Cornelius Taylor’s life and death were celebrated on the same day.
The vigil, held on his 47th birthday, celebrated the life of the local who was crushed by a front loader truck in January while he was in a tent on Old Wheat Street.
The Department of Public Works was conducting street sweeping and didn’t check Taylor’s tent on Old Wheat St., a homeless encampment cleared by the City of Atlanta in July.
The city temporarily paused street sweeping after Taylor’s death.
An autopsy report revealed Taylor’s spleen and liver were lacerated, while his pelvis was cracked in half, according to the Guardian.
The Justice for Cornelius Taylor Coalition was created after his death.
Georgia Equality Statewide Organizing Manager Noël Heatherland expressed their frustrations over Taylor’s death.
Noël Heatherland, Georgia Equality Statewide Organizing Manager
“Sweeps of our unhoused neighbors and friends never should happen when we have a city that doesn’t utilize rent control policies,” Heatherland, who is a member of the Justice for Cornelius Taylor Coalition, said. “There’s only so much I can do to help homeless people, but the city has to make the changes.”
Heatherland described the challenges of making ends meet and paying bills and rent on time.
“The vast majority of us, I would say 85 percent of the population, is closer to ending up in a tent on Old Wheat Street,” Heatherland said.
OpGov reached out to District 5 Council member Liliana Bakhtiari for comment. Bakhtiari’s aide, Nicholas Coppin, sent this email back.
District 5 Council member Liliana Bakhtiari's email
The comment from Coppin is disappointing.
Taylor’s situation sheds light on the serious issue of homelessness. Residents in Atlanta have voiced their frustrations with how the city is handling homelessness.
During a city council meeting, Latrice Chaney, a member of the Justice for Cornelius Taylor Coalition, advocated for the state to stop incriminating homeless people. Chaney also wants the city to provide wrap-around services.
“Wrap-around services is about people having proper mental health services, resources, and support,” Heatherland said.
The homeless crisis here must remain at the forefront of city business, so Taylor’s death is not in vain.
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