A webinar regarding return to work guidelines and recommendations was hosted on Thursday, May 28th by companies Sterling Seacrest Partners, HunterMaclean, and Employment Development Strategies, Inc. An audience of over 160 statewide business and community leaders heard from a panel of industry experts via a live Zoom meeting with suggestions about return to work protocol.
The panel discussion was led by Sterling Seacrest Partners Chief Operating Officer Brett Godwin and included HunterMaclean Partner Christopher “Smitty” Smith, HunterMaclean Partner Sarah Lamar, and Employment Development Strategies President Suzanne Kirk.
A variety of topics were discussed during the webinar referencing business insurance coverage, employment law, company culture and communication, and business litigation. Attendees were allowed to submit questions prior to the event and at the end during a Q&A format.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury is currently mailing Economic Impact Payments (EIP) in the form of prepaid debit cards. Most Americans already received their EIP either by direct deposit to their bank account or in the form of a mailed check. However, the debit cards are being sent to some consumers for whom the IRS did not have bank account information on file. The Treasury announced that this method allows them to provide the money “efficiently and securely” to eligible recipients.
Consumers have contacted the Better Business Bureau (BBB), thinking these cards may be a scam. One consumer reported their concern on BBB Scam Tracker saying, “The letter states this is our Economic Impact Payment card and has a Department of the Treasury seal on the letter. Included is a prepaid debit card… it is being sent to us on behalf of the US Department of the Treasury in place of a paper check. This has to be a scam! We would appreciate it if you would check into this for us and others.”
Rest assured, the IRS is, indeed, sending out prepaid debit cards. The IRS website states, “Some payments may be sent on a prepaid debit card known as The Economic Impact Payment Card. The Economic Impact Payment Card is sponsored by the Treasury Department’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service, managed by Money Network Financial, LLC and issued by Treasury’s financial agent, MetaBank®, N.A.”
Consumers do, however, need to be vigilant to ensure that the card they receive is legitimate, and to be on the lookout for scams.
Tips on how to recognize a legitimate EIP card:
It will arrive in a plain envelope with the return address of “Money Network Cardholder Services.”
The Visa® name will appear on the front of the card; the back of the card has the name of the issuing bank, MetaBank®, N.A.
The welcome kit explains more about the EIP card. Please go to EIPcard.com for more information and to see a sample image of the card.
Once the card has been verified:
Activate the card by calling the number provided, setting a 4-digit PIN.
Sign the card.
Keep the card in a safe place.
Do not share the information on the card with anyone.
Use the card anywhere Visa cards are accepted and/or get cash back at a retailer or ATM. Note that most transactions are free, but certain uses could incur fees. For more questions, visit EIPcard.com/FAQ.
BBB warns that scammers may try to text, call or email you, trying to get you to give up your card number or your personal information. Report any phishing or scam attempts to the IRS and file a report with BBB Scam Tracker to warn others not to fall for the scam.
Cook & James, the Atlanta-area based real estate law firm known for pioneering at-home closings, has added Sarah Stitgen to its attorney staff and promoted several other deserving team members. Today’s announcements mark the firm’s ongoing, measured yet aggressive growth trajectory begun in 2017 and intensified as the firm served real estate closing transaction needs in the recent weeks of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Stitgen will take the lead on closings in the firm’s satellite Woodstock, Ga. office but will also be a key closing attorney as the firm continues to handle real estate transactions via at-home, mobile, curbside and more across the Atlanta metro area.
Cook & James also today announced a series of promotions. Chuck Biskobing becomes a senior attorney immediately, recognized for his steadiness, optimism and flexibility historically and during the global pandemic; he played a key role as the firm developed its response to the COVID-19 crisis. Mary Jackson has been promoted to senior operations manager; she layers on additional oversight immediately while continuing her prior responsibility for leading all marketing outreach at the firm known for its creative and uplifting take on the work/life balance. Taylor Winne has been promoted to paralegal from her previous position as an office administrator and assumes her new responsibilities immediately.
