“Crime is Toast” Atlanta Police Honored for Bravery, Commitment
During the State of the Force address, delivered this morning at the Crime is Toast fundraiser, Atlanta Police Chief Richard Pennington put criminals on notice that an “improved, motivated and better-staffed” Atlanta Police Department (APD) is prepared to put criminals behind bars.
Mayor Shirley Franklin joined Chief Pennington and Atlanta Police Foundation (APF) president Dave Wilkinson at the Georgia World Congress Center for this fourth annual event which thanks officers for keeping Atlanta safe for residents and visitors. APD sworn and non-sworn employees were recognized for going above and beyond the call of duty. [A complete list of award winners is available at www.atlantapd.org].
In 2002, Mayor Franklin hired Chief Pennington to make Atlanta a safer city. Since then, APD has reduced part I and violent crimes to record lows for five consecutive years - even while most of the nation experienced an increase during the same period.
Weekly COBRA (Command Operation Briefings to Revitalize Atlanta) meetings, instituted in 2003, allow officers to review, analyze and re-deploy resources and tackle crime in real-time. In 2002, APD was at 1,433 officers – well below full strength. Today, APD is at 1,833 officers and in the midst of an aggressive recruitment campaign for 2,000 officers by 2010.
A new Narcotics unit is staffed and ready to tackle Atlanta’s drug trade. APF programs - Crime Stoppers and Operation Shield – successfully allow civilians to play a role in catching criminals. APD also became CALEA-accredited – a feat for a city of Atlanta’s size - which ranks the department in over 400 best-in-class categories.
But our work is far from done, Chief Pennington says. Nationally crime is up, and in Atlanta it has been more pronounced. The Chief acknowledges a continuing drug problem and significant juvenile crime over the summer. APD is working with juvenile and justice systems to come up with solutions for youth crimes and recidivism. Increased technology – in particular providing all APD officers with computers - will allow officers more time in the communities.
About APF: Every year, APF presents fundraisers to support City of Atlanta Police. This year, over $140,000 was raised by the Crime is Toast breakfast from the public and private sectors to support programs that contribute to the health and safety of the city and our public safety officers. Programs include recruitment, training, in-town affordable housing options and scholarships.
APD Guard presents the colors, sing the National Anthem at “Crime is Toast."
A procession of APD officers receive a standing ovation for their tireless work to keep Atlanta safe.
Mayor Franklin joins Chief Pennington (left) and Assistant Chief Alan Dreher (right) to present Janet Anderson-Bennett with the “Civilian Supervisor of the Year Award.” |
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Documentary Showcases Atlanta Greenroof Garden’s Environmental Benefits
As municipalities across Georgia consider conservation options in the face of the state’s drought, the City of Atlanta greenroof garden - located on City Hall’s fifth floor – has been providing environmental benefits since it was constructed in 2003.
Atlanta’s greenroof garden is the first ever constructed on a government building. The greenroof helps reduce energy costs and absorbs stormwater that would normally flow into the streets and highways, picking up pollutants that get funneled directly into our streams and rivers.
In March, Atlanta City Hall was featured on Planet Smoothie’s “Good for You, Good for the Planet” national ecological tour, which highlighted cutting-edge, environmentally-friendly initiatives across the country.
Click This Image to View a Documentary on the Atlanta Greenroof Garden.
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Be Safe This Halloween Weekend. Don’t Drink and Drive
Known mostly as a holiday for kids, Halloween celebrations are now inspiring fear of another kind - adult revelers who drink and drive.
The Halloween weekend has become one of the year’s most deadly for drunk-driving accidents. According to the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS), almost half of all fatal crashes on Halloween weekend are alcohol-related. This becomes even more frightening when you factor in the amount of young people who will be trick-or-treating that weekend.
The Atlanta Police Department (APD) is sending the message to drunk drivers that it will not be tolerated. APD has partnered with law enforcement agencies metro-wide to increase police presence in popular party areas. APD will be conducting regular road checks throughout the week and into the weekend, and wreckers will stand by to tow vehicles impounded from drunk drivers.
Click Here for a List of Halloween Safety Tips, Including Costumes, Road Safety and Stranger Danger.
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Atlanta Project Greenspace Needs Input on City Park Plan
Following months of public hearings and panel discussions, the Atlanta Project Greenspace team has completed a final draft report that outlines how the City plans to grow and manage Atlanta’s parks and trails.
The report will be presented at a public meeting (location TBD) in January 2008 and before the NPUs in February and March 2008. Public input from these meetings will be incorporated into the report before a final plan is submitted to the Atlanta City Council in April 2008.
Atlanta Project Greenspace is the City’s first long-term plan for managing parks and trails since 1993. In 2006, a planning team was assembled which included the Departments of Planning; Public Works; and Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs and other public and private organizations. The team immediately developed a comprehensive outreach plan that included stakeholder surveys which reached over 1,200 residents.
An inventory of publicly owned parks and greenspace in the City of Atlanta was compiled to identify public need for greenspace and access to parks. Currently, only half of all Atlanta residents live within walking distance - .5 mile - of a park entrance, one of the key metrics for creating a world-class park system.
Atlanta Project Greenspace needs more stakeholder input. In November, the planning team will focus on how the City’s park system measures nationally and how residents feel about the parks in their district. For more information on the Atlanta Project Greenspace, visit www.atlantaprojectgreenspace.com
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Mayor Shirley Franklin joins New Owner Ron Terwilliger in announcing the newest team in the WNBA. Click Here to go to our video on demand (VOD) page where you can watch the news conference.
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Rave Reviews!
- City Gallery East will present pieces from the “Art in Motion” exhibition at City Gallery East and on MARTA busses. The exhibit will run in City Gallery East from October 19 – November 23 as well as appear on 25 MARTA buses. The exhibit features five pieces from five Atlanta artists - Sheila Pree-Bright, Kathryn Kolb, Mario Petrirena, Michael Reese and Larry Walker. The award-winning City Gallery East – located on the first floor of City Hall East – is 8,000 square-feet of exhibition space and is one of the largest continuous exhibition spaces in Atlanta. Dedicated to presenting contemporary fine art, the gallery promotes pieces from Atlanta based artists. City Gallery East also sponsors community-based exhibitions that provide an opportunity for greater exposure of community initiatives.
City Gallery East will partner with MARTA to present “Public Art on the Move. |
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Upcoming Events & Volunteer Opportunities
- On Wednesday November 7 from 7:30 – 9 am, Mayor Shirley Franklin and the Atlanta Women’s Agenda will host "Women of Color + White Women = the New Green: The Impact of Women on the Environmental Movement in Atlanta." This FREE event will be held in the City Council Chambers, in City Hall, 55 Trinity Avenue. To RSVP, please click on link below rsvp@womensagenda.com.
- In celebration of Atlanta Recycles Day, on Saturday November 17 from 8 – 10 am, Mayor Shirley Franklin and Keep Atlanta Beautiful will host the first-ever “5K Mayor-thon: Race 2 Recycle” at Isabel Gates Webster Park. In addition to the 5K, a 1 mile run/walk, Race to Recycle Awards and Recycle and Junk Parade, Mayor Franklin will introduce the City’s new incentive-based recycling initiative, CurbCycle Atlanta, and unveil plans for a new recycled, rubberized jogging track at Isabel Gates Webster Park. Entry fee is $25 in advance, $30 the day of the event. For more information, visit www.atlantaga.gov
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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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