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Center for Civic Innovation
@civicatlanta.bsky.social
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Strengthening community understanding, engagement, and power to create bold and transformative policy change in Atlanta.
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This Week in Atlanta is a cumulative effort from the CCI team. Every week, we attend meetings for the City of Atlanta, Atlanta Public Schools, DeKalb and Fulton counties, and more. We report that info back in ways that actually make sense. To support this work, go to civicatlanta.org/donate.
November 17, 2025 at 5:46 PM
civicatlanta.bsky.social
(10/10) Mark your calendar! 🗓️
• citycouncil.atlantaga.gov
• dekalbcountyga.legistar.com
• fulton.legistar.com
• investatlanta.com
• atloig.org
Mark your calendar for upcoming events Monday, November 17 * 1:00pm — Atlanta City Council meeting — citycouncil.atlantaga.gov   Tuesday, November 18 * 9:00am — DeKalb County Board of Commissioners meeting — dekalbcountyga.legistar.com   Wednesday, November 19 * 10:00am — Fulton County Board of Commissioners meeting — fulton.legistar.com   Thursday, November 20 * 9:00am — Invest Atlanta Board of Directors meeting — investatlanta.com * 6:00pm — Governing Board of the Office of the Inspector General meeting — atloig.org
November 17, 2025 at 5:46 PM
civicatlanta.bsky.social
(9/10) The School Board’s Policy Review Committee reviewed revisions to its electronic device usage policy for students — prohibiting access to devices during the school day — to align with new State requirements. simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/ViewMeeting.aspx?S=36031014&MID=130571
School Board reviews updates to student electronic device policy The Atlanta Board of Education’s Policy Review Committee reviewed revisions to its electronic device usage policy for students to align with new State requirements. The draft expands the policy beyond cell phones to explicitly include smartwatches, tablets, e-readers, earbuds, and other devices that can be used for internet access, messaging, video recording, gaming, social media, or data transmission. While the new State law prohibits accessing such devices during the school day for students through the 8th grade, the School Board’s proposed policy would apply to all grades and also apply on school buses. Committee members discussed how the policy’s prohibitions apply in emergency situations. The revised policy will be on the School Board’s December meeting agenda.
November 17, 2025 at 5:46 PM
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(8/10) The School Board's Policy Review Committee reviewed APS's attendance zone policy, seeking “to provide educationally sound and cost-effective schools located as near to students’ homes as possible.” simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/ViewMeeting.aspx?S=36031014&MID=130571
APS committee finalizes updates to school attendance zones policy The Atlanta Board of Education’s Policy Review Committee reviewed final revisions to its policy that guides how the Atlanta Public Schools (APS) sets and adjusts school attendance zone boundaries. The policy states the Board “seeks to provide educationally sound and cost-effective schools located as near to students' homes as possible.” The revisions aim to ensure that schools have enough students to support academic, enrichment, and support programs, but it does not establish a minimum enrollment requirement. The policy moves forward for final approval at the School Board’s December 3 meeting, along with the Comprehensive Long-Range Facilities Plan that recommends the closure or “repurposing” of 16 schools to save an estimated $25 million annually.
November 17, 2025 at 5:46 PM
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(7/10) HUD announced that most of its $3.9B in homelessness funds will move away from a “Housing First” approach towards transitional housing and programs that prioritize work and drug treatment requirements. politico.com/news/2025/11/13/trump-cuts-homeless-housing-program-00650758
Federal housing agency to restructure homeless-services program The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued notice on Thursday of a significant change to its annual grants under the Continuum of Care (CoC) Program, which funds housing and services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. HUD’s plan directs most of its $3.9 billion in homelessness funds away from Housing First — an approach that prioritizes permanent housing as quickly as possible followed by other supportive services — towards transitional housing and programs that prioritize work and drug treatment requirements. Under the new revision, only about 30% of CoC funding may be directed toward permanent housing. In 2024, the Atlanta CoC was awarded a total of $14.5 million in HUD grants, with 82% funding permanent housing.
