The City of East Point might soon have a new housing development, but debate continues over whether it should include several smaller rental units or prioritize homeownership opportunities.

Property owner D. Muffy Charlton requested his lot on West Taylor Avenue be rezoned from Urban Residential to Multifamily Development. He said he plans to build six three-bedroom units and live in one of them.

Former East Point Mayor Earnestine D. Pittman strongly opposed the proposal, citing the city’s need for stable, long-term housing rather than additional rental units. “We need homes where people can grow up in them, raise a family in them,” Pittman said. “People deserve better, and we can do better here in East Point.”

Some residents and councilmembers also expressed concern about the growing number of short-term rentals in the city. Councilmember Sharon Shropshire suggested prohibiting individual room rentals.

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

🥱 The College Park City Council is aiming to wrap up its meetings by 9:30 p.m., responding to concerns about sessions that have frequently stretched late into the night.

More than a quarter of the council’s regular meetings this year, which begin at 6 p.m., have run past midnight—often starting late to begin with, sometimes by as much as an hour. Earlier this month, one meeting that began 25 minutes behind schedule didn’t adjourn until around 1 a.m. That was only the second-latest session of the year, though: One meeting in June went on until 1:45 a.m.

At the council’s most recent meeting, Councilmember Tracie Arnold—who was absent—introduced a proposal to make 9:30 p.m. the official cutoff for regular sessions. Under her plan, any unfinished work would carry over to the next meeting as “old business.”

Councilmember Joe Carn offered a counterproposal to make the cutoff a goal rather than a requirement. The council rejected the mandate and adopted Carn’s version instead.

They seem to be off to a rocky start. The meeting ended at 10:18 p.m.

Also discussed at this meeting: 

🔇 Mayor Bianca Motley Broom spoke about losing her lawsuit against the City (and losing her ability to participate in deliberations during council meetings). “We have reached a point where questions that should be easy to answer are being ignored, delayed, or dismissed outright,” she said. “That’s not governance. That’s avoidance.”

🧱 Jason Shoates, a business owner on Old National Highway, expressed concern about a concrete median newly installed by the Georgia Department of Transportation. He said the barrier has created hardships for businesses along the corridor, as it limits motorists’ ability to easily access them.

(Documented by Dominique Huff; additional reporting by J.P. Irie)

💳 The East Point City Council discussed the need for stronger oversight of credit card spending. Each councilmember currently has a $5,000 monthly limit on their City-issued card.

While councilmembers are required to submit receipts for their purchases, staff said there is confusion about proper documentation—and how individual limits were established in the first place. City Manager Redmond Jones II noted he was unsure about how that $5,000 limit was originally determined. City Clerk Keshia McCullough added that, although the limits appear on bank statements, there is no record of the council ever formally approving that amount.

Ward B Councilmember Shean Atkins raised concerns about the lack of accessible documentation outlining how the limits were set. “I know that mine has changed,” he said. “If I look at different statements, it’s a different amount; so, in terms of following a policy, I think there just has to be something somewhere making sure that it is equitable across the board.”

Former Councilmember Teresa Nelson also voiced concern about what she described as “serious financial discrepancies” in current council spending. Nelson specifically criticized Councilmember Sharon Shropshire, alleging that her credit card invoices reflect “egregious expenditures.”

Also discussed at this meeting: 

💡 Resident Napoleon Black urged the City to install additional street lighting, citing safety concerns, particularly for pedestrians who rely on public transit.

👷🏾 East Point approved plans to build 138 senior housing units on Norman Berry Drive.

(Documented by Natalie Pilgeram; additional reporting by J.P. Irie)

📝 Not sure who you’re voting for yet?

See where city candidates stand on key issues with Atlanta Civic Circle’s questionnaires. Use the Build Your Ballot tool to learn exactly what races are on your ballot and read what each candidate had to say.

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🌊 Find out where candidates stand on flooding and stormwater.

Flooding in Atlanta isn’t just about heavy rain; it’s shaped by decades of development, buried waterways, and policy decisions. See how candidates propose tackling stormwater challenges through smarter planning, infrastructure improvements, and policy changes, via reporting from When the Creeks Rise.

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📅 November 4

Runoff election

📅 December 2