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Warnock Pushes Bipartisan Plan to Stop Private Equity from Buying Up Single-Family Homes

Sen. Raphael Warnock backs bipartisan legislation to limit private equity firms from buying single-family homes, aiming to restore access to homeownership for first-time buyers in Atlanta.

By Milton Kirby | Decatur, GA | March 6, 2026

A bipartisan housing proposal backed by Raphael Warnock could significantly reshape the housing market in Atlanta and across the nation by limiting the ability of large institutional investors to purchase single-family homes.

Warnock announced that a provision he championed has been included in the bipartisan ROAD to Housing Act, a sweeping federal housing package designed to address rising housing costs and limited homeownership opportunities.

The provision would prohibit institutional investors from purchasing additional single-family homes if they already own more than 350 such properties. The legislation specifically targets large private equity firms that have increasingly purchased homes in bulk and converted them into rental properties.

“In Atlanta, private equity’s greed is squeezing first-time homebuyers out of the market and pushing the American Dream further out of reach,” Warnock said in announcing the measure. “It’s time Congress did something about it. That’s why I’m proud to have helped lead the bipartisan effort to ban private equity from mass-purchasing homes. This legislation is bipartisan and common sense: let’s get it done.”

The proposal includes steep penalties for firms that violate the restriction. Institutional investors who purchase single-family homes beyond the allowed threshold would face fines of either $1 million or three times the purchase price of the home.

Funds collected through those penalties would be directed toward new housing construction and financial assistance programs for first-time homebuyers.

Why Atlanta? Ground Zero for Corporate Ownership

Atlanta’s housing market has become a focal point in the national debate over institutional home ownership. According to figures cited by Warnock’s office and regional research institutions, roughly 30 percent of Atlanta’s single-family rental homes—about 70,000 properties—are owned by institutional investors.

Much of the research tracking corporate homeownership in metro Atlanta comes from Georgia State University, where geographer Dr. Taylor Shelton has mapped institutional investor activity using property records and tax filings. His work shows that large portfolios of investor-owned homes are concentrated in several fast-growing suburban counties.

The impact is especially visible in Gwinnett, Henry, Cobb, and Clayton counties, where large investment firms have purchased thousands of homes over the past decade. In some neighborhoods in Henry County, investors have purchased nearly one out of every three homes sold in recent years.

Large institutional landlords have built enormous housing portfolios across the region. Companies such as Invitation Homes, Progress Residential, and Tricon Residential collectively own tens of thousands of single-family homes in metro Atlanta. In some suburban communities, a single company may control hundreds of houses, transforming once owner-occupied neighborhoods into large rental portfolios.

As competition for existing homes has intensified, some investors have shifted strategies. In several north metro counties, including Cherokee and Forsyth, developers are now building entire neighborhoods designed exclusively for rental housing—a model known as build-to-rent.

The surge in investor ownership accelerated during the housing boom that followed the COVID-19 pandemic. Between 2020 and 2022, institutional investors dramatically expanded their footprint in metro Atlanta, taking advantage of historically low interest rates and a wave of homes entering the market.

In some quarters during that period, investors accounted for more than 30 percent of all home purchases in the region, according to housing market analyses from firms such as Redfin and Zillow.

The Impact on the “American Dream”

Atlanta quickly became one of the nation’s most active markets for corporate homebuying. Large companies purchased homes in bulk, often making all-cash offers that individual buyers struggled to match.

For many Atlantans, the shift has been visible in everyday ways. Homes that once might have been sold to young families or first-time buyers are now part of corporate rental portfolios. In some neighborhoods, “For Rent” signs appear where “For Sale” signs once stood, a change that housing advocates say has quietly reshaped the path to homeownership across the region.

According to the Atlanta REALTORS® Association, the median home price in metro Atlanta reached roughly $411,000 in late 2025, placing homeownership further out of reach for many first-time buyers.

Housing advocates say large-scale purchasing by investment firms has contributed to rising home prices and reduced the number of starter homes available to individuals and families trying to buy their first property.

Warnock, who serves on the Senate Banking Committee, has pushed several initiatives aimed at increasing housing affordability since arriving in the Senate in 2021. The committee plays a key role in shaping federal housing policy.

The Georgia senator has also introduced legislation focused on expanding housing supply nationwide, including proposals that would help finance the construction of nearly three million additional housing units.

Warnock often links his housing advocacy to his own upbringing. Raised in public housing in Savannah, he was one of twelve children in a working-class family.

Supporters of the measure say limiting institutional purchases could reopen the door to homeownership for many families who have been priced out of the market.

The provision is expected to move forward as part of the broader ROAD to Housing Act, which lawmakers hope will receive Senate approval in the coming months.

SIDEBAR: Where Corporate Investors Are Buying Homes in Metro Atlanta

Research from housing analysts and regional planning agencies shows several metro Atlanta areas with especially high levels of institutional investor activity.

• Gwinnett County – More than 10,000 homes owned by major corporate landlords
• Henry County – One of the highest concentrations of investor-owned homes in Georgia
• Cobb & Clayton Counties – Thousands of corporate-owned homes tied to large rental portfolios
• Old Fourth Ward & West Midtown – Urban neighborhoods targeted for high-end rental conversions near the BeltLine
• Cherokee & Forsyth Counties – Emerging “build-to-rent” subdivisions developed entirely for rental housing

Researchers say the trend accelerated after the 2008 housing crisis, when large investment firms began purchasing foreclosed homes in bulk across metro Atlanta.

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Red Shoe Lunch Marks 16 Years of Sisterhood, Survival, and a Mission to Save Lives

The 16th Annual Red Shoe Lunch at Chateau Elan advanced heart disease prevention through the Veronica Blount Memorial Foundation’s blood pressure monitor initiative.

