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Riley Bunch

@ribunchreports.bsky.social

330 followers 45 following 110 posts

City of Atlanta reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution | writer+audio+photo hybrid | Atlanta-based but Seattle-born | ✉️[email protected]

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Riley Bunch @ribunchreports.bsky.social · 3d

Read the debate recap here: www.ajc.com/news/2025/10... #atlpol

Riley Bunch @ribunchreports.bsky.social · 3d

Atlanta voters! This is a reminder that the @ajc.com has a city elections page with all of our local election coverage. It includes our recap of yesterday's Atlanta Press Club debates for City Council president and the mayor's office. #atlpol www.ajc.com/politics/atl...

City of Atlanta Elections 2025: What to know

2026 city elections test

Riley Bunch @ribunchreports.bsky.social · 11d

ICYMI: Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens wants to extend all of Atlanta's tax allocation districts beyond 2050 and dedicate the funding to neighborhood revitalization. But that requires buy in from City Council, APS and Fulton County. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/2025/09...

Mayor Andre Dickens wants to extend all Atlanta tax allocation districts

City's first-term mayor eyes TAD funds to tackle racial disparities as Atlanta grows, but he’ll need buy-in from the City Council, Fulton County and Atlanta Public Schools.

Riley Bunch @ribunchreports.bsky.social · 12d

New: As Trump continues to threaten to send federal troops to cities, Atlanta's mayor said he's actively trying to make sure the White House knows "Atlanta is safe." w/ @tiamitchell.com #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/2025/09...

Dickens responds to federal troops in cities: ‘Atlanta is safe’

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said he’s actively working behind the scenes to avoid the threat of a federal law enforcement takeover.

Riley Bunch @ribunchreports.bsky.social · 19d

What happens when a City Council candidate's residency is challenged? Two southwest Atlanta hopefuls were disqualified yesterday after they were accused of living outside of the district. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/2025/09...

2 council candidates disqualified over residency requirements

Keith Andre Lewis, Jr. and Sherry B. Williams were accused by a resident of living outside District 11. Both argued the addresses were family homes they no longer lived in.

Riley Bunch @ribunchreports.bsky.social · 26d

PSA: Did you know the @ajc.com has a 2025 Atlanta elections page? It's a hub for all our city election coverage leading up to November when voters will cast ballots for mayor, City Council president and all council member seats. #atlpol www.ajc.com/politics/atl...

City of Atlanta Elections 2025: What to know

2026 city elections test

Riley Bunch @ribunchreports.bsky.social · 26d

A well known disability advocate will fill an empty seat on Atlanta City Council before voters elect a new representative for District 2. Wyckoff is known for her accessibility work with MARTA and advocacy for Beltline rail. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/2025/09...

Accessibility advocate appointed to fill vacant Atlanta City Council seat

Atlanta’s City Council has selected Carden Wyckoff to temporarily replace Amir Farokhi in District 2.

Riley Bunch @ribunchreports.bsky.social · 27d

Inside City Hall: Resurfacing of Perry Boulevard and West Marietta Street is underway -- the dilapidated corridor is a longtime source of frustration in the area. And council president candidates team up with allies to bolster their bids. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/2025/09...

City starts $3.8M resurfacing of key northwest Atlanta corridor

Nighttime resurfacing of the corridor on Perry Boulevard and West Marietta Street from Hollywood Road to Marietta Boulevard begins Sept. 15.

Riley Bunch @ribunchreports.bsky.social · 27d

Three political newcomers launched bids against Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens despite the power of incumbency: A community advocate. A corporate consultant. And a Trump-supporting former APD officer. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/2025/09...

Meet the candidates challenging Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens

Atlanta’s mayors have a long history of winning a second term in office, but three political newcomers decided to launch bids despite tall odds.

Riley Bunch @ribunchreports.bsky.social · Sep 9

A new city audit found that APD officers are significantly better at using their body cameras since a initial analysis in 2018. Still, 12% of calls went unrecorded and 20% of those captured were either started too late or stopped too early. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/2025/09...

Atlanta police improve bodycam use — but gaps remain

An audit of Atlanta Police Department body camera recordings found officers are better at turning on cameras during civilian encounters — but issues remain.

Riley Bunch @ribunchreports.bsky.social · Sep 2

NEW: Inside the race for the Atlanta City Council president's gavel. In Nov, a two-term council member will face off against a progressive nonprofit leader. One warns of unnecessary change to city politics, the other says it's desperately needed. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/2025/09...

Atlanta City Council race pits Marci Collier Overstreet against Rohit Malhotra

It’s a sharp choice for voters between Atlanta’s political establishment and change in an election for the second-most powerful position at City Hall.

Riley Bunch @ribunchreports.bsky.social · Aug 29

The Cascade Road corridor in southwest Atlanta has been under construction for nearly four years. After business owners pressured the city, it's finally open. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/2025/08...

Atlanta's Cascade Road reopens after nearly 4 years of construction

Cascade Road in southwest Atlanta is open again after nearly four years of construction. Business owners say the delays hurt profits and foot traffic.

Riley Bunch @ribunchreports.bsky.social · Aug 26

NEW: Trump's law enforcement takeover of cities and threats to strip local governments of crucial federal funding is unlike anything political experts say they've seen before. Atlanta, so far, has remained unscathed. But will it last? #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/2025/08...

