Mayor Franklin Addresses Regional Growth during Speech to Council
Due to rapid growth in the region, elevating Atlanta to a best-in-class city will require an additional investment of $250 million per year in the City’s General Operating Fund budget, Mayor Shirley Franklin said during her annual address to the Atlanta City Council.
Said Mayor Franklin: “As hard and difficult as it was to face the financial obligations of upgrading the water and sewer system, we face a new financial challenge of Herculean nature. How do we finance the expansion of the city’s budget without jeopardizing the future of the city, without creating a hardship for the residents and tax payers?”
“We don’t have all the answers but the goal is clear. We must use all our power to find the right financial options for the city or we will miss our opportunity to seize our time as leaders who care about the future of Atlanta. This is a case of nothing risked nothing gained.”
To view the full text of Mayor Franklin’s speech, visit here.
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Airport Accommodates More Than 1.5 Million Passengers for Holiday Travel
Aviation officials at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (HJAIA) estimate that more than 1.58 million passengers will arrive, depart or connect to flights for New Year’s holiday travel, which began December 28 and ends tomorrow.
HJAIA’s 2006 New Year’s travel – the week between Christmas and the first business day of 2007 – represents an increase in total passenger volume of 2.43 percent over 2005. Hartsfield-Jackson normally averages 233,000 passengers each day. On January 2, 2007 there were more than 250,000 passengers total.
Airport officials will know soon how the new fifth runway impacted travel during the busiest time of the year. So far, the new fifth runway has been critical in keeping air travel moving without delay during inclement weather.
Said Ben DeCosta, HJAIA general manager: “During good weather conditions with four runways, the air traffic controllers were typically accommodating 96 arriving aircraft per hour. With the addition of the fifth runway, they can land up to 134 aircraft per hour. Even in poor weather conditions with five runways, controllers still can handle 94 per hour, essentially handling the same number of arrivals per hour that a four-runway airfield could accommodate in fair weather."
For more information about Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (HJAIA) visit www.atlanta-airport.com
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“Bring One for the Chipper” Christmas Tree Recycling Program Returns
On Saturday, January 6 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the City of Atlanta will re-team with The Home Depot Stores and other public-private partners for the statewide “Bring One for the Chipper” Christmas tree recycling program.
“Bring One for the Chipper” is a program that raises awareness about recycling and environmental conservation and allows communities to put discarded Christmas trees to good use. Christmas trees will be chipped into mulch or used as a wildlife habitat.
Atlanta residents can drop their Christmas trees off at either of the following Home Depot locations: 650 Ponce De Leon Avenue, NE or 850 Sidney Marcus Boulevard, NE. Residents will receive a free dogwood seedling in exchange for each tree recycled, while supplies last.
For residents who are unable to participate on Saturday, the City of Atlanta offers another opportunity to recycle Christmas trees after the holidays. Just place your Christmas tree at the curb with your regularly scheduled yard trimmings. The City’s Yard Trimming/Compost Division will collect the trees to be recycled into mulch.
For more information about Bring One for the Chipper, or the City of Atlanta tree pick-up, call 404.330.6254.
“Bring One for the Chipper” Christmas Tree Recycling Program Returns on Saturday, January 6 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Atlanta residents can take their trees to participating Home Depot Stores located at 650 Ponce de Leon Ave or 850 Sidney Marcus Blvd. |
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Mayor, Working Group Host Forum for Center for Civil and Human Rights
Mayor Shirley Franklin and the members of the Center for Civil and Human Rights Working Group will host a public forum regarding their recommendations for a new center in the City Hall Council Chambers on Thursday, January 4 from 4 – 6 p.m.
In December, Mayor Franklin released the working group’s report for the new Atlanta center. Among other things, the report included suggestions for programming, location and a timeline.
To access the full report and appendix, please visit here. For more information, call 404.614.8302.
To view the Working Group’s recommendations for a new Center for Civil and Human Rights, visit www.atlantaga.gov under Mayor’s Office/ Special Reports. |
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The City of Atlanta recently joined Zoo Atlanta to celebrate the naming of its newest panda cub, Mei Lan. Click here to go to Video on Demand (VOD) webpage where you can watch the ceremony and find out more about the baby panda.
This is just one of the many videos you can view on the VOD page. Video clips include many of the programs you see on City Channel 26, like news conferences, groundbreakings and other events, as well as special programs that profile City departments and services. (top)
Rave Reviews!
- Atlanta Police Department Chaplain Kary Harris (Zone 5) led a small contingent of friends and colleagues to give gifts of sleeping bags and blankets to homeless men and women in downtown Atlanta this holiday season. Chaplain Harris and his mission group pooled together their resources to provide 65 sleeping bags and blankets, socks and sack meals.
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Upcoming Events & Volunteer Opportunities
- Every Tuesday from 8 a.m. – 11 a.m., the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency (AWDA) hosts a job fair at its headquarters located at 818 Pollard Blvd., Atlanta, 30315. The sign-in desk for the job fair closes promptly at 11 a.m., so arrive early. Some companies will interview applicants until noon. All job candidates are asked to dress in business attire and bring multiple resume copies. For more information, visit www.atlantaworkforce.org.
- On Monday, January 15, admission to view the first public unveiling of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Collection at the Atlanta History Center will be free. The historic collection includes King’s Nobel Peace Prize speech, sermons, personal letters and more. It will be on display at the Atlanta History Center from January 15 – May 13. There will also be free admission to view the Collection every Monday and the first full weekend of every month. For more information, call 404.814.4000.
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Job Announcements
With the City of Atlanta’s online application system, you are able to create an account and select a Username and Password and then log in to your account.
After your account has been established, you can create an application by clicking on the “Build Job Application” link. Once your application is completed, it will be stored in the system and can be used to apply for future job openings. To get started by viewing current open positions, click here.
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Weekly Features
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