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‘We will see resignations’: Atlanta firefighter union says 2025 pay is inadequate

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‘We will see resignations’: Atlanta firefighter union says 2025 pay is inadequate


ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – On Tuesday, roughly two dozen Atlanta firefighters showed up to the Atlanta City Council appealing to city leaders to increase their pay plan for 2025.

“If the plan doesn’t change, we will see resignations,” said Nate Bailey, president of Atlanta Professional Firefighters, the union representing roughly 600 Atlanta firefighters and paramedics.

Bailey said the city suddenly removed four large cities – New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Philadelphia – when calculating the 2025 budget for the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department (AFRD), a change that decreased the overall salary budget by roughly $5 million, said Bailey.

“We need to increase the staffing, and the only way to do that is good pension and competitive salaries,” said Bailey.

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Bailey said there are currently roughly 860 firefighters in the department. He said the ideal size is 1,100 members.

Atlanta News First reached out to AFRD to get a sense of their department size. A spokesperson has not responded to that request.

Bailey said he fears firefighters will leave Atlanta for higher-paying departments should the pay scale not be adjusted.

A city spokesperson told Atlanta News First that Mayor Andre Dickens’ commitment to first responders has been clear since he took office.

The city has invested roughly $105 million into Atlanta fire equipment and facilities under the Dickens administration, according to a city spokesperson.

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The city said they’ve also increased starting salaries for critical fire positions by 15 to 37 percent since 2022.

“There is always more work to be done. However, Mayor Dickens and City Council have made significant investments in the men and women of AFRD, their facilities and the equipment they use to keep our communities safe,” said a city spokesperson.

The current pay scale would increase the salary for every firefighter and every employee by at least 2 percent.

Bailey recognized the increase, but said that does not match market value and fears the pay will leave the department inadequately staffed.

“It’s a safety issue. It’s a huge safety issue,” Bailey said. “We already have firefighters work 48 hours straight, sometimes even 50-52 hours without sleep, because we have some of the busiest engine companies in the country. So it means more overtime shifts, it means less safe firefighters.”

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Atlanta, GA

Man arrested for knocking kids off bicycles

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Man arrested for knocking kids off bicycles


A man was arrested at a concert last week after he shoved two kids off their bicycles, causing one of them to fall into a fountain, Sandy Springs police said. FOX 5 Atlanta’s Brittany Edney reporting. 

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Atlanta, GA

Same DNA, new address: Muchacho expands to West Midtown

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Same DNA, new address: Muchacho expands to West Midtown


Photo by Luke Beard

When Muchacho first opened along the Atlanta Beltline and Memorial Drive, it became known as a place shaped as much by its surroundings as by its menu. That site, housed in a 100‑year‑old train depot, set the tone for how the brand approaches expansion: start with the bones of a building, then let the space tell the story. The newly opened Muchacho West Midtown follows that same philosophy.

“We like to celebrate unique attributes of each property and work with the palette we’re given,” says founder and owner Michael Lennox. While the original Muchacho is defined by its long, narrow footprint and Spanish tile roof—features reminiscent of its former life as a train depot—the West Midtown location leans into an industrial past rooted in automotive culture: a former Meineke car care shop. Big windows reference former garage doors, while retro racing details appear inside.

Inside Muchacho on the Westside

Photo by Luke Beard

Still, the connective tissue between the two locations is clear. Both spaces draw heavily from Muchacho’s Southern California skate‑and‑surf roots. At Muchacho West Midtown, familiar playfulness appears via a blue‑orange‑yellow racing stripe pattern, a three‑dimensional pegboard gallery wall used to hang art and plants, and vintage Meineke signage. A life‑size cardboard cutout of George Foreman, once the pitchman for Meineke, underscores Lennox’s willingness to lean into humor and nostalgia. “It’s a playful brand,” he says.

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A functional halfpipe for skateboarding anchors the outdoor experience and will double as a performance space for bands and DJs. In about a month, a 4,000‑square‑foot “tropical secret garden” with tall bamboo lining the perimeter will open on the south side of the property. Another 1,500 square feet of patio space wraps the west and north sides, currently welcoming about 80 guests. Altogether, the West Midtown location will accommodate about 215 guests, making it comparable in size to the original, with a little more outdoor space.

Crispy chicken sandwich

Photo by Luke Beard

Muchacho West Midtown opened with the same core menu that made the Beltline location a staple: tacos, breakfast burritos, coffee, cocktails, and beer. Standouts like migas, chilaquiles, carne asada, and al pastor continue to be available. Over time, however, Lennox says each location is expected to develop its own personality, driven by the chefs who have “a pretty wide creative latitude.” Chef Betty Aparicio, formerly of Chido & Padre’s, steers the kitchen on the Westside.

“We want to nurture some immediate familiarity while providing space for some special moments you can only have at each location,” Lennox says.

Margarita

Photo by Luke Beard

One of these special moments will take place April 4 at a grand opening party dubbed MuchachoFest. Expect bands, a fortune teller, a mini skate park in parking lot, food and drink specials, and giveaways. “It’s going to be a fun day in West Midtown,” Lennox says.

A third Muchacho location will debut in the old Revival space in Decatur this summer. In addition, the Electric Hospitality team is bringing Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall to the Westside. Slated to launch in May on 11th Street, the convivial restaurant and bar will feature a 5,000-square-foot courtyard with an airstream bar, stage, and Crepe Myrtles, and a 45-seat island bar inside. Formerly a single-story warehouse from 1950s or ’60s, Ladybird West Midtown will offer the same food and beverages as its Eastside sibling with room for the chef and mixologist to add their unique touches.

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Atlanta, GA

Buckhead apartment building evacuated due to dangerous carbon monoxide levels

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Buckhead apartment building evacuated due to dangerous carbon monoxide levels


A Buckhead apartment building was evacuated for a time late Tuesday night due to a carbon monoxide alarm. 

What we know:

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The incident occurred at an apartment complex in the 2900 block of Pharr Court South. 

According to Atlanta Fire Rescue, firefighters are investigating elevated carbon monoxide levels.

The entire building was evacuated as a precaution. 

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One person was evaluated at the scene for possible carbon monoxide exposure. 

Crews ventilated the building while they looked for the source.

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Firefighters say they were able to finally locate the source and contain it.

Once readings were back to a safe level, residents were allowed back inside the apartments.

What we don’t know:

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It remains unclear how many residents were displaced by the evacuation. 

The Source: The details in this article come from the Atlanta Fire Rescue.

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