By Milton Kirby | Braselton, GA | March 1, 2026

What began as a small lunch among six friends has grown into one of metro Atlanta’s most heartfelt annual traditions. On Saturday, February 28, 2026, the 16th Annual Red Shoe Lunch filled a ballroom at Chateau Elan Winery & Resort to capacity, with nearly every guest—women and a few men—wearing a shade of red. The color symbolized both celebration and urgency: a reminder that heart disease remains the leading cause of death for women.

A Movement Born From a Moment of Fear

The Red Shoe Lunch traces its origins to 2010, when six women gathered at a restaurant in Atlanta’s Phipps Plaza. They didn’t set out to start a movement; they simply came to support their friend, 36‑year‑old Tasha “Tee” Blount. Each woman wore red shoes, high heels, flats, slingbacks, and peep-toes; an outward symbol of unity that caught the attention of passersby. But the shoes represented something far deeper.

Just days earlier, Tee had been lying on an operating table preparing for a cardiac catheterization. As she waited, she overheard a nurse whisper, “Wow, she’s young.” It was the same phrase she had heard thirteen years earlier when her mother, Veronica Blount, underwent a quadruple bypass in Baltimore. Veronica survived the first surgery, required a second, and later died from coronary artery disease at just 46 years old.

Tee came from a family of women who died young. Her grandmother, Delores, died at 53. Her great-grandmother at 64. As Tee closed her eyes in that Atlanta operating room, she made a promise: if she woke up, she would fight to break the cycle.

From Six Women to a Community of Hundreds

Once released from the hospital, Tee invited her closest friends to lunch on what would have been her mother’s 56th birthday. She asked them to wear red shoes in her honor. The women passed around an iPad and donated to the American Heart Association. When the restaurant manager learned the meaning behind their gathering, he moved them to a private dining room at no charge.

That afternoon, Tee decided the lunch would become an annual event.

Six women have now grown into a community of roughly 200 attendees—and the number continues to rise. While the venue changes each year, the mission has remained constant: raise awareness about heart disease and educate the communities they call home.

A New Chapter: The Veronica Blount Memorial Foundation

For more than a decade, attendees paid for their meals and donated directly to the American Heart Association, raising nearly $20,000. But in 2021, Tee charged $22,000 to her personal credit card to cover event costs. “That was my wake-up call,” she said.

In August 2022, the Veronica Blount Memorial Foundation (VBMF) became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The Red Shoe Lunch is now its annual flagship event.

Tee admits she delayed applying for nonprofit status because she wasn’t sure she would live long enough to see it through. “Every woman in my mother’s immediate family died younger than their mother,” she said. “By this time next year, I will be the first to outlive my mother and my grandmother. And I plan to outlive my great-grandmother too.”

She credits access to cardiac care and the resources VBMF now provides for her longevity.

A Mission Rooted in Prevention

Photo by Milton Kirby Red Shoe Lunch Tags

VBMF’s primary fundraising goal is simple but powerful: ensure every household in underserved communities has a blood pressure monitor. “Just like a smoke detector, blood pressure monitors save lives,” Tee said.

The work extends far beyond the luncheon. Volunteers identify neighborhoods with high need, distribute educational materials, and personally deliver monitors to residents.

The Women Behind the Work

The Red Shoe Lunch is powered by a large team of dedicated volunteers whose behind‑the‑scenes work makes the event possible each year. Among them, several leaders shared their perspectives with TSJ.:

Mary Fondon, Co-Chair & Volunteer Relations Chair, emphasizes the scale of the effort. “It takes a lot of volunteers to deliver a flawless Red Shoe Lunch,” she said. She hopes every attendee will return next year and bring someone with them.

Lisa Daniel, Fundraising Chair, brings her own lived experience to the mission. “I have gone through the fire and I don’t smell like smoke,” she said. Her goal is to ensure fewer people ever have to face the fire at all.

Evie Fleming, Event Registration Chair, ensures the event runs smoothly, supported by her mother, April Woodyard from Columbia, SC and sister Wanda Simpkins, and longtime attendee Sally Richardson

Their stories reflect the spirit of the Red Shoe Lunch: community, compassion, and collective action.

SIDEBAR | Heart Disease Risks for Black Women

The Urgency

Black women face the highest rates of heart disease in the United States. Nearly 59% of Black women over age 20 live with some form of cardiovascular disease.

Major Risk Factors

High Blood Pressure — Black women experience the highest hypertension rates of any group, and only about a quarter have it under control.
Obesity — Nearly 57% of Black women are classified as obese, increasing strain on the heart.

Diabetes — Higher rates of both diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes elevate long‑term cardiovascular risk. · Family History — Generational patterns of early heart disease are more common in Black families.
Stroke Risk — Black women are twice as likely to experience a stroke compared to white women.

Healthcare Gaps

Black women are more likely to encounter:

Delayed diagnosis, even when symptoms are present
Under‑treatment due to implicit bias
Higher pregnancy‑related cardiac complications, including preeclampsia and cardiomyopathy

These disparities contribute to higher mortality and more severe outcomes.

Symptoms Often Missed

Heart attack symptoms in women—especially Black women—can be subtle:

Unusual fatigue
Nausea or vomiting
Shortness of breath
Back, jaw, or stomach pain
Lightheadedness

These are frequently mistaken for stress or exhaustion.

Prevention That Saves Lives

Know your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar
Schedule regular heart screenings
Manage stress and sleep
Maintain physical activity
Recognize symptoms early

Why Access Matters

Access to blood pressure monitors, preventive screenings, and culturally competent cardiac care dramatically improves outcomes—especially in underserved communities where risk is highest.

Looking Ahead

Blount announced that the 17th Annual Red Shoe Lunch will return on February 27, 2027.

The Red Shoe Lunch continues to grow in size, purpose, and impact. With its nonprofit status secured, all proceeds now support the Veronica Blount Memorial Foundation’s work in underserved communities. The organization will continue its annual giving campaign to the American Heart Association through the Veronica Blount Memorial Fund.

What began as six women in red shoes is now a movement—one that is saving lives, one household at a time.