November 17, 2025 at 5:46 PM
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(6/10) The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners approved the creation of an Affordable Housing Fund and the implementation of a “blight tax.” decaturish.com/news/dekalb/dekalb-county-commission-creates-affordable-housing-fund/article_451a6bee-9103-411e-b516-3f7b00d033de.html
DeKalb Commissioners create affordable housing fund and adopt blight tax The DeKalb Board of Commissioners approved two measures on Monday aimed at expanding affordable housing and addressing deteriorated properties. The Board established an Affordable Housing Fund, starting at 1% of the County’s general fund revenue in 2026 and growing to at least 2% by 2028, to support initiatives such as the creation of housing to serve households earning 30–60% of area median income (AMI). The legislation calls on County staff to host at least two public listening sessions before drafting program guidelines by January 2026 and opening the program in July 2026. Commissioners also adopted a “blight tax” allowing officially designated blighted properties to be taxed at up to ten times the standard property tax rate. Atlanta adopted a similar ordinance in August 2024.
November 17, 2025 at 5:46 PM
civicatlanta.bsky.social
(5/10) Two Council committees advanced a charter amendment to change how the Affordable Housing Trust Fund is used — requiring at least half to be spent on building affordable units at or below 50% AMI. atlantaciviccircle.org/2025/11/16/city-council-backs-atlanta-affordable-housing-trust-fund-fix
City Council advances reforms to Atlanta’s housing trust fund Two Atlanta City Council committees unanimously advanced a charter amendment that would change how the Affordable Housing Trust Fund is used. If approved, at least half of revenue would have to be spent on building affordable units for households at or below 50 percent of area median income (AMI). Up to 30 percent could support housing programs, while debt service and administrative costs would be capped at 15 percent and 5 percent, respectively. The legislation follows reporting by Atlanta Civic Circle that most Fiscal Year 2025 trust fund dollars went to cover debt and City staff rather than directly to construction. The City’s Chief Financial Officer warned the shift could impact financing for new housing. Charter amendments require two full Council votes.
November 17, 2025 at 5:46 PM
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(4/10) The Council’s Finance and Executive Committee voted in favor of renaming the Office of Equity, Diversity, an Inclusion and broadening its mandate to advance anti-discrimination efforts, community engagement, and economic mobility. atlantacityga.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?ID=39149
Changes proposed for Mayor’s Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion The Council’s Finance and Executive Committee voted in favor of an ordinance converting the existing Mayor’s Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion — established in 2018 but not codified until 2021 — into an expanded Mayor’s Office of One Atlanta, broadening its mandate to advance anti-discrimination efforts, civil and human rights, community engagement, and economic mobility. According to the legislation, the Office will develop “a strategic and effective network of community liaisons that support engagement and access for the citizens of Atlanta.” It will also take over administration of the Human Relations Commission — currently supported by the Office of Constituent Services — and serve as a place for consultation, support, and response to harassment or discrimination concerns.
November 17, 2025 at 5:46 PM
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(3/10) The City Council’s Community Development Committee voted in support of establishing a 13-member commission to provide recommendations on the Mayor’s proposed $5B Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative (NRI). atlantacityga.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?ID=39028
New commission sought to guide Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative The Council’s Community Development Committee voted in support of a resolution establishing a 13-member commission to provide recommendations on Mayor Andre Dickens’s proposed $5 billion Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative (NRI). The NRI relies on extending the City’s eight active Tax Allocation Districts (TADs). The Commission is to recommend improvements on “redevelopment efforts in economically distressed, underutilized, or strategically significant areas.” Representatives will be selected from the Council, Mayor’s Office, Invest Atlanta’s TAD Committee, business associations, philanthropic and community investment groups, and redevelopment nonprofits. The Commission will convene no earlier than January 2026 and provide recommendations by June 30, 2026.
November 17, 2025 at 5:46 PM
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(2/10) Nearly half of the 326 projects are in construction or closeout, but members voiced frustration with ATLDOT, which has the lowest share reaching construction (18%) and has only spent 10% of its budget. atlantaga.gov/government/mayor-s-office/moving-atlanta-forward-2022-infrastructure-package
Infrastructure oversight committee seeks realistic timelines amid delays The Moving Atlanta Forward (MAF) Oversight Committee met on Wednesday to review progress on the $750 million program — approved by voters in 2022 — and pressed City officials about delays. Nearly half of the 326 projects are in construction or closeout, but members voiced frustration with the Atlanta Department of Transportation (ATLDOT), which has the lowest share reaching construction (18%) and has only spent 10% of its budget. Commissioner Caviness said ATLDOT is working to accelerate delivery, including shifting simpler projects directly into construction and coordinating with existing contractors to include MAF improvements with other projects. Officials and committee members agreed the City faces a credibility gap and must reset expectations with clearer, more realistic timelines.
