Voting Tuesday
Oct. 14 — This week brings a photo recap of Atlanta Pride, election coverage – including more on Atlanta municipal and Georgia Public Service Commission races – and news on the exchange of archival records between The Atlanta History Center and the Georgia Historical Society.
Let’s dive in:
🗳️ Early voting begins today and runs through Oct. 30 ahead of the Nov. 4 general election. You can find early voting locations and check your registration status at the Georgia My Voter Page.
🏠 Amanda Rhein was appointed Chief Housing Officer of the City of Atlanta’s housing leadership team. Chatiqua Ellison was named Deputy Chief Housing Officer and Senior Advisor to the Mayor on Homelessness.
💰 The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation announced yesterday that it would gift $50 million in scholarship support to students at four of Atlanta’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
🚧 MARTA has closed the Peachtree Street entrance to Five Points Station starting this week as part of an ongoing renovation project.
💻 Several Atlanta financial technology startups are set to receive a major boost to their operations through a new initiative called the Pinnacle Atlanta Innovation Accelerator.
🎭 A Tennessee Williams classic will return to Atlanta as “The Glass Menagerie” launches Theatrical Outfit’s 49th season on Oct. 29.
🧵 “André Leon Talley: Style Is Forever,” a landmark exhibition honoring the legendary style icon, opens tomorrow at SCAD FASH.
🕓 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter.
• Georgia elections
• Pride photo recap
• Archival records exchange
AND
• Stories of Atlanta | Lance Russell
Enjoy!
Georgia Republicans say they fear local elections could help Democrats in statewide utilities race
🐘 A unique off-year election for two seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission, a body responsible for regulating utilities in the state, has Republicans vocally concerned, especially considering concurrent municipal elections that they worry could favor Democratic mobilization.
Early voting starts Tuesday for the Nov. 4 election, which will decide the fate of two incumbent Republican commissioners on the PSC – Tim Echols of District 2 and Fitz Johnson of District 3 – who are being challenged by Democratic candidates Alicia Johnson and Peter Hubbard, respectively.
With the races operating outside the typical presidential or midterm election cycles, attention is low and local municipal races could inadvertently dictate the outcome of the statewide PSC contests, according to experts.
✅ Read more election coverage from the Georgia Recorder here.
MORE ELECTION NEWS
📣 The Republican primary to select Georgia’s next Secretary of State gained another challenger Monday as former Democrat-turned-Republican Vernon Jones entered the race.
🗳️ Atlanta municipal elections are coming up on Nov. 4. To help you learn where everyone stands on the issues, Rough Draft Atlanta has Q&As with candidates for mayor and city council president, Atlanta City Council, and Atlanta Board of Education.
Celebrate Illumination and Revolution with the Atlanta Symphony
SPONSORED BY ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
🎶 The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra continues the season with adventurous and poignant performances: Celebrate Indian music and culture at the free Visions of India Festival, and experience orchestral fireworks in Nina Shekhar’s Lumina and Gustav Holst’s The Planets on Oct. 23 and 25. Kala Ramnath joins for Concerto for Hindustani Violin.
Then, your Orchestra performs with virtuoso Francesco Piemontesi, Beethoven’s witty First Piano Concerto and Shostakovich’s heart-rending Symphony No. 8 on Nov. 6 and 8.
🎟 Tickets are selling quickly for these concerts with your Orchestra – details at aso.org.
Photos: Thousands celebrate LGBTQ+ community at Atlanta Pride
🌈 The 55th annual Atlanta Pride celebration of the city’s LGBTQ+ community was held in Piedmont Park this weekend and was highlighted by Sunday’s Pride Parade along Peachtree Street.
We’ve rounded up a collection of photos from the weekend, provided by the Georgia Voice/Rough Draft staff as well as Atlanta Pride Committee. Visit Georgia Voice on Instagram and Facebook for even more photos and video.
🏳️🌈 🏳️⚧️ See more of the gallery here.
Atlanta History Center, Georgia Historical Society complete exchange of archived records
🗂️ The Atlanta History Center (AHC) and the Georgia Historical Society (GHS) have completed a monumental exchange of archival collections.
The exchange, supported by a $500,000 contribution from Atlanta-based railway company Norfolk Southern, consolidates related collections that were previously separated by the two history organizations, in a joint effort to make them easier to access for the public.
As part of the agreement, AHC acquired the Central of Georgia Railway Collection from GHS. Consisting of nearly 1,000 linear feet of documents, the collection will be housed alongside the Southern Railway archives at AHC’s Kenan Research Center, forming one of the country’s most comprehensive catalogs on railroad history, said a release.
🚂 Read more about the exchange here.
‘A Matter of Honor’: Stories of Atlanta by Lance Russell
VIA SAPORTAREPORT
🎪 In 1895, Atlanta set out to prove it was more than a railroad town rising from the ashes. The Cotton States and International Exposition would dazzle the world – until the money ran out.
As the fair teetered on the brink of disaster, one man stepped forward with an offer that would both save the city’s reputation and cement his own quiet legacy in Atlanta history.
Explore more of our newsletters
💡 Did you know Silver Streak has other newsletters that go deeper into what’s happening across metro Atlanta?
➡ Stacks: Our newest newsletter covering Atlanta’s literary scene, author profiles, book reviews, and more comes out the second Sunday of each month.
➡ Sketchbook: All about Atlanta’s art scene. Artist profiles, art openings, museum events. Wednesdays.
➡ Side Dish: News about the food scene. Beyond just openings and closings, Side Dish includes recipes and a regular feature on pop-ups. Thursdays.
➡ Scene: The only newsletter focused on the movie world. Reviews, interviews, podcasts. Fridays.
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🖋️ Today’s Silver Streak was edited by Julie E. Bloemeke.