East Atlanta: Mo Ivory Upsets Robb Pitts and East Atlanta Ice Cream is the Best

Before we get into it this week, heads up that we’re thinking of making some changes to our neighborhood coverage, and this area is under consideration for changes. We realized that some neighboring areas don’t have enough truly local news on a weekly basis, so we’re looking to address that with some neighborhood combinations. Our commitment is that we will try to keep coverage balanced across neighborhoods in consolidated newsletters so you don’t lose any of the rich local content you’re used to. We’d like your opinion on which neighborhood combinations are most helpful for you, though. Please let us know below:

Hey, East Atlanta! Mo Ivory just pulled off one of the more surprising upsets in recent Fulton County history, ousting longtime Commission Chair Robb Pitts in a runoff, and the ripple effects for county services and tax policy could land close to home. Meanwhile, your neighborhood ice cream spot — the walk-up shop that started right here — has officially been named the best in Georgia, which feels like something worth celebrating with a scoop. Lots more below, including a packed events week and some road changes you'll want to know about before you turn onto Moreland.

- News — Mo Ivory's upset win over Robb Pitts leads the week, alongside a paperwork error that's left Atlanta and Decatur schools short of millions in voter-approved education funds.
- Events — Southern Fried Queer Pride takes over the neighborhood all week, and The Earl rings in its 27th anniversary with a full run of shows — plus Pours for the Park at Oakland Cemetery on Thursday.
- Government — The Atlanta City Council's zoning committee tackles a proposed 59-acre truck terminal, a citywide self-storage moratorium, and a Cabbagetown landmark rezoning on Monday — and DeKalb is set to vote on millage rates, data center rules, and a $233.8 million water plant overhaul Tuesday.
- Construction — The Moreland Ave and Arkwright Place intersection is being converted to right-in/right-out only, so if that's on your regular route, now is the time to find your alternate — plus a new Grant Park bar fit-out and a Beltline kiosk permit worth watching.

Let's dive in.

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NEWS

Mo Ivory Unseats Fulton County Commission Chair Robb Pitts
In a significant Democratic primary runoff upset, Mo Ivory has defeated Robb Pitts, who has led the Fulton County Commission for years. The transition at the top means changes could be coming for county administration, property tax policy, and the public services that touch everyday life across Atlanta neighborhoods.

The best ice cream shop in Georgia is a local ATL favorite that started as a small walk-up shop in East Atlanta
Morelli’s, East Atlanta's own beloved walk-up ice cream spot, has officially been crowned the best ice cream shop in the entire state of Georgia (and this writer agrees with that decision). The shop has since grown beyond its East Atlanta roots with locations in Virginia Highland and Chattahoochee Food Works, but it started right here.

Atlanta to require walkways for construction projects
Anyone who's been forced into traffic or dead-ended by a blocked sidewalk mid-construction knows exactly why this matters. The Atlanta City Council is moving to mandate temporary pedestrian walkways around active construction sites, a policy shift that could make a real difference in fast-developing neighborhoods where projects seem to pop up on every other block.

Atlanta, Decatur schools owed millions in sales tax funds after paperwork error
A bureaucratic paperwork error has left both Atlanta Public Schools and City Schools of Decatur short of millions in E-SPLOST funds owed from DeKalb Schools — money voters approved specifically for education and capital improvements. Keep an eye on this one: funding delays of this scale have a way of showing up later in deferred maintenance, postponed projects, and tight school budgets.

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Southern Fried Queer Pride is back, and this week it takes over the neighborhood in a big way. The annual celebration of LGBTQ+ Southern culture brings music, art, food, and community together in a way that's become one of Atlanta's most distinctive and beloved traditions.

Monday, June 22
- Southern Fried Queer Pride
- EARL 27th Anniversary Series | The Earl
- Summer Safari Camp at Zoo Atlanta | Zoo Atlanta
- Simple Machine Scientists Summer Camp | Oakland Cemetery

Tuesday, June 23
- Final Memorial Drive Greenway Open House | The Overlook at the Oakland Cemetery Visitor Center
- Widowspeak | The Earl
- Lorenzo & Co | 529 Bar
- CBF26 Sparkles Rink Grant Park Trip | Grant Park Recreation Center

Wednesday, June 24
- Reynoldstown Trivia Night | Wylie & Rum

Thursday, June 25
- Pours for the Park Benefiting the Grant Park Conservancy | Oakland Cemetery
- Babyface Ray and 42 Dugg - 4 THE TRENCHES TOUR | The Eastern
- Total Chaos | The Earl
- Drunk High Sober Comedy Show | Argosy

