Atlanta, GA

Squatters bring drugs, prostitution, armed robbery to Atlanta neighborhood as residents push for new laws

Published

4 weeks ago

April 13, 2024

Squatters bring drugs, prostitution, armed robbery to Atlanta neighborhood as residents push for new laws

Communities across America are speaking out about the problem squatters pose not only to property owners but neighborhoods as a whole. One Atlanta resident said squatters have even brought drugs and prostitution to his area.

Mel Keyton, president of the Hampton Oaks Homeowners Association, told “Fox & Friends” life has been “terrible” when trying to deal with the squatter problem.

“We’ve had everything from fentanyl sales, prostitution rings, a person wanted for murder. We had armed robbery going on,” Keyton told co-host Lawrence Jones Thursday.

“It’s been really, really bad.”

FIVE TIMES SQUATTERS WERE BUSTED AFTER TAKING OVER HOMES: WHAT TO KNOW

Keyton explained that squatting is considered a civil matter, which makes it more difficult to address the problem and remove unwanted residents.

“Because the police doesn’t have any authority over civil matters, they just let them stay,” he said.

But Keyton said his neighborhood has taken direct action to address the problem, bringing the total number of squatters from 18 down to five.

“We actually have been catching them in the act of breaking into the homes and getting them removed right back out.”

Squatters trashed Atlanta property owner David Morris’s land during the pandemic (Screenshot/FNC)

BLUE STATE SQUATTER PUT ON NOTICE WITH ‘AGGRESSIVE’ LAW AND ORDER BILL: ‘PEOPLE ARE GETTING KILLED’

The state of Georgia has also taken action, pushing new legislation that would give more rights to homeowners and make squatting a misdemeanor criminal offense with the possibility of jail time or fines.

Keyton, a Democratic candidate for the Georgia State House, said the law can’t come soon enough as lawmakers await the governor’s signature.

Under the new law, potential squatters will have to present a verifiable lease agreement or be charged and face criminal penalties. They may also be required to pay back rent for the time they inhabited the living space.

One Georgia property owner said she is now facing more than $30,000 in damages from squatters who destroyed the home. She said they broke in through doors, windows and by cutting holes in the walls.

The squatters reportedly took copper from the HVAC system, pulled the furnace out of the attic, cut the wiring and damaged the framing and siding on the house.

Ultimately, she was forced to install a lock system on all doors and windows to keep out potential future squatters.

An Atlanta property owner says squatters ripped wires out of the walls and caused tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage. (Fox News)

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Though the new law will empower property owners and landlords, there are still issues with housing companies trying to cut corners and repeat squatting offenders.

“These companies, they actually don’t have a real underwriting process,” Keyton explained.

“And then [buyers] get these homes, and they move into them, and they really don’t understand. And then when they realize they can’t afford it, they’ll just stay in the house or they’ll leave and find another house in the same neighborhood and move into that one. So that’s been an issue.”

Fox News’ Taylor Penley contributed to this report.

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Atlanta, GA

Man wanted for stealing car, credit cards, Atlanta police say

Published

6 hours ago

May 9, 2024

Press Room

Man wanted for stealing car, credit cards, Atlanta police say

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Atlanta police are seeking the public’s help looking for a person of interest in a northeast Atlanta burglary.

Police said officers responded to a home on Oakdale Road NE just before 7:45 a.m. Friday. The homeowner told police a man had stolen a backpack containing the keys to their car and their credit cards. The homeowner also said their cards has been used “at a number of locations” by the man.

Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477. There is a reward of up to $2,000.

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Atlanta, GA

Assembly Atlanta: An inside look at new movie studio

Published

13 hours ago

May 8, 2024

Press Room

Assembly Atlanta: An inside look at new movie studio

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – News 12′s parent company, Gray Television, built a new movie studio in Atlanta as a way to be a part of Georgia’s booming movie scene.

We were there to check it out.

Assembly Atlanta offers everything a production needs on one lot.

It can accommodate everything from feature films to television shows, as well as commercials or music videos.

It includes a parking deck that can fit more than 1,000 cars, a 140-foot LED tower that is almost complete, as well as an amphitheater.

It took just under two years for Assembly Atlanta to get to this point.

You’ll find 19 stages inside, multiple mills that production crews will use to build and create sets, as well as a wet stage that’s about the size of a football field.

