All-Star Tuesday
July 15 — The American League meets the National League at Truist Park tonight at 8 p.m. for the MLB All-Star Game (Fox). There are still some tickets available via Ticketmaster. Last night, Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh became the first catcher to win the All-Star Home Run Derby.
🌤️ A high of 93° with a chance of afternoon thunderstorms. It will feel closer to 100°.
🗳 A small turnout is expected for today’s Democratic primary runoff between Peter Hubbard and Keisha Sean Waites for the District 3 seat on the Georgia Public Service Commission. Polls are open through 7 p.m. Find your voting location here.
🚨 Channel 2 Action News reports that thieves stole unreleased music and tour plans from Beyoncé’s choreographer’s SUV at Krog Street Market last week.
📌 Mayor Andre Dickens has named his chief policy officer and senior advisor, Courtney English, as interim chief of staff.
💡 The City of Tucker has partnered with Comcast to upgrade light fixtures along its trail network to include surveillance cameras, public Wi-Fi, and LED lighting.
💰 The Georgia Council for the Arts has announced that more than $1.3 million in grant funding will be distributed to recipients in 49 counties across the state.
ELSEWHERE
📚 The Supreme Court gave its approval for the Trump administration to gut the Department of Education.
➡ President Donald Trump threatened to impose 100% tariffs on Russia if the country doesn’t make a deal to end the war in Ukraine in 50 days.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• Westside business challenges
• Lakewood Heights’ transformation
• Budget cuts for Georgia food banks
AND
• Volunteer Opportunities
💡Eddiver Rodriguez discovered something through Georgia’s Work-Based Learning program that many adults never find: exactly what he wanted to do with his life. While classmates were filling out college applications, he was splicing underground power cables. Learn how WBL connected him with his career at Georgia Power before graduation. SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. Small business, restaurant owners talk challenges of operating on Atlanta’s west side
🧭 Since 2023, amidst a development boom, nearly two dozen restaurants have closed between the Marietta Street Artery and 14th Street along Howell Mill Road on Atlanta’s west side.
Many of these restaurants closed within two years of opening, and speculation as to why the area is experiencing such a high number of closures ranges from exorbitant parking fees to traffic congestion.
However, a recent gathering of neighborhood stakeholders revealed that the story behind these closures is much more complicated than just steep parking fees and congestion.
➳ Read the first part of a series by Logan C. Ritchie and Sarra Sedghi here.
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2. Developer sought to transform Lakewood Heights Elementary into affordable housing, retail
💸 The Atlanta Urban Development Corporation (AUD) has launched a search for developers to help transform the former Lakewood Heights Elementary School into a mixed-use community featuring affordable housing and neighborhood retail.
Located at 335 Sawtell Rd. SE, the 2.15-acre site is owned by Atlanta Public Schools, which shuttered the building in 2004. Plans to demolish the school in 2022 were met with resistance from local preservationists.
The vision for the site includes about 55 rental units – mainly two- and three-bedroom apartments – and 8,000 square feet of commercial space.
🏗️ Learn more about the project here.
3. Federal cuts leave Georgia food banks facing more demand with less produce
🥫 The Atlanta Community Food Bank is preparing for a major increase in demand over the next few years after Congress passed a bill cutting food assistance benefits.
The Trump administration’s “Big Beautiful Bill” will affect over one million Georgians who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to eat, resulting in more people turning to food banks for groceries.
The Atlanta Community Food Bank is already strategizing to maintain services with less food. Cuts to the U.S Department of Agriculture budget cancelled millions of dollars’ worth of food purchases headed to Georgia.
➡ Read more in this story from GPB.
😋 Get ready for Buckhead Restaurant Week! From July 21-26, explore curated menus at Atlanta’s finest restaurants. An unforgettable dining experience awaits. Reserve your spot now here! SPONSOR MESSAGE
4. Volunteer Opportunities
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HANDS ON ATLANTA
👚 The Welcome Co-op is seeking volunteers for the Shop of Hope on Thursday morning and afternoon in Tucker. Volunteers will sort and organize clothing for distribution to refugee families.
🪴 Park Pride needs volunteers to clean up John Howell Park in Virginia-Highland on Saturday morning. Roles include pruning, raking, weeding, and additional park restoration tasks.
🧑🍳 Open Hand Atlanta (pictured) is looking for volunteers to pack meals for seniors and the chronically ill in Atlanta on Tuesday morning. Expect to prepare and portion food. A dress code is required.
🍽️ Indulge in Buckhead Restaurant Week, July 21-26! Savor exclusive menus and chef specials from Atlanta’s top spots. Book now for a culinary journey that will ignite your taste buds. Click here for details! SPONSOR MESSAGE
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