October 9, 2025
Read the latest reporting from Canopy Atlanta and Atlanta Documenters, which trains and pays residents to take notes on undercovered local government meetings.
āFor the Recordā features writing from community reporter and audience producer Ada Wood and Documenter J.P. Irie. Irie also fact-checks the newsletter each week.
āSo Iām asking ā¦ that these contractors be out, out of the City. Give these men and women their jobs back.ā āGina Pagnotta, Professional Association of City Employees president
Concerns that funds designated for City worker overtime are being redirected to private contractors were raised at a recent Atlanta City Council Transportation Committee meeting.
Professional Association of City Employees (PACE) President Gina Pagnotta questioned why the Council approved millions of dollars for overtime only for the Atlanta Department of Transportation (ATLDOT) to allegedly divert those funds elsewhere.
Formed in 2019, ATLDOT plans, builds, and maintains Atlantaās streets, sidewalks, bike lanes, and traffic signals to make city travel safer and more accessible. Its operating budget for FY 2026 is about $58.6 million. The department also oversees the Moving Atlanta Forward program, which provides significant funding for transportation improvements, though spending has been slow, reflecting ongoing challenges in project delivery.
āWhen you hear āovertimeā ā¦ theyāre not saying they just want to milk the bucket or milk the city,ā Pagnotta said. āThere is work to be done. They are understaffed.ā She claimed the department instead used the funds to pay contractors who are also using City equipment.
āWhat this seems to me is another way that the departmentāIām just sayingāis trying to outsource,ā Pagnotta said, urging the council to remove contractors and āgive these men and women their jobs back.ā Her remarks drew applause from the room.
ATLDOT employees echoed Pagnottaās concerns, saying theyāve seen overtime reduced and are uncertain about the departmentās future and their job security. āIs [ATLDOT] going to exist in 2026?ā asked Joe Banks, speaking on behalf of his colleagues. Dimekko Sidney, an ATLDOT traffic technician, added that many employees feel ignored.
In response, the committee requested a financial analysis of outsourcing costs to be presented at its next meeting.
(Documented by Jane Porfiri; additional reporting by Ada Wood)
Atlanta Zoning Review Board
Community members are opposing the proposed Northeast Atlanta Quality of Life Regulation Overlay District, which would limit short-term rentals in the area. Councilmember Howard Shook, District 7, proposed the overlay, which would not change existing zoning regulations or the zoning map. Many residents expressed uncertainty about the measure, citing its vague language and the short timeframe to understand it. Some are concerned it could restrict their own short-term rentals, while others questioned why the ordinance is needed in Northeast Atlanta specifically. Some residents also worried the ordinance could infringe on homeownersā rights. One neighbor, representing a local homeowners association, supported the ordinance as a way to protect their apartment complex from short-term rentals. (Documented by Faith Mbadugha)
District 7 | City of Atlanta, Department of City Planning
Atlanta City Council Transportation Committee
Atlanta Rideshare Union organizers are calling for improved facilities and clearer communication to address ongoing challenges for drivers doing pickups at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. (Documented by Jane Porfiri)
When the Creeks Rise is a community journalism project documenting flooding in Atlantaāits causes, its consequences, and the residents fighting for solutions.
The name is a play on the old Southern saying āGod willing and the creek don't rise,ā a phrase that has long captured a simple truth: Even the best-laid plans can be upended by forces beyond our control. But in Atlanta today, when the creeks rise, it's not just an act of natureāand it's not always due to forces beyond our control. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive record that shows how policy decisions, development patterns, and underinvestment cause flooding that harms communities across the city.
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District 9 | City of Atlanta, Department of City Planning
The Pickleball Club of Georgia, located on English Street in District 9, was approved for a special use permit to serve alcohol. (Documented by Faith Mbadugha)
Atlanta City Council Member Byron D. Amos announcedāafter 20 minutes and several speakersāthat the committee lacked a quorum, prompting a move to another room for additional comments from the large crowd. (Documented by Jane Porfiri)
Our Energy, Our Future: Public Service Commissioner Candidate Forumš Sunday, October 12, 2 p.m.
š Alif Institute, hosted by Georgia Muslim Voter Project
Candid Conversation with School Board District 2 and District 6 Candidatesš Tuesday, October 14, 6 p.m.
š Adams Park Recreation Center, hosted by Campbellton Road United
Greenspace Candidate Forum with Council President Candidatesš Thursday, October 16, 6:30 p.m.
š Virtual, hosted by Park Pride & Greenspace Partners
Candidate Series Forum 1š Tuesday, October 21, 6 p.m.
š Underground Atlanta, hosted by Propel ATL
Candidate Series Forum 2š Tuesday, October 23, 6 p.m.
Candidate Series Karaoke Nightš Tuesday, October 29, 7 p.m.
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