On Second Thought for Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Twenty years ago, just as the world’s attention was focused on Atlanta for the 1996 Olympics, a bombing exploded in Centennial Olympic Park. Eric Rudolph was the man behind the attack along with three other bombings in the South. He eluded federal authorities for five years despite an intensive manhunt. Rudolph was a self-taught survivalist and spent at least some portion of that five years camped out in the Appalachian wilderness. But Kevin Reeve, who teaches outdoor survival skills, questions whether Rudolph was actually survivalist. We talk with him, and former NPR correspondent Kathy Lohr, who covered the Rudolph case for years. 

Then, we continue our conversation about Eric Rudolph and hear from defense attorney Richard Jaffe, who was assigned his case. He shares how he developed Rudolph’s trust, and the legal journey he would go on with his client. Plus, the bombings changed the way investigators and experts viewed the threat Americans posed to their own country. We’ll explore domestic terrorism with terrorism expert and former intelligence officer Malcom Nance and Georgia State University Communications professor Tony Lemiuex. 

 We explore domestic terrorism with terrorism expert and former intelligence officer Malcom Nance and Georgia State University Communications professor Tony Lemiuex. Then, we continue our conversation about Eric Rudolph with defense attorney Richard Jaffe, who was assigned his case. Plus, we remember Rudolph's attacks against the Otherside Lounge with owners Dana Fersord and Beverly McMahon. We also explore how gentrification, a lack of leadership, and rising maintenance costs is affecting Atlanta's homeless population.

Plus, Atlanta will never forget when Eric Rudolph set off a bomb at Centennial Olympic Park. But it’s not the only attack that happened in the city. In 1997, Rudolph left a pair of bombs at a gay bar called the Otherside Lounge. Owners Dana Fersord and Beverly McMahon recalls the attack and how it changed their lives. Plus, Open Door Community has served Atlanta’s homeless population for 35 years. But lack of leadership, gentrification, and rising maintenance costs has forced one of the city’s longest running shelters to close its doors. But Open Door is not the only shelter that might shut its doors. Mayor Kasim Reed has pushed for years to close down Peachtree Pine Shelter, a massive shelter that can house more than five hundred people. These closures have raised questions about what happens to a city when resources for the homeless community begin to dry up. We talk about these consequences and what the city can do with Richard Cho. He is Director of Behavioral Health at The Council of State Governments Justice Center and also served as former Deputy Director on the U-S Interagency Council on Homelessness.