P II
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patricksking.bsky.social
P II
@patricksking.bsky.social
East Atlanta and transit enjoyer.
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As I said here, it's nuts that N Fulton cities - but not City of Atlanta - can opt out of letting the compromised DAFC throw away tax breaks on projects in hot markets. Atlanta has lost hundreds of millions over the years from DAFC's irresponsible breaks.
www.ajc.com/business/202...
North Fulton cities want a say before county agency gives corporate tax cuts
Sandy Springs adopted a resolution requiring the Development Authority of Fulton County to get the mayor’s permission before voting on economic development deals.
www.ajc.com
January 7, 2026 at 6:48 PM
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if they did January 6 today, it'd be called "January 6-7." Thank you for reading. RIP Ashley Babbert
January 6, 2026 at 3:00 PM
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Colombian President Petro commenting on the US;

“A clan of pedophiles wants to destroy our democracy. To keep Epstein's list from coming out, they send warships to kill fishermen & threaten our neighbor with invasion for their oil."
January 4, 2026 at 3:40 AM
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The reason for the season:
December 26, 2025 at 3:03 AM
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Christmas in space, illustrated by Moebius, 1982.
December 25, 2025 at 2:10 AM
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How would @alexip718.com fix Atlanta?

Immigrants pay taxes, work hard, send their kids to public schools, and build better futures for their communities.

It's time to let them vote in local elections as well.

how-id-fix-atlanta.ghost.io/how-alex-ip-...
December 18, 2025 at 1:10 PM
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Here are the 28 Dem Senators who voted to advance the first federal ban on trans athletes & a federal definition of sex that would make trans & intersex people non-existent: Angela Alsobrooks (MD), Tammy Baldwin (WI), Richard Blumenthal (CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE), Chris Coons (DE), ->
By a vote of 76-23, S 1071 passes the motion to proceed to the motion to concur. Won't know who voted for this until the roll call is uploaded, but safe to say it passed with the support of at least 24 members of the Democratic caucus. (Rand Paul probably voted nay and Steve Daines has been absent).
December 16, 2025 at 11:58 AM
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I have to wonder: would APS be in a situation where they have to close 16 schools if they hadn't lost out on funds for the past 20 years through Tax Allocation Districts?
(2/10) APS leaders say they must “rightsize,” noting roughly 70k available seats but only 50k students, and project that consolidation could save $25M annually.

Parents warned that vacant buildings would further destabilize disinvested neighborhoods. youtube.com/live/KaPto_9...
December 8, 2025 at 6:12 PM
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Mayor's folks are trying the line that TAD funds come only from "future tax growth". True in 1998. False in 2025. The future is now with $200M of taxes being diverted from APS, City, County.

Mayor's team say, "Once the TAD closes ... it increases APS funding."

Exactly. So close them already!
When I am the “some” in “some have suggested”

And if you think extending tax increment financing (TADs/TIFs) in often gentrifying nabes, with already fast-rising property values, is not diverting funding from schools & basic services — hahaha

“TADs do not…divert funding as some have suggested”
Mayor Andre Dickens: Atlanta has a moral imperative to fix city’s inequality
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens says the city's inequalities require investing deeply in distressed neighborhoods. A key to this is extending Tax Allocation Districts for funding.
www.ajc.com
December 7, 2025 at 9:17 PM
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Couldn’t Sam Altman just ask ChatGPT how to make itself profitable
December 6, 2025 at 4:38 AM
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Mayor Andre Dickens’ administration successfully gutted legislation to restrict how the city can spend its Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

“I feel like we’ve moved in the opposite direction of what this was intended to do,” Councilmember Alex Wan said.

For @atlantaciviccircle.org:
Atlanta City Council approves mayor’s scaled-back Housing Trust Fund restrictions
“I feel like we’ve moved in the opposite direction of what this was intended to do,” Councilmember Alex Wan said.
atlantaciviccircle.org
December 2, 2025 at 9:33 PM
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sunday scaries are creeping in after the holiday so here is some fun news: I’m doing weekly focaccia orders and the first drop is tomorrow.

these weekly sales will help fund bakery costs like ingredients and materials for pop ups.

www.hotplate.com/vinnysmutual...
December 1, 2025 at 12:57 AM
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Call and email your city council members to tell them to vote NO on extending the TAD.

Use our letter writing tool at atldsa.org/stopthetad
November 24, 2025 at 3:12 PM
was today years old when i discovered ATL punk band Upchuck. just because ive been living under a rock doesnt mean you should too. tap in fashoooo

www.youtube.com/watch?v=oObK...
Upchuck-Freaky (Official Video)
YouTube video by Upchuck
www.youtube.com
November 17, 2025 at 6:07 PM
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Y'all — As a journalist covering global health and environmental disparities, I've lived in Atlanta car-free since 2018 because that is the easiest way to put my money where my mouth is!

I am organizing a half-marathon length bike ride to support my newsroom, and I'd love for you to be my sponsor:
November 15, 2025 at 8:07 PM
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rest in piss to one of the worst to ever do it
November 4, 2025 at 12:41 PM
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This TAD extension will allegedly protect legacy residents, build affordable housing, put rail on the Beltline, build a new hospital, and support small businesses. That's quite a project list.

It makes me wonder...what's Mayor Dickens' track record with following through on project lists?
October 31, 2025 at 12:20 PM
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I FOUND THE BOOK WITH THE ORB
October 28, 2025 at 11:43 PM
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Guy who writes zohran in for Atlanta mayor just to feel something
October 28, 2025 at 3:51 PM
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We should design our cities so that public transit, walking, and cycling are the easiest and most logical ways to get around. This is the litmus test: if cars (regardless of their technology) are the easiest choice for most trips, your city needs a redesign.
October 27, 2025 at 3:47 PM
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So, this crucially important state race in Georgia that I told you about? Let me offer you a frustrating update. (cc @hankgreen.bsky.social)

With 14 days to go, Dems are up by a decent margin in early voting, but Kemp -- GA's loathsome governor -- has just dumped *$500K* into TV ads on the race.
Today on Volts: hey listen up! The most important election of the year is happening in Georgia next month. Two seats on the (currently all-GOP) Public Service Commission are up & rising electricity prices are on everyone's mind. This is a bellwether for next year's governor & midterm elections!
Pay attention to the most important political race of 2025
With energy affordability set to dominate national politics, Peter Hubbard and Brionté McCorkle explain why a down-ballot Georgia race is ground zero for the fight.
www.volts.wtf
October 22, 2025 at 7:35 PM
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You can make any policy sound nice by using buzzwords like “affordable housing” and “equity”. But you need to look at the numbers and ask if these projects are actually delivering what they claim. TADs haven’t delivered for Atlantans who need affordable housing most!
October 22, 2025 at 2:37 PM
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Early MARTA plans called for 97 miles of rail across five counties. For @ajc.com, I did a deep-dive into why that and other ideas never fully came to fruition: www.ajc.com/news/2025/10...
October 22, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Sharing this through 101 explainer for any Atlantans who don't know what the hell a TAD is (it's me, i'm any Atlantans)

goodjobsfirst.org/tax-incremen...
What is Tax Increment Financing (TIF) - Good Jobs First
What is Tax Increment Financing? Tax Increment Financing (TIF) is a geographically targeted economic development tool.
goodjobsfirst.org
October 22, 2025 at 1:41 PM
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Pater Sato
October 21, 2025 at 4:58 PM