Atlanta City Council could make final decision on city's jail sale Monday – WABE

Atlanta City Council could make final decision on city’s jail sale Monday  WABE

The sale of the Atlanta City Detention Center to Fulton County for $68 million could be finalized on Monday, Oct. 19. The sale of the Atlanta City Detention Center to Fulton County for $68 million could be finalized on Monday. After the Atlanta City Council’s public safety committee cleared the proposal last month, it stalled in the finance committee amid lingering questions about the Fulton County sheriff’s ability to keep detainees safe, in yet another facility under his control while remaining understaffed. Local advocates also objected to channeling the funds into Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens’ neighborhood reinvestment plan, arguing it comes mostly off the backs of incarcerated Black men. However, despite receiving no new information on Wednesday, finance committee members Wayne Martin and Alex Wan voted “yes” to send the proposal to the full city council for a final vote.

“Looking at those dollars being purposed for the kinds of services that our neighbors need is something that I really want to have a serious conversation about,” Martin said. Finance Committee Chairman Jason Winston and two of his colleagues, Matt Westmoreland and Bryon Amos, abstained from the vote. The rest of the committee, including Mary Norwood and Dustin Hillis, was absent. “I’ve been very transparent with the administration about some of the issues I’ve had in this process,” Winston said.