November 17, 2025 at 5:46 PM
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The audit found that while project spending has increased, concerns remain around delays, project management, and transparency of the City’s dashboard. Learn more: civicatlanta.org/blog/2025-11...
Audit shows increase in infrastructure spending but inconsistent tracking — Center for Civic Innovation
The City Auditor’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 review of Atlanta’s $750 million Moving Atlanta Forward (MAF) program found that total spending nearly doubled from FY 2024 and projects have now begun in ev...
civicatlanta.org
November 12, 2025 at 6:13 PM
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Later today: a 5:30pm public hearing on the district’s facilities plan, followed by a first reading during the 6pm community meeting.
November 5, 2025 at 8:29 PM
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- a proposed $4.4 million emergency allocation to address food insecurity
- review of the County’s 2026 State legislative agenda

Watch online: www.youtube.com/live/2h0Wuzp...

(2/2)
Fulton County Board of Commissioners Meeting - November 5, 2025
YouTube video by FGTV - Fulton Government Television
www.youtube.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:00 PM
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UPDATE: Judge Leftridge announced that Atlanta polling locations will remain open until 8pm. Voters arriving after 7pm are required to cast a provisional ballot. A written order will outline instructions for poll workers on how to secure those ballots.
November 3, 2025 at 7:52 PM
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- authorize a contract with WSP for Atlanta's first Comprehensive Transportation Plan since 2018
- let the CFO set standards for employee labor unions to be able to deduct member dues through the City's payroll
- amend the City Charter to modernize the City's budgetary controls
November 3, 2025 at 6:46 PM
civicatlanta.bsky.social
This Week in Atlanta is a cumulative effort from the CCI team. Every week, we attend meetings for the City of Atlanta, Atlanta Public Schools, DeKalb and Fulton counties, and more. We report that info back in ways that actually make sense. To support this work, go to civicatlanta.org/donate.
November 3, 2025 at 1:21 PM
civicatlanta.bsky.social
(9/9) Mark your calendar! 🗓️
• citycouncil.atlantaga.gov
• voteatl.org – Tuesday, November 4, Election Day 🗳️
• fulton.legistar.com
• atlantapublicschools.us/apsboard
Mark your calendar for upcoming events Monday, November 3 * 1:00pm – Atlanta City Council meeting – citycouncil.atlantaga.gov Tuesday, November 4 * Election Day – voteatl.org Wednesday, November 5 * 10:00am – Fulton County Board of Commissioners meeting – fulton.legistar.com * 11:00am – Atlanta Human Relations Commission meeting – citycouncil.atlantaga.gov * 2:30pm – Atlanta Board of Education meeting – atlantapublicschools.us/apsboard   Thursday, November 6 * 1:00pm – Atlanta Board of Education Ethics Commission meeting – atlantapublicschools.us/apsboard
November 3, 2025 at 1:21 PM
civicatlanta.bsky.social
(8/9) The Development Authority of Fulton County (DAFC) gave preliminary approval for a $9.7M property tax break supporting Forge Atlanta, a proposed mixed-use project spanning 10 acres in Downtown. ajc.com/business/202...
Fulton development authority grants initial approval for $10M Forge Atlanta tax break The Development Authority of Fulton County (DAFC) gave preliminary approval for a $9.7 million, 10-year property tax break supporting Forge Atlanta, a mixed-use project spanning 10 acres in Downtown. The project’s $756 million first phase includes a 300-room hotel, condos, retail, and entertainment space. According to DAFC, the project is anticipated to create 900 jobs and generate about $25 million in new taxes during the abatement period. The plan was advanced 5-2, with some board members citing concerns about the project’s viability and the developer’s capacity to deliver. Following further legal and financial review, the project will return to the DAFC board for final bond approval.
November 3, 2025 at 1:21 PM