Atlanta is ‘Strong and Stable,’ More Work Ahead
During today’s annual State of the City Business Breakfast, Mayor Shirley Franklin said that Atlanta is “strong and stable” due to consistently balanced budgets, strict ethics guidelines and efficient and effective systems that foster good government.
But we cannot afford to stop now, urged Mayor Franklin. Keeping a critical and thoughtful eye on the city’s future is the key to creating the Atlanta of our dreams.
“Serious consideration of Atlanta’s future requires serious and thoughtful financial thinking today,” said Mayor Franklin. “City government can’t do it alone - it will take all of us working together.”
Mayor Franklin encouraged the community of Atlanta to continue its support of three long-term City programs.
- The 24/7 Gateway Center. The Center serves hundreds of men, women and children each day, connecting them with services that provide those in need a hand up, not a handout.
- The BeltLine. On Thursday, the City will launch a $60 million philanthropic BeltLine Capital campaign to continue this project. Every dollar counts.
- The Center for Civil and Human Rights. This center along with the King Center will tell the story of Atlanta and the many men and women who dedicated their lives that we might live in a fairer and just world.
Said Mayor Franklin: “I imagine the Atlanta of 2040 to be unparalleled among U.S. cities with superior police and fire protection, excellent schools, clean water, and better transportation solutions. I imagine a city that has more parks and green space; a community where no one is homeless, and where the people who work in the city can afford to live in the city. I imagine an Atlanta that is a global destination for people who seek to better understand – and advance – human ideals and human rights. Together we can build a foundation for an Atlanta beyond our imagination.”
To read the full text of Mayor Franklin’s address, visit here.
Mayor Shirley Franklin delivers the annual State of the City address to the business community.
Mayor Shirley Franklin joins Jordica Jordan, a Next Step … the Atlanta Promise and North Atlanta High School senior, at the State of the City Business Breakfast where Jordica led the Pledge of Allegiance. |
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Hartsfield-Jackson Ranks as “World’s Busiest Airport”
For the second year in a row, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (HJAIA) was ranked the busiest airport in the world by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), accommodating close to one million flights in 2006.
In 2006, HJAIA accommodated 976,307 flights, edging out second-place Chicago O’Hare Airport by more 17,000 flights. Last year, HJAIA added several new international travel locations. Delta Airlines – the airport’s largest airline carrier – added destinations from Atlanta to Athens, Greece; Copenhagen, Denmark; Johannesburg, South Africa; and Venice, Italy.
“Hartsfield-Jackson’s mission is to be the world’s best airport by exceeding customer expectations,” said HJAIA General Manager Ben DeCosta. “The 2006 flight numbers are just further proof that Atlanta and the southeast region continue to be economic powerhouses and the home base of choice for both national and international corporations.”
Hartsfield-Jackson became the world’s busiest passenger airport in 1998 and has continued to hold that title. Although final passenger volume numbers for 2006 will not be available until later this month, as of November 2006, HJAIA had accommodated approximately 78 million passengers. Chicago’s O’Hare Airport had roughly 70 million according to its most recently released figures.
For more information about Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, visit www.atlanta-airport.com
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Community Weighs in on Center for Civil and Human Rights
Last week, the City of Atlanta hosted a public forum in the City Hall Council Chambers for community members to weigh in on the creation of a new Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta.
Approximately 200 people gathered to listen and offer input. Mayor Shirley Franklin facilitated the forum, which will be rebroadcast on City Channel 26 (Comcast 26). “The goal of this forum is to hear the ideas that we have not heard yet and to ask for your help in how Atlanta tells its story through the new Center,” Mayor Franklin said.
A group of Atlanta educators and business, community and civil rights leaders was established 18 months ago to offer recommendations for the new Center. In December 2006, the working group presented its recommendation report to Mayor Franklin. Among the things included in the report were ideas for content and vision. Additional committees will be formed for the next phase of bringing the new Center to life.
To learn more about the Center for Civil and Human Rights, visit here.
Community members attend the public forum to discuss and offer suggestions for a new Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta. |
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Phoenix Park II Named the 2006 “Park of the Year”
The Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs (DPRCA) in collaboration with non-profit group Park Pride have selected Phoenix Park II as the City of Atlanta 2006 Park of the Year.
Phoenix II is located at 141 Martin St., Atlanta, 30315. The park was selected because of its attention to detail. “The City parks crew understood how important the little things are to creating a clean, welcoming and beautiful park,” said Walt Ray, director of visioning for Park Pride. “The crew at Phoenix II did an outstanding job mulching trees, planting flower beds, edging pathways and trimming overgrowth and each month the park got better.”
City parks play an essential role in the quality of life of residents. “Because of recognition programs like Park of the Year, DPRCA will continue to raise the bar on improving and maintaining all of our parks and greenspaces,” said Dianne Harnell-Cohen, DPRCA commissioner.
The Park of the Year program began two years ago. A Park Pride panel evaluates parks against a set of criteria that includes cleanliness, hazards and presence of graffiti. The park that best meets these criteria throughout the year is named Park of the Year.
For more information on City of Atlanta parks, visit here.
Phoenix Park II has been named City of Atlanta 2006 Park of the Year. |
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Mayor Shirley Franklin delivered her state of the city address at the annual State of the City Business Breakfast this week. Click here to go to Video On Demand (VOD) webpage where you can watch the mayor's speech and hear about Atlanta's progress firsthand.
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Rave Reviews!
- Georgia Trend Magazine has named Mayor Shirley Franklin its “2007 Georgian of the Year.” Mayor Franklin was chosen because of her bottom line accomplishments since becoming Atlanta’s first female mayor in 2002. Her accomplishments include consistently presenting balanced city budgets, improving policing and ethics reform and pursuing visionary projects like the BeltLine and the acquisition of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. papers. Mayor Franklin joins other visionary Atlantans in the magazine’s January issue.
Mayor Shirley Franklin has been named Georgia Trend Magazine’s “2007 Georgian of the Year.” |
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Upcoming Events & Volunteer Opportunities
- In Atlanta, every day is an opening day … On Monday, January 15 admission to the first public unveiling of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Collection at the Atlanta History Center will be free all day long. 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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