U.S. Historical Data
Average June 2017 U.S. Temperature: 70.3°F
Deviation from 20th Century Average: +1.9°F
Source: NOAA
Atlanta Historical Data (Atlanta-Hartsfield)
Average June 2017 Atlanta Temperature: 76.7°F
Deviation from 1929-2000 Average: -.1°F
Source: NOAA
Georgia Historical Data
Average Georgia Year-to-Date Temperature: 63.8°F
Deviation from 20th Century Average:+3.5°F*
*Warmest Year-to-Date Average Temperature on Record for Georgia
Source: NOAA
The first half of 2017 was far and away the hottest such time period of any year in 123 years of record keeping in the Southeast. Don’t let a lack of heat waves or a senator with a snowball deflect from the overwhelming evidence of a global and regional warming trend.
In just six years Atlanta has added half the number of people it lost during the great urban exodus of the 1950’s-1980’s. Between 2015 and 2016, Atlanta was one of the fastest growing cities in the metro area and one of the fastest growing large cities in the country.
Pro-helmet and anti-helmet advocates both make compelling arguments in the quest to make cycling safer. While better urban design principles would fundamentally solve the safety problem, courts may find that cyclists have a duty to wear a helmet.
Cities are in love with small coffee shops, artisan burger shops, and boutique clothing stores. The only thing they like more is taking people’s property and converting it to those types of businesses. This is, of course, a bit of hyperbole, though many would make that statement with much more sincerity. A bill passed by the Georgia Legislature would allow local governments to condemn blighted property and sell it to developers. It’s not a bad idea.
A bill in the Georgia Legislature would allow property owners to swap “No Trespassing” signs for purple lines to ward off trespassing. Without a widespread campaign to educate the public, the use of such an arbitrary symbol could make criminals out of innocent hikers and outdoorsmen.
Congress looks to overturn an Obama-era rule designed to track racial discrepancies in access to affordable housing by gutting federal funding for critical GIS data. The American Association of Geographers has taken a strong stance saying these actions “…could have far-reaching consequences on federally-sponsored research on racial discrimination, including on federal human health programs; census issues; education programs, including services for children; Department of Justice programs; and other critical programs.”
Sewer and water drainage systems, the unsung heroes of our communities, are tasked with managing stormwater runoff; yet cities and counties often struggle to convince citizens that such systems are worth the investment. Several Georgia Senators had a grand plan to undermine the system by cutting fees for larger developers at the expense of the average homeowner.
What happens when your neighbor claims they own part of your property and threatens to evict you? Well the gang in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia found themselves in just such a situation. Adverse Possession law offers a better, and legal, alternative to how the gang handled their situation.
Home and small music studios are the lifeblood of the Atlanta music scene. Recent violence in city neighborhoods has given rise to an ordinance to eliminate studios from residential areas. While an updated regulatory scheme may be necessary, the proposed Atlanta ordinance is a step in the wrong direction.
The 2017-2018 Georgia Legislative Session kicks off on January 9. We will be tracking and analyzing bills related to land use, local government, transportation, planning, and environmental issues throughout the session. Please […]
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