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The Power of One Word: Cynthia Williams and the Discipline of Language

Atlanta wordsmith Cynthia Broughton Williams uses language with intention, shaping conversations, reframing conflict, and proving one well-chosen word can transform a moment.

Milton Kirby | Decatur, GA | February 24, 2026

In an age of endless scrolling and noisy conversations, Cynthia Williams practices something rare: the disciplined art of choosing the right word. On an ordinary Tuesday evening, a single word from her lit up a group chat. No explanation. No paragraph. Just a word — precise, disarming, and exactly what the moment required.

Within minutes, the conversation shifted. People slowed down. Reflected. Recalibrated.

That’s the quiet power of Cynthia’s gift: she knows how to choose the word that opens a window, softens a room, or sharpens a thought.

For eighteen years, I’ve watched her do this — not as a performance, but as a practice. A way of being. A way of caring.

The Origin Story: A Childhood Built on Books and Quiet Observation

Cynthia Broughton Williams grew up in Atlanta, the older of two children born to Robert and Edna Broughton. Her father and brother were both preachers, and the rhythms of sermons, scripture, and storytelling shaped her early ear for language.

Summers in the country gave her space to roam, imagine, and read — and she read everything.

Her brother’s health challenges often required her parents’ full attention. Cynthia learned early to make herself her own companion, and she did so through books. Dictionaries. Encyclopedias. Magazines. Library cards worn soft at the edges. She devoured forty Harlequin romances one summer and moved through serials with the same hunger. Reading wasn’t an escape; it was a foundation.

In school, she was frequently selected for special programs where she was often the only Black child in the room. Those spaces made language even more important.

“The words we choose speak volumes about how we communicate,” she told me. “They speak volumes about our intellect and our exposure.”

She understood early that language could be both a bridge and a barrier — and she intended to master it.

She did. Cynthia won spelling bees through middle school, excelled academically, and graduated third in her class at Murphy High School in Atlanta. She was the first speaker at her graduation ceremony — a moment that foreshadowed the voice she would later become in her community.

The Practice: How a Wordsmith Works

Cynthia won’t call herself a curator or a guide.

“I’m just a person who reads,” she insists.

But anyone who has received one of her words knows better.

Her process is instinctive, but it is also disciplined. Words come easily — most of the time. When they don’t, she pauses. Checks the spelling. Checks the meaning. Sending out errors is a pet peeve.

She reads multiple books at once: a self-help book, a lusty romance, and a resource text. Time is scarce, she is a licensed insurance agent with nearly three decades of experience but she still finds thirty minutes to read, even if it means finishing none of the books quickly.

In her early years she read the dictionary for pleasure. She read encyclopedias the way some people scroll social media. She was in Toastmasters and 4-H. She watches Bridgerton and plans to read the books.

She raised two children, Spencer and Christian, who became avid readers themselves — racing through Harry Potter, A Series of Unfortunate Events, and the Ramona books. In their house, reading was not a chore; it was a culture.

And yes — sometimes a competition.

The Community Impact: Words That Shape People

Over nearly two decades of friendship, I’ve seen Cynthia’s words do quiet, transformative work.

In group discussions, she is the one who names the thing everyone is circling. In moments of conflict, she offers a term that reframes the tension. In seasons of grief or uncertainty, she sends a word that feels like a hand on your back.

Her children experienced the weight of language too. Visiting cousins who spoke in heavy vernacular, they were sometimes asked, “Why do you talk white?”

Cynthia understood the sting — and the deeper truth behind it. People make judgments based on speech. They always have.

She taught her children that clarity is not conformity; it is power.

Her words have shaped friendships, deepened conversations, and created emotional clarity in spaces where people often struggle to articulate what they feel. She doesn’t force meaning. She simply offers it.

The Philosophy: Why Words Matter

Cynthia believes in the power of naming things. She believes language shapes relationships, reveals character, and signals curiosity. She believes that a single well-chosen word can do what a long explanation cannot: center a moment.

Her philosophy is simple: words matter because people matter. And choosing the right word is an act of respect for oneself and for others.

The Sweet Side of Perfection

Beyond language, Cynthia practices another form of precision: confectionary art.

On her Facebook page, Cynthia Broughton Williams, she shares beautifully crafted sweets — cakes, treats, and desserts shaped with the same care she gives to words. Frosting must be smooth. Lines must be clean. Details must be intentional.

The discipline is the same.

Whether she is crafting a sentence or decorating a cake, she approaches both with focus and patience. Precision is not about perfectionism. It is about respect for the work.

The Woman Beyond the Words

Now in her early 60s, Cynthia still lives in metro Atlanta the city where she was born. By day, she is a licensed insurance agent with nearly three decades of experience. By night, she reads. Reflects. Occasionally bakes.

She is warm, funny, grounded, and deeply observant. A mother. A professional. A lover of romance novels. A student of scripture. A woman who has built a life anchored in intention.

She insists she is not a curator. Not a guide.

But she is both in the way everyday people with extraordinary gifts often are.

Closing Reflection: A Word to Carry Forward

When I asked Cynthia what word captures the season of life she’s in now, she paused — the way she does when she’s searching for the exact right term.

She didn’t answer immediately. She rarely rushes a word.

She eventually softly said “resourceful.” The word commanded my attention as she always does.

Resourceful.

Because Cynthia Williams understands that language is a tool — and she uses it wisely.

And she offers that wisdom freely, one carefully chosen word at a time.

15 Years Strong: Women of Color Honored in Brookhaven Celebration

Chit Chat Communications celebrates 15 years of honoring women of color with a powerful Women’s History Month event in Brookhaven, spotlighting leadership and legacy.

Chit Chat Communications is celebrating a milestone year

By Milton Kirby | Brookhaven, GA | February 18, 2026

The community-based media and events platform will mark 15 years of honoring women of color during its annual Women’s History Month celebration on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. The event will be held at Brookhaven City Centre, 4001 Peachtree Road NE, Brookhaven, GA 30319.

