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Community Corner

🌱 Fire Truck Homeless Heist + Atlanta History Trail + Rents Rise

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)

Hey, Atlanta! Let's get you started this Monday with everything you need to know going on around town today.

First, today's weather:

Cloudy, a shower in the p.m.. High: 63 Low: 53.

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Here are the top 5 stories in Atlanta today:

  1. A homeless man stole a fire truck Saturday afternoon, crashed it into a parked car and then ran away, the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department said. While a crew was checking on a gas leak around 4:20 p.m. on Neal Street in northwest Atlanta, Paramedic Engine 16 was stolen. It was found by Atlanta police near where it was taken, and officials said a homeless man attempted to drive the engine away and hit a parked car before running away down Neal Street. There is minor damage to the fire truck but no injuries were reported. The investigation is ongoing. (WSB Atlanta)
  2. The City Council will consider the creation of an Atlanta Historical Commission to highlight a more diverse array of history sites at its February meeting today. Post 1 At-Large City Councilmember Michael Julian Bond, who proposed creating the commission, hopes it could help with a slow-moving, decade-old effort to create a history trail about the Atlanta Student Movement of the Civil Rights era. What's more, Bond said, it "would be great to expand this idea beyond this trail for all the other different, notable events, people, places and things that happened inside of our city," including significant sites of Jewish and African-American women's history. Today's council meeting will be held virtually starting at 1 p.m. and can be viewed on the city website. (SaportaReport)
  3. Now that a federal eviction moratorium has ended, rents have exploded across the country, causing many to dig deep into their savings, downsize to subpar units or fall behind on payments and risk eviction. Median rents rose an astounding 19.3% from December 2020 to December 2021 in the 50 largest U.S. metro areas, according to a Realtor.com analysis of properties with two or fewer bedrooms. And possibly compounding all of this is the increasing presence of investors. In the third quarter of 2021, a record 18.2% of U.S home purchases were made by businesses or institutions, according to Redfin, and Atlanta was one of the cities targeted, along with Phoenix, Miami, Charlotte, N.C., and Jacksonville, Fla. — popular destinations for people relocating from pricier cities. Danielle Hale, Realtor.com's chief economist, said to expect rents to continue to rise this year, but at a slower pace, thanks to increased construction. (WABE 90.1 FM)
  4. A former metro Atlanta teacher accused of sexual misconduct last year faces two new charges after recent accusations against him emerged. Robert Vandel, a former Fulton County science teacher, was arrested Sept. 2 on a variety of charges in connection with allegations that he raped one of his students at the Fulton Academy of Science and Technology (FAST) Charter School in early 2020. The child was under the age of 14 at the time. Friday, Holly Springs police announced the new charges against Vandel, saying investigators secured warrants against him for two counts of sexual battery with a minor. (Free: 11Alive.com WXIA; Subscription: The Atlanta Journal Constitution)
  5. According to the Macon Telegraph, Bibb County Sheriff David Davis is being treated for leukemia. After a routine blood test during a doctor's visit earlier this month showed abnormalities, Davis said he learned earlier this week that he has a curable form of the disease and would be hospitalized in Atlanta for a few weeks to undergo treatment. Davis, who said his treatment is already showing signs of progress, has served the sheriff's office since 1979 and was first elected sheriff in November 2012. (am920theanswer.com)

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Today in Atlanta:

  • Presidents' Day (Inclement Weather Day) for Fulton County Schools. (All day)
  • Fulton County offices and facilities are closed for President's Day today. (All day)
  • Slater Hospitality is hiring for Atlanta's hottest new experience, Rooftop L.O.A. Reserve your spot at Rooftop L.O.A's hiring event to be part of the team behind Atlanta's hottest new all-encompassing rooftop. Meet members of the Slater Hospitality team, gain insight into the company's culture, and even participate in onsite interviews at The Interlock. (3:00 PM)
  • Is it possible, in such a chaotic world, to be free of feeling stressed out and anxious? Yes it is. Or at the very least to use those natural feelings in the service of something meaningful. Through training our mind in Buddhist psychology we can gradually approach seemingly fear-inducing situations with a sense of confidence and even enjoyment. These drop-in classes at UUMAN include guided meditation, a talk on Buddhist ideas for daily life, and discussion. Suitable for everyone. No experience necessary. Just drop in. (7:00 PM)
  • Horizon Theatre Performance of "Every Brilliant Thing" at Little Five Points Center for Arts and Community. (8:00 PM)

From my notebook:

  • Take a look at this splendid snap looking straight downtown via @droneangel_photography. #atlantasnaps (Instagram)
  • Here's a view from the MARTA tracks where our crews are working 24/7 to remove and replace both Red Line tracks in the center of GA-400. Thanks for your patience as we are replacing our aging equipment for a safer and smoother ride. Learn more: https://itsmarta.com/trackreplacement.aspx (Facebook)
  • Atlanta BeltLine asks if you've filed for your homestead exemption? Be sure you're taking advantage of the property tax reductions available to you. It's an easy way to reduce the amount of tax owed on owner-occupied homes. Special exemptions are also available for aging homeowners or people with disabilities. The deadline for applying is April 1. (Facebook)
  • Nextdoor Neighbor, Kensington Heights: "Have y'all heard of Style Mobb University? It's a beauty school that is actually the 1st and only beauty school that operates as a HBCU!!! It's amazing! They have student housing and all …. www.StyleMobbUniversity.com. Camp creek area." (Nextdoor)
  • Public Education Specialist Paula Tate, DeKalb County Police Department: "Please help us find Devuantae Penn, 12, who was last seen on Feb. 19 near the 2900 block of Panthersville Road in Decatur. He is 5-foot-5, 165 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair, wearing a black and white shirt with black sweats. If you see him, please call SVU at 770-724-7610 or 911." (Nextdoor)

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Events:

  • Mindful Movement For Flexibility and Peace (February 22)
  • Pregnant? Participate in a Maternal Health Research Study (February 23)
  • Learn How To Reduce Your Risk For Heart Disease During American Heart Month (February 28)
  • Get A 'Taste Of Paradise' During This Exclusive Event At Atlantis (February 28)
  • GO Kickball League Registration (March 9)
  • GO Volleyball League Registration - Brookhaven (March 9)
  • GO Softball League Registration - Piedmont Park (March 9)
  • PRIDE Kickball Atlanta Spring Leagues (March 21)
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Alrighty, you're all good for today! I'll see you soon.

— Kathy Cioffi

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

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