Newspaper Page Text
M News Roundllp
Atlanta Police arrested two
The city ended the eight-month
Gov. Brian Kemp signed
suspects in the Feb. 26 murder
Mi*-
Peachtree Shared Space project, which
legislation to suspend the state
of Poncey-FFighland resident
narrowed the thoroughfare to two
sales tax on gasoline following
and community volunteer
i .Ssk 9 < H|
lanes between Baker and Ellis streets
a spike in prices after the
Thomas Arnold, 60. Arnold
V J
to explore more room for bike lanes
Russian invasion of Ukraine.
was shot at the entrance to
It' m
and pedestrians. A group of influential
Suspension of the tax, which
the Atlanta BeltLine in Inman
■ ""'v jig ^
business owners pushed back against
will continue at least through
Park. A third suspect was still
K. \
extending the project, but activists are
May 31, will save Georgians
being sought at press time.
encouraging the city to continue.
29.1 cents per gallon of gas.
MARTA and Georgia Tech have launched
MARTA Reach, a six -month pilot research
project to test an app-based rideshare service
designed to connect riders to bus and rail and
help minimize waiting and walking. The service
is running in West Atlanta, Belvedere, and
Gillem Logistics Center and costs $2.50. HU
Little 5 Points taking collaborative approach to public safety
By Collin Kelley
As public safety continues to be a top
concern in Atlanta, the Little 5 Points Alliance
is taking a collaborative approach to creating a
safe and welcoming space for business owners,
residents, and visitors.
Long known for its counterculture roots,
independent small businesses, and free
spiritedness, the district has also struggled
with safety issues like drug use, homelessness,
car break-ins, and vagrancy.
As a result, the Little 5 Points Alliance
created a Public Safety Plan that focuses
on a variety of approaches and partners to
bring to the table. The Alliance was created
in 2018 to serve as the collaborative voice for
multiple groups (including the local business
association, improvement district, and
Candler Park and Inman Park neighborhood
associations) dedicated to preserving the
history and character of the district while also
making improvements to safety, mobility,
programming, and more.
“Little 5 Points wants to continue to be a
welcoming space to all, and we certainly don’t
believe we can arrest our way out of issues
like homelessness or drug use,” said executive
director Lauren Welsh. “We are working with
several partners in these efforts including
the Atlanta Police
Foundation, Policing
Alternatives &
Diversion Initiative,
Step-Up on Second,
Intown Collaborative
Ministries, Atlanta
Llarm Reduction
Coalition, Georgia
Works, and others
to use a more
comprehensive
approach toward
community safety
and support.”
Several public
safety initiatives are
already underway
in Little 5 Points
including a “Clean
Car” campaign in
cooperation with
Atlanta Police
Department’s Zone
6, regular clean
ups with Georgia
Works, a lighting
study on Seminole
Avenue, and research
around setting up
a temporary public restroom. In addition,
thanks to support from the Atlanta Police
Foundation and Councilmember Amir
Farokhi, the Alliance will be installing a
new security camera along Davis Plaza and
Seminole Avenue.
“We want people to feel welcome here,
but we also want to be mindful about getting
the police involved when it’s not necessary,”
Welsh said. “We’re focusing on how to help
people in need and not overtax or rely on
the police. Part of the spirit of Little 5 is not
blaming someone for a problem but figuring
out to help them fix it.”
Last spring when restaurant and bar
owners were reeling from the death of a
colleague who passed away from a drug
overdose, the Star Community Bar hosted
a Narcan training to teach people how to
administer the overdose reversal drug and
provided a Narcan kit for free.
APD Officer Angelina Singh, who patrols
Little 5 on foot, also saved an overdosing
man last summer by using Narcan. She said
getting to know the business owners, homeless
people, and residents is part of an “officer
friendly” relationship she’s built in the district.
“FFigh visibility important to reducing
crime,” Singh said. “I do daily drop-ins at
the local businesses and make sure I’m seen
patrolling. My presence in Little 5 Points
allows other APD officers to respond to 911
calls and stay on patrol.”
Welsh said Little 5’s history of
counterculture and free expression helped
attract and keep small businesses — like Wax
‘n Facts, Crystal Blue, Criminal Records, and
Junkman’s Daughter, to name a few — that are
mainstays of the district.
“We have a really diverse set of a businesses
— a true mix — and we don’t want that to
change,” Welsh said. “Part of our mission is
to understand how those businesses and this
district grew in the first place, so we can keep
it for the future.” QD
• »
99
CafrnmTopc
FEATURED HOMES
UNDER CONTRACT
2368 DEFOORS FERRY ROAD
Atlanta, Georgia 30318
OFFERED FOR $610,500
765 ELKMONT DRIVE
Atlanta, Georgia 30306
OFFERED FOR $1,795,000
WITH OVER 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AS A REALTOR®
CALL ME FOR ALL OF YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS.
Atlanta Fine
Homes
Sotheby's
INTERNATIONAL REALTY
CARMEN POPE
c. 404.625.4134 | o. 404.874.0300
carmenpope@atlantafinehomes.com
atlantafinehomes.com | sir.com
Atlanta Fine Homes, LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and
the Equal Opportunity Act. Each franchise is independently owned and operated.
8 APRIL 2022 | HU
AtlantalntownPaper.com