What began as a local recognition effort has grown into a signature gathering that uplifts leadership, service, entrepreneurship, and cultural impact across metro Atlanta.

Founded and led by Carla Morrison, Chit Chat Communications has built its brand around storytelling, community connection, and elevating voices often overlooked in mainstream spaces. The annual Women’s History Month event reflects that mission.

This year’s celebration will spotlight a new class of honorees whose work spans business, education, civic engagement, health advocacy, and creative industries. Organizers say the evening is designed not only to recognize achievement but to create space for mentorship, collaboration, and intergenerational dialogue.

“For 15 years, we have intentionally created a platform that celebrates the brilliance, resilience, and leadership of women of color,” Morrison said in the release. “This event is about honoring legacy while inspiring the next generation.”

The Brookhaven celebration will feature award presentations, networking opportunities, and moments of reflection tied to the national observance of Women’s History Month. Attendees are expected to include community leaders, entrepreneurs, nonprofit executives, elected officials, and supporters from across the region.

Women’s History Month, observed each March, recognizes the vital contributions of women to American history, culture, and society. Events like this one provide a local lens on that national celebration, highlighting leaders whose impact is felt in neighborhoods, classrooms, boardrooms, and small businesses throughout metro Atlanta.

Organizers say the 15-year milestone offers a moment to look back at the dozens of women previously honored — many of whom continue to shape the region’s civic and economic landscape.

As Chit Chat Communications enters its next chapter, the organization says its commitment remains the same: amplify stories, build community, and celebrate the power of women whose leadership transforms lives.

Event details, including ticket information and honoree announcements, are available through Chit Chat Communications’ official channels.

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Rev. Jesse Jackson, Civil Rights Leader and Political Trailblazer, Dies at 84

Rev. Jesse Jackson, civil rights icon and presidential candidate, dies at 84, leaving a legacy of justice, hope, HBCU pride, and athlete equity reform.

By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | February 17, 2026

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a towering figure in the modern Civil Rights Movement and two‑time presidential candidate who reshaped American politics, has died at the age of 84. Jackson passed away peacefully at his home in Chicago, surrounded by family, according to his daughter Santita Jackson. The family has not released a cause of death, though Jackson publicly disclosed in 2017 that he had been battling Parkinson’s disease.

Born Jesse Louis Burns on October 8, 1941, in Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson later adopted the surname of his stepfather, Charles Henry Jackson, at age 15. From humble beginnings in the segregated South, he rose to become one of the most recognizable moral voices in America.

A graduate of North Carolina A&T State University, Jackson returned to his alma mater as commencement speaker in May 1984, just months after mounting a historic presidential campaign that energized millions. I was among the graduating seniors that day, watching him fuse faith, politics, and possibility in a message that was not simply celebratory but urgent and instructive. His words carried the cadence of a movement and the clarity of a mandate.

Jackson stood beside Martin Luther King Jr. at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis when King was assassinated in 1968. In the aftermath, he carried forward the unfinished work of economic justice, voting rights, and dignity for the poor. Through Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity) and later the Rainbow Coalition now the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition Jackson pressured corporations to open their boardrooms to minorities and women and demanded that public policy reflect the needs of the marginalized.

His fiery oratory and signature phrases “Keep Hope Alive” and “I Am Somebody” became rallying cries. For many young Americans watching from public housing and underfunded schools, his presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988 signaled that national leadership was within reach. His efforts helped widen the political pathway later walked by Barack Obama and other leaders of a new generation.

Jackson’s influence extended far beyond electoral politics. Decades before today’s debates over athlete compensation, he questioned the economic structure of college sports, criticizing universities for generating millions from football and basketball programs while players many of them young Black men saw none of the revenue beyond scholarships. His argument, once controversial, laid intellectual groundwork for what would later become Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) reforms, allowing college athletes to profit from their own brands.

On the global stage, Jackson negotiated the release of hostages abroad, including Americans held in Syria and Cuba, and engaged world leaders in diplomatic efforts rooted in human rights. His ministry blended spiritual conviction with political activism, bringing poetry and prophetic power into the public square.

U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock said, “America has lost one of its great moral voices… As a kid growing up in public housing while watching him run for President, Rev. Jesse Jackson gave me a glimpse of what is possible and taught me to say, ‘I am somebody!’”

Tributes echoed across political and generational lines. President Donald Trump called him “a force of nature like few others before him.” Al Sharpton described him as his mentor and “a movement unto himself.” Bernice King posted a photo of Jackson beside her father with the words, “Both now ancestors.”

Jackson’s life was not without controversy. He publicly acknowledged fathering a child outside his marriage, a revelation that tested his public image. Yet even amid personal trials, he remained a relentless advocate for justice.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Jacqueline Brown, and their five children: Santita, Jesse Jr., Jonathan, Yusef, and Jacqueline.

From Greenville to Memphis, from Chicago to Greensboro, Jesse Jackson spent more than half a century urging America to expand its moral imagination. He did not simply preach hope. He organized it. He demanded it. And for more than fifty years, he kept it alive.

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Charter School Funding and Tax Relief Dominate Pre-Crossover Debate

By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | February 16, 2026

With Crossover Day approaching and the legislative calendar tightening, Georgia lawmakers accelerated activity beneath the Gold Dome last week, advancing a slate of tax, education, and regulatory reform bills that are shaping the policy direction of the 2026 session.

The flurry of movement includes sweeping income tax proposals, early literacy initiatives, and structural changes to how state agencies interpret and implement Georgia law.

Tax Cut Proposals Move at Unusual Speed

Two major tax cut bills—Senate Bill 476 and Senate Bill 477—introduced just last week by Senate Appropriations Chair Blake Tillery, advanced rapidly through the Senate. The Senate Finance Committee approved both measures Tuesday, and the full Senate passed them Thursday.

