Georgia News(Week 10) - Immigration Reform

A recent article speaks of new immigration legislation proposed by Sen. Tim Golden (D-Valdosta) and Sen. Sam Zamarripa (D-Atlanta) that would " would grant the state's Board of Regents exclusive authority to set admissions and residency requirements for Georgia's public university system." The pair also suggested that the federal government implement immigration reform. The two senators cite their desire to "give motivated students — regardless of their legal status — the opportunity to pursue higher education." The article mentions two previous illegal immigration bills by Sen. Chip Rogers, one of which "sought to bar illegal immigrants from enrolling in state universities." Rogers says this bill is no longer "on the table," but, according to the article, Rogers is currently supporting "Senate Bill 170, a measure that would require persons to prove they are legal residents of Georgia to receive state services, such as in-state tuition benefits." Rogers cites a previous statute from the Clinton era preventing illegal immigrants from receiving "postsecondary education benefit[s]." This is an interesting case, as there seems to be a line drawn in the sand between Golden and Zamarripa and Rogers, as each feels differently about illegal immigrants and their rights. This situation, as the article mentions, should "be one of the biggest fights of the 2006 General Assembly."

Link: http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/1205/02metimmigrant.html

Georgia News(Week 10) - New CARE President

According to a recent article, Dr. Helene Gayle, "a former top official at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta," will take over CARE USA, an "Atlanta-based humanitarian agency." The article also mentions that Gayle is the first female and African-American to head the agency, one with "poverty-fighting programs in more than 70 countries." Gayle has experience in various areas, spending 17 years at the CDC and directing "an HIV, TB and Reproductive Health Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in Seattle." Gayle, according to the article, plans to take her position at CARE in the spring, replacing former CARE president Peter D. Bell. Bell seems confident in his replacement, stating that "'[he] will be leaving CARE in excellent hands.'" Gayle, according to the article, is a "leading AIDS expert," best known for changing the common stereotype of the past that AIDS was a disease strictly affecting gay white men. With all of her credentials, Gayle seems like an adequately qualified replacement for Bell. Her knowledge should help improve the quality of CARE's offerings, especially offerings/aid to countries afflicted with AIDS.

Link: http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/1205/02care.html

Georgia News(Week 10) - New City Cracks Down

Members of the city council of newly formed Sandy Springs "wasted no time" making changes, immediately approving an ordinance "transferring most Fulton laws to the new city," as well as imposing a 30-day moratorium before "adult-orientated" businesses could be opened. This same moratorium was also applied to "building permits, zoning decisions and other construction-related permits." The council hopes that the moratoriums will give [them] time to consider changes." These changes came out of an "emergency meeting" held immediately after Sandy Springs' charter officially took effect, at 12:01 thursday morning. This is just one of many milestones for the new city, according to the article, as the charter's finalization "culminated a year of...milestones: state legislative approval last winter, a cityhood referendum in the summer and city elections this fall." Eva Galambos, the city's first mayor, stated that "[Sandy Springs] is an opportunity to do it right, to avoid mistakes made by other governments in the past." The final two members of the young city's council will be determined in a runoff election on December 6. Sandy Springs' officials hope to correct the errors of the previous Fulton county government. "Sandy Springs police and fire departments are expected to be formed gradually over the next six months as Fulton police and fire protection continue," according to the article. This is interesting to me, as I have never read about the process that new cities go through. Although there will no doubt be some bumps in the road, given the measures that they have already taken, I think this new city should so fine.

Link: http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/sandysprings/1105/01metsandyopens.html