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Thu, April 23, 2026

Downtown

143 stories · Inside The Perimeter, Atlanta

Atlanta City Council chambers during firefighter pay debate
Downtown Atlanta Civic Circle

Atlanta Firefighter Pay-Raise Bill Advances as Council Grapples With ICE, Homelessness Ahead of World Cup

Councilmember Wayne Martin's legislation, co-sponsored by 12 of 15 council members, directs the city to provide competitive pay by July 1. It follows a union lawsuit over Mayor Andre Dickens's refusal to sign the firefighters' first contract, and lands in the same week the council weighed ICE policy and access to the Policing Alternatives and Diversion Initiative.

Pothole on an Atlanta street
Downtown SaportaReport

Waymo and Waze Partner With Atlanta on Pothole Mapping Pilot

Atlanta is one of five cities (with Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, and Austin) joining a pilot that combines Waymo's perception systems with Waze's navigation data. The goal is a holistic map of pothole locations to supplement Atlanta's "Pothole Posse" repair crews.

Atlanta firefighters speaking at city council meeting
Downtown Atlanta Civic Circle

City Council Advances ICE Controls, Questions Fire Union Deal

The Public Safety Committee unanimously moved forward two resolutions to limit ICE detention facilities and require documentation of ICE activities during police operations. Meanwhile, dozens of residents criticized Mayor Dickens for refusing to sign the firefighters' union contract that the council ratified last year. Both issues head to the full council vote on April 20.

ICE agents in tactical gear at airport security checkpoint
Downtown Capital B Atlanta

ICE Agents Deploy to Atlanta Airport Amid TSA Staffing Crisis

Federal immigration agents are now working at Hartsfield-Jackson to help with security operations as TSA agents continue calling out during the government shutdown. Mayor Dickens says the agents won't engage in immigration enforcement, but travelers report they're mostly just standing around while security lines remain brutal.

New MARTA Better Breeze faregartes with contactless payment capability
Downtown Urbanize Atlanta

MARTA's Better Breeze System Finally Goes Live Next Week

After months of construction headaches and station detours, MARTA's upgraded fare system launches March 28. The big change? You can finally tap your phone or credit card directly at the gates instead of fumbling with that Breeze card. Not all stations will have the new gear right away, but it's a start toward joining the rest of the civilized transit world.

Artwork by Latryce Marie Golliday displayed at her Redemption exhibition
Downtown The Atlanta Voice

Artist Latryce Golliday's 'Redemption' Exhibition Opens at Candler Hotel

Nearly 30 works of sculpture, photography, and painting fill the historic downtown space as Michigan native turned Atlanta artist debuts her first major solo show. Golliday moved to Atlanta a decade ago and spent the past two years building a full-time artistic practice after years of treating painting as a hobby.

Mayor Andre Dickens speaking at podium during State of the City address
Downtown Capital B Atlanta

Dickens Tackles Atlanta's North-South Divide in State of City Address

Mayor Andre Dickens highlighted both Atlanta's achievements and its persistent inequality problem in his latest address Wednesday night. While celebrating crime reductions and AAA bond ratings, he focused heavily on the economic gap between neighborhoods north and south of I-20, calling it a priority that demands action.

Atlanta firefighters at press conference announcing lawsuit
Downtown Atlanta Civic Circle

Atlanta Firefighters Sue City Over Stalled Union Contract

The firefighters union filed suit in Superior Court demanding Mayor Dickens sign the collective bargaining agreement that city council approved nearly a year ago. Union President Nate Bailey says they've been trying to work with the mayor's office for months without success.

Map showing new Atlanta Streets Alive route from downtown to Westside Trail
Downtown Urbanize Atlanta

Streets Alive Returns Sunday with Brand New Downtown Route

This year's first Atlanta Streets Alive event kicks off Sunday with a new "Beltline to Broad" route running from South Downtown to the Westside Trail in Vine City. It's part of a record eight planned open-streets events for 2026, including some tied to World Cup festivities.

Mayor Andre Dickens at Trinity Center Flats groundbreaking ceremony
Downtown The Atlanta Voice

Mayor Dickens Breaks Ground on Trinity Center Flats Downtown

Mayor Andre Dickens joined developers Monday to celebrate the groundbreaking of Trinity Center Flats at 104 Trinity Avenue SW. The mixed-use project is another big step for the South Downtown corridor and addressing affordable housing shortages. The location puts residents right across from downtown transit options.

Long TSA security lines at Atlanta airport
Downtown WSB-TV

Hartsfield-Jackson Turns Into TSA Nightmare with 2+ Hour Waits

Travelers faced absolutely brutal security lines Monday and Tuesday morning, with wait times hitting over two hours. The mess comes from a perfect storm of weather-related flight cancellations, TSA staffing issues during the government shutdown, and thousands of stranded passengers. Some lines snaked all the way back to baggage claim.

