Mayor will condemn, close controversial shelter

ATLANTA — Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed says he will use eminent domain to condemn a controversial shelter and then move the occupants in four months.

Channel 2’s Dave Huddleston talked with officials with the shelter, and they say this has nothing to do with a health scare. Anita Beaty, executive director of the Peachtree and Pine Shelter, said,

“This is the last effort of the mayor doing the work of some of the developers and some of the larger corporations in Atlanta who’ve wanted this property for a long time.”

Officials with the 500 plus-bed shelter said they are ready to fight the mayor in court to keep the shelter up and running.  Vice Chairman Joe Beasley said, “I think the mayor is being used by some of the powerful forces what would just like to have this location.”

Reed said he decided to take the shelter through eminent domain after Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials told him the shelter was the cause of a nationwide tuberculosis outbreak. He said, “I’m going to use the full weight of my office and all of my authority as mayor of the city of Atlanta to hey will have to rule on it.

He said if they rule in his favor, he could condemn and close that property.” Reed will have to file the eminent domain juncture with the courts, and have the occupants moved out within four months.

WSBTV