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- [00:06]
Orlando Montoya
Hello and welcome to the Georgia Today podcast from GPB News. Today is Friday, January 17th. I'm Orlando Montoya. Coming up on today's episode, mixed reactions from Georgians ahead of President elect Donald Trump's inauguration. On Monday, state officials address potential problems with Georgia's health insurance marketplace rollout and the revival of an Atlanta Symphony Orchestra concert tradition that commemorates Martin Luther King Jr. Day. These stories and more are coming up on this edition of GEORGIA today. Many Georgia Republicans are approaching Monday's inauguration of President Donald Trump with a mix of anticipation and excitement. Among those heading to Washington, D.C. to attend inaugural events, about 80 will leave tonight on six buses normally used by touring rock stars. Danny Hamilton owns the Atlanta based company that operates those buses now decked out with Trump and MAGA themed exteriors.
- [01:06]
Andre Dickens
These folks are going up to go to balls. They're going to be going dancing. They'll be going to all these special events. It has been so exciting. The people are so excited to have Trump back in a lot of times I get on the phone, I can't get off. The people want to talk about the future.
- [01:21]
Orlando Montoya
Georgia country singer Jason Aldean is scheduled to perform at one of three official inaugural balls. On the other hand, many Georgia Democrats are going into Monday with concern or just focus on other priorities, including the federal holiday commemorating Martin Luther King, Jr. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens is in Washington, D.C. today for a meeting of the U.S. conference of Mayors where he said mayors discussed how a second Trump administration might change their relationships with the federal government. Speaking with me this morning, Dickens said he will not participate in any inaugural events.
- [01:57]
Andre Dickens
I will be commemorating Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. At Ebenezer Baptist Church. I'll actually be one of the speakers, as I have been the last three years. And, you know, being the birthplace of Dr. King and the birthplace of civil rights, we hold this tradition to our hearts. And we also love to be able to share in commemorating this wonderful life and legacy and taking his messages to heart so that we can build a beloved community each year to get close to his goal. So I'll be doing that in Atlanta. You know, we also have the college football championship going on that same evening of January 20th. And, you know, I'll be back in Atlanta from the US Conference of Mayors by that time.
- [02:44]
Orlando Montoya
What was the mood like among the mayors that you spoke to at the mayor's conference about the second inauguration of Donald Trump?
- [02:51]
Andre Dickens
You know, US Conference of Mayors is bipartisan. So there are mayors that are Republicans and then there's mayors that are Democrats. The Democrats like Myself are not participating in any inauguration events. Most of the Democrats are going home, and we're not, you know, really participating in anything that has to do with Donald Trump's reelection and inauguration. There are some Republicans, mayors that are going to stay and, you know, be able to make their presence felt as mayors in the inauguration. But for most of us, we're really just down to the work that is about our cities. We're sharing ideas, sharing our opportunities to network and to really get best practices. Mayors across the country are dealing with infrastructure, dealing with challenges related to housing insecurity, related to food insecurity. Really highlight the successes we've all had and all overcoming those challenges. And we're mainly focused on that and.
- [03:51]
Orlando Montoya
On housing affordability, infrastructure, and the concerns that you have. How do you expect the Trump administration to work with cities?
- [03:58]
Andre Dickens
Yeah, I'm hopeful that the Trump administration works with all cities, regardless of how they voted for him or regardless of how their state voted for him or didn't vote for him. Really has to look out for all of America. We are experiencing a housing crisis in this country. 18% increase last year of homeless individuals since the pandemic. We had a 63% increase across the nation of individuals experiencing homelessness since 2019. So we are constantly seeing rents and mortgage costs go up and people's incomes aren't keeping up with it. So this is a crisis that I know the Biden administration was working on, and we were getting, we got a lot of support through HUD in the city of Atlanta to be able to do a lot of housing development and vouchers that were helpful for our families. We want to see that continue and actually expand as much as possible during the Trump administration. So for me, our goals don't change because who's president, our strategies do. So we might make more relationships in that cabinet, and we may also understand where their leanings are and how to best tap into those things. But our goals don't change. The city of Atlanta has a goal of building or preserving 20,000 units of affordable housing by 2030. Through the Biden administration, I was able to build 6,500 units, and we have about 4,500 more in the pipeline under construction. We want to continue that, that level of productivity with the transition of power.
