Residents press Atlanta City Council on Cornelius Taylor’s death, 2026 World Cup, and APS school closures

Public testimony links housing policy, major events planning, and school consolidation debates

Atlanta City Council meetings in recent months have drawn sustained public testimony around three issues that residents and advocates increasingly describe as interconnected: the city’s approach to homeless encampments after the death of Cornelius Taylor, preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and Atlanta Public Schools’ decision to repurpose and close campuses beginning in 2027.

Cornelius Taylor’s death and changes to encampment clearing

Cornelius Taylor, an unhoused man, died on January 16, 2025, during a city operation to clear an encampment on Old Wheat Street near Ebenezer Baptist Church. The incident triggered public outcry and intensified scrutiny of how the city conducts encampment closures, including the protocols used before heavy equipment is deployed.

On July 10, 2025, the city moved forward with closing the Old Wheat Street encampment following outreach efforts aligned with recommendations produced by a 90-day homelessness task force. The closure included relocation assistance and housing placements for people living at the site, with the city and partner organizations reporting placements into temporary and more stable options.

On January 16, 2026—one year after Taylor’s death—community members held events to commemorate him, while continuing to call for lasting procedural reforms and additional permanent supportive housing capacity. Public comments at City Hall have also raised questions about how encampment policy will be enforced as the city prepares for large international events.

World Cup preparations and downtown housing targets

Atlanta is one of the U.S. host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, an event expected to bring heightened security and logistical planning. In 2025, city planning documents and public statements around downtown strategy emphasized an objective to reduce visible unsheltered homelessness in core areas ahead of the tournament, alongside longer-term housing and services goals.

At public meetings, residents have disputed whether encampment closures are being accelerated by event timelines, while city representatives have said closures are tied to public safety and ongoing efforts rather than a single event.

APS closures: enrollment decline and a 2027 timeline

Separately, Atlanta Public Schools has moved ahead with a facilities plan shaped by declining enrollment and underused buildings. APS has reported having capacity for about 70,000 students while serving roughly 50,000, creating significant excess space and operating costs.

In early December 2025, the Atlanta Board of Education approved a plan to repurpose nearly a dozen schools across the district beginning in spring 2027. The plan includes closures, consolidations, and grade-configuration changes, with district leaders citing the need to improve utilization and redirect operating dollars.

• Encampments: Residents continue to press for clearer standards, accountability, and housing options following Taylor’s death.

• Major events: Public testimony has focused on whether World Cup deadlines are influencing enforcement priorities downtown.

• Schools: Families have argued that closures risk disrupting community anchors even as APS cites budget and capacity pressures.

Across these debates, the common thread at City Hall has been public demand for transparent decision-making—how the city measures safety, how it houses people displaced by closures, and how institutions weigh cost savings against neighborhood stability.

While APS governance is separate from City Council authority, residents have used council meetings to elevate concerns about displacement, neighborhood change, and the cumulative impact of policy decisions on families and vulnerable Atlantans.