Atlanta, GA
Atlanta mayor calls for moratorium on homeless encampment sweeps, organizers want more done
Mayor Andre Dickens is responding to community organizers calling for the city to stop sweeps of homeless encampments after a man died last week.
Mayor Dickens released a video on his Instagram page Friday night.
“This terrible tragedy demonstrates the need to reevaluate and reassess our city’s policies concerning homeless encampments and how we can better our unhoused population,” Mayor Dickens said.
The tragedy he is referring to is the death of 49-year-old Cornelius Taylor.
Taylor was killed when a city bulldozer ran over his tent during a sweep of a homeless encampment near Ebenezer Baptist Church on Jan. 16. Some advocates believe the city was trying to clean up the area in advance of MLK festivities planned the next week.
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Mayor Dickens called for city council “to conduct a complete review of encampment closures, rehousing, and how we care for the unsheltered,” and he also called for a moratorium on all homeless encampment sweeps while the city figures out a plan.
Mayor Dickens called encampments “incredibly unsafe” for the people who live in them as well as the communities around them.
However, he said, “Homelessness is not a crime…but make no mistake we must do everything we can to safely and humanely close these encampments and provide housing and stability to our neighbors who have found themselves out in the cold.”
The encampment removed on the 16th is rebuilt now. A memorial now stands for Taylor mere feet away from where he died. Channel 2′s Eryn Rogers spoke with some of the people who have lived in the encampment about Taylor’s death.
“It’s been hard for the community because it reinforces the idea that they don’t care about us,” said Benjamin Graham, who said he knew Taylor for the better part of a decade.
Organizers who work with the people living in the encampment say more could have been done sooner and this tragedy could have been prevented.
“We’re well beyond a day late and a dollar short,” said Nolan English, the founder of Traveling Grace Ministries. “We’ve been telling the mayor to stop sweeps.”
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Organizers went to City Hall this past Thursday with Taylor’s family. They wanted to deliver a letter to the mayor and meet with him. However, they said they were blocked.
“We were greeted with not one, but a dozen police officers that created a line and said we could not pass, really a bizarre thing to witness in the people’s house,” said organizer Tim Franzen.
Organizers said Taylor’s family now feels disrespected by the mayor and city, and organizers say they want to see action put behind the mayor’s video.
“We ought to be moving people from homelessness to self-sufficiency,” English said. “We’re not doing that because we’re not paying attention to where the true need is.”
In the video, the mayor also reiterated the city’s investment of $60 million to help end homelessness.
Organizers said that money needs to be used correctly.
“Funding wise it’s more than enough, but we have to direct our funds towards the actual cost of getting people off the streets, wrap around services,” English said.
English said the current housing options for unhoused people are only temporary. He said he has crunched the numbers and spoken to property owners.
He said the city could permanently house around 3000 people for the amount they are investing.
Organizers said there are also other factors that need to be funded to truly help people permanently transition out of homelessness.
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“There should be a budget to pay case managers to come into these villages, one on one work with these people, so it doesn’t take a year and a half to get an apartment,” said Elisabeth Omilami with Hosea Helps.
People who live in the encampment say they need to trust the people who are helping them, especially after the tragedy with Taylor.
“There’s a lot going on back here, there’s trauma, there’s mental health, addiction, and the help that comes in, there’s got to be a connection,” Graham said.
English said he would estimate there are around 4500 to 5000 unhoused people living in Atlanta.
Taylor’s funeral will be February 3 at Ebenezer Baptist Church.
Atlanta, GA
Security tightened for Hanukkah celebrations across metro Atlanta after Sydney mass shooting
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Dozens of Hanukkah celebrations across metro Atlanta will go on as scheduled this week.
Security is now top priority following the brutal shooting that killed 15 people at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia.
“Of course the minute the news came out from Australia we were in touch with our law enforcement partners,” said Renee Kutner, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. “We went back through the plans. We amped them up where we needed to. People will see extra patrols around, not because there’s threats but because we just want to make sure everybody knows that they’re safe.”
The Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta says it spends millions of dollars every year securing its community against antisemitic attacks.
“We are so blessed to have really, really great relationships with law enforcement at every level across metro Atlanta and throughout Georgia,” Kutner said. “And we’ve been in contact with all of them. They are so supportive and they will be at our events – they will amp up the security.”
According to Kutner, the heightened security is out of an abundance of caution.
“We have no credible threats, no reason to believe that lone actors somewhere else will affect anything here, and we want to give our community the chance to celebrate,” Kutner said.
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The Hawks would love to forget Friday’s embarrassing loss to the Detroit Pistons.
After an entertaining first quarter, Atlanta was dominated over the final three quarters and ended up losing by 27 points to the top team in the Eastern Conference. They are hoping for a quick bounce back today at home vs Philadelphia and will could use a win to get back on track.
