Atlanta City Council. E-Newsletter

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1 Atlanta City Council E-Newsletter Council Contact September 2015 A Monthly Publication by the Atlanta City Council Office of Communications City Council approves resolution to combat sex trafficking in Atlanta The Atlanta City Council approved a resolution on Monday, September 21 requesting the City of Atlanta s Department of Aviation to conduct an annual training session for city employees, airline workers and airport contractors at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International on how to spot, identify and rescue victims of sex trafficking at the world s busiest airport. The measure was sponsored by Transportation Committee Chairwoman Felicia Moore. There is a grave misconception in this country that sex trafficking, particularly the trafficking of children, is a trend relegated to foreign countries. The painful truth is that sex trafficking one of the world s fastest-growing criminal industries is a monstrous issue in the U.S. In fact, 85% of confirmed sex trafficking victims in this country are U.S. citizen. In recent years, sex trafficking has become a major concern for the U.S. Department of Justice that is increasing in scope and magnitude. The majority of sex trafficking victims are minors (boys and girls). The FBI reports that the average age that a child is first recruited into prostitution or sex trafficking in the U.S. is years-old. Their life span at that point becomes 7 years, due to the risk of overdose, STDs, suicide, and homicide. The FBI has also indicated that Atlanta is among the worst cities in the country for sex trafficking. But there is hope! Atlanta is also regarded as one of the cities having the most coordinated response to trafficking. Atlanta Police Department participates in the 10th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day In 2014, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport began an aggressive program to combat sex/forced human labor trafficking by placing signs throughout the airport which are in English and Spanish. It is called a Human Trafficking Notice and the question on the notice asks: Are you or someone you know being sold for sex or made/ forced to work for little or no pay, and cannot leave? The signs are at eye level for a child to actually see the print along with a number to call for help if they think they are a victim of trafficking. Our extensive highway system and busy airport bring in buyers (and traffickers) from all over the world, said Linda Bressler of Awareness and Action against Child Trafficking for Sex (AACTS), a local organization dedicated to ending child sex trafficking. We can stop the buying of our children by training people to recognize the red flags when they see something suspicious. Although our airport is the busiest in the world, it can also be the safest for our children. The Atlanta Police Department is participating in the 10th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, September 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Department is encouraging citizens to participate by donating unused or expired medication at the following locations: Zone 1 Main Precinct: 2315 Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy. N.W. Zone 2 Main Precinct: 3120 Maple Dr. N.E. Zone 3 Main Precinct: 880 Cherokee Ave Zone 4 Main Precinct: 1125 Cascade Cr. S.W. Zone 5 CID Precinct: 398 Centennial Olympic Park Dr. Zone 6 Main Precinct: 2025 Hosea L. Williams Dr. S.E.

2 City Councilmember Kwanza Hall hosts Evelyn Lowery Mural Dedication with the Lowery Institute Atlanta City Councilmember Kwanza Hall will be joined by civil rights leader Rev. Dr. Joseph Lowery and his daughter, Cheryl Lowery, for the dedication of a mural honoring Evelyn Gibson Lowery, founder of SCLC/W.O.M.E.N., Inc. during a special ceremony from 11:30 a.m. noon on Monday, Sept. 28, on Bell Street near the intersection with Auburn Avenue. In 1979, Evelyn Lowery founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference Women s Organizational Movement for Equality Now (SCLC W.O.M.E.N.) Inc. as the sister organization to the SCLC to address issues of social action, community and economic development. She passed away in September 2013 at the age of 88. This is a very special and personal mural for me, said Hall. My father, Leon Hall, was one of Mrs. Lowery s greatest advocates. In the decade between the founding of SCLC W.O.M.E.N. and my father s passing in 1989, he and Mrs. Lowery worked together on many initiatives, including the annual SCLC/W.O.M.E.N. Christmas luncheon for Atlanta s seniors. As part of the mural dedication, Cheryl Lowery, the executive director of the Joseph & Evelyn Lowery Institute for Justice and Human Rights at Clark Atlanta University, invites participants to take part in a spoken litany. Her father, Dr. Lowery, will also make remarks. Atlanta-based artist Sean Garrett, owner of art and design collective The Loss Prevention, painted the 35-by-15-foot mural on the side of a two-story building at the corner of Auburn and Bell. My family and I are honored that a public mural has been created to recognize my mother s work and contributions to the Civil Rights Movement, the city and people of Atlanta, Cheryl Lowery said. We invite all Atlantans to join us as we celebrate a real hero my hero and dedicate this beautiful mural in her memory. The Evelyn Lowery mural is the second in The Loss Prevention s HERO series. The first, of U.S. Congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis, is painted on a seven-story building nearby on Auburn Avenue and was dedicated in City Councilmember Michael Julian Bond joins acclaimed filmmaker Aviva Kempner for special advance screening and panel discussion on her new film Rosenwald Atlanta City Councilmember Michael Julian Bond joined acclaimed filmmaker Aviva Kempner on Wednesday, September 16 for special advance screening and panel discussion on her new film Rosenwald, a documentary highlighting the life and works of little-known Jewish philanthropist Julius Rosenwald. The screening took place at the Landmark Theatres Midtown Art Cinema. Rosenwald (August 12, 1862 January 6, 1932) was an American businessman and was best known as a part-owner and leader of Sears, Roebuck and Company, and for establishing the Rosenwald Fund, which donated millions in matching funds to support the education of African-American children in the rural South, as well as other philanthropic causes in the first half of the 20th century. He was also the principal founder and backer for the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, to which he gave more than $5 million and served as President from 1927 to During his time, Rosenwald was influenced by the writings of the African- American educator Booker T. Washington. As a result, he joined forces with African-American communities and built over 5,300 schools during the early part of the 20th century. The panel discussion was moderated by M. Alexis Scott, publisher emerita of the Atlanta Daily World and part of Fox 5 s Georgia Gang. 2