And if you’re wondering what a wet stage is, think of the movie Jaws, which was filmed in the “ocean”. Well, now you’re able to do that here at Assembly Atlanta.

The cool thing is construction is not complete. Construction is happening in phases, and you’ll one day find retail, restaurants, residential space, and more right here just two hours down the road.

If you want to learn more about Assembly or internship opportunities, you can head to their website.

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Atlanta, GA

Good Day Atlanta viewer information: May 8, 2024

Published

20 hours ago

May 8, 2024

Press Room

Future service dog Mae celebrates birthday

Future service dog Mae celebrate turning 1 with a big fun-in-the-sun birthday pool party at Pet Lodge Resort in Alpharetta.

ATLANTA – Mae’s Birthday Celebration:

Future service dog Mae is celebrating her first birthday, and a few days ago she celebrated with her siblings. Paul shows us how much fun the had.

Atlanta Lantern Parade lights up BeltLine

14th Annual Lantern Parade Preview:

Creativity always shines here in metro Atlanta — but it never shines brighter than during the annual Atlanta BeltLine Lantern Parade!

The Atlanta BeltLine Lantern Parade returns this Saturday, May 11, continuing a magical tradition that began back in 2010 when parade artists Chantelle Rytter and the Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons decided Atlanta needed another reason to celebrate! Rytter founded the Krewe in 1999 in New Orleans, and the group has since established several popular lantern parades — all with the common mission of inviting everyone in the community to make a lantern and join in on the festivities. Rytter calls the Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade “the mothership” of their lantern parades; since its creation 14 years ago, it’s grown into a major production that draws more than 10,000 participants and spectators and some truly awe-inspiring lanterns.

Speaking of those lanterns, Rytter has already hosted several lantern-making workshops here in the community — but don’t panic if you missed one! There will be a lantern-making station at Westside BeltLine MarketPlace from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, and a kid’s lantern-making workshop starting at noon at Pittsburgh Yards. Kids are then invited to take part in a special kids’ lantern parade at 6 p.m. at Pittsburgh Yards.

Meanwhile, the lineup for the main event begins at 7:45 p.m. at Adair Park, and the parade steps off onto the Westside Trail an hour later. There will also be a parade finale “jam session” from 9:15 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Lee + White mixed-use development.

For more information about this year’s Atlanta BeltLine Lantern Parade, click here. And click the video player in this article to check out our morning getting some hands-on lessons in crafting a colorful lantern for this year’s big event!

Casting Call for May 8, 2024

Entertainment insider Tess Hammock shares the big productions looking for extras and background actors around metro Atlanta.

Casting Call with Tess Hammock: Tess has the latest information on casting calls around the area, but there are also venues hiring as well. Keep up with her on Instagram @CastingCallwithTessHammock

Tips for home decor imagery on a budget

If you want to give your home a facelift without breaking the bank, there’s a number of budget-friendly home decor ideas that will save you time and money. Photographer Alice Park shows how you can use imagery to make your place special.

Budget-friendly home decor imagery with Alice Park: Park highlights budget-friendly decor ideas, such as using printable art, thrifted frames or repurposing everyday items as decor accents. Check out the details below:

Provide tips on maximizing space and adding personality to small living areas with photos and artwork.
Showcase versatile decor pieces that can easily transition from dorm room to first apartment.
Offer guidance on where to find affordable artwork and photography, both online and offline.

Doggy treats with Four-Legged Foodie

The Four-Legged Foodie was Atlanta’s first food truck for dogs and now has a permanent spot in Midtown that offers homemade treats for your furry friends. Co-founder Deborah Pena stopped by to show off what goes into making their treats.

It’s Mae’s birthday, and we’re celebrating: You saw Four-Legged Foodie, the first dog food truck, supplying some of the sweet treats at her first birthday party. So we wanted to bring them into the Good Day studio today! Co-founder Deborah Pena is here to show us how to make dog treats at home! Click here for more information. Learn more about City Dog Market here.

Drake’s security guard wounded in shooting

Rapper Drake had a frightening incident at his Toronto mansion early Tuesday morning when a shooting left one of his security guards seriously wounded. Radio personality Niecey Shaw joins Joanne Feldman with the latest update.

Niecey Shaw has the latest in entertainment news: There was an apparent shooting that happened near Drake’s home that left one person hospitalized. Niecey Shaw has the latest information.

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