Atlanta lost a giant over the weekend in Sam Massell.
The former Atlanta mayor, who laid the foundation for MARTA during his time leading the city and later ran the Buckhead Coalition for three decades, died Sunday at age 94. He was a strong champion for the Northside and its contributions to the city as a thriving hub for business.
The AJC rounded up statements from all the former mayors with stories about Massell and his service to the city. More tributes will surely pour in over the next few days — memorial services are scheduled for Wednesday at The Temple.
In the meantime, it’s worth revisiting this conversation from last year between Massell and then-Councilman Andre Dickens about city government in Atlanta Magazine. Massell said: “We were successful in Atlanta in making major changes in how we operated and doing it peacefully, very quickly. Andre will appreciate this: We always said the important way to solve problems was with a conference call, not with confrontation.”
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Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
It quickly became clear during the opening days of the federal trial of Mitzi Bickers — the political operative accused of bribery — that new revelations from the corruption investigation would continue to impact the current business of Atlanta City Hall.
It’s been nearly 10 years since Bickers last worked for the city, two mayors ago.
Yet prosecutors alleged Thursday that a current deputy commissioner in the Atlanta Department of Transportation allegedly took bribes to steer snow removal work to a contractor. Cotena Alexander, a 22-year veteran of City Hall, was placed on paid administrative leave after an AJC reporter told the mayor’s office about the allegations made in court.
It’s important to note that no charges have been filed against Alexander, and it’s unclear whether or not she’s cooperating with the government.
Another important detail that emerged: Mayor Andre Dickens’ office said the DOJ “has not shared with this Administration the names of any other employees suspected of wrongdoing.” We’ll continue closely monitoring the trial to see what other new information comes out.
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What’s next for Peachtree Street? Many local transportation advocates were shocked at the city’s sudden announcement Thursday that it plans to remove Peachtree’s “Shared Spaces” pilot installation downtown, which turned two car lanes into protected lanes for cyclists and pedestrians.
The city hasn’t said if there are any future plans to permanently redesign Peachtree Street, which was part of a proposal back in 2020. While some businesses in the area have pushed back on the idea, it had support from councilmembers, the local neighborhood association and pedestrian safety advocates.
Credit: Courtesy/Atlanta Department of City Planning
Credit: Courtesy/Atlanta Department of City Planning
The project was initially meant to be a 90-day pilot program but the planning department extended it; the city’s own report linked the redesign to an increase in pedestrians and slower vehicle speeds on Peachtree.
The reaction from Councilman Amir Farokhi, who represents much of downtown and Midtown: “Not happy about this.”
A protest in support of the project is scheduled for Monday at 4 p.m., organized by a newly formed group called “Save Share Peachtree.”
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Quote of the week:
“Hello, it's me. I was wondering if after all these years you'd like to meet."
Okay, technically, that’s an Adele quote. But Wan recited the lyrics at the first in-person Atlanta City Council meeting held in over two years last week. You can read our dispatch from the meeting here.
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Two big park updates: A two-acre plot of greenspace at one of the highest points of the city is now open to the public in northwest Atlanta, adjacent to the city’s water reservoirs.
And the city is moving forward with plans to open its first park that would have direct access to the Chattahoochee River, in northwest Atlanta’s Riverside neighborhood.
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Former Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms will soon teach students at The University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics as a Spring 2022 Pritzker Fellow. And speaking of former mayors with new gigs, Kasim Reed recently joined Squire Patton Boggs as a partner at the global law firm.
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To celebrate International Women’s Day, Mayor Dickens joined The Carter Center last week for the unveiling of a new mural designed by local artist Sarah Neuburger. The mural, located at Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church, is a part of The Carter Center’s global effort to raise awareness about women’s right to information.
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Beginning this month, construction will begin on a new affordable housing development in southeast Atlanta’s Reynoldstown neighborhood. With support from Atlanta Housing and the Beltline, Madison Reynoldstown will include 71 one-bedroom, 36 two-bedroom and nine three-bedroom units in two midrise buildings. The development will also include 2,700 square feet of commercial space. Construction is expected to be completed in two years.
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Credit: Jenni Girtman
Credit: Jenni Girtman
A very happy belated birthday to Andrew Young, the former U.S. Ambassador, congressman, and Atlanta mayor who turned 90 on Saturday. The Andrew J. Young Foundation hosted several public events to celebrate Young’s impact. Our colleague Ernie Suggs recently wrote about Young’s journey in a biography that will be published March 29.
