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The Atlanta 100

 

More Tears From Charlottesville

Three hundred torch-bearing marchers surrounded Jefferson's statue in front of his beloved Rotunda and beat counter protestors Friday night in Charlottesville. (Illustration by Heidi Rizzi, © 2017 The Atlanta 100)

I was to fly into Charlottesville this week to repair a brick walkway I built 40 years ago at my alma mater and to call on potential clients, but after this past weekend’s tragedy, I canceled.

Watching protesters bloodying others Friday night beneath the statue of UVA founder Thomas Jefferson below his beloved Rotunda, I wondered what Jefferson – perhaps the most civil leader America produced – might say.

Yes, he is famous for once writing, “A little rebellion now and then is a good thing.” Also this: “When angry, count to 10 before you speak. If very angry, count to 100.”

– Chris Schroder, SPR Atlanta

 

#GAArtsFuture Advocacy Campaign

The High Museum of Art is providing a digital tool kit with printable postcards, signage and additional materials to help partner organizations implement the campaign. (Photo courtesy of High Museum of Art)

Last week, the High Museum of Art and more than a dozen metro Atlanta arts and culture organizations voiced their support for arts funding by initiating the #GAArtsFuture postcard-writing campaign.

The president’s budget plan for the 2018 fiscal year eliminates funding for significant arts initiatives throughout the state of Georgia. “Through our #GAArtsFuture campaign, we invite our stakeholders and champions of the arts to join us to connect with legislators about the importance of arts funding,” said Andrea Brownlee, director of Spelman College Museum of Fine Art.

To get involved with the campaign, please visit the #GAArtsFuture homepage here.

– Haley Haas, SPR Atlanta

 

Not Just a Young Person’s Game

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, social welfare organization with a membership of nearly 38 million that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families. (Photo courtesy of AARP)

When most people think of video games, they think of millennials and younger people; they don’t think of people 50 and older. Yet one in three Americans age 50-plus play video games regularly. Most of these gamers play for fun and the opportunity to stay connected with loved ones through online game communities.

Video games and apps are truly ageless, offering gamers of all ages — from grandfathers to granddaughters — the opportunity to share entertainment and social interactions with each other. At AARP, we’re looking at the role video game technology can play in helping us all to age better.

– Sami Hassanyeh, SVP Digital Strategy and Membership, AARP

 

No-Win Zone

Perhaps one of the last TV news images I saw before going on an 8-month broadcast news cleanse.

I’ve been a TV political news junkie since age 11, watching any available local or national news.

This past election started as if it was going to be another entertaining one, but as it concluded, I found myself poisoned – not by the two major party candidates, dreadful though they were – but by the polarizing political pundits empaneled by the network and cable news shows.

I finally had enough of all the vitriol hurled across the screens. So I quit. Cold turkey. I haven’t watched one second of TV news or online political video since Election Night. I’m healthier and happier.

– Chris Schroder, SPR Atlanta

 

Congress Should Look to Governors on Any New Health Care Legislation

The National Governors Association is the bipartisan organization of the nation’s governors. Through NGA, governors share best practices, speak with a collective voice on national policy and develop innovative solutions that improve state government and support the principles of federalism.

This month, the House passed the American Health Care Act of 2017. As Congress considers next steps in passing critical health care legislation, we encourage both houses of Congress to consult the nation’s governors.

The National Governors Association requests that at this point, Senate leaders work closely with governors to develop a more efficient health care system that continues to put patients first and address the underlying factors driving unsustainable spending.

Governors have the practical ideas and experience necessary for a 21st Century health care system that improves health outcomes and reduces the financial burden on families, businesses and government.

– Scott Pattison, Executive Director & CEO, National Governors Association

 

‘Climate of Hope:’ How Cities, Businesses and Citizens Can Save the Planet

Carl Pope led the Sierra Club from 1992-2011. Co-author Mike Bloomberg is the founder, CEO, and owner of Bloomberg L.P. and was mayor of New York City from 2002-2013.

The 2016 election left many people who are concerned about the environment fearful that progress on climate change would come screeching to a halt. In “Climate of Hope,” Mike Bloomberg and I share our experiences from government, business and advocacy to offer an optimistic look at the challenge of climate change, the solutions we believe hold the greatest promise, and the practical steps necessary to achieve them.

With “Climate of Hope” we create a roadmap for how cities, businesses and citizens can lead – and win – the battle against climate change, no matter which way the political winds in Washington shift.