Atlanta has been spared from Trump's takeover of blue cities — so far

Black mayors in Democrat-led cities are at the top of the presidents list for federal intervention. But, so far, Atlanta has escaped his wrath.

Riley Bunch @ribunchreports.bsky.social · Aug 25

59 candidates qualified for the upcoming city elections last week -- including four for mayor and two for City Council president. Here's who will be on the November ballot. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/2025/08...

All candidates who qualified for Atlanta's November election

Nearly 60 candidates are running in city races, including mayor and City Council seats.

Riley Bunch @ribunchreports.bsky.social · Aug 19

Small businesses along Cascade Road who have suffered from yearslong city construction may soon get financial relief. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/2025/08...

City of Atlanta looks to offer financial relief to Cascade Road businesses

Legislation introduced would set aside funds for Cascade businesses after, they say, slow infrastructure upgrades clogged the roadway and reduced foot traffic to their stores.

Riley Bunch @ribunchreports.bsky.social · Aug 19

Atlanta City Council approved legislation on Monday that bans short-term rentals in a west side neighborhood where residents say the industry has taken over its single-family homes. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/2025/08...

Atlanta City Council votes to ban short-term rentals in Home Park

City leaders have struggled for years to regulate the industry that pits tourism against affordable housing.

Riley Bunch @ribunchreports.bsky.social · Aug 18

Campaign season officially kicks off this week in Atlanta as candidates will flock to Atlanta City Hall to file qualifying paperwork. Here's my breakdown on how key races could upend City Hall politics. #atlpol www.ajc.com/politics/202...

How Atlanta’s November election could shake up City Hall politics

The mayor, City Council president and all 15 council spots are up for grabs. Four council races will be wide open after the incumbents announced they wouldn't seek reelection.

Riley Bunch @ribunchreports.bsky.social · Aug 14

Atlanta officials are legislatively required to start planning for the removal of Fulton inmates from the city detention center ahead of Dec. 2026. Advocates say those plans need to start now. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/2025/08...

Advocates urge Atlanta to plan exit of Fulton inmates from detention center

A resolution calling for the “staged withdrawal” of Fulton County inmates from Atlanta’s detention center has stalled, prompting calls for action from advocates.

Riley Bunch @ribunchreports.bsky.social · Aug 11

Good morning, Atlanta! Your Inside City Hall this morning: Resigning council member asks his colleagues to appoint an accessibility advocate to fill remainder of his term. And Cascade Road frustrations spur "around-the-clock" construction. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/2025/08...

Exiting Atlanta council member backs accessibility advocate for open seat

Amir Farokhi will resign from Atlanta City Council this month, leaving a four-month gap to be filled before the winner of the November election takes office.

Riley Bunch @ribunchreports.bsky.social · Aug 5

NEW: “I still don’t believe my son is gone...with no answers, no accountability, no transparency." I sat down with Valerie Lans-Anderson to ahead of the year anniversary of her son being shot by an off-duty APD officer. No charges have been filed. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/2025/08...

A fatal shooting by an off-duty officer a year ago remains unresolved

The GBI submitted its investigation into the incident to the Fulton County DA six months ago, but no charges have been filed.

Riley Bunch @ribunchreports.bsky.social · Aug 1

NEW: The city's interim inspector general is closing cases - including probes into the mayor's office. But, although shared inside City Hall, those findings remain under wraps. Because the governing board that was given the power to make them public doesn't exist. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/2025/08...

Riley Bunch @ribunchreports.bsky.social · Jul 18

A new fun one from me today: Historic buildings across Atlanta are helping the city reach its affordable housing goals. Including a near century-old elementary school that played a crucial role in the 1930s labor movement. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/2025/07...

Historic buildings in Atlanta being repurposed as affordable housing

A century-old elementary school and former Atlanta Constitution printing facility are among the properties to be redeveloped as housing units.

Riley Bunch @ribunchreports.bsky.social · Jul 14

NEW: Mayor Dickens named one of his senior advisors, Courtney English, as interim chief of staff for the city. English was the youngest chair of the Atlanta Board of Education and launched two unsuccessful bids for City Council positions. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/2025/07...

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens names Courtney English interim chief of staff

A top advisor to the mayor, English previously served as chair of the Atlanta Board of Education.

Riley Bunch @ribunchreports.bsky.social · Jul 14

Your Inside City Hall this week: Atlanta hopes to lure police officers ahead of the World Cup with $10K cash. Behind the scenes, APD is also working to crack down on overtime spending that made up half of the city's deficit last fiscal year. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/2025/07...

Atlanta looks to lure police officers with $10K bonus ahead of World Cup

The Atlanta Police Foundation announced it will offer $10,000 to already-trained officers as a way to skip onboarding and bolster the force ahead of next summer’s events.

Riley Bunch @ribunchreports.bsky.social · Jul 9

New: Atlanta bans vape shops near schools and implements other requirements over the controversial industry, while state leaders have struggled for years to pass their own meaningful changes to curb youth access. #atlpol www.ajc.com/news/2025/07...

Atlanta bans vape shops near schools

Both state and city lawmakers have struggled to regulate the industry that, they say, dangerously targets young people.