SB 476, titled the Income Tax Reduction Act of 2026, would effectively eliminate the first $50,000 of taxable income for single filers and $100,000 for joint filers. The measure proposes offsetting revenue losses by phasing out corporate tax credits by 2032.

SB 477 would gradually reduce Georgia’s personal income tax rate to 3.99% by 2028.

The House is pursuing its own tax reduction path. House Bill 880, introduced by Rep. Shaw Blackmon, also aims to lower the income tax rate to 3.99% and would allow a portion of undesignated surplus funds to be used for tax relief. After carrying over from the 2025 session, HB 880 cleared the House Ways and Means Committee this week.

Blackmon is also sponsoring House Bill 1116, which received its first hearing. The proposal would authorize local governments and school systems to exempt homesteads from property taxes by shifting to local sales taxes instead. The bill includes caps on revenue growth from non-exempt properties and makes technical adjustments to education funding formulas and tax digest procedures.

Early Literacy Gains Momentum

Education policy is also advancing. Both chambers now have versions of the Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026—House Bill 1193, sponsored by Rep. Chris Erwin, and Senate Bill 459, sponsored by Sen. Billy Hickman.

The House version passed out of committee Thursday. Both proposals would fund K–3 literacy coaches through Georgia’s education formula and require kindergarten attendance before first grade. Supporters say the measures are designed to strengthen foundational reading skills and improve long-term academic outcomes.

Charter School Infrastructure and Regulatory Reform

Companion bills—Senate Bill 498 and House Bill 1253 would establish a Georgia Charter School Facilities Authority. The authority would provide revolving loans and public financing assistance for charter school construction and renovation projects.

Meanwhile, regulatory reform efforts are advancing. House Bill 1247, the Georgia Bureaucratic Deference Elimination Act, would end “Chevron-style” judicial deference at the state level by directing courts not to automatically defer to agency interpretations of Georgia law.

Another measure, House Bill 903, sponsored by Rep. Alan Powell, passed the House this week. The bill would expand the scope of Georgia’s Administrative Procedure Act, increasing transparency and oversight across the executive branch. HB 903 now heads to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

SIDEBAR: What Is Crossover Day?

Crossover Day is one of the most important deadlines in the Georgia General Assembly’s 40-day legislative session. It marks the point—typically Day 28—when a bill must pass out of its chamber of origin to remain viable for the year.

Why It Matters

A House bill must pass the House by Crossover Day to be considered by the Senate.
A Senate bill must pass the Senate to move to the House.
Bills that fail to “cross over” are effectively sidelined unless revived through procedural maneuvers or attached to other legislation.

What Happens on Crossover Day

Lawmakers often work late into the night.
Floor calendars are packed with high-profile and time-sensitive bills.
Leadership prioritizes measures with broad support or strategic importance.
Controversial bills sometimes move quickly, while others stall by design.

Why It Shapes the Session

Crossover Day forces legislators to make strategic choices:

Which bills advance
Which bills die quietly
Which issues will define the remainder of the session

For reporters and the public, it marks a clear dividing line between early-session positioning and late-session negotiation. After Crossover Day, attention shifts to reconciliation, amendments, and final passage before Sine Die.

A Compressed Timeline

With a shorter week ahead and Crossover Day looming, lawmakers are expected to intensify debate and floor action. Measures that do not pass at least one chamber by the deadline face a steeper path forward this session. As Georgia’s 2026 legislative agenda takes shape, TSJ will continue tracking the fiscal impact, education implications, and regulatory shifts emerging from the Gold Dome.

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Uncle Nearest to Remain Under Federal Control as Judge Evaluates Competing Claims of Solvency

From inside federal court, TSJ reports judge keeps Uncle Nearest in receivership, sets March 5 deadline amid $164M debt concerns and affiliate scrutiny.

After a marathon six-hour hearing, Judge Atchley orders supplemental briefing on missing records and “commingled” funds.

By Milton Kirby | Knoxville, TN | February 15, 2026

“The status quo shall remain unchanged,” the court wrote. “The Receiver continues to possess all the powers granted to him … and the receivership retains its original scope.”

In plain terms: the court‑appointed receiver remains in complete operational control of the company while the judge evaluates the evidence presented during Monday’s hearing.

Federal Judge Charles E. Atchley Jr. kept the Uncle Nearest receivership firmly in place Monday after a six‑hour hearing that among other issues, revisited questions about the company’s finances, governance, and record‑keeping. From my seat inside the courtroom, it was clear the judge saw enough unresolved issues to maintain full federal control while he reviews the new testimony and evidence.

Collins Challenges the Receiver

Much of Monday’s questioning was led by Michael Collins, attorney for Uncle Nearest. His direct examination of Receiver Phillip G. Young, Jr. focused sharply on three themes:

Whether the Receiver and his consultants were effectively managing the company
Whether the Receiver had been transparent about the company’s solvency
Whether the receivership itself was harming the brand’s operations

Collins pressed witnesses on financial assumptions, operational decisions, and communications with vendors. The strategy was clear: challenge the narrative that Uncle Nearest is irreversibly insolvent and question whether the Receiver’s management has improved or worsened the situation.

Anthony Severini’s Testimony

One of the most striking moments came during testimony from Anthony Severini, CFO of Global Genesis the company responsible for processing Uncle Nearest’s payroll.

Severini testified that Global Genesis believed in the Weavers and the long‑term viability of Uncle Nearest. Because of that trust, Global had processed payroll and extended 60‑day payment terms prior to the receivership, applying payments to the oldest outstanding invoices.

According to Severini, after the Receiver was appointed, he was told that pre‑receivership debts would effectively be stayed and that future payroll processing would be paid when due. He said the Receiver offered no assurances about prior balances.

Severini further testified that during an early conversation, the Receiver indicated he planned to sell the company by the end of 2025. He also said the Receiver described himself as “right‑sizing the ship” and suggested control would eventually return to company leadership.

