Mass(ive mess) transit in ATL at a crossroads

Mass(ive mess) transit in ATL at a crossroads

First, with the loss of Atlanta Civic Circle, a reminder that local journalism, local podcasting, local "scrutinizers" are in short supply even in a big city, and this economy and constantly altering landscape in news and content delivery don't make it any easier. That's why I chose to divulge that my personal income situation necessitates me taking a job that'll ensure a more stable income for me; but the hope is I'll be able to figure the schedule to keep doing this show. So with that ... - - - Despite crime data showing violent crime is down both in Atlanta and where MARTA police has jurisdiction, two prominent incidents - a violent stabbing murder and a gang-related shooting - has passengers on edge and dubious right wing politicians looking to capitalize. Burt Jones, for example, has spouted off a time or two on social media - even tying Keisha Lance Bottoms to MARTA [https://x.com/burtjonesforga/status/2062961981233996207?s=20] - while offering nothing to actually solve what ails MARTA [https://x.com/burtjonesforga/status/2062156748941590921?s=20]. That's the GOP for you, though: never solutions, just band aids with badges. AJC op/ed writer David Plazas wrote on the MARTA situation [https://www.ajc.com/opinion/2026/06/marta-keeps-breaking-my-heart-ill-keep-riding-and-demanding-change/?gift_article_code=NWYwYnBuWjIyWGVSR2Q5a3lyakZsWFpCeU03X3Q3dzVyeFF5MUVNbWx5UToxNzgzMjc1MjkyOmM4ZjI0NmQ3NWVlZjQwYmQ&utm_campaign=articlegifting&fbclid=IwY2xjawSWOAlleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFXd0pGYlBvRm51alFITHdMc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHtwA8aBNSmZODB16D4QRiAAf7UjRCVc0I-O1MkJRubvhHwfTT8GUMUdOk8sq_aem_9uWn0EHDqvDd4cDGizaCnQ] - from the standpoint of someone who enjoys using it frequently. Like the rest of us, he wants MARTA to succeed and to be better. - - - Another situation where the city's mass transit needs are being awfully bungled: the Atlanta Beltline that now has autonomous vehicles connecting patrons to the southwest portion of the trail via "ATL Spoke." One problem: a study touting its use was biased according to a filed complaint [https://www.ajc.com/news/2026/06/atlanta-beltline-study-biased-toward-autonomous-shuttles-complaint-alleges/]. Sara Gregory's thorough piece in the AJC offers a LOT of smoke that may well lead to a roaring fire of corruption.

The feds want in on MARTA | metro DA's rally to push back on clearly racist law

Notes to come ...

Hi Keisha, it's me. You should call for a state takeover of MARTA & champion rail for GA

My conversation today was heard by hundreds or thousands on Georgia NOW & Progressive Voices, but truly, it was meant for an audience of one - former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who's now the Democratic Party nominee for Governor of Georgia. MARTA's a PR disaster. A ghoulish, murderous stabbing of a grandmother. [https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/rail-service-paused-oakland-city-marta-station-amid-police-activity] New trains (again) delayed [https://www.11alive.com/article/news/community/transportation/marta-postpones-launch-of-next-gen-trains-shortly-before-world-cup-begins/85-1c1fd2f6-46dc-4dec-9dec-f0c6ffeac082] prior to the FIFA World Cup. "More MARTA" underwhelming the voters [https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=a3d7aafae9fdd88814d2c2264b04281a35567a759253bdf768466c7ea30a58c1JmltdHM9MTc4MDQ0NDgwMA&ptn=3&ver=2&hsh=4&fclid=13496e86-143a-648d-17da-79e0152d6531&psq=More+MARTA+letdown&u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudHJhbnNpdHRhbGVudC5jb20vYXJ0aWNsZXMvaW5kZXguY2ZtP3N0b3J5PU1BUlRBX1dhc19NZWFudF9Ub19Hb19Nb3JlX1BsYWNlc18xMC0yMi0yMDI1] that supported it. The Atlanta Beltline is falling further and further from its intention to alleviate in-city gridlock and offer easier mobility from Atlanta's historic neighborhoods as resistance to the rail element continues to build clout. Why not take a page from the Georgia GOP, circa 2020-21, and call for a state takeover of MARTA the way they salivated over wresting the airport from the city [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eQ-z9XeWcY&pp=ygUXQ0JTNDYgYWlycG9ydCB0YWtlb3ZlciA%3D]? As Atlanta's former mayor, you have your fingerprints on the Beltline project and can't possibly agree with Cox Enterprises CEO Alex Taylor who's joined the NIMBYs and Eastside trail business folks [https://www.ajc.com/opinion/2026/05/future-of-atlanta-beltline-hangs-in-the-balance-trains-are-not-the-answer/] who now don't want the crucial rail element at all anymore, now, can you? Transit ... mobility ... not just for Atlanta in-city, but the metropolitan area and - dare I say - the state (that's home to the world's busiest airport and has feeder airports inexplicably flying people in small numbers at exorbitant fares) should be a top-of-mind conversation for an aspirational gubernatorial candidate. Heck, talk Delta into a public-private partnership. There's precedence for this in Canada [https://openjaw.com/newsroom/airline/2025/02/24/air-canada-part-of-winning-high-speed-rail-bid-for-new-corridor/]. It makes good business sense for Delta, because it clearly did so for Air Canada, too. While the two GOP candidates try to out "tax cut" one another while also slinging mud to and fro, wouldn't be refreshing for the Democratic gubernatorial candidate to counter with something vastly more impactful? I mean a $1000 break here or there is fine, I guess. Not life changing. Reducing commute times, an affordable, swift means to connect to the world's busiest airport from Athens, Augusta, Columbus, Macon & Savannah - all of which makes it viable for people to live just about wherever they want in the state where they can find more affordable housing; that's what would positively impact the lives of so many Georgians. Mrs. Bottoms, you should pronounce to voters that you'll be governor who connects the state. Be the "mobility governor." It's there waiting for someone to grasp. Grasp it.