- [05:33]
Orlando Montoya
Mr. Mayor, thank you for taking our questions. It's been a pleasure, and I hope you enjoy the MLK holiday.
- [05:38]
Andre Dickens
Same to you. Thank you.
- [05:42]
Orlando Montoya
Georgia House Speaker John Byrne says State Senator Colton Moore will be allowed into the state House chamber for future joint sessions of the General Assembly Moore, a Republican from Trenton in northwest Georgia, was arrested yesterday after he attempted to violate a ban on his entering the House chamber. This was right before the joint session for governor Brian Kemp's State of the State address. Burns had said that Moore would not be allowed into the state House until he apologized for disparaging remarks he made in the state Senate about the late House Speaker David Ralston. Today, Burns said the Ralston family has expressed desire that the House continue its usual business, including having all senators present at joint sessions with or without an apology. Burns reminded anyone who visits the House to be respectful and comply with its rules. State offices will be closed on Monday, MLK Day, so state lawmakers remembered the slain civil rights leader today at an annual ceremony held at the state capitol. GPB's Sarah Kalis reports.
- [06:50]
Andre Dickens
The Atlanta Boy Choir performed on the north steps of the Capitol as legislators commemorated the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Georgia Legislative Black Caucus Chair Senator Nikki Merritt says it.
- [07:03]
Dr. Bernice King
Is important for Georgians to keep King's message in mind.
- [07:06]
Andre Dickens
I am proud to stand today to honor the struggle and recommit ourselves to to the principles that Dr. King championed equity, opportunity and unity. Let us take his lessons to heart, not just this day, but every day. Governor Brian Kemp and Speaker of the House John Burns also spoke at the ceremony. For GPB News, I'm Sarah Kalis.
- [07:33]
Dr. Bernice King
At the State Capitol.
- [07:38]
Orlando Montoya
A new study finds Georgia is among the costliest states in the nation for home ownership when it comes to damage from flooding, GPB's Benjamin Payne reports $140,000.
- [07:51]
Andre Dickens
That's roughly how much money the average home buyer in Georgia should expect to pay in flood damages over a new 30 year mortgage. This is among the findings of a new report released by the Natural Resources Defense Council, a nonprofit that advocates for better policies to protect against climate change. One policy that could help Georgians creating a state law requiring Realtors to disclose whether a home has been flooded before. So says Joel Scotta, an environmental lawyer with the nrdc. There is clear evidence that buying a previously flooded home is that you're likely to flood again. We want people to know what they're getting into. Georgia ranked number three nationwide in flooding costs for new home buyers, behind only Alabama and Connecticut. For GPB News, I'm Benjamin Payne in Savannah.
- [08:37]
Orlando Montoya
State officials are working to address potential problems that about 20,000 Georgians could have in accessing health care after the rollout of the state's new health insurance marketplace. Georgia Access Auto enrolled them in new insurance policies while the policyholders enrolled themselves in duplicate coverage. The Office of Insurance then canceled the auto enrolled policies, which could lead to expensive confusion at doctor's offices and pharmacies. Spokesperson Brian Rawson, with the Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner's Office says letters went out to everyone affected and no one went without coverage.
- [09:13]
Andre Dickens
But if there are consumers that have issues in that small window, we're happy to work with them to talk to the insurance company, see if we can get some of those issues resolved to make sure that folks aren't, you know, without the care that they need.
- [09:27]
Orlando Montoya
Rawson says about 1.3 million Georgians were auto enrolled without issue when Georgia migrated from federal to state management of the Affordable Care act last year. The U.S. justice Department is suing Middle Georgia's Houston county, alleging that its method of electing county commissioners violates the rights of black voters. The lawsuit filed yesterday asks a judge to to stop the county from continuing to use countywide elections for each of its five commission seats. The agency says those elections unfairly dilute the influence of black voters, who make up nearly one third of the county's electorate while all five of its current commissioners are white. Global food and agriculture firm Cargill celebrated the opening of its Atlanta technology and engineering hub yesterday. The new office in Georgia Tech's Technology Square is expected to employ about 400 people specializing in data engineering and artificial intelligence. Minnesota based Cargill is the nation's largest privately held company by revenue, according to Forbes, and joins Delta, Home Depot and others with hubs in Technology Square.
