Atlanta, GA
Fulton board cannot reach consensus, no tax breaks awarded to X Corp., formerly Twitter
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – On Tuesday, the Fulton County Development Authority could not reach a consensus on whether to award X Corp., formerly Twitter, with $10 million in tax breaks over 10 years.
Four board members voted for the abatements and four board members voted against them.
Board members Brandon Beach, Mike Bodker, Pinky Cole, and Kwanza Hall voted for the tax breaks.
Marty Turpeau, Kyle Lamont, Laura Kurlander-Nagel, and Erica Long voted against them.
Board member Mike Looney was absent.
“Clearly I supported it, so I would say I’m disappointed anytime something I support doesn’t happen,” said Bodker, former mayor of Johns Creek.
Because the proposal was not outright rejected, the tax breaks could see another vote in an upcoming meeting.
“I think there was things injected into this conversation that I know that were either injected behind the scenes or in front of the scenes, and if that’s going to be the way we’re going to measure transactions in the future, people need to understand politics cuts both ways,” said Bodker, in an interview with Atlanta News First after the vote.
During the discussion, board member Laura Kurlander-Nagel cautioned Fulton County against supporting the social media site.
“X Corp. has allowed a significant amount of hate speech to come out, whether that is a first amendment right is an issue,” said Kurlander-Nagel.
“I feel very strongly that this is not something that we need to support as a board nor should we,” she continued.
Dhruv Batura, of X Corp., represented the social media company saying the development in Fulton County would allow them to further innovation around AI technology.
Batura said X Corp., through advanced AI, is working to improve the integrity of the social media platform to promote free speech.
“This is the first of its kind,” Batura said, referencing the technology that could be advanced in Atlanta.
“It would power additional large-language model projects. You may be familiar with OpenAI Chat GPT 3.5, which again has had some allegations of bias, et cetera. We are and have beta-launched already a version of that that we believe will eventually outperform what’s latest, what’s available from OpenAI today,” said Batura during the board meeting.
There were a handful of members of the public who gave public comment before the vote– all were against the tax breaks for data centers like X Corp.’s proposal.
“Now if data centers are coming in because that’s what the market supports and they want to bring their business and add to the tax base, yes, great, love it, but they don’t need a tax break in order to do that. We should be giving tax breaks to affordable housing, food, transportation,” said Arthur Toal, president of the Howell Station Neighborhood Association.
The development of the X Corp. would happen at 1025 Jefferson St. in northwest Atlanta, at the site of the QTS Data Center.
In April, QTS sought roughly $45 million in tax breaks from Fulton County. That proposal was tabled after public pushback. The data center company did not revive the ask.
Copyright 2023 WANF. All rights reserved.
ATLANTA — After listing outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter and wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge as questionable on Friday’s game report, the Falcons made a final decision on the two prior to Sunday’s game against the New York Giants.
Both were given the all-clear after working through injuries this week. Carter was listed on the injury report as having a groin injury, while Hodge was listed as having a ribs injury.
Because of Hodge’s active status, the Falcons decided to keep practice squad receiver Dylan Drummond inactive after using a standard practice squad elevation on him Saturday. On the same day, the Falcons signed fellow receiver Chris Blair to the active roster. So, the Falcons have good depth at receiver heading into Michael Penix Jr.’s first career start.
Here is the full list of Falcons’ inactives for Week 16:
The offseason continues to move on as the Braves stay quiet for now. Today was the flurry of first base movement, which fortunately didn’t impact the Braves, who have no opening at first base or designated hitter. It is hard not to get antsy watching players move all over the place in the offseason where the Braves opened up a bunch of money to do something but have yet to do anything of note. I do maintain that something (probably multiple things) of note will happen, but it is frustrating to see options dwindle and players move. All of that said, my preference coming into the offseason was signing Ha-Seong Kim, a viable starter, and a viable outfielder. I have begun to suspect that a trade is going to be the pathway to at least one of those holes and Kim is still out there. Time will tell and all we can do is try to remain patient. Plenty of time remains before Spring Training and the season begin.
Braves News
Demetrius reviewed Austin Riley’s rollercoaster of a 2024 season, that featured underperformance, quality production, and injury at various times.
Gaurav took a look at prospect Mitch Farris’ impressive 2024 season, as the 13th round pick of the Braves’ 2023 draft.
MLB News
Baseball icon and Hall-of-Famer Rickey Henderson died of pneumonia on Saturday at the age of 65.
Cleveland traded first baseman Josh Naylor to the D-Backs for pitcher Slade Cecconi and a competitive balance round B pick.
The Guardians signed Carlos Santana, just after dumping a different first baseman in Naylor to Arizona.
Negotiations between the Dodgers and Teoscar Hernandez do not appear to be moving and the Dodgers are reportedly looking into alternatives.
The Yankees signed former MVP Paul Goldschmidt to a one year deal worth $12.5 million to fill their hole at first base.
Man shot, robbed on the way to work speaks out
FOX 5 Atlanta is hearing from the man who was shot when robbers took his electric bike and backpack. It happened early Monday morning near Hiawassee Drive in Southwest Atlanta, and police say the suspects haven’t been caught.
ATLANTA – FOX 5 Atlanta heard from the man who was shot when robbers took his electric bike and backpack. It happened early Monday morning near Hiawassee Drive in Southwest Atlanta, and police say the suspects haven’t been caught.
“I have nightmares and stuff like that. I can’t sleep,” Renard Sullivan said.
Sullivan said he is still trying to figure out how to move forward after he was shot and robbed while heading to work.
“All of a sudden, out of nowhere, the car came up behind me just saying, ‘Stop. Give me everything you want,’” Sullivan explained.
Just before 6 a.m. Monday morning, two masked men in a sedan approached Sullivan and took his electric bike and backpack, according to Atlanta police. Afterward, Sullivan said one of the men shot him in his leg.
“It’s like I looked down, and I got shot. Then, I called 911,” he explained.
Sullivan said the route he took on Monday was a common way for him to get to work, and he doesn’t know who could be behind this.
“I don’t mess with nobody. I just go and do what I got to do. Work, you know what I’m saying? Do a little work out there at the gas station,” he said.
Sullivan’s siblings said the electric bike was his main form of transportation. This was also not the first time something like this has happened to him. Sullivan said someone tried to take his e-bike from him a few months ago before his son intervened.
Atlanta police have not yet named any suspects nor have they announced arrests in Sullivan’s case. He said he wants the men who did this behind bars.
“Get them off the street, so they don’t do it to nobody else,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan’s family has started a GoFundMe campaign to help him get back on his feet.
The Source: FOX 5 Atlanta reporter Kim Leoffler spoke to Renard Sullivan for this article which follows up on a previous FOX 5 Atlanta report.
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