Friday, June 26
- Big K.R.I.T. w/ Kirby | The Eastern
- The El Caminos | The Earl
- Graveyard Hours | 529 Bar

Saturday, June 27
- Daylong Meditation Retreat with Lama Rod Owens | The Anchor
- Black Magnolias | Oakland Cemetery
- Atlanta Bushwick Bookclub | Buteco
- Sonido Gallo Negro | The Earl
- Pentagram | 529 Bar
- Syd Howell's 40TH B-Day Celebration. | 529 EAV
- Lemur Wild Encounter | Zoo Atlanta
- Warthog Wild Encounter | Zoo Atlanta
- Elephant Wild Encounter | Zoo Atlanta
- Petting Zoo Painters Wild Encounter | Zoo Atlanta
- Oakland Tour | Oakland Cemetery

Sunday, June 28
- Margaret Mitchell and Gone with the Wind | Oakland Cemetery
- Oakland Tour | Oakland Cemetery

GOVERNMENT

Note: our information comes from posted meetings documents (agendas and minutes when available) — latest source document hyperlinked to each meeting.

Past Week Roundup

Atlanta City Council

The full Atlanta City Council met on June 15 and approved several consequential items, starting with the city's Fiscal Year 2027 budget and the accompanying ad valorem property tax rates — decisions that set the financial course for city services, parks, the Beltline, and debt payments for the coming year. The council also took up an ordinance authorizing the city to purchase nearly 30 acres of forested land for permanent greenspace preservation, funded through the Tree Trust Fund and park impact fees. A new pedestrian safety ordinance was on the table that would require Atlanta's Department of Transportation to establish protected temporary detour routes whenever sidewalk construction blocks a walkway. Notably, a proposed commercial truck ban on several streets in the Cabbagetown neighborhood was considered, aimed at curbing cut-through freight traffic on residential roads. The council also weighed a mix of rezoning requests — including a major mixed-use proposal on Sylvan Road that city planners recommended denying and a Woodland Avenue annexation paired with multifamily zoning — reflecting the ongoing pressure on Atlanta's land-use map. A separate Committee on Council meeting the same morning confirmed that minutes are available, and that body considered changes to public comment procedures at council meetings, board appointments to the BeltLine TAD Advisory Committee and the Atlanta Citizen Review Board, and a pending resolution requesting an independent investigation into contracts tied to former Municipal Clerk Foris Webb III.

Fulton County Board of Commissioners

Note: minutes are not yet posted for this June 17 meeting, so the following reflects what was scheduled — items may have been tabled, deferred, or modified. The Fulton County Board of Commissioners had affordable housing and historic preservation at the top of its agenda, with votes scheduled on grants to convert 66 Downtown Atlanta market-rate apartments into affordable units, fund a new 20-unit affordable development in English Avenue, and restore the historic George and Grace Towns Hamilton Homes — two properties significant to Atlanta's Civil Rights history. Commissioners were also set to authorize more than $5.2 million in technology contracts, including a $1.77 million cybersecurity upgrade to replace aging internal firewall equipment and telecom contracts with AT&T and Comcast totaling $3.5 million. A grant for site preparation work at the future Andrew Young International Institute for Peace and Reconciliation in Vine City was also on the docket. A proposed $8.96 million election staffing contract with Abacus Corporation for temporary clerical help during the General and Runoff Elections was removed from the agenda before any vote could be held, which may draw scrutiny given the scale of the contract and the proximity to election season.

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Committee of the Whole

Note: minutes are not yet posted for this June 18 meeting, so the following reflects what was scheduled — items may have been tabled, deferred, or modified. DeKalb County's Committee of the Whole had a packed agenda headlined by public hearings on the 2026 property tax millage rates and budget revisions — the process that determines what county homeowners owe next year. On the infrastructure front, the committee was set to consider a staggering $233.8 million design-build contract to demolish and rebuild major components of the Scott Candler Water Treatment Plant, alongside a $325.5 million multi-year on-call contract for general water and sewer repairs countywide. Two multi-use trail expansion projects were also up for consideration: a $3.12 million design contract for Phase VI of the South River Trail and a $998,946 contract to design a new segment of the North Fork Peachtree Creek Trail. The agenda also included long-anticipated data center regulations — proposed zoning standards and a possible moratorium on new data center permits pending a third-party environmental and health assessment — a debate that has drawn significant county attention in recent months.