- [10:43]
Andre Dickens
We could all use a little help navigating the news these days. The Consider this Podcast wants to give you a hand six days a week.
- [10:49]
Orlando Montoya
We'll help you make sense of the.
- [10:50]
Andre Dickens
Day'S biggest news story and what it means for you in less than 15 minutes. Listen now to the Consider this podcast from NPR.
- [11:03]
Orlando Montoya
Monday is Martin Luther King Day, and in Atlanta, celebrations are tinged with an urgency to heed the civil rights leaders messages of peace and nonviolence. That includes the revival of an Atlanta Symphony Orchestra concert tradition commemorating the national holiday. GP's Christie York Wooten takes us behind the scenes.
- [11:26]
Dr. Bernice King
On a chilly Friday afternoon in Atlanta. A streetcar passes by a group of tourists outside the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church with its famous neon sign on the red brick chapel where Martin Luther King Jr. Preached until his murder in 1968. Across Auburn Avenue sits the current sanctuary where the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is preparing a concert with the church for the first time since 2012. The Concert for the King Holiday came together last fall when the ASO executive Director Jennifer Barlament had a chance meeting with Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock, who serves as pastor to the Ebenezer congregation.
- [12:10]
Andre Dickens
So I said, hey, Reverend Warnock, nice to meet you, and sort of introduced myself. And one thing led to another. We just had a really nice conversation about music and how much he loves music, music, how great the acoustics are here at Ebenezer and how the orchestra and the church had had this relationship in the past. And so he basically said, well, come on down, let's do something together.
- [12:33]
Dr. Bernice King
The concert planning would be a whirlwind for Ebenezer's Director of Worship, Dr. Patrice Turner, who says she fulfilled a childhood dream of showcasing the full breadth of music in the black church.
- [12:44]
Andre Dickens
People know about Ebenezer being a social justice, a home for social justice. They know about the great preaching that has happened at this church, but they might not necessarily realize that there is a wealth of musical and arts related production that has come out of Ebenezer. And so this particular concert reflects that.
- [13:03]
Dr. Bernice King
Turner curated a concert taking in jazz, gospel and the symphonic work of Atlanta based composer Carlos Simon, who contributed his brass suite. Amen. Simon says he hopes his music informs growing conversations around issues of social justice.
- [13:22]
Andre Dickens
I think that more composers are having the courage to speak about what's happening in the world, whether it be, you know, politics or social, economic, you know, problem, and to embed that into the music and so that there's a cultural awareness that happens and people, hopefully audience members will leave and say, wow, I had no idea.
- [13:46]
Dr. Bernice King
Three Saturdays before the King holiday, Ebenezer's 1800 seat sanctuary was packed for the recording of the concert. In attendance was Dr. Bernice King, who serves as CEO of the King Center. She is the youngest child of Martin Luther King Jr. And Coretta Scott King. She said the official theme of this year's observance, of which the concert is just one part, is mission possible.
- [14:09]
Orlando Montoya
What is possible is that we can.
- [14:12]
Andre Dickens
Continue to cultivate and protect freedom, justice.
- [14:16]
Orlando Montoya
And democracy if we align ourselves with the teachings of my father through nonviolence.
- [14:24]
Andre Dickens
And not just the actions, but the.
- [14:26]
Orlando Montoya
Mindset that he left for us to.
- [14:30]
Andre Dickens
Consider when we are approaching champion causes.
- [14:35]
Dr. Bernice King
The hope is that the concert at Ebenezer will soundtrack the mindset of Dr. King this year and in other performances in years to come. For GPB News, I'm Chris Deorg Wooten in Atlanta.
- [14:58]
Orlando Montoya
And Georgia today. Today, like many other people, will be taking MLK day off on Monday. We'll be back on Tuesday, and Peter Biello will be back then as well, so we hope you tune in. A great way to remind yourself to do so is to hit the subscribe button on the Georgia Today podcast. That way you never miss an episode. Send us feedback to Georgia todaypb.org and as always, go to gpb.orgnews to find out what's going on around Georgia Today and every day. I'm Orlando Montoya. I hope you have a great weekend.