“Bringing Sarah on board has relieved a huge pressure on the rest of our legal team,” said Kara Cook, co-founding partner of Cook & James. “These last few months have been incredibly busy for us and we refuse to sacrifice customer service and our signature convenient at-home closings no matter the situation. Being able to add head count and rely on our capable team members has been critical to us all doing an excellent job for our clients.”
Stitgen comes to Cook & James after having handled $10 to $100 million commercial contracts for a large environmental engineering firm as well as doing legal work in consumer bankruptcy, mortgage default and real estate closings. She graduated from John Marshall Law School in 2008 after earning her undergraduate degree and a master’s in public administration from Kennesaw State University. Originally from Detroit, she was raised in Georgia with brothers so says she plays every sport under the sun, although basketball and softball are her favorites. She is often called in as a ringer on company coed softball teams, enjoys yoga and wishes her 20-something son lived closer than Arizona, where he works. She and her husband live in Acworth, Ga. where, together with their own dogs, they cheer for the University of Georgia Bulldogs.
“Sarah fits so well into our Cook & James culture of hard work, candor and fun and we are thrilled to have her on board,” said Heather James, co-founding partner at Cook & James. “We also deeply appreciate the collective efforts of Chuck, Mary and Taylor and it is our honor to properly recognize them with their respective and well-deserved promotions. The success at Cook & James is thanks to the hard work of people like them and, in fact, our entire team.”
Pilgrim and Young speak at a June 1 press conference. (Courtesy WSB)
The Morehouse and Spelman students brutally tased and removed from a car in Downtown during the May 30 protests spoke out Monday evening surrounded by family and legal counsel.
The incident was caught on video widely circulated on social media that showed five officers using excessive force to arrest Morehouse student Messiah Young, 22, and Spelman student Taniyah Pilgrim, 20, on International Boulevard near Centennial Olympic Park. Footage from one of the body cameras worn by an officer is available at this link, but be warned it is graphic.
Two of the five officers – APD Fugitive Unit Investigators Mark Gardner and Ivory Streeter – were fired on May 31, while the other three have been assigned desk duty pending further disciplinary action. City District Attorney Paul Howard announced he is reviewing the case for criminal charges against the officers.
The students said they were not part of the George Floyd protests nor did they know about the curfew hastily called by Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms on Saturday night. Their attorneys said the students were on a date getting food and got caught up in traffic.
Pilgrim thanked supporters and described the incident as the most traumatic thing that had ever happened in her life. “If the cameras weren’t there we don’t know what might happened,” Pilgrim said then apologized to the public who had to witness the “disgusting” video images of her arrest.
Young, who was driving the car, spent the night in jail despite having the taser prongs embedded in his back, a fractured arm, and in need of 20 stitches. He appeared at the press conference wearing a cast.
Young thanked his “support system” of AUC students and family. “At the end of the day, it’s a blessing that I’m alive and can talk with you and express what is occurring at this moment. This is a long fight. I’s not just about me or us, it’s about an entire generation dealing with brutality and injustice because of the color of their skin, preferences or originality. We will get through this together.”
Young’s attorney, Mawuli Davis, said his client and Pilgrim had never been arrested and refuted reports that there was a gun or drugs in the car. Davis said he believed the couple was targeted because they filming the protests happening around them.
Mayor Bottoms said when she announced the firing of the officers that charges against Young and Pilgrim would be dropped. Davis said he had yet to see the paperwork but would work to make sure his client’s arrest record was expunged.
Pilgrim said another officer, which she identified as Officer A. Jones, also deserved to be fired or charged. “Officer Jones was disgusting and did the worst thing imaginable. He said he was going to shoot us. We felt like we were going to die in that car.
Pilgrim, who was not charged, said she sat for hours in a jail bus and was refused a protective mask to prevent spread of COVID-19 even when she told officers she had asthma.
Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and local health officials are concerned that the ongoing protests over the killing of George Floyd could cause a spike in COVID-19 cases. Thousands of people have converged on the city for the past four days, making social distancing impossible. “If you’re out there protesting, then you need to go get a COVID-19 test this week,” Mayor Bottoms said during a weekend press conference. “There’s still a pandemic in America killing black and brown people at a higher rate.” As of 1 p.m. on June 1, there were 47,618 confirmed cases in the state and the death toll stands at 2,074.
