Greg Bluestein
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta, GA, United States
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Recent articles by Greg:
‘Squeezed out?’ Warnock races to rally Democrats in Georgia U.S. Senate bid
The Rev. Raphael Warnock has support from every prominent Georgia Democrat who has taken a side, and yet warning signs have emerged as he competes in a 21-candidate special election to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler in November. → Read More
Kemp’s call for special session raises skepticism among lawmakers
ov. Brian Kemp’s push for a special legislative session to fix a legal problem in a Hurricane Michael relief measure that even his office said was no “fatal flaw” triggered criticism from lawmakers and raised concerns about an ulterior motive for the summons. → Read More
Kemp signs Georgia ‘police protections’ measure into law
Gov. Brian Kemp signed a proposal into law Wednesday that Republicans pushed to grant police new protections despite stiff opposition from critics who said it creates a messy tangle of legal problems. → Read More
Under Bottoms’ watch, Democratic platform discourages Atlanta airport takeover
The latest version of the national Democratic Party platform opposes “partisan power grabs” of public infrastructure projects, language intended to make it more difficult for supporters of a long-standing Republican effort to assert more control over Atlanta’s busy airport. The city's mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms, heads the drafting committee. → Read More
Several prominent Democrats line up to succeed John Lewis in Congress
Williams said in a statement that she’s focusing her time on “maximizing turnout, making voting more accessible regardless of zip code” and working to help presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden flip Georgia in November. “I will fight tirelessly to earn the support of voters in the 5th Congressional District and would be honored to serve as their voice in Congress in January,” she said. A… → Read More
Georgia to reopen makeshift hospital at World Congress Center next week – 95.5 WSB
As the soaring number of coronavirus cases strains the state’s hospital network, Gov. Brian Kemp announced Friday health officials would fully reopen a makeshift medical facility at the Georgia World Congress Center next week. → Read More
Georgia politicians want John Lewis statue to replace Confederate leader in Capitol – 95.5 WSB
Georgia’s top leaders have embraced the idea of removing the figure of Alexander Stephens from the National Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol and replacing him with a likeness of the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis. → Read More
Georgia governor withdraws request for emergency injunction against Atlanta’s mask mandate
Georgia is among 21 states with outbreaks serious enough be placed in the “red zone,” according to a new federal report obtained by The New York Times. Distributed to state officials by the White House Coronavirus Task Force, the report recommends that officials in Georgia “mandate use of masks in all current and evolving hotspots — optimally a statewide mandate.” The governor, who has… → Read More
Kemp cancels Tuesday hearing in legal feud with Bottoms – 95.5 WSB
Gov. Brian Kemp’s attorneys canceled a request for an emergency court hearing scheduled Tuesday for his lawsuit against Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, a sign that efforts to hash out an out-of-court settlement might be gaining traction. → Read More
Georgia governor and Atlanta mayor feuding on two fronts
“The Legislature gave the governor broad emergency powers, but his actions must still be for the purpose of protecting the lives of Georgians,” said state Rep. Matthew Wilson, a Brookhaven Democrat who is leading the legal effort on the House side. “The governor’s lawsuit against Atlanta’s mayor and city council does the opposite of that — it puts more Georgians directly in harm’s way, all to… → Read More
Georgia governor extends emergency order deploying up to 1,000 National Guardsmen – 95.5 WSB
Gov. Brian Kemp has once again extended his emergency order calling for up to 1,000 Georgia National Guardsmen to protect state buildings in Atlanta, prolonging a source of tension with Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms as the two clash over their responses to the coronavirus pandemic. Kemp signed the state of emergency extension Friday to “preserve the peace and ensure public safety,” said his… → Read More
Judge orders mediation in Georgia’s mask mandate lawsuit – 95.5 WSB
A Fulton County Superior Court judge on Thursday ordered Gov. Brian Kemp and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms into mediation over their legal dispute about how to best respond to the coronavirus pandemic. → Read More
Judge orders mediation in Georgia’s mask mandate lawsuit – 95.5 WSB
A Fulton County Superior Court Judge on Thursday ordered Gov. Brian Kemp and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms into mediation over their legal dispute about how to best respond to the coronavirus pandemic. It will be a scramble for both sides as Judge Jane Barwick is keeping their first hearing in the case set for 10 a.m. Tuesday. She has named Senior Judge Cynthia Wright as their mediator.… → Read More
Bottoms and Kemp discuss settlement in Georgia’s mask mandate lawsuit – 95.5 WSB
Gov. Brian Kemp and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms are discussing a possible settlement of his lawsuit challenging the city’s mask mandate and other coronavirus restrictions that would avoid a contentious court battle. → Read More
Georgia may push statewide start date of Sept. 8 for schools – 95.5 WSB
At its meeting Thursday, the state Board of Education may consider a resolution pushing back the start of school statewide until Sept. 8. → Read More
Judge orders mediation in Georgia’s mask mandate lawsuit
“I do believe there is a finite amount of energy that we all have. I would much rather spend my energy focusing on leading our city through COVID-19 and many other challenges that we are now facing and I trust that the governor would like to do the same on behalf of the state.” Kemp’s office said Thursday that the conversation was “productive” and indicated that the mayor initiated the… → Read More
Democrats tap Nikema Williams to replace John Lewis on November ballot
She was considered the favorite for the party’s pick and won by an overwhelming vote of the 44-member committee. But several prominent Democrats questioned whether Lewis — a champion of voting rights and transparency — would have favored the obscure process to select his successor through a hurried vote of party insiders rather than an election. Some called for the party to tap a “place-holder”… → Read More
Georgia Democrats to decide today who will replace John Lewis on the ballot
Atlanta City Councilman Andre Dickens is seen as a rising Democratic leader. First elected in 2013, the business executive has carved a progressive agenda in City Hall, including legislation that implements a $15 hourly minimum wage in the city and initiatives promoting more affordable housing. “I have passed laws. I know how to tackle big policy. I conduct research. I gain support. And I win… → Read More
Georgia Democrats to decide today who will replace John Lewis on the ballot – 95.5 WSB
The top aide to the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis urged state Democratic officials on Monday to consider the “will of the people” when replacing the civil rights hero’s name on the ballot, indicating that he sides with activists who want the pick to step down in January to trigger a wide-open special election. → Read More
Kemp casts lawsuit over Atlanta virus restrictions in ideological terms
Other local officials echoed her comments. Savannah Mayor Van Johnson, whose city became the first in Georgia to enact a mask mandate, called it a matter of public safety and health. “If the governor chooses to make it a legal issue,” he said, ‘”then we are prepared to defend ourselves and defend our city.” But other mayors have backed Kemp’s stance. Macon-Bibb County Mayor Robert Reichert said… → Read More