Richard Belcher

@R_A_Belcher

I was born in Atlanta, graduated from Cross Keys HS and GSU. I was a reporter w/ one radio station & 3 TV stations 1971–2022. Retired from Ch2 Nov ‘22

Atlanta, GA

Joined September 2014

70Following

4KFollowers

Richard Belcher@R_A_Belcher · 21 h

⁦@ajc⁩ reminds us this morning that pretending the departure of the MARTA boss was related to his immigration status was nonsense. Lying is another way to put it. The story also reminds us of the mayor’s fantasy about 4 new MARTA stations.

R_A_Belcher's tweet image. ⁦@ajc⁩ reminds us this morning that pretending the departure of the MARTA boss was related to his immigration status was nonsense. Lying is another way to put it. The story also reminds us of the mayor’s fantasy about 4 new MARTA stations.

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Richard Belcher@R_A_Belcher · Jul 21

If you’ve ever sat through the public comment portion of a city council meeting, school board meeting, etc., you know it can be long winded, tedious, and some folks just want to hear themselves rant. But these restrictions make me uneasy. Thoughts?

R_A_Belcher's tweet image. If you’ve ever sat through the public comment portion of a city council meeting, school board meeting, etc., you know it can be long winded, tedious, and some folks just want to hear themselves rant. But these restrictions make me uneasy. Thoughts?

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Richard Belcher@R_A_Belcher · Jul 20

Detained Hispanic journalist Mario Guevara admits his frequent contact w/ law enforcement was a mistake. I agree. He’s been facing deportation since he was denied asylum in 2012. ⁦@ajc⁩ tells us he’s got a work permit but doesn’t mention deportation.

R_A_Belcher's tweet image. Detained Hispanic journalist Mario Guevara admits his frequent contact w/ law enforcement was a mistake. I agree. He’s been facing deportation since he was denied asylum in 2012. ⁦@ajc⁩ tells us he’s got a work permit but doesn’t mention deportation.

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Richard Belcher@R_A_Belcher · Jul 19

Try to find way around the paywall, so you get a better feel for the way MARTA is bullshitting the riding and tax paying public. Does the board think handling the departure this way increases public confidence? Hint: It does not. ajc.com/news/2025/07/c…

R_A_Belcher's tweet card. Supporters and critics agree: Issues with MARTA’s service, cleanliness and safety have been mounting for months.

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Richard Belcher@R_A_Belcher · Jul 19

Commercial news gathering has been squeezed by smaller audiences & lower rev for years. Ain’t pretty. Now the squeeze comes for taxpayer-supported news-gathering. Nothing in here reveals any self awareness by these folks about how they contributed to the fall.

R_A_Belcher's tweet image. Commercial news gathering has been squeezed by smaller audiences &amp; lower rev for years. Ain’t pretty. Now the squeeze comes for taxpayer-supported news-gathering. Nothing in here reveals any self awareness by these folks about how they contributed to the fall.

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Richard Belcher@R_A_Belcher · Jul 19

For a little perspective on the purported crisis caused by federal layoffs, take a look at the scale of the UPS layoffs & closures. Happens in business routinely w/o end-of-the-world wailing.But when it hits government…. oh, boy!

R_A_Belcher's tweet image. For a little perspective on the purported crisis caused by federal layoffs, take a look at the scale of the UPS layoffs &amp; closures. Happens in business routinely w/o end-of-the-world wailing.But when it hits government…. oh, boy!

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Richard Belcher@R_A_Belcher · Jul 18

Boring but important. Headlines, social media, etc. are more devoted to issues like trans athletes & tort reform, but this is the stuff of good governance. The late Jim Wooten used to write about this for ⁦@ajc⁩. I miss him. georgiapolicy.org/news/georgias-…

R_A_Belcher's tweet card. To see how budgeting is done without these gimmicks, look no further than the Gold Dome.

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Richard Belcher@R_A_Belcher · Jul 18

Probably behind a paywall, but you get the drift. I love this phrasing by a top aide to the mayor: “We’re trying to *modernize* our revenue model so that we can we can afford the things the citizens are demanding of us…” Modernize!! ajc.com/business/2025/…

R_A_Belcher's tweet card. The changes mark an effort by the city to find a pocket of revenue without raising property taxes.

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Richard Belcher@R_A_Belcher · Jul 18

Why do I have the feeling that we’re not getting the full story? We’re told he was about to get his green card, then we’re told “these challenges have been resolved.” What challenges? (Other than the obvious system challenge of low ridership)

R_A_Belcher's tweet image. Why do I have the feeling that we’re not getting the full story? We’re told he was about to get his green card, then we’re told “these challenges have been resolved.” What challenges? (Other than the obvious system challenge of low ridership)

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Richard Belcher@R_A_Belcher · Jul 17

Brooks didn’t just “struggle with” APD officers. He slammed one guy’s head into the pavement giving him a concussion & stole the officer’s taser. Oh, and the charges against Rolfe were dropped after a review by an independent prosecutor.

