During the Jan. 5, 2026 reconvening of the Atlanta City Council, members of the public used the allotted comment period to press two issues: protections tied to the 2026 World Cup and a neighborhood request for street repairs.

Michael Collins, who identified himself as Director of Playfair ATL and a longtime resident of East Atlanta, urged the council to "put people first, not profit" as the city prepares to host World Cup events. He outlined a policy platform aimed at labor protections, anti-displacement measures for unhoused residents, stronger contractor transparency and accountability for public spending and said the event was estimated to bring $1,000,000,000 to the city. "The World Cup is coming whether we're ready or not. The question is whether Atlanta will seize the moment to lead with dignity, fairness and accountability," Collins said.

Later in the public comment period, Owusu Hadari spoke about conditions on Sloane Circle in District 1, saying the street had "never been paved," that truck widths and road geometry (as narrow as eight feet in some places) have prevented reliable trash pickup, and that residents have been told a fix could take seven to ten years. Hadari asked the council to ensure that Sloane Circle receive engineering and paving attention.

Council did not take immediate action on either public request during the session; both remarks were recorded as part of public comment and will be entered in the meeting record for possible follow-up. The World Cup-related appeals may be relevant to upcoming committee discussions about event policy and enforcement; the street-repair request would typically be routed to the Department of Transportation or City Utilities for assessment and scheduling.

What happens next: Public comments were entered into the record; staff and relevant committees will determine whether to schedule follow-up briefings or direct staff work on the issues raised.