Stephannie Stokes

2 months ago | wabe.org | Stephannie Stokes

A new lawsuit claims Fulton County is retroactively raising people’s taxes – even while state law doesn’t give the county that power. In the case, one plaintiff, a woman named Phyllis Garrett, bought a home with her mom. They both applied for a homestead exemption – a tax break for people who live in their own home. But Fulton County only put the exemption in her mom’s name. Then, her mom died.

Jan 23, 2025 | wabe.org | Stephannie Stokes

Activists and civil rights leaders are calling on the City of Atlanta to stop clearing homeless encampments following the death of Cornelius Taylor last week. Witnesses said a city constriction vehicle killed Taylor while he was still in his tent along Old Wheat Street in Atlanta. Before Thursday’s city council meeting, members of his family joined organizers from Housing Justice League and longtime activists Reverend Timothy McDonald and Attorney Mawuli Davis on the steps of City Hall.

Jan 17, 2025 | wabe.org | Stephannie Stokes

Advocates are expressing grief and outrage after a man was killed during the clearing of a homeless encampment in Atlanta. The man’s name was Cornelius Taylor, according to his friends and neighbors, but he often went by “Psycho.” He stayed among the tents along Old Wheat Street in the Auburn Avenue neighborhood, near Ebenezer Baptist Church. The city hasn’t confirmed details of what happened Thursday afternoon. Atlanta Police said their homicide unit is investigating.

Jan 16, 2025 | wabe.org | Stephannie Stokes

A motel in Gwinnett County called the sheriff to remove several people from its property, alleging they were squatters. But the sheriff refused. The lawsuit that followed has renewed questions about the rights of thousands of families around metro Atlanta who are living in motels, and when they should be considered guests or tenants. In the case before Gwinnett County Superior Court, S&A Suites argues that the people staying in the Budgetel Motel in Lilburn can only ever be guests.

Jan 13, 2025 | wabe.org | Stephannie Stokes

This legislative session, local governments are expected to again push Georgia lawmakers to overturn the ban on rental registries. Rental registries are databases of rental properties that could include details about the units and their owners. Georgia has prohibited cities or counties from requiring landlords to participate in any kind of registry since 2003.