Eggslut bacon, egg and cheese sandwich
Downtown Atlanta Magazine

Viral Breakfast Chain Eggslut Cracks Into Atlanta at Moxy Hotel

The LA-based breakfast phenomenon officially opened March 5 inside the new Moxy Atlanta Downtown hotel, marking their first Georgia location and first in the South. The counter-service spot in the hotel lobby serves their famous brioche buns and soft-scrambled eggs all day, with late-night hours on weekends.

Georgia State Capitol building
Downtown Georgia Recorder

Georgia Senate Approves Fourth Round of Tax Rebates

The Senate gave final passage Monday to HB 1000, providing up to $500 in income tax rebates for Georgians who filed returns in both 2024 and 2025. Single filers get $250, heads of household receive $375, and married couples filing jointly get $500. The Georgia Department of Revenue will determine when to issue the payments.

Atlanta World Cup officials speaking at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Downtown Atlanta Magazine

Atlanta's World Cup Plans Take Shape at Centennial Park

With 95 days until FIFA World Cup matches arrive, Atlanta officials unveiled details for the Fan Festival at Centennial Olympic Park. MARTA will launch its Better Breeze payment system in two weeks and increase service during matches. The airport's long-delayed South Terminal project will also finally open before the tournament.

Atlanta firefighters at a union meeting
Downtown Atlanta Civic Circle

Dickens Attacks Fire Union Leader Instead of Signing Contract

Mayor Andre Dickens missed the firefighters union's Friday deadline to sign Atlanta's first-ever fire contract, which City Council unanimously approved nearly a year ago. Instead of signing, Dickens questioned union president Nate Bailey's legitimacy and claimed 'irregularities' in Bailey's recent re-election. The union is threatening legal action.

Atlanta firefighters at a public meeting regarding union contract negotiations
Downtown Atlanta Civic Circle

Mayor Dickens Skips Firefighter Contract Deadline, Attacks Union Leader

Instead of signing the fire union's historic first contract that City Council already approved unanimously, Mayor Dickens missed Friday's deadline and went after union president Nate Bailey personally. The mayor claims there were irregularities in Bailey's election and says the union needs to redo it in May. This is the city's first-ever firefighter union contract, ratified almost a year ago.

Georgia medical cannabis legislation being discussed in the state capitol
Downtown Georgia Recorder

Georgia House Passes Bill Expanding Medical Cannabis Access

The Georgia House overwhelmingly passed a bill that would modernize the state's medical cannabis program with a 138-21 vote. The legislation expands qualifying conditions, increases possession limits, and allows patients to vape cannabis products. It's another step in lawmakers' gradual effort to make the program more accessible to patients who need it.

Senator Raphael Warnock speaking about housing policy
Downtown Georgia Recorder

Senate Passes Bill Limiting Corporate Home Ownership to 350 Properties

The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed bipartisan legislation with a Warnock-backed provision that would ban large corporations from owning more than 350 single-family homes. The 89-10 vote shows rare bipartisan agreement on tackling housing affordability by limiting institutional investors who have been gobbling up homes across Atlanta and other hot markets.

2026 Georgia Grown Executive Chef class at state capitol ceremony
Downtown Rough Draft Atlanta

Nine Georgia Chefs Named to 2026 Georgia Grown Class

The state just announced nine chefs for the 2026 Georgia Grown Executive Chef class during State Restaurant Day at the Capitol. The program connects chefs with local farmers and producers to showcase Georgia ingredients. It's a smart way to support both our restaurant scene and agricultural communities across the state.

Downtown The Atlanta Voice

Atlanta United Finally Gets First Win of Season, 3-1 Over Philly

Atlanta United broke their winless streak with a convincing 3-1 victory over Philadelphia Union at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, though the attendance of 35,308 was their smallest crowd yet. After three games without a win and plenty of questions about the team, this performance showed they might have their act together. The supporters who showed up were definitely rewarded.

About Downtown

Downtown Atlanta is the city's historic center, home to the State Capitol, the Gulch (under massive redevelopment as Centennial Yards), Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium. It's been a challenge for decades as a place to actually live, but major investment is starting to change that. The Centennial Yards project alone is a multi-billion dollar mixed-use development that aims to transform 50 acres of underused rail infrastructure into a walkable district.

Living Downtown has historically been cheaper than Midtown or Buckhead, with loft conversions and older buildings offering square footage you can't get elsewhere for the price. MARTA's Five Points station is the transit hub for the entire system. The food scene is growing, with spots like Der Biergarten, Alma Cocina, and South City Kitchen joining the mix. Underground Atlanta is being reimagined (again). It's a neighborhood in the middle of what could be its biggest transformation ever.

Quick Facts

  • Centennial Yards multi-billion dollar redevelopment underway
  • Home to Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Georgia Aquarium
  • MARTA Five Points station, the system's central hub
  • Some of the most affordable ITP loft living

Resources

Planning Unit NPU-M
Zip Codes 30303, 30312
Downtown on Wikipedia
Central Atlanta Progress
MARTA Transit

Nearby Neighborhoods

Castleberry Hill Sweet Auburn Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park Midtown Home to Piedmont Park, the High Museum, and the Fox Theatre
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