Atlanta City Council passes legislation banning right turns on red lights
ATLANTA — The Atlanta City Council approved an ordinance that will prohibit all vehicles from conducting a right turn on red lights in the Downtown, Midtown, and Castleberry Hill neighborhoods (24-O-1011).
Other items approved include:
• A resolution authorizing an election to be held in all precincts on May 21, 2024, to submit to the voters whether the City of Atlanta should reimpose a special one percent sales to fund water and sewer projects at the cost of $1.1 billion (24-R-3190). This item was sent to the mayor’s office post haste.
• A resolution authorizing an Intergovernmental Agreement with Fulton County, if necessary, to conduct special elections in Atlanta during 2024 (24-R-3189). This item was sent to the mayor’s office post haste.
• An ordinance to modify the hours of operations at Hartsfield — Jackson Atlanta International Airport (24-O-1055).
• A resolution to urge the Georgia General Assembly to pass House Bill 1219, which creates a pilot program to determine the efficacy of enforcement of traffic laws relating to excessive noise levels emitted from a motor vehicle by noise detection technology. This item was an immediate consideration.
• A resolution to establish a task force to address the restoration of the Westside Olympic neighborhood historical markers, which have suffered from disrepair and vandalism. This item was an immediate consideration and sent to the mayor’s office post haste.
• A resolution to extend a special procurement agreement — HOPE Atlanta Outreach Transportation and Referral Services, with Travelers Aid of Metropolitan Atlanta on behalf of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in an amount not to exceed $260,000 (24-R-3179).
• An ordinance to erect a historical marker at the intersection of Sunset Avenue, NW, and Magnolia Street, NW, to recognize the historic presence of the Magnolia Ballroom (24-O-1058).
• A resolution to execute agreements under the Emergency Food and Shelter Program with Hispanic Alliance, Inner-City Muslim Action Network, and Migrant Equity Southeast to provide food, shelter, and supportive services to unhoused immigrants in the city for $710,000 (24-R-3177).
Proclamations and recognitions were presented in honor of civil rights administrator, political strategist, and former SCLC executive Director Stoney Cooks and his wife, social activist Shirley Cooks, Atlanta Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and FUBU during Atlanta Fashion Week.
Items were introduced for consideration in committee, including:
• A resolution encouraging the mayor, Invest Atlanta, and Atlanta Housing to abstain from allocating public funds or granting tax abatements to individuals or entities with unresolved criminal or civil cases about properties under their ownership.
• An ordinance to address violations of stop-work orders by imposing fines and demolition requirements within limits set by the official Code of Georgia.
• An ordinance authorizing the mayor to accept a $960,000 grant from the Housing Authority, awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, to administer the Bowen Choice Neighborhood Grant jointly.
• A resolution authorizing a $250,000 donation to FCS Urban Ministries, Inc. DBA Focused Community Strategies to support community leadership in the Thomasville Heights neighborhood.