Meetings This Week
- Atlanta City Council — Zoning Committee — Monday, June 22 at 11:00 AM
A packed zoning agenda includes a proposed 59-acre truck terminal on Jonesboro Road, a city-wide 180-day moratorium on new self-storage facilities, and rezoning requests to convert industrial sites on White Street and Ellsworth Industrial Boulevard into mixed-use apartment communities. Multiple single-family to duplex conversions are also on the docket across several neighborhoods. A rezoning case for 708 Kirkwood Ave SE — currently in the Cabbagetown Landmark District — is scheduled to be heard; the local NPU has recommended denial.

- Atlanta City Council — Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee — Monday, June 22 at 1:00 PM
The committee will consider a $3.39 million land purchase from MARTA to build a new EMS and fire station at Lindbergh City Center, a proposed ordinance that would allow forensic audits of alcohol-licensed businesses under police investigation, and a lease agreement for the APD Zone 6 Main Precinct at 2025 Hosea Williams Drive SE. Two lawsuit settlements totaling $520,000 are also scheduled for votes.

- Atlanta Public Schools — Board of Education — Tuesday, June 23
The board is scheduled to take up a draft Electronic Payments and Funds Transfer Policy, a review of the district's student technology use policy, and a discussion on how underutilized school facilities may be repurposed or managed as community assets.

- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Committee of the Whole — Tuesday, June 23 at 9:00 AM
No agenda is available yet for this meeting.

- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Board of Commissioners — Tuesday, June 23 at 9:00 AM
Commissioners are scheduled to vote on the 2026 property tax millage rates, proposed increases to stormwater utility and sanitation fees, and a potential moratorium on land disturbance permits for new data centers pending a health and environmental impact study. Also on the agenda: a $3.12 million design contract for Phase VI of the South River Trail and a $233.8 million design-build contract for upgrades to the Scott Candler Water Treatment Plant.

- Atlanta City Council — City Utilities Committee — Tuesday, June 23 at 10:00 AM
The committee will consider changes to solid waste fees and backyard trash collection eligibility, a $2 million transfer to fund stream stabilization at Chastain Park Golf Course, and an $1.88 million land acquisition for a constructed wetlands stormwater project. More than $36 million in water and sewer system repair contracts are also scheduled for votes.

- Atlanta City Council — Community Development/Human Services Committee — Tuesday, June 23 at 1:30 PM
The committee is set to consider an ordinance that would codify free admission at all city pools and indoor natatoria, a 20-year agreement with L.E.A.D., Inc. to build a new community center near Center Hill Park, and a $250,000 transit-oriented development study for the Ashby MARTA Station area. A land-use change proposal for 708 Kirkwood Ave SE — from low-density residential to low-density mixed use — is also on the agenda.

- Atlanta City Council — Transportation Committee — Wednesday, June 24 at 10:00 AM
The committee will consider permanently closing a block of Jesse Hill Jr. Drive SE near Grady Hospital to create a pedestrian plaza, new consumer protection rules for private parking lots, and a resolution requesting the mayor to renegotiate the "More MARTA" transit agreement. A $2.63 million safe streets design contract for Pryor Street and Central Avenue is also scheduled for a vote.

- Atlanta City Council — Wednesday, June 24 at 12:30 PM
No agenda is available yet for this meeting.

- Atlanta City Council — Finance/Executive Committee — Wednesday, June 24 at 1:30 PM
The committee is scheduled to consider a resolution requesting Fulton County commit $200 million toward hospital and healthcare expansion on Atlanta's Southside and Westside, along with an ordinance to set the city's FY2027 property tax rates. Also on the agenda: a proposed surcharge on electronic payments to the city, free youth summer camp programming, a $75,000 grant to a senior home repair nonprofit, and a $63 million airport lounge construction agreement with Delta Air Lines.

