The Powerful Five

Every month, Georgia residents get an energy bill. The amount on that bill may seem out of our control, but it's actually determined by a group of five officials we elect: Public Service Commissioners. But as a local environmental justice activist learned while fighting a rate increase, who is - and most importantly, who isn't - represented on the Public Service Commission matters a lot to the number we see on our energy bills.

In some counties around the country, sheriffs don't just enforce local laws - they also choose to enforce federal immigration laws. One sheriff's office in Georgia has been working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for the last 10 years. But this may all change after November.

District Attorneys play a big role in our criminal legal system and many are asking if change can come from within that system. We follow the story of two women in Georgia working in criminal law, each standing on a different side of how change happens.

In Georgia, Supreme Court Justices and Court of Appeals Judges are supposed to be chosen by voters in non-partisan elections. But in the 100-year history of the Georgia Court of Appeals, only 9 judges have been elected to an open seat.  More often than not - judges find their way to these seats not through an election, but by an appointment, from the Governor. Listen to the story of one woman campaigning to be the 10th judge elected to an open seat and the series of events that changed her election and two others.

Over the last three years, one Southwest Atlanta neighborhood saw home prices go up 275%. Higher home prices drive property taxes increases, which can make it nearly impossible for some residents to afford to stay in their homes. One man is determined to collect those property taxes - even if it leads to residents losing their homes.

The US Census began with a constitutional mandate for the people living in this country to be counted in order to determine representation and government funding. Learn about the origins of the US Census and how they are impacting who is and is not counted 230 years later.   

Pocket Pods dive deeper into the issues that we cover in our stories. In this first Pocket Pod, we ask "WHAT is gerrymandering and HOW does it work?" Listen to learn how voting district lines are drawn and why you should know who draws them.

A high school band teacher takes on his toughest competition yet: unseating an 8-term State House Representative. It's not just the district that's on the line, but the fate of a state bill that's gotten national attention.

Small Power tells stories about the surprising and often hidden power behind local offices and issues here in Georgia. As the news becomes more focused on national politics, we are interested in the people and systems that impact our daily lives. These stories will give voice to the people behind the politics, the issues that impact our communities, and the ways that we can impact them. This season, learn alongside us as we dive into what is on the ballot for 2020, why it matters, and how to make your voice heard in these big decisions. Because we believe that in the right stories, all voices can yield great power. Small Power is produced and hosted by Martine Chaussard and Sasha Friedman, two transplants to Georgia who now lovingly call this state home. First episode coming soon.