– Carl Pope, former CEO and Chairman, Sierra Club

 

Dorgan: Reform Will Take More Than Good Timing

Dorgan served as North Dakota's U.S. Senator from 1992-2011.

An old Indian Chief once said, “The success of a rain dance depends a lot on timing.” That’s especially true of enacting major legislation such as tax reform.

The timing is right for tax reform. But it will take more than just timing. It takes real bipartisanship and the right mix of meaningful proposals to get a tax reform bill to the president’s desk.

I was part of the last successful tax reform effort, in 1986, when we reduced tax rates to 28%, simplified the tax code, and made it more fair. It’s long past time to do this again.

– Byron Dorgan, Former U.S. Senator (D – N.D.); Senior Fellow, Bipartisan Policy Center; Senior Policy Advisor, Arent Fox

 

Investment in Infrastructure Makes Us More Competitive

UPS is one of the world’s largest commercial and residential package delivery businesses.

Greater investment needs to be made in America’s infrastructure — smart investment to enhance goods movement, alleviate congestion and promote economic competitiveness.

Our country’s multi-modal infrastructure network is the backbone of the American economy and with 95% of the world’s consumers living outside our borders, we need our exports to reach more markets in more cost-effective and efficient ways.

Improving America’s infrastructure, however, requires both more direct public funding and opportunities for private investment. UPS supports a user-pay, user-benefit system of increased, sustained and dedicated surface transportation funding, which will benefit businesses, consumers and the American public.

– Laura Lane, President of Global Public Affairs, UPS

 

Autonomous Aerial Vehicles by Summer

The Ehang 184 is capable of carrying a person on a 30-minute automated flight.

Driverless aerial vehicles capable of carrying actual people are set to be buzzing through the skies of Dubai as soon as summer this year! No, we’re not kidding.

The RTA, in collaboration with Chinese tech company Ehang, has completed the first test flight of the Ehang 184, Autonomous Aerial Vehicle (AAV).

There’s a touchscreen on which passengers can select their intended destination, after which the vehicle will start the automatic operation and whisk you away. A ground-based center will monitor each journey, which can last a maximum of 30 minutes. This may take nerves of steel first time round.

– Ed Rowell, Mojo PR

 

Atlanta Public School Prepping for District’s First STEM Certification

M. Agnes Jones Elementary School students grow vegetables and herbs as part of their STEM curriculum. (Photo courtesy of APS)

M. Agnes Jones Elementary School expects to be named the first in Atlanta Public Schools to earn STEM certification.

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) certification is granted to schools following an application and observation process. They must show evidence of a rigorous, hands-on, project-based curriculum; teacher collaboration; strong community partnerships; and high level math and science instruction.

As part of the program, Jones Elementary students are learning about aquaponics, hydroponics and urban farming. Only 22 Georgia elementary schools have been certified. The Georgia Department of Education will visit the school to observe and make a final determination.

– Amy Rosenberg, KQ Communications

 

Across the Aisle VIII: New Hope for America

In the final episode of our video series, Democrat and Republican wax optimistic.

“In all my 20 years of Congress, I never served with anybody who didn’t have the interests of the country at heart. I just hope it doesn’t take another crisis like September 11 for things to have to come together,” Saxby Chambliss said. “In spite of all our problems, our partisanship, we’re still the best form of government of any country.”

“If you look back at the history, people dust themselves up and they look for remedies. I do not lose hope. I’m optimistic,” Wyche Fowler said.

– Chris Schroder, SPR Atlanta

 

Across the Aisle VII: Social Media & C-Span

“Social media has given rise to the ability of individuals to say anything they want to say irrespective of what the facts are. People make things up. I finally just told my staff, ‘Don’t ever show me another blog. I don’t care if they say something good or bad about me,’” Republican Saxby Chambliss said.

“C-Span gives America the opportunity to hear from members of Congress across the country, and that’s good … but it gives the opportunity for partisan politicians to be partisan to the whole country. It certainly contributes to the House being as partisan as it is.”

– Chris Schroder, SPR Atlanta

 

Across the Aisle VI: Deciding What Is Truthful

Democrat Wyche Fowler worries about fake news.

“One of the serious questions is where any person gets their information and how they verify, when anyone and everybody through their Facebook page, through their blogs, can put any kind of conspiracy theory out there,” Fowler said in the sixth in our video series, “Across the Aisle.”

“The media would respond ‘We are doing our best,’ but like most things in a democracy, the burden is on the citizen. If he or she is not interested in correct information and making their own informed judgment, there’s no one else to do it.”

