What’s New In District 2?
Friday, October 2nd, 2026
Welcome to the official City Council District 2 Newsletter! Read today’s newsletter for updates on:
- Councilmember Bond’s first resolution to prioritize diversion ahead of the World Cup
- Invitations to our Community Response Training on March 1st
- Other District 2 updates!
If you have questions or suggestions as to what you’d like to see in these communications, please email us at kbond@atlantaga.gov.
⚖ City Council Updates ⚖
We introduced our first piece of legislation! Last week I introduced my first resolution to significantly expand the use of pre-arrest diversion programs ahead of the World Cup. We’re pleased to announce that this past Monday the resolution was recommended favorably out of Public Safety Committee, and is now headed to the Full Council Meeting for a vote on March 2nd at 1pm.
Right now, the overcrowding and unsafe conditions at Fulton County Jail represent a human rights crisis. We need to use every tool in the book to alleviate these overcrowding pressures. At the same time, the World Cup is approaching, and it’s essential that we don’t repeat the mistakes of the 1996 Olympics, during which thousands of homeless Atlantans were arrested and thrown in jail.
Our city has already invested millions in essential diversion programs like Policing Alternatives & Diversion (PAD) and the Center for Diversion and Services (CDS) – a drop off location for individuals suffering from extreme poverty, homelessness, or mental illness. However, recent data shows we are not using these resources to their fullest extent, and many eligible cases are still not being diverted to CDS. We can change this!
No one should be behind bars because they are experiencing the symptoms of a broken system. Join me in supporting this resolution by contacting my colleagues on Council to let them know you support data-driven, compassionate public safety.
We’ve also signed onto a few new pieces of legislation, including Ordinance 26-O-1154, which amends the city’s cool roofs ordinance to improve implementation. Other legislation we’ve supported, including 26-O-1001 (to mandate push button activators in new buildings) and 26-R-3106 (to support transparency and human rights ahead of the World Cup) passed at the last full City Council meeting vote on Feb. 16.
Use the links below to follow what’s happening at City Council meetings:
And of course, please feel free to email our office if you have questions or opinions about any piece of legislation.
Neighborhood Events
Over the next several months, we’ll be planning neighborhood coffee meetings as well as town halls, trainings and more.
On March 1st we’ll be hosting a Community Rapid Response training to educate District 2 residents on their rights and how to protect our most vulnerable neighbors when their safety is at risk.
Coffee with Kelsea ☕ Want to chat with me about what’s going on at City Hall? Come to Coffee with your Councilmember on Sunday, March 8th from 1-3 PM at Dancing Goats Café in Midtown!
Life After Cars LIVE: On March 13th, join me and Propel ATL at the Plaza Theater for an energizing conversation about car dependence and how we can build safer, healthier, more connected communities.
Want to learn your rights as a renter? Keep an eye out for our tenant organizing training in April! If you have a District 2 event you’d like added to the newsletter, email us!
🌳Around Town🌷
On Thursday, Feb 12th we attended the Historic Fourth Ward Green Infrastructure Maintenance Project Community Meeting. We heard from the Department of Watershed Management (DWM) about Phase 1 dredging that was completed in December, and the Phase 2 landscaping and fountain maintenance which begins this month. This phase will use a diversity of native plant species to enhance seasonal diversity and wildlife habitat, as well as maintain a clean park aesthetic. For more details you can contact DWM Project Manager McKenna Magill (mmagill@atlantaga.gov) or Public Information Officer Kinesia Cato (kcato@atlantaga.gov).
On Friday, Feb 13th we attended the Jobs with Justice Workers Rights Hearing. We heard from rank-and-file workers at Amazon about the mistreatment they experience in their workplace, the impact of poor working conditions on their health and personal lives, and the advocacy and organizing they are doing to fight for better working conditions for themselves and fellow workers. You can learn more about Jobs with Justice here.
District 2 Updates & Resources
- Ponce de Leon Ave 🛣️ We’ve received many questions about Ponce de Leon’s missing crosswalks. Pedestrian safety is a top priority for our office, and we are closely monitoring GDOT’s progress to replace the crosswalk markings. According to GDOT, the wait stems from the required asphalt cure time following resurfacing, and specific temperature and moisture requirements needed for permanent markings to adhere properly. GDOT is working on a completion schedule, and we’ll keep you all updated on the progress.
- Midtown Alliance Projects 🚲 Get regular status updates about the Juniper Street Bike Lane, Complete Street Project, and more at the Midtown Alliance Projects website here.
- Moving Atlanta Forward! 🌉In 2022, Atlanta Voters approved the Moving Atlanta Forward Infrastructure Package. We want to make sure these essential projects get completed. You can follow the progress of these ATLDOT projects using this Moving Atlanta Forward Dashboard!
- Have Ideas for Transit Projects? 🛴 Provide your input into ATLDOT’s Comprehensive Transportation Plan by filling out the survey here!
- Need Help? 📲 Whether it’s a broken crosswalk sign, sewer issue, or any other non-emergency, you call fill out a 311 ticket here. Don’t get the results you need? Email us your 311 case number and we’ll help escalate to the proper channel.
- We have a new District 2 DPW Liaison! 🍁 The Department of Public Works has a new Solid Waste Education And Enforcement Team (SWEET) program, and our District 2 liaison is Officer Spurlock. We are working closely together to resolve public works needs for our constituents!
🚅 MARTA Updates 🚇
The NextGen Bus Network is launching April 18, 2026. Additional information is available here!
Better Breeze Factsheet 💳 MARTA will begin transitioning to the new Better Breeze system March 28, introducing flexible and secure payment options, including tap-to-pay with bank cards or mobile wallets, a new Breeze card, a new Breeze app, and cash. Customers are encouraged to spend down balances in advance and begin preparing for the transition. More information is available here!
MARTA Open House – February 26, 2026, 3-7 pm 🚆MARTA invites you to join them on February 26, at their Open House to learn more about MARTA Reach, the NextGen Bus Network, Better Breeze, and the Rapid A-Line. This open house is an opportunity to explore these initiatives, view the new Reach vehicle, ask questions, and gather materials to help support outreach efforts.
New MARTA Trains! 🚉 Click the link below to see MARTA’s update on their new trains, recently featured in a CBS story featuring one of their veteran operators.
Get Involved
Want to get involved in your neighborhood, but don’t know where to start? Find your Neighborhood Planning Unit (NPU) using this NPU locator or get involved in your local neighborhood association:
NPU Monthly Meetings:
- NPU-E – Register here. Every first Tuesday at 6:30 pm – Next meeting is October 6th
- NPU-F – Register here. Every third Wednesday at 7:00 pm – Next meeting is October 21st
- NPU-M – Register here. Every fourth Monday at 6:15 pm – Next meeting is October 26th
- NPU-N – Register here. Every fourth Thursday at 7:00 pm – Next meeting is October 22nd
District 2 Neighborhood Associations:
Thanks for taking the time to read our newsletter! Don’t hesitate to reach out to our office with questions, comments, or newsletter suggestions. Thanks for helping us work to build an Atlanta that works for the 99%!
Solidarity,
Kelsea Bond
District 2 Councilmember