Monday, Atlanta! Leading your Inside City Hall today is a call from the city for input on its first-ever LGBTQ+ center. Dickens talks climate change for the UN. And the city's amnesty program for traffic violations is extended. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/atlanta...

Here’s what Piedmont Park’s future will look like The plan to revitalize Piedmont Park includes a natural amphitheater, a Lake Clara Meer makeover and making sure the park is more accessible to Atlanta Beltline users.

NEW: Lake Clara Meer is known for both its stunning backdrop of the Atlanta skyline and its unpleasant odors that greet visitors who stroll too close. But restoring the water feature is a top item on a 20-year master plan to revamp the park. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/atlanta...

Pressure is on for Atlanta be best version of itself for 2026 FIFA World Cup With 300,000 visitors expected to descend on the city, and billions more watching at home, officials face mounting pressure to host the major event without issues.

NEW: Atlanta isn't without its issues — daily traffic jams and crumbling infrastructure to name just two. But can the city shape up to show off during the 2026 FIFA World Cup? Officials hope so. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/busines...

Democratic Mayor Andre Dickens hopes GOP partnerships will pay off Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens is hoping Republic partnerships will help Democratic city leaders navigate the Trump White House.

Happy Monday, Atlanta! Your Inside City Hall is all about how Atlanta leaders are navigating the Trump White House -- and if Georgia state Republicans will help them get the federal support the city needs. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/atlanta...

NEW: I sat down with Atlanta City Council President Doug Shipman for a lengthy interview after he announced he would not be seeking reelection. We went behind the scenes of debate over the city's training center, Buckhead cityhood and more. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/atlanta...

Training center opponents vow to complicate 2025 city elections Despite years of public outcry over the project, elected officials are skeptical the issue will impact voters’ decisions at the ballot box.

NEW: Outside of Mayor Dickens' reelection launch party, training center opponents blasted his own voice from a speaker. Elected officials are skeptical of the issue's impact on 2025 races, but organizers say they won't stay quiet. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/atlanta...

Promise unkept: Atlanta’s class action lawsuit over Forest Cove apartments Despite Mayor Andre Dickens’ promise to get tough on Forest Cove owner Millennia through a class-action lawsuit, no complaint was ever filed.

NEW: In 2023, Atlanta promised Forest Cove residents that legal help was coming by announcing a class action lawsuit against the property owners. More than a year and a half later, no lawsuit has been filed. w/ Matt Reynolds #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/atlanta...

Atlanta’s interim inspector addresses criticism over her appointment LaDawn Blackett said she wasn’t aware of the bitter feud between the Dickens administration and the city’s former inspector general when she was asked to step in.

NEW: I sat down with Atlanta’s interim inspector general who agreed to take on the role temporarily despite the office’s yearlong feud with the Dickens administration. We talked concern over her appointment, the “whistleblower” letter and more. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/atlanta...