Renew Atlanta funds siphoned from Complete Streets to pet projects (Carl: sales, city hall)

[jsvh]

This has been referenced in a couple related threads but I feel it deserves it's own.

(Mods feel free to merge if my searches missed a more appropriate existing thread).

As a $250 million Atlanta public program for road, bridge, sidewalk and public building works is going through a bit of a reset, there’s some impatience for information about what will — and won’t — get done.

But Renew is doing a reboot or rebaselining of its entire program, its interim general manager said at a public meeting earlier this month. Some of the projects on the list may not happen; not with Renew money anyway.

The leadership of Renew, and a similar program called TSPLOST that uses sales tax for transit works, have twice this month delayed a regular update to the Council committee.

Councilman Dustin Hillis called it “bad, unfortunate, unacceptable news that we will not be getting an update from Renew and TSPLOST today.”

His northwest Atlanta district includes part of a 2.25-mile complete street upgrade planned for Howell Mill Road, which is one of the Renew Atlanta projects that is far past its original construction start date without construction having started.

About a dozen complete streets fans, including folks from the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition, showed up at the committee meeting hoping to hear the Renew update and to say they want those projects done as planned all over the city on roads like Howell Mill, Cascade Road, DeKalb Avenue and more.

Last year, road works were found to be missing documentation that the city needs to control costs and schedules. In 2016, auditors found that contracting didn’t comply with best practices or fully protect the city’s interests.

Roughly $19 million of Renew Atlanta bond premiums (money paid by buyers over the face value of a bond) went to pay for a controversial, budget-busting bridge over Northside Drive that wasn’t on the original list.

And if you are wondering about the lack of things like sidewalks and bike routes and want to know what you can do:

At-large City Councilman Andre Dickens, the committee chair, said his inbox is full of notes from constituents who want to know what’s happening with their neighborhoods’ Renew projects. He said he’s encouraging folks to send emails not just to their Council members, but to Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and to Renew Atlanta so that all sides understand the “magnitude” of concerns.

Impatience growing for information on Renew Atlanta construction projects

Promised Howell Mill overhaul may not happen

Atlanta Bicycle Coalition fights to keep ‘complete streets’ in Renew Atlanta plans

Why Renew Atlanta is struggling with delays, and what its future could hold

[cqholt]

This is what happens when a program of this magnitude is put under the Mayor's Office and does not have to answer to City Council. Nothing will changed until we began electing officials who use alternative transportation for more than just a photo opt.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by cqholt

This is what happens when a program of this magnitude is put under the Mayor's Office and does not have to answer to City Council. Nothing will changed until we began electing officials who use alternative transportation for more than just a photo opt.

Or until we have a city council that doesn't rubber stamp the Mayor and actually does oversight instead of also sticking their hands in the taxpayers pockets.

[brown_dog_us]

Thanks for the update jsvh.

I had high hopes for the Renew projects, but it sounds like we got duped.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by bu2

Or until we have a city council that doesn't rubber stamp the Mayor and actually does oversight instead of also sticking their hands in the taxpayers pockets.

I do think city council has turned that corner, or The Gulch would have already been approved. We still have leftover Nod Squad councilmembers, but the new blood is not falling in line with that.

[Gulch]

It's garbage like this that makes it really hard to want to continue being a homeowner in the CoA.

[jsvh]

Here are emails for Renew Atlanta and the Atlanta TSPLOST to send emails to support honoring the original project list people voted for including the complete street projects:

RenewAtlanta@atlantaga.gov

AtlantaTSPLOST@atlantaga.gov

Here is where to find your council member's contact info: Atlanta City Council, GA : Council Members

If you are not sure which district you are in, check this map: http://www.atlantaga.gov/Home/ShowDocument?id=10183

Anyone have good contact info for the mayors office? My initial google searches are not having any luck.

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by cqholt

This is what happens when a program of this magnitude is put under the Mayor's Office and does not have to answer to City Council. Nothing will changed until we began electing officials who use alternative transportation for more than just a photo opt.

Shout out to District 1 Council Member Carla Smith who does take MARTA to City Hall.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo_7kArh...Ei0QN4gXuBdYyI

[jero23]

Originally Posted by jsvh

Here are emails for Renew Atlanta and the Atlanta TSPLOST to send emails to support honoring the original project list people voted for including the complete street projects:

RenewAtlanta@atlantaga.gov

AtlantaTSPLOST@atlantaga.gov

Here is where to find your council member's contact info: Atlanta City Council, GA : Council Members

If you are not sure which district you are in, check this map: http://www.atlantaga.gov/Home/ShowDocument?id=10183

Anyone have good contact info for the mayors office? My initial google searches are not having any luck.

I could provide you direct contact info, but I am going to tell you all they are going to do in the Mayor's Office is forward it right back to the Renew Atlanta manager. KLB's administration in the Mayor's Office is rather irresponsible and non-responsive at best because they love to pass the buck to others lower on the totem pole in Atlanta City Hall.

[arjay57]

Disappointing.