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4 City Council seeks review of the city s sidewalk closure and notification processes due to construction and other events The Atlanta City Council approved a resolution on Monday, September 21 calling for a review of the city s current policies on sidewalk closures and notification processes due to construction, outdoor events and movie shoots. The resolution was sponsored by Atlanta City Councilmember Kwanza Hall, who represent much of downtown Atlanta, an epicenter for new develops. Hall said with the improving economy, the City of Atlanta is seeing a significant increase in construction projects. And due to the numerous construction projects across the city, many residents and visitors have expressed frustration about closed sidewalks - especially during new construction. The closure of sidewalks in particular creates a hardship on the elderly pedestrians and those residents and visitors who use wheelchairs for mobility. A Pedestrian Right-of-Way Access Policy was developed by the commissioners of the Departments of Planning and Community Development and Public Works in February The policy provided procedures to be implemented for the treatment of sidewalks during construction activity. The policy is to be enforced by the departments when reviewing development plans for construction that impacts the pedestrian right-ofway/sidewalks. However contractors may direct pedestrians to cross to the other side of the street due to the structural necessities of the work to be completed. To provide a friendly pedestrian environment to residents and visitors Hall said it is in the best interest of the city to take a new look at the current city policies and at national best practices regarding sidewalk closures due to construction, outdoor events, and movie shoots. The commissioners of the Department of Planning and Community Development and Public Works have been directed to present to the City Council recommendations on improving the city s current sidewalk closure policy within 90 days. City Council wants public input on the use of body cameras by the Atlanta Police Department The Atlanta City Council approved a resolution on Monday, September 21 directing the Atlanta Police Department public hearings and public input sessions on the agency s policy on and use of body cameras. The citizens have expressed an increased interest in body worn camera technology as civilians have questioned the activities of public safety officers across the United States. The Atlanta City Council voted overwhelmingly Tuesday, September 8 to buy 110 body cameras for city police officers under a six-month $112,000 contract. The rollout is part of a pilot program. More cameras will be purchased in the future for APD s field officers. During the pilot program APD will use the body camera technology developed by WatchGuard. The device, called the VISTA, is an HD wearable camera that clips onto an officer s uniform. It can record up to 14 hours of video and has up to nine hours of battery life. The company introduced the product in March. The City Council has requested that hearing(s) on the police department use of body cameras be held within the three months. 4

5 The Scholarship Academy returns to Atlanta City Hall for its annual Scholarship Fair for college-bound students Atlanta City Councilmember Andre Dickens is pleased to host the 6th annual Scholarship Fair from 4 until 7 p.m. on Wednesday, November 4th in the atrium of Atlanta City Hall, 55 Trinity Avenue, S.W. The event is sponsored by The Scholarship Academy (TSA). TSA is a comprehensive scholarship preparatory program that teaches low-income, first generation college students to navigate the maze of financial aid in order to fund their college education. Founded in 2006 by Howard University graduate Jessica Johnson, TSA specializes in breaking down the scholarship process into realistic terms for ALL students. Johnson is well-versed in navigating the financial aid system, having received more than $200,000 in scholarship herself. As state-funded scholarship money is rapidly decreasing, more and more students are struggling to apply for financial aid while balancing college applications and school demands. The average college student carries an estimated $23,000 worth of student loan debt, which in many cases causes a student to leave school before graduating. Attendees will receive: one on one scholarship support, access to the virtual scholarship center, highquality financial literacy workshops, and a chance to win up to $3,000 in scholarships for college! To register your child or someone you know, click on the link below. Registration deadline is October 5th. To register visit: 5

6 Atlanta City Council Contacts ATLANTA CITY COUNCIL MAIN NUMBER (404) Hon. Ceasar C. Mitchell, President Phone: (404) Hon. Carla Smith, District 1 Phone: csmith@atlantaga.gov Hon. Kwanza Hall, District 2 Phone: (404) khall@atlantaga.gov Hon. Ivory Lee Young, Jr., District 3 Phone: (404) ilyoung@atlantaga.gov Hon. Cleta Winslow, District 4 Phone: (404) cwinslow@atlantaga.gov Hon. Natalyn Mosby Archibong, District 5 Phone: (404) narchibong@atlantaga.gov Hon. Alex Wan, District 6 Phone: (404) awan@atlantaga.gov Hon. Howard Shook, District 7 Phone: (404) hshook@atlantaga.gov Hon. Yolanda Adrean, District 8 Phone: (404) yadrean@atlantaga.gov Hon. Felicia A. Moore, District 9 Phone: (404) fmoore@atlantaga.gov Hon. Clarence T. Martin, District 10 Phone: (404) cmartin@atlantaga.gov Hon. Keisha Lance Bottoms, District 11 Phone: (404) kbottoms@atlantaga.gov Hon. Joyce M. Sheperd, District 12 Phone: (404) jmsheperd@atlantaga.gov Hon. Michael Julian Bond, Post 1 At-Large Phone: (404) mbond@atlantaga.gov Hon. Mary Norwood, Post 2 At-Large Phone: (404) mnorwood@atlantaga.gov Hon. Andre Dickens, Post 3 At-Large Phone: (404) adickens@atlantaga.gov Atlanta City Hall Suite Trinity Avenue, S.W. Atlanta, Georgia Executive Editor:Tangela M.Williams Editors: Thermice Bevelle, Tony Gomez, Abrya Gates Design/Layout: Dexter M. Chambers Photos by Bruce K. Morton All rights reserved