Atlanta City Council Honors Senior Advocate Ben Howard

Photo Credit: atlantaprogressivenews.com

The Atlanta City Council honored one of the strongest thorns in its side  when it announced that July 15 was  “Ben Howard Appreciation Day.”

Elected officials, community leaders and friends gathered in the Atlanta City Hall chambers  where Howard received three proclamations.

The proclamations were timed to coincide with Howard’s 80th birthday, which was July 16.

Atlanta City Councilman Michael Julian Bond (Post 1-at-large), who presented the proclamation to Howard, described him as “one who speaks truth to power, who is not afraid to go to Caesar and demand that Caesar does well for his people… someone who is not afraid of the halls of power and knows that only when something is demanded of it, will power concede.”

Council members Kwanza Hall (District 2), Natalyn Archibong (District 5), CT Martin (District 10), Keisha Lance Bottoms (District 11), and Council President Ceasar Mitchell made remarks in honor of Howard.

Fulton County Commissioner Robb Pitts (District 2) presented the proclamation from the county.  The commissioner expressed his appreciation for Howard serving as his personal representative on Fulton County’s Commission on Elderly Affairs (COEA) where Howard is working to improve the quality of life of senior citizens throughout the county.  Pitts told Howard that the Board of Commissioners “could not do what we do without people like you.”

State Rep. “Able” Mable Thomas (D-Atlanta), presented a proclamation in honor of Howard’s birthday.  Thomas then led the group in a spirited verse of Stevie Wonder’s “Happy Birthday.”

Also attending the ceremony to honor Howard were Ray Abram of Neighborhood Planning Unit R, activist Steve Carr, Atlanta Progressive News Editor Matthew Charles Cardinale, Melinda Isreal of QLS, Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education candidate Anne McKenzie, Jim Schneider of the Atlanta Planning and Advisory Board, activist Ron Shakir, Jawara Uzachi of the Purpose Driven Men of QLS, and writer Patricia “Ma’ma Ajike” Williams.

Many spoke of having been touched by Howard’s spirit and commitment, which has inspired and motivated them for be more responsible citizens…

Read More: atlantaprogressivenews.com

 

Democracy needs journalism it can trust.

This election season, the stakes are higher than usual — and so is the pressure on newsrooms to soften their coverage, stay quiet, or just disappear. Independent reporting, the kind that answers to readers instead of advertisers or political pressure, matters more in a moment like this, not less.

For over 14 years, Atlanta Black Star has stayed independent and reader-funded. We have no corporate owner and no shareholders telling us what to cover or how to cover it. That independence is also our biggest vulnerability: nothing protects it except readers choosing to fund it directly.

Newspaper ad revenue has fallen more than 80% since 2005, and local newsrooms are closing at a rate of roughly two a week nationwide. When outlets go under in a moment like this, it's rarely the independent, reader-funded ones that get to stick around.

We know a request for support isn't why you came here. But without readers choosing to fund this work directly, the depth of reporting we can do at home and abroad shrinks along with everyone else's. If you're not in a position to give, that doesn't change how much we value you as a reader.

If you are able to, a recurring contribution does more for us than a single one-time gift, because it lets us plan the next investigation instead of just the next invoice. It takes about 30 seconds, no long form, no account. Thank you for continuing to support independent journalism and freedom of the press.

Back to top