The state’s bars and nightclubs are officially allowed to open today, June 1, after Gov. Brian Kemp eased restrictions last week. Nightspots are allowed to reopen if they follow mandatory measures to “ensure patron well-being,” including limiting the number of customers to 25 people at a time or 35 percent of their total occupancy space. Many bars and restaurants – including popular spots like Dark Horse Tavern, MJQ, Mary’s, Euclid Avenue Yacht Club, and Trader Vic’s – are waiting a little longer until they can increase occupancy. Be sure to check your favorite watering hole’s website or social media before going out for drinks.
The Georgia Department of Education and Department of Public Health has released guidance for public schools to reopen this fall. The 10-page report, Georgia’s Path to Recovery for K-12 Schools, are not rules – since each school system operates independently under the state constitution – but offer recommendations for superintendents on how to interpret advice from local state health officials.
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Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has extended the curfew for a third night, June 1, ahead of planned protests in Downtown this evening. The curfew will go into effect at 9 p.m. and continue until sunrise on Tuesday, June 2.
Protesters rallied at Atlanta City Hall this afternoon before marching to to the jail and other parts of Downtown. A larger protest is planned for this evening, starting at 5 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Site and marching to Centennial Park.
Atlanta Police made 292 arrests over the weekend as protests over the killing of a George Floyd by Minnesota police rocked the city and nation.
Tim Pinkham and the Agave staff load up meal for delivery.
While the state has loosened restrictions and many dining rooms have reopened, Intown restaurants are still navigating the decidedly abnormal “new normal” as the COVID-19 outbreak continues.
Experts believe that the “stay at home” mandate and fear of catching the virus has forever changed dining at restaurants. The ease of delivery, takeout and curbside pickup has become ingrained over the last few months, and many diners may only occasional return to actually eat in the dining rooms of their favorite restaurants.
Agave managing partner Tim Pinkham said the Cabbagetown restaurant, famed for its Southwestern fare, didn’t even offer delivery before the pandemic.
“We had to change our business model,” Pinkham said. “We thought our food didn’t travel well for delivery, but we quickly secured partnerships with DoorDash and Grubhub and our customer base made the transition.”
Agave has built a loyal fanbase over its 20 years and kept in contact with regulars through Facebook and Instagram, who were happy to pick up their cayenne fried chicken and margarita kits curbside or delivered straight to their door.
To keep its staff employed and keep up revenue flow, Agave also opened a weekend “fresh market” in its parking lot where customers can order online, drive up, and get fresh meats and vegetables.
Agave reopened its dining room with limited seating on June 1, so reservations are a must. Visit agaverestaurant.com to make a reservation and see safety guidelines for the restaurant.
“Dining out habits are going to change, and I think people will be enjoying food from their favorite restaurants at home more often, so we have to adapt for that,” Pinkham said.
Flying Biscuit Midtown
Joseph Hsiao, who co-owns breakfast/brunch mainstay Flying Biscuit in Candler Park and Midtown, said both locations shifted immediately to takeout, curbside and delivery.
“We already had partnerships with UberEats, Grubhub, DoorDash and Postmates, and we saw a surge in delivery orders.”
Hsiao had to layoff 80 percent of his staff but brought them all back in mid-May as it geared up to reopen its dining rooms. He said diners would likely be surprised when they return not only to Flying Biscuit but any restaurant due to social distancing rules. Both locations of Flying Biscuit and Hsaio’s Flip Burger Boutique on the Westside have all reopened for dine-in service.
“It’s a different experience with the spacing of tables. We won’t be packing them in,” Hsiao said. “I think we’re going to continue to see more takeout and delivery for now, and those who do come out will be more cautious.”
At Cafe Posh in Buckhead, more people are ordering food for delivery and takeout.
In Buckhead, Café Posh owner Simona Edery echoed Hsiao’s thoughts on how customers are likely to react to changes restaurants must make. She said ambience is a main draw to Café Posh and it is decidedly different for now.
“I think people will be shocked to see some of the restrictions,” Edery said. “My main concern is keeping the food consistent and making our regular customers feel happy and safe.”