GA GOP two options make Ossoff look even better; the one run-off I'm weighing in on is ...

It's now abundantly clear that not only are the Georgia Republican Party's two Senate options of poor candidate quality with mid-20th century 'Jim Crow' vision, they're corrupt. Even worse for the Georgia GOP, they're golden boy - governor Brian Kemp - has been pulled into the woodchipper and exposed as well. With good local journalism disappearing - even in major hubs like Atlanta - it's important to pay attention to when it's still covering stories like these. The whole "Dooley-Kemp-other Dooley money funnel" story brought to light last week by WXIA-TV's Doug Richards [https://www.11alive.com/article/news/politics/daniel-dooley-kemps-bestie-thrives-as-his-company-makes-millions-in-school-contracts/85-70dad236-da2e-4b03-8449-17d02a082cf0] was actually touched on in a Substack piece by Georgia Politics & Polling (no author named). Still, hat-tip! That sullies the already mediocre shine on the campaign of failed football coach Derek Dooley, son of UGA football legend Vince. It's also tarnished the perception that Brian Kemp is an unblemished 'rising star' with 2028 aspirations. Rep. Mike Collins, however, has long seemed to have issues with the company he keeps [https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/05/mike-collins-may-have-finally-cleaned-house-what-took-so-long/] - notably his chief staffer and campaign manager Brandon Phillips. If Brandon's not making repulsive statements about rape victims being "sloppy seconds," he's making sure his girlfriend gets paid via taxpayer dollars through an internship [https://www.cbsnews.com/atlanta/news/ethics-watchdog-top-aide-to-georgias-mike-collins-improperly-hired-girlfriend-as-intern/] where she did nothing. Then there's another staffer - Kip Talley - working double-time to free a Holocaust-denier [https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2026/05/senate-georgia-elections-mike-collins-nick-fuentes.html] - and bragging he'd do so in a group chat. A whole lot of 'ick' on that run-off ballot. - - - Speaking of run-offs, I'd opted not to weigh in on Georgia Democratic run-offs because I don't see bad options; but the lieutenant governor's race calls for commentary. Listen, I've no issues with ambition, but former Senator Nabilah Parkes put hers above her constituents, and her debate performance [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGw4LoghSNU&t=902s] did little to make her look as a) a superior choice or b) a likable candidate (and she's a likable person, so that's baffling). Leaving your post is one thing; leaving the middle of a General Assembly session is another. Trying to explain that your absence means nothing because the other side is the majority and will ram new maps through anyway smacks of 'defeatism' and her opponent, state Senator Josh McLaurin is right to point that out.

TAKING PRIDE - The 'Lost-n-Found' story: combatting LGBTQIA+ youth homelessness

Lost-n-Found Youth [https://www.lnfy.org/] - an Atlanta-based organization working to take LGBTQIA+ young adults off the streets, provide them shelter and guidance to find their way to sustainability, is guided by executive director Melanea Alvarez, who joined me today to share the organization's backstory, and give a thorough audio tour of all the organization - known in thrifting circles for its popular thrift store - does for unhoused LGBTQIA+ youth. We also discuss the challenges an organization like LnFY faces in less-than-ideal political circumstances. GIVE TO LNFY [https://www.lnfy.org/donate] VOLUNTEER WITH LNFY [https://www.lnfy.org/community-engagement]