– Chris Schroder, SPR Atlanta

 

Across the Aisle V: Bi-Partisan Teamwork

When Democrat Ted Kennedy compromised with Republican Saxby Chambliss on immigration, both found themselves under siege.

“ ‘The left wing of my party is beating me up something awful,’ ” Chambliss remembers Kennedy saying. “He kind of laughed and said, ‘I’m up for re-election this year – you may have to come to Massachusetts and campaign for me.’ We got a chuckle out of that.”

“About a week later, my right-wing folks started giving me the devil. Don’t worry, I don’t need you to come to Georgia and campaign for me,” Chambliss joked.

“We were successful getting some good things done.”

See the complete video series here. 

– Chris Schroder, SPR Atlanta

 

Across the Aisle IV: Ted Kennedy Showed Senate Way

First-term US Senator Saxby Chambliss was on the Senate floor two days after being sworn in when Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy introduced himself.

“Saxby, you are chair of our subcommittee and I’m ranking member. I’ll be in your office tomorrow and we’ll talk about priorities,” Kennedy said. Saxby demurred, suggesting they meet in Kennedy’s office. In our bonus video viewable here, Chambliss quoted Kennedy: “That’s not how the Senate works.”

“That sort of set the tone of the difference,” Saxby says in Part Four of Across the Aisle. “It gave us an opportunity to work together and provide leadership.”

See the complete video series here. 

– Chris Schroder, SPR Atlanta

 

Across the Aisle III: Money Too Important Now

Former US Senators Saxby Chambliss and Wyche Fowler agree there’s too much money in politics in our third episode of Across the Aisle.

“State legislatures that draw the districts tend to draw them for incumbents … and sometimes those state legislators are able to … for their own personal benefit because they want to run for Congress,” Chambliss said.

“If you’re in the House you never stop raising money … and that’s not the way it ought to be. You have these outside groups that exert lots of influence simply because they have money. Money has gotten way too important in political campaigns.”

See the complete video series here. 

– Chris Schroder, SPR Atlanta

 

Across the Aisle II: Three Fixes for American Government

Former US Senator Wyche Fowler offers three solutions to the partisanship strangling America in the second of our eight-episode video conversation with him and former US Senator Saxby Chambliss.

• “Reverse the partisan gerrymandering.”

• “Limit in some way the effect of all this money coming from non-voters which floods the system and gives an unequal voice to our ordinary working good citizens.”

• Make the “presidential race a national referendum” as opposed to “only 8, 10, 15 or 18 states where the candidates from the two major parties have to campaign.”

Both the Democrat and Republican agreed on these suggestions!

See the complete video series here. 

– Chris Schroder, SPR Atlanta

 

Recovering From Election 2016

Democratic candidate Jimmy Carter shaking hands with Dr. Benjamin Mays at the 1976 Democratic Convention in New York City (Photo by Chris Schroder)

I’ve been a national election junkie since I was a child, staying up late to watch our nation’s quadrennial plebiscite. The only national campaign for which I actually volunteered was Jimmy Carter’s, our state’s homeboy. I even followed him to the convention.

Some have likened the lead-up to this year’s presidential race to awaiting results from a dreaded medical test – with no preferred outcome.

As a tonic to all the strife, I hope you’ll enjoy the first episode of our eight-week video series with former US Senators Wyche Fowler and Saxby Chambliss. They will offer hope for America.

– Chris Schroder, SPR Atlanta

 

Across the Aisle I: Where Partisanship Began

America wasn’t always this vitriolic. It need not be now. To prove it, we convened two former US Senators – one Democrat and one Republican – to kick off our eight-part video series.

“The House is designed by its nature to be partisan,” Saxby Chambliss said. “If you are in the minority party you basically have no say so … I truly did expect something different when I got to the Senate.”

“Historians have already written that the touchstone where it really began was Newt Gingrich and his Contract for America,” Wyche Fowler said. The two will offer solutions in upcoming episodes.

See the complete video series here. 

– Chris Schroder, SPR Atlanta

 

Restoring Confidence in America

We’ve always tried to remain grateful to live in America, though we’d become a little despondent during the 2016 election. Then we had an idea.

What if we could convene a conversation between Wyche Fowler and Saxby Chambliss – two distinguished Georgia natives, lawyers, both former US Congressmen and Senators – who’ve worked across party lines. Could they provide a tonic to the ills of this year’s bitter campaign? Better yet, could they show us the way to restore our confidence?

Happily, they did. Join us for this special 8-week video series: “Across the Aisle,” beginning with today’s video trailer.

– Chris Schroder, SPR Atlanta