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What’s New In District 2?

Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Welcome to Councilmember Kelsea Bond’s official City Council District 2 Newsletter! Our office has been hard at work this summer drafting legislation, meeting with our neighbors, and pushing for neighborhood improvements. Keep reading to see how we’ve been spending our time, in and outside of City Hall! 

Read today’s newsletter for updates on:

  • Legislative Updates
  • Neighborhood Events
  • Celebrating Atlanta Institutions
  • Meet our New Team
  • And more!

If you have questions or suggestions as to what you’d like to see in these communications, please email us at kbond@atlantaga.gov. 

⚖️ Legislative Updates ⚖️

Over the last few weeks, we’ve introduced and supported legislation tackling heat safety in Atlanta, data centers, surveillance, and more! Read more below:

Data Center Task Force 📊 Stop the Big Tech Buildout! More and more, billion-dollar tech companies are spending money to lobby policymakers to approve resource-intensive and invasive data centers in our neighborhoods. Countless studies show that data centers drain our resources, hike our utility bills, and occupy land that could be utilized to benefit the public good like housing and grocery strores. Recently, Georgia has seen a sharp rise in proposed and operating data centers, and is currently on track to become the second largest data center market in North America. Many residents of affected neighborhoods have expressed concern over the environmental impact of these data centers, which are often operated with little oversight. That’s why on Monday, August 4, I introduced legislation calling for the creation of a Data Center Task Force, tasked with examining best practices for the development, placement, and regulation of data centers in the City of Atlanta. This task force would bring together representatives from several City of Atlanta departments, in addition to environmental and public health experts to make written recommendations to the Mayor and the Atlanta City Council. Read the legislation here.  

Unfortunately, there is currently an active Data Center zoning proposal, ordinance 26-O-1097, which would waive a portion of the zoning code that prevents the development of data centers near transit stations to permit a data center in Adair Park. Currently, the legislation is held in Zoning Committee, however I plan to vote NO should it come to a vote. City Council has already made it clear through prior legislation that data centers don’t belong near public transit, and we need to commit to that.  

Heat Safety and Cooling Centers 🌞 If you were in town over Fourth of July weekend, you know it was HOT outside! The week of Fourth of July, Atlanta reached heats of 96 degrees for multiple consecutive days. Despite dangerous heats, the City’s lone cooling center, along with public pools, were closed the majority of that weekend. During extreme heat, Atlanta’s most vulnerable residents, including seniors, small children, pregnant individuals, the homeless community and those with asthma and heart disease are most susceptible to illness or even heat-related fatalities. Meanwhile, Atlanta’s heat risk is concentrated disproportionately in Southwest Atlanta, where fewer residents have access to central A/C.

Driven by these concerns, I was proud to introduce and pass legislation in July calling on the Mayor’s administration to establish a heat safety plan and consider the expansion of cooling centers across the city. As climate change worsens, and temperatures rise, it will be essential to enhance outreach to Atlanta residents, keep cooling centers open longer hours, and expand their geographic reach. Read more coverage of our resolution here.

Stay safe in the heat! Remember to always stay hydrated during outdoor activities and take cooling breaks as necessary. The City of Atlanta currently has opened one cooling center, The Selena Butler Recreation Center, open 7 days a week from 11 AM – 6 PM. You can also sign up for emergency alerts from NotifyATL, and make use of our public pools and splash pads!

Accountability for Dewberry 🏗

Thanks to Midtown residents advocating for their community, our office has received hundreds of emails expressing concern about the abandoned Dewberry highrise on 14th and Peachtree. Since then, our office has introduced two pieces of legislation  in an effort to hold Dewberry to account – 1) one calling on the administration to implement the blight tax on the building, and 2) another requesting that the Fulton County Board of Assessors explain why the Campanile building has received a 25% tax break for the last several years. According to the Department of City Planning, work has resumed on the Dewberry site, most of which has been underground. We are still working to ensure that the site remains safe for residents and visitors alike. If you witness something that appears to be a code violation or safety hazard, please email photos or video to our office at kbond@atlantaga.gov.