R_A_Belcher's tweet image. Brooks didn’t just “struggle with”
APD officers. He slammed one guy’s head into the pavement giving him a concussion &amp; stole the officer’s taser. Oh, and the charges against Rolfe were dropped after a review by an independent prosecutor.

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Richard Belcher@R_A_Belcher · Jul 15

I neglected to vote in the primary but made it today. No wait! Thanks to the poll workers. Must be pretty boring on a day like this, but they signed up and they delivered. 👌👌👌

R_A_Belcher's tweet image. I neglected to vote in the primary but made it today. No wait! Thanks to the poll workers. Must be pretty boring on a day like this, but they signed up and they delivered. 👌👌👌

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Richard Belcher@R_A_Belcher · Jul 15

One member of the CRB opposes the agreement w/ the city because it’s not legally binding. I think she’s right. This may create a bully pulpit to criticize APD, but other than that police use of force still governed by APD itself and DA (occasionally feds)

R_A_Belcher's tweet image. One member of the CRB opposes the agreement w/ the city because it’s not legally binding. I think she’s right. This may create a bully pulpit to criticize APD, but other than that police use of force still governed by APD itself and DA (occasionally feds)

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Richard Belcher@R_A_Belcher · Jul 14

My recollection is DC had *no role* in K12 until LBJ decided he would fix education & poverty in the mid-60’s. Carter added DOE infrastructure in’79. How’s all that going?

R_A_Belcher's tweet image. My recollection is DC had *no role* in K12 until LBJ decided he would fix education &amp; poverty in the mid-60’s. Carter added DOE infrastructure in’79. How’s all that going?

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Richard Belcher@R_A_Belcher · Jul 13

Quite the turnaround. I’ll leave it at that.

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Richard Belcher@R_A_Belcher · Jul 13

Read this carefully lest you think needy folks are getting less than they should. Uh, no….

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Richard Belcher@R_A_Belcher · Jul 11

⁦@zach_ehansen⁩ revisits a never-ending question: Are commercial properties in Fulton Co undervalued, meaning they don’t pay their fair share of prop taxes? ⁦@FitzTrubey⁩ & I examined that 7-8 years ago & concluded they are. Nothing has changed.

R_A_Belcher's tweet image. ⁦@zach_ehansen⁩ revisits a never-ending question: Are commercial properties in Fulton Co undervalued, meaning they don’t pay their fair share of prop taxes? ⁦@FitzTrubey⁩ &amp; I examined that 7-8 years ago &amp; concluded they are. Nothing has changed.

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Richard Belcher@R_A_Belcher · Jul 11

I wonder who these “local and state officials” are who are suggesting that complying w/ FEMA rules will leave US open to terrorists. I suspect it’s Blue cities and states. Imagine the shock at having new rules attached to Fed money.

R_A_Belcher's tweet image. I wonder who these “local and state officials” are who are suggesting that complying w/ FEMA rules will leave US open to terrorists. I suspect it’s Blue cities and states. Imagine the shock at having new rules attached to Fed money.

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Richard Belcher@R_A_Belcher · Jul 11

⁦@ajc⁩ is right to stay on this, but I don’t think the non-voters are undermining the republic. Folks don’t want to vote, okay. How many of them are paying attention anyway? And, yes, I know some countries require you to vote — or fine you. Bad idea.

R_A_Belcher's tweet image. ⁦@ajc⁩ is right to stay on this, but I don’t think the non-voters are undermining the republic. Folks don’t want to vote, okay. How many of them are paying attention anyway? And, yes, I know some countries require you to vote — or fine you. Bad idea.

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Richard Belcher@R_A_Belcher · Jul 11

Providing quarterly staffing data for the jail is “red tape,” says a Labat supporter. Hmmm, how many key strokes does that take? Yet Labat chooses to act like he’s standing against the barbarians. Who’s buying?

R_A_Belcher's tweet image. Providing quarterly staffing data for the jail is “red tape,” says a Labat supporter. Hmmm, how many key strokes does that take? Yet Labat chooses to act like he’s standing against the barbarians. Who’s buying?

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Richard Belcher@R_A_Belcher · Jul 10

Caught a story in @wsbtv that the Gwinnett Solicitor has dropped charges against a Latin journalist related to alleged interference w/ Gwinnett authorities . But no mention of the charges filed at a DeKalb protest & no clear explanation of the deport order he’s faced since 2012.

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