Edery said she believed many of her customers would continue to opt for takeout, delivery or curbside, which helped the Middle Eastern/Mediterranean fusion spot keep its staff during the weeks of shelter-in-place.
Sean Yeremyan, who owns Lazy Llama in Midtown and Hobnob Neighborhood Tavern in Brookhaven and Dunwoody, said all restaurants are operating at a loss now. “Anyone who tells you they are making money isn’t being truthful,” he said.
Whether dining in or taking out, Hobnob’s burgers remain a favorite.
Like others, Yeremyan switched over to takeout and delivery, but he said that’s not a sustainable business model for a dine-in restaurant. However, he believes takeout and delivery will continue to grow in popularity and all restaurants will have to adapt.
Yeremyan, who plans to open additional Hobnob locations this year at Atlantic Station and in Alpharetta, said he’s taking extra social distancing steps in his dining rooms by letting customers pay from their cell phones or using at-table credit card readers.
A traffic camera captures an image of smoke bombs and tear gas being deployed on Sunday night along Centennial Park Drive.
The Atlanta Police Department made 64 arrests during Sunday night’s George Floyd protests, bringing the weekend total to 292.
Bolstered by National Guard troops and Georgia State Patrol officers, APD made quick work clearing the streets on Sunday night to enforce the 9 p.m. curfew issued by Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.
Protesters shot fireworks and smoke bombs at police officers and used construction fencing and other debris to erect barricades along Centennial Park Drive. However, law enforcement deployed tear gas, made arrests, and moved in formation to mostly disperse the crowds by midnight.
APD spokesman Sgt. John Chaffee released this statement: “As of midnight, we made 64 arrests during Sunday’s protests and there were no major incidents. While we are pleased with the progress made today, we will remain ready for more issues as we enter into the workweek.”
Two APD officers were terminated on Sunday after using excessive force to arrest two college students Downtown, while Motors Officer Maximilian Brewer, who was on duty during the protests in Downtown on May 30, is recovering in ICU at Grady Hospital after being struck by an ATV. The driver of the ATV has been identified as Avery Goggans, 42 He has been charged with DUI, serious injury by vehicle, reckless driving, possession of marijuana and several other traffic charges.
One big question that remains is who exactly were the “disruptors,” “agitators,” and “anarchists” that this weekend’s looting, vandalism, arson, and violence was blamed on by law enforcement, officials, and the media?
Mayor Bottoms said the weekend’s violence was not protest, but chaos orchestrated by “disruptors” and “anarchists” who came to “destroy this city.”
Similarly, APD Chief Erika Shields called those who incited violence a “highly calculated terrorist organization” embedded inside peaceful protests.
“We know the organizers of protests in the city, but we didn’t know these people and the organizers didn’t know them either. These people weren’t here to fight for civil rights, they were here to destroy Atlanta.”
Former Ambassador Andrew Young said in an interview with WSB-TV on Sunday that agitators from white supremacist groups, far-right extremists, and ANTIFA (now labeled a domestic terror organization by the United States) had come to the city to create chaos and division. “The destruction I saw are not people from Atlanta,” Young said. “They have to be run out of town.”
Media on the ground witnessed protesters arriving and leaving flashpoints with out-of-state or obscured license plates. Social media was buzzing, not only in Atlanta but around the country, that agitators were embedding themselves into peaceful protests then committing many of the acts of looting, vandalism, and arson. Loud fireworks and incendiary devices launched into crowds and at police appeared designed to scare and agitate the situation.
Comments on INtown’s own social media platforms suggested that many of the agitators were white people dressed in black and wearing face coverings.
Around 150 to 200 vehicles — many with obscured or out-of-state license plates — were peacefully “escorted” by police away from Perimeter Mall area early on May 30 as rioters looted malls and shopping centers in Buckhead.
Dunwoody Police spokesperson Sgt. Robert Parsons said many of the vehicles were “packed with multiple occupants” and had covered-up or missing license plates. Among the vehicles with visible tags, “almost all of them were from out of state,” Parsons said.
Minnesota officials blamed outsiders for the violent protests in Minneapolis, where George Floyd was murdered, but later walked back the statements after it was shown most of those arrested were from Minnesota.
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