Read more about our advocacy here.

Surveillance In Atlanta 🎥 Like data centers, cities around the country are increasingly pressured into surveillance contracts with companies like Flock. Atlanta is already the most surveilled city in the nation, and many of our residents have already raised concerns regarding the rapid expansion of surveillance technology as it pertains to our privacy, the right to protest, and the safety of the immigrant community. These concerns are part of the reason I signed onto ordinance 26-O-1401, which would require new surveillance contracts approved by the City to provide extensive data reporting and transparency. Unfortunately, this legislation is currently held in Public Safety Committee.

The City of Atlanta currently contracts with Flock – a company which at this point is widely known for its human rights violations. Because of these concerns, I moved to send a Flock contract renewal for the airport back to committee at the June 15th Council Meeting. As this motion was only supported by four Councilmembers, I then voted no on the contract renewal itself. Surveillance companies like Flock often claim that their technologies either help prevent or solve crimes, however, a recent deep dive by the Atlanta Community Press Collective illustrates how the data shows otherwise.

The City of Atlanta currently contracts with Flock – a company which at this point is widely known for its human rights violations. Because of these concerns, I moved to send a Flock contract renewal for the airport back to committee at the June 15th Council Meeting. As this motion was only supported by four Councilmembers, I then voted no on the contract renewal itself. Surveillance companies like Flock often claim that their technologies either help prevent or solve crimes, however, a recent deep dive by the Atlanta Community Press Collective illustrates how the data shows otherwise.

🌳Around Town🌷

RM Clayton Water Reclamation Center 🌊 On Thursday, June 25, the District 2 team toured the RM Clayton Water Reclamation plant! Thanks to Commissioner Eyerly and team, we got an up close and personal look at all the steps required to recover sewage and learned about what it takes for Atlanta to operate the largest water reclamation center in the region. Thank you to the Atlanta Watershed Team!

Maggie Russel Towers Visit 🏢 On Tuesday, June 30, I had the pleasure of meeting with seniors at Maggie Russell Towers in Old Fourth Ward! I enjoyed talking with residents and answering questions about PAD, community resources, and constituent services. 

Teamsters Rally 💪 On July 18, I joined the drivers of Jacobus Energy LLC to support their efforts to unionize with the Teamsters! I was joined by community members, labor advocates, and organizations to rally in support of these workers organizing for higher wages, better hours, and respect on the job!

Wax ‘N’ Facts Records Proclamation 📀 On July 19 we honored the 50th anniversary of Wax ‘N’ Facts, a local record store with a long history of contributing to the culture and community of Little Five Points. I presented the proclamation to Danny Beard, the co-founder of the store. Wax ‘N’ Facts record store was founded in 1976 with the vision of providing records and books and evolved into a cornerstone of the nationally recognized arts, music, and culture of L5P. Atlanta is forever grateful for the contribution made by Wax ‘N’ Facts, the conversations inspired, the connections made, and the history preserved.

Manuel’s Tavern’s 70th Birthday 🐱 On Thursday, August 6, we honored the 70th anniversary of Manuel’s Tavern! Manuel’s Tavern was opened in 1956 by Manuel Maloof and has since remained a welcome space, opening its doors to Atlanta activists, elected officials, and folks curious about getting involved in local politics! We are grateful for all the connections we have been able to foster in this space and wish Manuel’s many more successful years!   

Celebrating Beltline Kevin  🛼 On August 8, I attended a proclamation event honoring Beltline Kevin! Kevin can usually be found rollerblading in Atlanta’s parks and trails, singing to passersby. We thank Kevin for bringing so much joy to the Beltline! 