In one of the more serious allegations presented in open court, Severini stated that the Receiver “lied” to him about the company’s financial condition. He testified that he did not learn of significant cash‑flow concerns on the part of the Receiver until January 2026.

These statements were presented as part of Uncle Nearest’s broader argument that the Receiver’s communications and management decisions have contributed to instability.

Notably, neither the Receiver’s attorney nor counsel for Farm Credit Mid‑America chose to cross‑examine Severini, leaving his testimony including his statement that the Receiver “lied” to him unrebutted in the record.

The Receiver’s Position

The Receiver, by contrast, has asserted that Uncle Nearest faces approximately $164 million in debt, missing documentation, and troubling intercompany transfers — including funds that flowed through Grant Sidney Inc.

The court has not ruled on the truth of these competing characterizations. Instead, Judge Atchley ordered supplemental briefing focused specifically on “new evidence and testimony” introduced at the hearing, including issues involving erased records, fund transfers, and solvency.

The “Affiliated Seven” and Scope Expansion

The hearing was also intended to address whether seven related entities including Humble Baron should be brought under receivership control.

Time constraints prevented full oral argument. The judge directed attorneys to address “flow of funds” and “commingling” concerns in written briefs due:

February 26, 2026 — Supplemental briefs
March 5, 2026 — Responses

After March 5, the court is expected to issue a decision on whether the receivership:

Continues
Expands
Or is terminated

The Funding Variable

The ruling also preserves a key condition tied to emergency financing.

Creditor Farm Credit Mid‑America has indicated it would provide $2.5 million in funding only if the Receiver remains in control. By maintaining the current structure, the judge ensures that option remains available while the dispute unfolds.

What Was Clear in the Room

From inside the courtroom, one thing was evident: this case is no longer just about numbers on a balance sheet.

It is about credibility of leadership, of management, of financial reporting, and of the receivership process itself.

Judge Atchley did not telegraph a decision. Instead, he signaled caution.

For now, the Receiver stays. The founders wait. And the future of one of the nation’s most prominent Black‑owned spirits brands remains under federal court supervision.

Once the March 5 filings land, Judge Atchley will decide whether to maintain the status quo, widen the receivership’s reach, or return control to the founders. TSJ will continue monitoring the docket and reporting developments from Knoxville.

“The status quo remains unchanged while the Court evaluates competing claims over solvency, transparency, and control.”

A Federal Judge Weighs Control, Cash Flow, and Confidence at Uncle Nearest

Is the Cure Worse Than the Crisis? Judge Weighs Uncle Nearest Receivership

Fight for a Billion-Dollar Brand: Weavers Move to Halt Receiver’s Actions

Uncle Nearest: A Billion-Dollar Brand, a $25 Million Question & The Unanswered Future

Receiver’s Report Says Uncle Nearest Can Be Reorganized

Uncle Nearest at Legal Crossroads

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DeKalb County’s 1.2M Shelter Investment Aims to Move Residents from Crisis to Stability

DeKalb County invests $1.2 million in a 400-bed emergency shelter on Gresham Road, launching a 90-day stabilization model to address homelessness.

By Milton Kirby | Decatur, GA | February 13, 2026

DeKalb County has committed $1.2 million to launch what leaders call a first-of-its-kind, 400-bed emergency shelter aimed at providing immediate safety and a clear pathway to housing for residents experiencing homelessness.

The new 90-day emergency shelter, located at 2582 Gresham Road, will be operated by Frontline Response, a nonprofit with years of experience serving individuals facing housing instability. County officials say the facility is part of a broader housing strategy centered on dignity, coordination, and long-term solutions.

“This investment reflects our belief that housing stability is fundamental to the health and well-being of our entire community,” said Lorraine Cochran-Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of DeKalb County. “By pairing emergency shelter with comprehensive services and strong partners like Frontline, we are creating real opportunities for people to stabilize, rebuild, and move forward.”

A Three-Phase Model

County leaders describe the shelter as more than a place to sleep. The program follows a coordinated three-phase approach designed to move individuals from crisis to stability.

Outreach and Rescue
County outreach teams will engage individuals living in encampments and public spaces. Teams will provide food, immediate assistance, and connections to services. The initiative also supports coordinated cleanups of encampments on public property, with an emphasis on communication and care.

Emergency Shelter with Wraparound Services
The 400-bed facility will offer temporary housing along with wraparound services. These include medical and dental care, behavioral and mental health services, substance use support, job readiness training, and access to other critical resources needed for stabilization.

90-Day Stabilization and Transition Support
Residents will receive three meals a day, access to showers and laundry facilities, behavioral health services, and intensive case management. The 90-day model is designed to prepare individuals for placement into transitional or long-term housing.

“This shelter is designed to be a bridge, not a destination,” said Dr. Alan Ferguson, DeKalb County’s Chief Housing Officer. “Our goal is to meet immediate needs while actively working toward permanent solutions.”

County officials point to transitional housing efforts such as the 500 Park Place initiative, which helps families move from extended-stay motels into stable housing, as part of that broader continuum of care.

Terry Tucker, Director at Frontline Response, said the goal is to meet people where they are.

“This shelter allows us to provide safety, structure, and services in one place, helping individuals regain stability and take the next steps toward housing and independence,” Tucker said.

The $1.2 million investment was approved by the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners as part of a comprehensive housing strategy that prioritizes affordable housing development, emergency shelter, and transitional housing solutions countywide.

For more information, residents can contact Frontline Response at 404-817-3502.

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A Federal Judge Weighs Control, Cash Flow, and Confidence at Uncle Nearest

A federal judge heard testimony on whether the Uncle Nearest receivership should continue, weighing claims of insolvency against arguments that court control has slowed recovery.

By Milton Kirby | Knoxville, TN | February 10, 2026

On a cold Monday morning in February, the future of a nationally watched American whiskey brand was argued not through press releases or filings, but inside a quiet federal courtroom in Knoxville, where tone, preparation, and credibility carried as much weight as any document.