The game is getting closer to tipoff and both teams have announced their starting lineups:
Hawks
G-Nickeil Alexander-Walker
G- Dyson Daniels
F- Zaccharie Risacher
F- Jalen Johnson
C- Onyeka Okongwu
76ers
G- Quentin Grimes
G- VJ Edgecombe
F- Paul George
F- Dominick Barlow
C- Joel Embiid
Deeper look at Atlanta
When previewing the game this morning, our own Rohan Raman took a deeper look at the Hawks’ advanced numbers today:
“Atlanta’s offense has been surprisingly solid without Trae Young, but the Pistons game was a poor showing. The Hawks are 12th in points, 10th in FG%, 10th in 3P%, 17th in FT%, 25th in rebounds (24th in OREB, 22nd in DREB), 1st in assists, and 18th in turnovers per game. They’re 16th in offensive rating this year.
On a per-game basis, the Hawks’ defense rank 21st in points allowed, 18th in FG% allowed, 9th in 3P% allowed, 23rd in rebounds allowed, 4th in steals, and 12th in blocks. They’re 14th in defensive rating on the year, which puts them in a slightly above-average tier despite their recent run of poor performance on end.
Philadelphia is still figuring out how their offense operates when everyone is healthy, but Tyrese Maxey is always dangerous and they quietly have a reasonably deep roster. They’re 16th in points, 24th in FG%, 17th in 3P%, 6th in FT%, 9th in rebounds (10th in OREB, 9th in DREB), 20th in assists, and 11th in turnovers per game. They’re 15th in offensive rating this season.
After a difficult night against a tough Detroit defense, the matchup gets slightly easier against the 76ers. Even so, they’ve been playing good defense as of late – albeit against poor competition. They are 12th in points allowed, 8th in FG% allowed, 8th in 3P% allowed, 21st in rebounds allowed, 19th in steals, and 2nd in blocks. They’re 9th in defensive rating, so this would be the second straight game for the Hawks against a top-ten defense by defensive rating.”
Because they are at home and will have the best player on the floor, I like the Hawks to win this game. Quentin Grimes is someone who has given the Hawks trouble before, and rookie VJ Edgecombe has had a great start to his career. Still, I like Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu to lead the Hawks to a win today at home.
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The Philadelphia 76ers (14-10) and Atlanta Hawks (14-12) meet Sunday. Tip-off from State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, is set for 6 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NBA odds around the 76ers vs. Hawks odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Hawks lead 1-0
The 76ers beat the Indiana Pacers 115-105 Friday, covering as 5-point home favorites with the Under (221) cashing. C Joel Embiid led the team with 39 points on 12-for-23 shooting. Philadelphia has found its rhythm, winning 4 of its last 5 games while going 3-2 against the spread (ATS). It is 14-9-1 ATS on the season.
The Hawks lost to the Detroit Pistons 142-115 on Friday, failing to cover as 7-point road underdogs as the Over (233) hit. G Nickeil Alexander-Walker led all scorers with 22 points and 4 made 3-pointers. Atlanta, after a 10-5 November, has gone just 1-4 in its last 5 games, covering 3 times in that stretch. It is 14-12 ATS on the season.
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76ers at Hawks odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:54 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): 76ers +155 (bet $100 to win $155) | Hawks -190 (bet $190 to win $100)
- Against the spread: 76ers +4.5 (-105) | Hawks -4.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 226.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
76ers at Hawks key injuries
76ers
- C Joel Embiid (knee) questionable
- G Tyrese Maxey (illness) doubtful
- G Kelly Oubre Jr. (knee) out
- F Trendon Watford (adductor) out
Hawks
- G Nickeil Alexander-Walker (ankle) questionable
- C Kristaps Porzingis (illness) out
- G Trae Young (knee) out
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
76ers at Hawks picks and predictions
Prediction
76ers 114, Hawks 111
BET 76ERS (+155).
The Hawks have fallen off a cliff, and their defense has gone with them. They are 1-4 over their last 5 outings and have allowed at least 123 points in 5 of their last 8 games. Their offense hasn’t matched that shortcoming, scoring 100 points or fewer in 2 of their last 5 contests.
The 76ers, on the other hand, are surging, and their defense has been much improved from earlier in the season. They have held 4 of their last 5 opponents to 105 points or fewer and haven’t given up more than 112 points in December (through 5 games). Philadelphia has won 3 straight on the road.
Take 76ERS (+155).
PASS.
The preferred option is the moneyline, thanks to the enhanced odds. The spread is also playable, particularly with the 76ers.
BET UNDER 226.5 (-110).
The 76ers have gone Under in 5 straight games, and while their defense has stepped up, they have scored 116 points or fewer in their last 4 contests. They are 11-13 O/U on the season.
The Hawks are 3-2 O/U in their last 5 games, largely due to their weak defense, which is less likely to be exploited given that the 76ers rank 20th in pace. Expect a slower-tempo game and take UNDER 226.5 (-110).
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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