October 2, 2025
Read the latest reporting from Canopy Atlanta and Atlanta Documenters, which trains and pays residents to take notes on undercovered local government meetings.
“For the Record” features writing from community reporter and audience producer Ada Wood and Documenter J.P. Irie. Irie also fact-checks the newsletter each week.
“We wasn’t asking them to cite grandmama with the fence that needed painting.” —Byron D. Amos, Atlanta City Council member, District 3
District 3 residents say Code Enforcement has been prioritizing citations to homeowners rather than targeting large vacant properties.
At a recent NPU-J meeting, Atlanta City Council Member Byron D. Amos said two Code Enforcement officers are now assigned to the district; his office is addressing complaints that they are “unfortunately citing people that we know,” instead of focusing on lots left empty for decades.
District 3 includes West Lake, Bankhead, and English Avenue. | City of Atlanta
“That’s not why we asked for them to come; we were asking for the large, 20- to 30-year vacant properties,” Amos said. “We wasn’t asking them to cite grandmama with the fence that needed painting.”
(Documented by Natalie Pilgeram; additional reporting by Ada Wood)
🗑️ Atlanta City Council Utilities Committee
Cyril Turner is Atlanta’s new Commissioner of Public Works. Turner, who has worked for Delta Air Lines and The Coca-Cola Company, will work with code enforcement to target “crime and grime.” City Chief Operating Officer LaChandra Butler Burks called on Turner to combat illegal dumping and hold property owners accountable for blighted areas. (Documented by Dominique Huff)
🛝 Neighborhood Planning Unit J
Atlanta City Council Member Dustin Hillis directed $17 million from Moving Atlanta Forward to Grove Park. Upcoming community meetings will decide how those funds are spent. Also discussed at this meeting: • NPU-J plans to return to
occasional in-person meetings. • Atlanta Land Trust Stewardship Manager Karen Babino said a groundbreaking ceremony was recently held for The Trust at Grove Park, a 14-unit townhome community on Eugenia Place. (Documented by Natalie Pilgeram)
NPU-J includes Center Hill, Dixie Hills, and Grove Park. Visit npuatlanta.org to find your NPU.
👵🏾 Neighborhood Planning Unit J
Atlanta Police Department Captain Karla Baldini said Zone 1 is seeing “stupid thefts”: shoplifting, porch package thefts, and a string of thefts at a nursing home. She noted the recent arrest of a "career shoplifter." (Documented by Natalie Pilgeram)
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đź“ş Atlanta City Council Utilities Committee
The City of Atlanta is partnering with Georgia State University to improve the management of its community-access media, including Channel 24 and educational programs. GSU will manage the City’s media space, offer workshops, and coordinate with Atlanta Technical College in Southwest Atlanta. The agreement, now in final legal review, should be ready before the next committee meeting.
Council members incorrectly referred to Atlanta Technical College as Atlanta Metropolitan Technical College throughout this meeting. Atlanta Metropolitan State College is a separate college and not in the legislation. (Documented by Dominique Huff)
Midtown Live After Five
đź“… Wednesdays, 5 to 7 p.m
đź“Ť 10th Street Park, 1005 Peachtree Street, Atlanta
Atlanta Walk to End Colon Cancer
đź“… October 25, 10 a.m.
đź“Ť Shirley Clarke Franklin Park, 1660 Johnson Road NW, Atlanta
NPU-J 2026 Officer Elections
đź“… October 28, 7 p.m.
đź“Ť Zoom
Fall Festival/Halloween Extravaganza
đź“… October 31, 3 to 6 p.m.
đź“Ť Greenbriar Mall, 2841 Greenbriar Parkway, Atlanta
Trick or Treatment Tour
đź“… October 31, 4 to 9 p.m.
đź“Ť Hemphill Water Treatment Plant, 650 17th Street, Atlanta
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