At 10:00 a.m., the question before U.S. District Judge Charles E. Atchley Jr. was deceptively simple: should the court-ordered receivership overseeing Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey continue, or had it outlived its purpose?

What unfolded during several hours of testimony revealed a case less about a single balance sheet and more about control, delay, and whether a receivership meant to stabilize a company had instead become a constraint on its recovery.

A Courtroom Prepared for Conflict

Entry into the courtroom underscored the seriousness of the proceeding. All electronic devices were barred entirely collected in secured bins at the security checkpoint. Even attorneys granted special permission were required to keep phones powered off. The rule was absolute, creating a room focused entirely on testimony, documents, and the judge’s questions.

The courtroom itself had been configured in advance for a document-heavy hearing. Multiple viewing screens lined the walls. Counsel tables formed an L-shaped arrangement, with the receiver and his attorney seated directly before the judge and attorneys for Farm Credit Mid-America positioned against the wall to the receiver’s left.

By 9:15 a.m., Farm Credit’s legal team was the first to arrive, carrying boxes of documents and thick binders that would later populate the screens. Attorneys for Uncle Nearest arrived shortly afterward, carrying only backpacks. As the gallery filled, suited observers took seats on both sides of the aisle, some exchanging brief greetings the attorneys also greeted each other across party lines, suggesting professional familiarity despite opposing positions.

Photo by Milton Kirby – Uncle Nearest Flight

The Case Against the Receivership

Attorneys for Uncle Nearest opened by challenging the effectiveness of the receivership itself. They argued that the company’s financial decline coincided not with internal mismanagement, but with the filing of Farm Credit’s lawsuit in July 2025 and the subsequent appointment of a receiver the following month.

Central to that argument was market data. Counsel pointed to Nielsen reporting showing that Uncle Nearest outperformed the broader spirits market from January through July 2025. After the lawsuit was announced and the receivership imposed, they argued, the brand underperformed the market through January 2026—by double-digit percentages, in some months approaching 27 percent.

The receiver, Phillip G. Young Jr., was called as the first witness. Under questioning, he maintained that Uncle Nearest was cash-flow negative, insolvent, and unable to meet obligations as they became due. He testified that his mandate was not to grow the business but to stabilize it, preserve lender interests, and explore a potential sale.

Attorneys for Uncle Nearest countered that stabilization had come at the cost of operational paralysis. They argued that decision-making which once took minutes began to stretch into weeks after the receiver’s appointment, undermining sales execution and marketing strategy.

Operational Friction Under Oath

That theme was reinforced by testimony from Katherine Jerkins, the company’s Chief Business Officer. Jerkins testified that prior to the receivership, management decisions including promotions and pricing could be made in as little as 20 minutes. Afterward, decisions requiring receiver approval could take up to 30 days.

She pointed specifically to Limited Time Offers, a sales tool she described as critical to the brand’s momentum. According to her testimony, delays in approval rendered those programs ineffective, contributing to declining sales.

Independent third-party witnesses echoed concerns about disruption. Daniel Romano of Romano Beverage, a major distributor, testified that his company had sold the first case of Uncle Nearest whiskey and maintained a long-standing relationship with the brand. He emphasized the importance of founder Fawn Weaver’s personal presence, testifying that events featuring Weaver routinely sold out and that she remained central to the brand’s identity.

Anthony Severini, CFO of Global Genesis, testified that his firm continued processing Uncle Nearest payroll prior to the receivership based on trust in management and extended payment terms. He testified that after the receiver’s appointment, he was instructed that prior obligations would be stayed, with assurances only for future payroll. Severini further testified that he was not informed of the company’s cash-flow problems until January 2026.

Data, Doubt, and Credibility

The hearing also turned on competing interpretations of financial data. Kevin Laurin of NewPoint Advisors testified regarding documents submitted to the receiver but struggled under questioning to clearly explain how those materials captured the company’s financial condition.

Economist David Ozgo, president of Advocacy Analytics, testified in support of the Nielsen data relied upon by Uncle Nearest. Ozgo described Nielsen as a reliable industry benchmark covering roughly 40 percent of the spirits market, primarily national brands. While conceding that independent sellers were underrepresented, he testified that volume trends among large and small sellers generally move together. Under cross-examination, Ozgo acknowledged that he was compensated for his testimony.

At several points during testimony, Judge Atchley leaned forward in his chair, closely tracking witness responses and attorney questioning.

The Founder Takes the Stand

Photo by Milton Kirby – Uncle Nearest Street View

The final witness for Uncle Nearest was founder and CEO Fawn Weaver. Early in her testimony, Judge Atchley admonished Weaver for addressing the court directly, instructing her to wait for questions and respond only through counsel.

Weaver testified that management had begun cutting expenses prior to the receivership, reducing costs by approximately 40 percent. She further testified that the company paid $7.5 million in debt service to Farm Credit during 2025 before the receiver’s appointment.

Weaver described herself as the public face of the brand, testifying that her travel was frequently offset by paid speaking engagements and appearances. She asserted that the company’s consumer base is uniquely loyal, recounting that after the receivership was confirmed, she urged supporters on social media to purchase remaining inventory—and that they did.

She testified that with control returned, she could reengage that base and restore momentum. Weaver asked the court to return operational control to management while leaving the receiver in an oversight role, stating that consumers “still believe in me” and that she could rebuild the company.

Sidebar | Who Testified — and Why It Mattered

Phillip G. Young Jr. — Court-Appointed Receiver
Young testified that Uncle Nearest was insolvent, cash-flow negative, and unable to meet financial obligations as they became due. He emphasized that his mandate was not to grow the business but to stabilize it, preserve lender interests, and explore a potential sale—framing the receivership as protective rather than operational.

Katherine Jerkins — Chief Business Officer, Uncle Nearest
Jerkins testified that decision-making slowed sharply after the receiver’s appointment. She said actions that once took minutes could take weeks, weakening sales execution. Her testimony focused on the disruption of Limited Time Offers, which she described as key to prior growth.

