AJC Opinions

07/18/2026

From the AJC Editorial Board: Multiple cities across North America put on a good show, but Atlanta stood out among all of them. It passed the test and distinguished itself among cities with a history of hosting big events.

07/18/2026

OPINION: “Pushback against data centers has picked up since 2024, as proposed projects have grown larger and more visible. Communities often make decisions amid uncertainty, with little local evidence to draw on.

Our findings help clarify part of that uncertainty: Economic spillovers are strong in metropolitan counties, while many rural counties see minimal gains in job growth.

As scholars of how technological change and innovation shape business strategy, we set out to produce rigorous research so that policymakers can make better decisions for their communities despite the emotions on both sides.

What we found was that data center development can boost growth and jobs — but these benefits are most pronounced when the local economy is more urban and developed. In fact, it turns out that the local economy around a data center matters more than the facility itself.”

Read this full piece, contributed by Daniel Yue, an assistant professor of business at Georgia Institute of Technology, and Yiyang Zeng, a postdoctoral fellow of business at Georgia Tech, at the link in the comments. 👇

🖋️ : Daniel Yue and Yiyang Zeng
📸 : Miguel Martinez / AJC

06/28/2026

Note: The AJC invited both Republican candidates for the June 16 gubernatorial runoff to write guest opinion columns about their vision for Georgia. Both essays are scheduled to publish online and on social media before the election, so Georgians have a clear view on each candidate’s final pitch before making their decision at the ballot box.
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OPINION: “I can never forget where I came from. I was a child who knew what it was like to be alone, a young man who saw the power of faith and family, and now I am trying to make sure more children and families experience the sense of hope that blessed me years ago.

By now, many Georgians know that I lived in five different foster homes as a child. What you may not know is how one of those foster homes changed my life, and how it underscores my reason for running for governor.

I’m running for governor to fight for the Georgia families who feel forgotten, to protect the values that made this state strong, and to make sure every child has the chance to sit around a table filled with faith and love.”

This opinion piece was contributed by Rick Jackson, who won a slot during the May 19 primary to compete in the June 16 Republican gubernatorial primary runoff.

Read this full piece here 👉 https://bit.ly/3PWdEHz

🖋️ : Rick Jackson for the AJC
📸 : Jason Getz / AJC

05/23/2026

Opinion: For decades, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has served as the nation’s most vital institution for safeguarding public health and security.

Operating at the intersection of scientific excellence, real-time surveillance and rapid response and communication, no other agency in the world matches its expertise in detecting and containing dangerous diseases before they become national crises.

Today, that capacity — and the public’s health — is at grave risk.

Public trust in the CDC is shaken because misinformation, disinvestment and a move away from highest standards of science. Recommitting to a better path would aid U.S. health.

05/10/2026

Winning means building a majority coalition of Georgians. We cannot simply energize our base. We must also reach the middle and serve as a home for moderate Republican voters who reject MAGA and Donald Trump. The political pendulum, with its increasingly wide swings, has become a wrecking ball.

That is why I am troubled by individuals who have argued we should not welcome former Republicans into the Democratic Party. This is exactly the wrong approach for a party that has been locked out of power for so long.

Georgia Democratic Party voters should not be imposing purity tests on former Republicans like Geoff Duncan if they are serious about recapturing the Governor's mansion.

05/04/2026

OPINION: This growth isn’t just a tech story anymore; it’s a story about power, water, land use and household costs.

05/03/2026

OPINION: My mother, Linda, was the most influential person in my life. She recently passed away after living with Alzheimer’s disease for more than a decade.

No matter how tired she was, she showed up for her family and her community. She worked hard her entire life, stayed honest and gave back, yet still struggled to get ahead.

And today, too many Georgians are living that same reality: working harder than ever and still barely getting by.

Why does our system wait until people go broke before it helps them? My experience with my mom is deeply personal. But it’s not unique.

Across Georgia, families are struggling with rising healthcare costs, limited access to services and an economy that too often leaves working people behind. We can do better.

We should expand Medicaid so no one falls into the coverage gap. We should invest in community-based care so seniors can age with dignity. We should support caregivers. And we should build an economy where hard work actually leads to stability.

Those experiences guide my work — and they’re why I’m running for governor.

Read this full piece, contributed by Jason Esteves, a former Georgia state senator and Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education Chair running for governor in the Democratic primary, at the link in the comments ⬇️

🖋️ : Jason Esteves for the AJC
📸 : Jason Esteves via Instagram | Mark Morin, Courtesy

04/21/2026

🎞️📽️ JOIN US ON MAY 4: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and FRONTLINE | PBS invite you to a special screening of 'Contaminated: The Carpet Industry's Toxic Legacy', a documentary that looks at how chemical pollution connected to the carpet industry in North Georgia affected local communities, raising important questions about environmental responsibility, accountability, and daily life.

Following the screening, attendees are invited to stay for a panel discussion moderated by AJC Opinions Editor David Plazas in conversation with journalists and experts involved in the reporting, offering deeper insight into the investigation, what it uncovered, and why it matters now.

Space is limited. RSVP here: live.ajc.com/thecontaminateddocumentary/social

04/20/2026

OPINION: Narcissism theory suggests that what is happening in Iran may be linked to what is happening in Donald Trump’s damaged psyche. Research also indicates that the situation will not improve over time, since narcissist politicians do not change once they are in office.

Instead, the best if not only way to beat a narcissist is to avoid putting yourself or your country at their mercy in the first place — something to be considered the next time we are all at the election box.

Read this full piece, contributed by S.I. Strong, the K.H. Gyr professor of private international law at Emory University ➡️ https://bit.ly/4tYNO3Y

🖋️ : S.I. Strong for the AJC
📸 : Julia Demaree Nikhinson / AP Photo