Kwanza Hall: 'Why I Voted No on Stadium'

Atlanta City Councilman explains to his Inman Park constituents why he didn't vote to approve a deal to build a new stadium for the Atlanta Falcons.

INMAN PARK — Atlanta City Councilman Kwanza Hall said Wednesday he is not necessarily opposed to a new stadium for the Atlanta Falcons. Speaking to the monthly meeting of the Inman Park Neighborhood Association, Hall, whose District 2 includes that community, as well as Downtown, Old Fourth Ward and Sweet Auburn, said the council's March 18 vote to approve the project was taken too soon. Hall, who is seeking reelection, is one of four council members who voted against the $1 billion deal for a new stadium. Billionaire Arthur Blank, Falcons owner, wants a new stadium with a retractable roof to replace the team's current home at the Georgia Dome. The deal, which has the support of and pushed by Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, calls for the Falcons…

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Atlanta's First Govathon Presents New and Innovative Concepts to City Officials

Govathon attracted more than 150 programmers, developers, designers and community stakeholders for a marathon “hackathon” with the goal of developing applications and tools to enhance city services.

Year of Boulevard: 2012 in Review

A year has gone since Atlanta City Councilman Kwanza Hall launched his Year of Boulevard initiative.

OLD FOURTH WARD — Last January, Atlanta City Councilman Kwanza Hall launched his  Year of Boulevard initiative. Focused on the with the goals of enhancing public safety, increasing summer camp opportunities for Boulevard kids and youth and connecting families with existing city and county services. Hall announced on Thursday several new programs and new partnerships for 2013 to continue to build on the initiatives started last year. The councilman, whose district includes Old Fourth Ward and Inman Park, sat down with East Atlanta Patch to look at 2012, what worked and what didn't. Here is the outline of the 2012 year and major accomplishments: March: April: May: June-July: June: July: August: September: October: December:

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PARKatlanta Welcomes Florida Visitor With Parking Ticket

Problem: Motorist says there's no sign, hydrant or painted curb prohibiting parking.

Editor's note: Atlanta motorists are no strangers to the ongoing drama that is PARKatlanta, the firm contracted by the city of Atlanta to enforce parking codes. The company has been under fire for its enforcement policies leading to scores of complaints to Atlanta City Council members, including Kwanza Hall, whose district includes the Old Fourth Ward, parts of Little Five Points and Midtown. On Monday, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported the Atlanta City Council enacted changes in its contract with PARKatlanta. Among them: blocking the writing of tickets when signs are missing or meters are broken. The changes could prevent the situation a recent out-of-town visitor experienced Nov. 17 in Hall's district. That visitor, Chip Leister…

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Old Fourth Ward Comes Out for Community Cleanup

Community cleans up Boulevard corridor.

Residents and friends of the Old Fourth Ward met one Saturday morning recently to clean up the Boulevard corridor between Freedom Parkway and Decatur Street/DeKalb Avenue. The Oct. 27 initiative, led by Kwanza Hall, Atlanta city councilman representing District 2, was part of his yearlong Year of Boulevard program, which looks to address the social and economic concerns facing residents on that street. This is thew dayu in pictures.

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Patch Pic of the Day

YoBoulevard! Takes Student Artwork to Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International

Hope-Hill Elementary's kids' works showcased on the walls in Hartsfield-Jackson as part of the Atlanta Military Gateway Youth Art Project.

On Aug. 24, Atlanta City Councilman Kwanza Hall, who represents District 2, joined student artists from Old Fourth Ward's Hope-Hill Elementary School at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to help unveil their artwork at the Atlanta Military Gateway Youth Art Project. The Atlanta Downtown Rotary Club was inspired by Hall's Year of Boulevard project, asked how they could support it, and Kwanza connected them with Hope-Hill's afterschool program, AfterSchool CLASSE'. The rest is history! YoBoulevard!

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Kwanza Hall Pushes 'Booting' Ban

After complaints by Atlanta residents and visitors, the ordinance could end up banning "booting" altogether in Atlanta.

by Patch Staff Atlanta officials are in the process of creating an ordinance to strengthen the city's regulation of vehicle booting companies, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports. The ordinance is being pushed by Councilman Kwanza Hall and would require parking lot operators to provide payment receipts, as well their contact information. Hall represents District 2, which includes Inman Park and Old Fourth Ward. The legislation, which is still being drafted, could change in the next few weeks as the city's attorneys continue to work on the the issue. Hall said one idea is banning booting entirely, as was done in unincorporated Gwinnett County in 2007 and Cobb County in 2004. This news comes as a result of many Atlanta residents and …

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Our Patch

Boulevard Block Party Draws 1,000

Weekend event draws scores of residents, supporters in year-long Boulevard improvement initiative.

The Year of Boulevard block party drew about 1,000 people to Boulevard and North Avenue Saturday. The event was part of a larger strategy by Atlanta City Councilman Kwanza Hall to address the social and economic ills on the stretch of Boulevard between Freedom Parkway and North Avenue. It linked more than 30 city, county and nonprofit agencies to connect the families of the Boulevard corridor with local social services. The Furniture Bank of Metro Atlanta, for example, delivered 100 beds to families from the corridor living in the Bedford Pine, Henderson Place Apts, and Bethel Towers residences. Other groups handed out backpacks, signed up residents for library cards and did HIV screenings. They will also hand out backpacks.

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Patch Pic of the Day

Boulevard of Hopes on the Hardcourt

Atlanta Hawks come to Old Fourth Ward for youth initiative.

The Atlanta Hawks came to the Old Fourth Ward Wednesday as part of the sixth-annual Kia Summer Hoops Tour, for a basketball camp with area youth. The basketball camp at Central Park, sponsored by Kia Motors Corp., aims to get kids to focus on building those same skills on the court — teamwork, responsibility and education — that are found in life. It was also part of Atlanta City Councilman Kwanza Hall’s Year of Boulevard initiative, which is focused on the teens and pre-teens who live in the Boulevard corridor. Hall's program is aimed at taking a multi-pronged approach to the social and economic ills that affect the stretch of Boulevard that runs from Freedom Parkway to Ponce de Leon Ave. The Hawks shared a little of what happened at the …

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Ready To Pay More For Those Parking Tickets?

Since PARKatlanta began issuing tickets almost 31 months ago, more than 150,000 unpaid tickets have run up a total of $7.4 million.

As if Atlanta motorists don't have enough reasons to be slightly enraged when behind the wheel. Now, they could be looking at paying more in fines when parked at an expired meter. On Monday, the full Atlanta City Council is expected to discuss and possibly vote on proposed legislation that could have motorists doing just that. If approved, the legislation, drafted by at-large Atlanta City Councilman H. Lamar Willis, increases the initial fine for an overstayed meter by $10 to $35. If the ticket is not paid within 14 days, the fee doubles to $70. And if it's still not fully paid within 45 days, the penalty increases to $95. The June 18 meeting of the council at 1 p.m.follows a June 13 meeting of its transportation committee which approved …

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