NEW STATUTE ALTERS DEFINITION OF DISORDERLY CONDUCT

The Atlanta City Council voted Monday to repeal an ordinance on
disorderly conduct that was widely condemned after the November
shooting death of Kathryn Johnston by Atlanta narcotics officers
serving a no-knock warrant.

In meetings following her death, residents raised a number of concerns
related to police enforcement that were not directly connected to
Johnston's case. Some contended that Atlanta police officers were
using the ordinance to arrest people who were standing together but
not causing any trouble. The ordinance that replaces it defines
disorderly conduct as actions including those that are violent or
impede passage, or constitute a gathering for the purpose of gambling
or tricking people to get their money.

Councilman Ivory Lee Young, who sponsored the bill, said more than
half the cases made under the previous ordinance were dismissed for
lack of evidence. He said the better solution to addressing problems
targeted by the old ordinance was to provide for better investigations
by narcotics officers.

In other action, the council deferred until April 16 a vote on a
proposal to extend the 1 percent sales tax for MARTA until 2047.
Several council members said they support MARTA but were not prepared
to vote on the tax extension without more discussion.

The extended tax would go toward four priorities, said Gloria Gaines,
MARTA's assistant general manager for planning: two new rapid transit
bus routes, one from the H.E. Holmes Station to Fulton Industrial
Boulevard and one from the Garnett Station to the Mall at Stonecrest;
transit for the Beltline corridor; and a direct transit link from the
Lindbergh Station to Emory University.

Councilwoman Clair Muller, who chairs the council's Transportation
Committee, said she may ask the council to hold an emergency meeting
before April 16 to consider the proposal. She said she hopes Atlanta
passes it before the Fulton and DeKalb commissions get credit for
being first to OK the sales tax extension.