District 3 residents say Code Enforcement has been prioritizing citations to homeowners rather than targeting large vacant properties.

At a recent NPU-J meeting, Atlanta City Council Member Byron D. Amos said two Code Enforcement officers are now assigned to the district; his office is addressing complaints that they are “unfortunately citing people that we know,” instead of focusing on lots left empty for decades.

District 3 includes West Lake, Bankhead, and English Avenue. | City of Atlanta

“That’s not why we asked for them to come; we were asking for the large, 20- to 30-year vacant properties,” Amos said. “We wasn’t asking them to cite grandmama with the fence that needed painting.”

(Documented by Natalie Pilgeram; additional reporting by Ada Wood)

🗑️ Atlanta City Council Utilities Committee

Cyril Turner is Atlanta’s new Commissioner of Public Works. Turner, who has worked for Delta Air Lines and The Coca-Cola Company, will work with code enforcement to target “crime and grime.” City Chief Operating Officer LaChandra Butler Burks called on Turner to combat illegal dumping and hold property owners accountable for blighted areas. (Documented by Dominique Huff)

🛝 Neighborhood Planning Unit J

Atlanta City Council Member Dustin Hillis directed $17 million from Moving Atlanta Forward to Grove Park. Upcoming community meetings will decide how those funds are spent. Also discussed at this meeting: • NPU-J plans to return to occasional in-person meetings. • Atlanta Land Trust Stewardship Manager Karen Babino said a groundbreaking ceremony was recently held for The Trust at Grove Park, a 14-unit townhome community on Eugenia Place. (Documented by Natalie Pilgeram)

NPU-J includes Center Hill, Dixie Hills, and Grove Park. Visit npuatlanta.org to find your NPU.

👵🏾 Neighborhood Planning Unit J

Atlanta Police Department Captain Karla Baldini said Zone 1 is seeing “stupid thefts”: shoplifting, porch package thefts, and a string of thefts at a nursing home. She noted the recent arrest of a “career shoplifter.” (Documented by Natalie Pilgeram)

📺 Atlanta City Council Utilities Committee

The City of Atlanta is partnering with Georgia State University to improve the management of its community-access media, including Channel 24 and educational programs. GSU will manage the City’s media space, offer workshops, and coordinate with Atlanta Technical College in Southwest Atlanta. The agreement, now in final legal review, should be ready before the next committee meeting.

Council members incorrectly referred to Atlanta Technical College as Atlanta Metropolitan Technical College throughout this meeting. Atlanta Metropolitan State College is a separate college and not in the legislation. (Documented by Dominique Huff)