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Community Corner

🌱 Braves-Freeman Era End? + Bank's ATL Investment + Uber Goes Up

The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Atlanta.

Kathy Cioffi, Community Contributor
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(Patch)

Happy Tuesday, neighbors! Here's what's going on today in Atlanta.

First, today's weather:

Some rain and a thunderstorm. High: 64 Low: 49.

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Here are the top five stories in Atlanta today:

  1. Is it the end of the Freddie Freeman era in Atlanta? Monday, the Braves acquired first baseman Matt Olson from the Oakland Athletics for outfielder Cristian Pache, catcher Shea Langeliers, and righties Ryan Cusick and Joey Estes. The trade could likely mean Freeman ends his Braves career with a .295 batting average, .893 OPS, 271 home runs and 941 RBIs. (Free: CBSsports.com; Subscription: The Atlanta Journal Constitution)
  2. In an effort to bridge the country's vast housing and racial wealth gap, banking giant JPMorgan Chase is investing $12 million in Atlanta and numerous other cities to boost homeownership opportunities for Black, Hispanic and Latino communities. A 31-year-old nonprofit, Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership (ANDP), is receiving $2.5 million from the bank. The money will be invested in risk-based partnerships with mostly Black-owned local, small builders to develop roughly 500 affordable for-sale single homes in neighborhoods where low-income residents face displacement. About half the homes will be in the city of Atlanta. JPMorgan Chase announced in 2020 it was committing $30 billion toward fixing banking's "systemic racism." Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, who joined Jamie Dimon, the billionaire CEO of JPMorgan Chase, at the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs on March 1 to announce ANDP's funding, said JPMorgan Chase's $30 billion "commitment for racial equity shook the world and shook the city of Atlanta for sure." (The Atlanta Voice)
  3. The price to take a ride or order food through Uber Technologies Inc. is about to go up for Georgia residents. To offset rising gas prices for its drivers, the ride-sharing and food-delivery company said it will impose a temporary surcharge on customers in the Peach State starting Wednesday. After fuel prices rose rapidly in the state and throughout the country when Russia invaded Ukraine last month, Georgia drivers are now paying an average price of $4.29 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline, AAA reports. According to Uber, Georgia consumers will pay a surcharge of either $0.45 or $0.55 on each trip and either $0.35 or $0.45 on each food delivery order — depending on their location, with 100 percent of that money going directly to its workers' pockets. (Atlanta Patch)
  4. Prices for food, gas and housing that are are surging and putting the squeeze on Georgia residents could go even higher, according to a report released last week from the Labor Department that showed inflation jumped 7.9 percent over the 12-month period ending in February, the sharpest spike since 1982. However, The AP reported that most economists think the U.S. economy is growing strongly enough that another recession is unlikely, even with higher inflation. (Atlanta Patch)
  5. The White House has taken notice of an Atlanta teacher who is making a big difference in STEM education. Junior Bernadin from Atlanta's Ron Clark Academy was selected for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math, Science, and Technology Mentoring. The dean of students and I.T. director of the Ron Clark Academy, Bernadin said he was shocked when he learned about the presidential award. "I just stared at the email. I started at the email for a bit, and it was a very emotional moment for me," he said. "Knowing that my parents were working hard as immigrants from Haiti, who came over to the United States to create a better world for me." What's more, some of the work he is doing with his students is also being donated to nonprofits around the metro Atlanta community. (FOX 5 Atlanta)

Today in Atlanta:

  • Spring In-Person Class Session, offered by Fulton County Meetings & Elections, with limited in-person sessions available through May 7. (All day)
  • Breathing Yoga With Dhwani at the DeKalb County Public Library. (9:00 AM)
  • WorkSource DeKalb's "Jobs Bus" provides job search assistance. COVID-19 protocols are in place, and masks are required. Subject to change without notice. (10:00 AM)
  • Women's History Month Trivia at the DeKalb County Public Library. (10:00 AM)
  • Relax and de-stress with color therapy. Coloring sheets are available for pickup at the Scott Candler Library's Circulation Desk. (10:00 AM)

From my notebook:

  • Nextdoor Neighbor, Hampton Park: "Just another satisfied customer! Thanks Mr. & Mrs. Jones for supporting my business! It's that time of year and if you need a storm door installed please give a call at 678-396-1093!" (Nextdoor)
  • Officer Halekia Helm, Clayton County Police Department: "🚨🚨Missing/Runaway of Shaw II William 🚨🚨 - 🚨🚨 On March 13, Clayton County Police Officers responded to the 300 block of Thomas Downs Way, Jonesboro in reference to a missing person. Upon arrival, officers learned Shaw II William had left the residence without permission. Anyone with any information on his whereabouts is encouraged to contact the Clayton County Police Department at (770) 477-3550." (Nextdoor)
  • Nextdoor Neighbor, West Paces: "How many of you love great BBQ? 👀 I'll have good smoke BBQ lunch plates for sale this week in the neighborhood for neighbors, workers, landscapers etc. Menu coming soon. Comment below if you're interested 😃🙏🏿" (Nextdoor)
  • Nextdoor Neighbor, Cliftondale: "The simple service you never knew you needed. https://atlfreshcans.com/quarterly-special/" (Nextdoor)
  • Nextdoor Neighbor, Legend Oaks: "Please let all your Vietnam veterans know that we want to honor them and show them some long overdue LOVE for their service. 🇻🇳 I have a special spot in my heart for the Vietnam vets because they did not come home to a warm welcome like us Desert vets. This dinner will be in our canteen during the same time as our Tuesday night bingo. Service starts at 6 p.m. Our Commander will cut the cake around 6:15 p.m. Sit and eat with us or grab and go. Hope to see you there with all your buddies. 💝 VFW POST 6449 is located inside Clarence Duncan Park in Fairburn all the way in the back by the softball fields." (Nextdoor)

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Events:

  • Inner Peace Begins Through Reconnecting Inside (March 15)
  • Black Wounds: A Dialogue, Reading and Book Signing (March 17)
  • "Carol on Cumberland: A Natural History" (March 19)
  • Estate Planning Webinar 3/21 & 3/21 (March 21)
  • Barranco Enterprises - 1st Annual Career Fair (March 21)
  • PRIDE Kickball Atlanta Spring Leagues (March 21)
  • American Diabetes Association Diabetes Alert Day: Understand Your Risk (March 22)
  • Independent Distilling 8 year Anniversary & Crawfish Boil with Mothers Best!! (March 26)
  • Add your event

Announcements:

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You're officially in the loop for today! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow with another update.

— Kathy Cioffi

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

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