Alessandro Marazzi Sassoon

3 weeks ago | atlantaciviccircle.org | Alessandro Marazzi Sassoon

Two Republican-backed election-overhaul bills that are rapidly heading to floor votes — one in the Senate and the other in the House — would cause a raft of changes to Georgia’s elections, alarming both state  elections officials and voting rights advocates.

4 weeks ago | atlantaciviccircle.org | Alessandro Marazzi Sassoon

When Atlantans mark their ballots next fall for the 2025 municipal elections, they’ll have five city-wide offices to vote for: the mayor, three at-large city council members — and a city council president. Notably, Atlanta is the only city in Georgia with a city council president. “It is pretty unique,” says Rusi Patel, the general counsel for the Georgia Municipal Association, adding he can’t immediately name another Georgia city with one, out of 537 statewide.

1 month ago | atlantaciviccircle.org | Alessandro Marazzi Sassoon

This story is part of #ATLBudget, a civic engagement project in collaboration with the Center for Civic Innovation and other organizations. Together, we’re breaking down Atlanta’s budget process to show where your tax dollars go—and how you can help shape the city’s priorities. Follow #ATLBudget on Instagram and Bluesky for updates. Atlanta’s city government has started drafting its budget for the 2026 fiscal year, which begins July 1.

1 month ago | atlantaciviccircle.org | Alessandro Marazzi Sassoon

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced his appointment of Bárbara Rivera Holmes as the state’s new labor commissioner on Tuesday at a press conference at the State Capitol. Holmes succeeds Bruce Thompson, who died in November after an eight-month struggle with pancreatic cancer. Kemp highlighted Holmes’ economic development experience in his remarks. Holmes has headed the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce since 2015.

1 month ago | atlantaciviccircle.org | Alessandro Marazzi Sassoon

A state senate committee on Wednesday weighed how to regulate state agencies’ use of artificial intelligence (AI) —  and asked whether the legislature should do the same for local governments. The Senate Committee on Science and Technology took up House Bill 147, which would require state agencies to disclose any use of AI to the Georgia Technology Authority (GTA). The bill, which also provides a legal definition of AI, passed the state House unanimously.