Iran War Strands Thousands in Middle East Travel Chaos The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has left thousands of travelers stranded, with flight cancellations and border closures disrupting journeys across the region. The situation has been exacerbated by Iran’s recent strikes, which have forced airports to shut down and left many stranded in cities like Dubai, Tel Aviv, and Atlanta. Stranded Families and Green Card Battles Jenny Cotton, an Atlanta resident, is among those caught in the crossfire. Her husband, Ardalan Lotfi, and their mother-in-law are attempting to navigate the chaos to secure a green card for the latter. The family’s plans were upended when Dubai International Airport closed abruptly due to the conflict, leaving them stranded in the Middle East. “It’s been a nightmare,” Cotton said, describing the uncertainty of their return. Israeli Filmmaker’s Temporary Stuck Israeli filmmaker Isri Halpern, who was in Atlanta for the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, found himself temporarily stranded after the festival ended. Halpern, who returned to Israel on Friday, noted the eerie emptiness of Ben Gurion International Airport upon arrival. “It’s one of the best-functioning parts of Israel, but it’s completely empty now,” he told the Atlanta Jewish Chronicle. Repatriation Efforts and Border Crossings For many Israelis, the journey home has been fraught with delays. A group of 22 Atlanta-area women, part of a Jewish Women’s Organization trip to Israel, faced significant hurdles crossing the Israel-Egypt border by bus. The trip, which was supposed to last a week, was cut short due to the conflict, with participants describing the experience as “a mix of fear and frustration.” A City’s Empty Airport The situation at Ben Gurion Airport has become a symbol of the crisis.#iran #atlanta #dubai #tel_aviv #ben_gurion_airport
Clayton County has targeted the Atlanta airport’s property tax exemption, which has been in place for nearly 80 years. The city of Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, though located primarily in Clayton County, has not paid county property taxes on its roughly 4,000-acre property since the 1940s. Now, state lawmakers from Clayton County are pushing to end this exemption, with a proposed bill in the Georgia state House aiming to reduce the airport’s tax break. The bill marks a significant step in a long-standing dispute over how local governments handle property taxes for large entities. While the airport’s land is technically within Clayton County’s jurisdiction, the city of Atlanta has historically managed its operations, leading to a legal gray area. Critics argue that the exemption unfairly shields the airport from contributing to local infrastructure and services, while supporters claim it’s a necessary incentive for maintaining a global transportation hub. The proposed legislation would require the airport to pay property taxes, potentially generating millions in revenue for Clayton County. However, the measure faces opposition from Atlanta officials and business groups, who warn that increased costs could jeopardize the airport’s competitiveness. State Rep. Rhonda Burnough, a Democrat from Clayton County, has been a vocal advocate for the bill, emphasizing the need for equitable tax practices. The debate highlights broader tensions between local governance and economic development. While the airport’s exemption has been a point of contention for decades, the push to end it reflects growing pressure on large corporations and public entities to contribute to the communities they serve.#hartsfieldjackson_atlanta_international_airport #clayton_county #georgia_state_house #rhonda_burnough #atlanta