Daniel Romano — Romano Beverage (Chicago)
Romano testified that his company sold the first case of Uncle Nearest whiskey and has maintained a long-standing distributor relationship. He emphasized founder Fawn Weaver’s role as the face of the brand, stating that events featuring Weaver routinely sold out.

Anthony Severini — CFO, Global Genesis
Severini testified that his firm continued processing payroll before the receivership based on trust in management and extended payment terms. He stated that after the receiver’s appointment, prior obligations were stayed, assurances applied only to future payroll, and that he was not informed of cash-flow problems until January 2026.

Kevin Laurin — NewPoint Advisors Corporation
Laurin testified about financial documents prepared for the receiver. Under questioning, he struggled to clearly explain how certain materials reflected the company’s financial condition, drawing scrutiny to the data relied upon during the receivership.

David Ozgo — President, Advocacy Analytics
Ozgo testified that Nielsen market data used by Uncle Nearest was valid and widely relied upon in the spirits industry. He stated that the brand outperformed the market prior to the receivership. Under cross-examination, he acknowledged being compensated for his testimony and that Nielsen does not fully capture independent sellers.

Fawn Weaver — Founder and CEO, Uncle Nearest
Weaver testified that management reduced expenses by roughly 40 percent before the receiver’s appointment and that $7.5 million in debt service was paid in 2025. She argued that her leadership and consumer loyalty are central to the brand’s success and asked the court to return control to management with the receiver in an oversight role.

No Ruling Yet

After hearing testimony, Judge Atchley offered an opportunity for additional evidence, then made clear that all existing orders would remain in effect. He directed the parties to submit briefs outlining what they believed should happen next and stated that he would rule after reviewing those submissions.

The hearing ended without a decision but not without signals. What the court ultimately decides may turn less on any single metric than on whether continued control by a receiver is stabilizing Uncle Nearest or quietly constraining the very recovery it was meant to protect.

Is the Cure Worse Than the Crisis? Judge Weighs Uncle Nearest Receivership

Fight for a Billion-Dollar Brand: Weavers Move to Halt Receiver’s Actions

Uncle Nearest: A Billion-Dollar Brand, a $25 Million Question & The Unanswered Future

Receiver’s Report Says Uncle Nearest Can Be Reorganized

Uncle Nearest at Legal Crossroads

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Council for Quality Growth Charts 2026 Course Under New Chairman Gerald McDowell

The Council for Quality Growth names ATL Airport CIDs Executive Director Gerald McDowell as 2026 Chair, setting transportation and mobility priorities for metro Atlanta’s future.

By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | February 8, 2026

The Council for Quality Growth has announced its 2026 Board of Directors and officers, naming Gerald McDowell as Chairman as the organization enters its 41st year advocating for balanced, responsible growth across metro Atlanta.

The 2026 Board was ratified during the Council’s 40th Annual Meeting & Legislative Reception, held December 18, 2025, at the Cherokee Town Club. More than 350 members, state legislators, and local elected officials attended the event, which also marked four decades of the Council’s influence on regional growth policy.

Council President-Elect Marci Collier Overstreet delivered welcome remarks on behalf of the City of Atlanta, while State Representative Matthew Gambill addressed attendees and presented a proclamation from Governor Brian Kemp recognizing the Council’s milestone. A second proclamation, from Mayor Andre Dickens, was also presented honoring the organization’s four decades of work promoting sustainable development.

The annual meeting also highlighted the Council’s achievements in 2025 under outgoing Chair Clyde Higgs, President and CEO of the Atlanta BeltLine. During Higgs’ tenure, the Council reached record membership and program participation and secured several notable regional policy wins, including work related to the City of Atlanta’s Tree Protection Ordinance, Forsyth County impact fees, and Cobb County stormwater utility fees.

McDowell, the Executive Director of the ATL Airport Community Improvement Districts, becomes the Council’s 39th Chairman. He has served on the Council’s Board since 2017 and joined its Executive Committee in 2022. At the Board’s first meeting of the year on January 23, McDowell outlined strategic priorities centered on transportation, mobility, and the intersection of public policy and private investment.

“Georgia is a leader in emerging mobility technology,” McDowell said, emphasizing the need for candid conversations about transit performance and the range of solutions available as metro Atlanta communities pursue high-capacity transportation options. He noted that the Council is uniquely positioned to bring together public officials and private mobility providers to help shape the region’s future.

Since 2015, McDowell has led ATL Airport CIDs through a period of expansion and innovation, including the relaunch of the Shift commuter services program supporting more than 157,000 workers, pilot projects in micro-transit and automated transit, and extensive infrastructure, landscaping, and public safety improvements across the 15.7-square-mile district. His work has focused heavily on partnerships with local governments, transportation agencies, and private stakeholders.

“Gerald brings a thoughtful and steady leadership style that will benefit the Council as we head into 2026,” said Michael Paris, President and CEO of the Council. “He understands the Council’s role and is focused on positioning the organization to effectively serve its members and the broader region.”

The Council also announced its 2026 officers: Rob Garcia of Pinnacle Financial Partners as Vice Chair, Ellen Smith of Parker Poe as Treasurer, and Audra Cunningham of Acre Consultants as Secretary. Higgs will remain in leadership as Immediate Past Chair. The full 2026 Board will include 96 voting members and two appointed seats.

Six new directors were elected to begin two-year terms in 2026: Lisa Exley of Volkert, Inc.; Ben Hefner of DCCM; Michael Hightower of The Collaborative Firm, LLC; Greg Mullin of AECOM; Anthony Rodriguez of the South Forsyth County CID; and Jue Wang of T. Dallas Smith & Company. As it begins its 41st year, the Council for Quality Growth says it will continue focusing on advocacy, education, and policy engagement aimed at strengthening metro Atlanta’s economic competitiveness while addressing infrastructure demands and quality-of-life challenges.

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