SnapCo Gala 💃 Also on August 8th, I attended the SnapCo Forever Gala! SnapCo (Solutions Not Punishment Collaborative) is a Black Trans and Queer led organization fighting for decriminalization and policing alternatives in Atlanta! We spent the night honoring all the amazing work that is being done by this community

🎉 Upcoming Community Events 🎉

Old Fourth Ward Neighborhood Association 🏘️ On August 18 at 7 PM, we’ll be speaking at the O4W Neighborhood Association Meeting at 505 N Angier Ave NE, 9th Floor to give updates on the work we’ve been doing with neighborhoods in our district. Join us!

Criminal Records Proclamation 🎵On August 15, we will be honoring the 35th anniversary of Atlanta’s most iconic independent record store, Criminal Records! We expect to present their proclamation around 2 PM, but please check our social media for updates!

Socialism at City Hall Budget Breakdown 💵 On August 20, our office is partnering with Atlanta DSA to host a Budget Breakdown to discuss what’s in the 2027 City of Atlanta Budget! Join us at Little Five Points Community Center to learn what’s in our budget and how to make our budget process more transparent and democratic. 

People Make the Place L5P 🎺On August 23, the annual fundraiser and celebration, People Make the Place, will be coming to 7 Stages Theater to celebrate the unique character and community of L5P and those individuals who contribute to the neighborhood. Grab a ticket and join us for this important event! 

Food Pantry in Vahi! 🥫Did you know that Virginia-Highland Church operates a Free Little Pantry? Find it near the Community Hub entrance on the Ponce Place side of the building if you’d like to access the pantry or donate shelf-stable, ready-to-eat packaged foods and pop-top cans to support your neighbors experiencing food insecurity.

District 2 Updates & Resources

  • New Office Staff 👔 We’re excited to welcome new staff into our office! Zeena, Andrew, and Adriana are joining our office as communications director, policy analyst, and organizing fellow, respectively. We’re so excited for the work this team will do in the coming months!
  • Need Help? 📲 Whether it’s a broken crosswalk sign, sewer issue, or any other non-emergency, you can 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.
  • See Someone in Need? ➕ Call PAD, the Policing Alternatives and Diversion team, at 311 M-F between 7 AM- 12 AM and select option 2 for ‘Supportive Services.’ PAD sends out their team within 30 minutes to address individuals who are experiencing extreme poverty, mental health concerns, or homelessness.
  • Get LIVE City Updates 📲 Sign up for Notify ATL text or email updates for live emergency and weather-related alerts so you can stay on top of what’s going on. Sign up here
  • Atlanta’s Housing Help Center 🏠 Need housing assistance? The Housing Help Center can help you navigate housing resources and provide guidance for your housing needs.
  • Citywide Solid Waste Collection Services 🚛 Place all bins at the curb by 7 AM on your collection day. Questions? Call 404-546-0311 or visit atl311.com
  • Safe Streets & Complete Streets 🛣️ ATLDOT has finally broken ground on the Monroe Dr Safe Street! Construction is expected to begin later this year for the Euclid Ave Safe Street between Austin Ave and Moreland Ave to widen sidewalks, improve crossings, upgrade stormwater infrastructure, and more. The Glen Iris Dr Safe Street is currently being planned for safety improvements, and the Juniper Bike Lane got a fresh coat of paint. 🚲 
  • Have Ideas for NEW Transit Projects? 🛣️ Provide your input into ATLDOT’s Comprehensive Transportation Plan by filling out the survey here! These submissions will help inform ATLDOT’s next round of capital delivery projects. 
  • ATLDOT Capital Projects🚦You can read more about current and slated Moving Atlanta Forward Infrastructure Package projects using the Moving Atlanta Forward Dashboard.
  • MARTA Breeze System 🚇 MARTA has transitioned to the Better Breeze system, featuring new Breeze cards, plus tap-to-pay, and a new Breeze app. More information is available here!
  • NextGen Bus Network 🚌 Bus routes may have changed. Find more information here!

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:

Find Your NPU

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