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Permits
- 571 Memorial Dr SE — A bakery is coming, with a twist: this spot is converting from restaurant to mercantile, with a new commercial kitchen in the works. The interior and exterior are both getting reworked. Permit is routed for review, so it's not a done deal yet — but worth watching.
- 1039 Grant St SE — A 2,642 sq ft restaurant and bar fit-out is under review. New finishes, fixtures, and the works. Grant Park's dining scene may have another contender on the way.
- 915 Glenwood Ave SE — An electrical service point for a Beltline Trail kiosk got the green light. Small permit, but it signals continued investment in the Beltline corridor through this stretch of Glenwood.
- 170 Blvd SE — A condo unit at this multifamily building is getting a renovation that includes removing an existing spiral staircase, among other interior changes. Permit is pending.
- 535 Gresham Ave SE — Two mini-splits and an ERV (energy recovery ventilator) installed at this commercial address. Routine mechanicals, but ERV systems suggest a space being prepped for occupancy or upgraded tenant use.
- 390 Stovall St SE — Two separate HVAC permits filed back-to-back for heat pump replacements on different units (3202 and 3302). Keeping the systems running at what appears to be a larger commercial property.

Road Work

Under Construction
- I-20 Lighting Upgrade (Capitol Ave to Flat Shoals Rd) — GDOT is swapping out old high-pressure sodium lights for energy-efficient LEDs along this stretch of I-20 through Fulton and DeKalb counties. Expect crews working along the corridor; the work zone runs close to Reynoldstown and Capitol Gateway, so give yourself extra time if you're merging onto I-20 in either direction.
- SR 42/Moreland Ave at Arkwright Place — Intersection Overhaul — This Fulton County project is converting the Moreland Ave and Arkwright Place intersection into a right-in/right-out only. A new median will block left turns and through movements, so if you currently cut through that intersection heading to or from East Atlanta Village, your route is changing. Plan accordingly and scout your alternate now.
- SR 154 (Memorial Drive) — Pedestrian Crossing Improvements — Crews are adding a mid-block pedestrian crossing, a right-in/right-out, and a restricted crossing U-turn between Hill Street and Pearl Street, spanning both Fulton and DeKalb counties. Expect lane disruptions along Memorial Drive while work is active — this is a busy corridor for anyone moving between Grant Park and points east.
- SR 260 (Glenwood Ave) — Pedestrian Safety Beacons — Multiple Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacons (RRFBs) are going in at Brownwood Ave, Joseph Ave, Haas Ave, and Eastside Ave. These are pedestrian-activated crossing signals, so the good news is safer crossings when it's done — the short-term reality is active work at several intersections along Glenwood. If this is part of your daily walk or drive, expect some shuffling around the work zones.

Pre-Construction

- BeltLine Southside Trail – Segments along Bill Kennedy Way/SR-154 Connector (Fulton County) — Two funded segments of the Southside Trail are moving through pre-construction, covering the stretch along Bill Kennedy Way between Glenwood Avenue and Woodward Avenue, including a new trail bridge over I-20. This is a big one for the neighborhood — when it's built, it closes a key gap in the Southside Trail and adds a dedicated crossing over the interstate.
- SR-154/Memorial Drive Corridor Improvements (Fulton County) — Sidewalk expansions and ADA upgrades along Memorial Drive between Connally Street and Grant Street, filling in missing and damaged sections. Paired with a separate auxiliary lanes project on the same stretch, the corridor is clearly getting a longer-term overhaul — though neither is breaking ground yet.
- Atlanta Traffic Signal Enhancements – Phase II (DeKalb & Fulton Counties) — Signal equipment upgrades, improved detection, ADA ramp work, and fiber/4G communications across a broad set of intersections spanning both counties. No specific intersection list is public-facing yet, but if your commute touches either county, this will eventually affect your signal timing.
- I-20 Downtown Connector Scoping Study (Fulton County) — GDOT is in early scoping on a 5.46-mile section of I-20 and the I-75/I-85 Downtown Connector. Nothing is designed or funded for construction yet — this is the study phase — but it's worth watching given how directly that interchange affects access in and out of East Atlanta.

Service Requests

Potholes — Reported on Flat Shoals Ave SE (two locations), Chester Ave & Glenwood Ave, Newton Ave SE, Hardee St & Walthall St, and Kirkwood Ave & Cleveland St, among others.

Traffic Signal Issues — Five signals flagged for repair at Glenwood Ave & Bill Kennedy Way, Flat Shoals Ave SE & Metropolitan Ave, Georgia Ave SE & Hill St, Georgia Ave SE, and Glenwood Ave & Brownwood Ave.

Right of Way Litter — Cleanup requested on Gresham Ave SE and Park Ave SE.

Overgrowth — Visibility issues reported at Braeburn Dr & Pasley Ave and Moreland Ave SE & Metropolitan Ave.

Sign Repair — Memorial Dr & Grant St flagged for repair or replacement.

Graffiti Removal — Reported on Glenwood Ave SE.