Delivering today. Building tomorrow.

We are a growing city. We can be strategically bold and pragmatic in our focus. We can modernize existing systems, approach problems with new tools, and move beyond the status quo to exceed expectations. I want to be part of the Atlanta City Council to energize productive consensus, design city initiatives thoughtfully, invest the taxpayer dollars strategically, and deliver city promises efficiently.

Infrastructure

As our skyline grows and the Atlanta market continues to resonate on a global scale, we must have a robust physical foundation to shoulder the technical burdens. We need to prioritize the unsexy, critical health of our city skeleton to support economic and population growth. Shifting our posture from reactive to proactive methodologies will deliver better outcomes for all.

  • Deliver on overdue roadway projects including:

    • immediate audit of remaining Moving Atlanta Forward funds vs project cost at full design;

    • incorporation of quick fix amendments as needed for area development;

    • optimize project grouping to reduce construction impact and increase speed of delivery; and

    • utilize third party partners for efficient project implementation.  

  • Design and beta test a bold new program for curbside management to:

    • prioritize types of use;

    • standardize rules system for better compliance;

    • modernize enforcement tools;

    • allocate a portion of the revenue to district discretionary funds for community-centered infrastructure maintenance; and

    • optimize roadway efficiency to allow excess capacity to be absorbed for bike lane and public transit network expansion including dedicated lane Bus Rapid Transit.  

  • Expand fully buffered bike lane network and allocate funding for sustained zone-based maintenance program including buffer repairs and electric mini-sweepers to address dangerous debris on a regular weekly basis and after large scale events.

  • Work collaboratively with District 2 neighborhoods to expand the use of the city’s tactical urbanism program to address immediate and incremental Vision Zero projects like improved crosswalk visibility, speed reduction, line of sight improvements, and parklets.

  • Repair trust and collaborative partnership with MARTA by improving budget transparency, requiring more frequent project status reporting, and sharpening focus on accountability for timely project delivery and safety improvements. 

  • Commit to preparing for Atlanta’s growth by supporting the imperative need for public transit expansion and the unique opportunity of an uninterrupted radial transit corridor - The Beltline. 

    Prioritize a full network design that elevates accessibility and efficiency in its mode optionality. 

    Improve ridership equity through balanced access points and reduced cost of use.  Insist that the network design elevate connections from underserved communities to strong economic centers to facilitate greater wealth mobility. 

  • Introduce legislation to codify roadway standards and require inspection and compliance before payment is issued by Department of Finance.

    • Identify, prioritize and address storm water and sewer network improvements using modern predictive failure tools;

    • Support critical federal consent decree projects to better manage stormwater runoff and optimize treatment plant function; and

    • Upgrade necessary equipment and operations of RM Clayton facility to reduce waste violations and associated fines as quickly as possible. 

  • Continue to support shapeshifting, transformative people-centered explorations like the Peachtree Visioning Project, The Stitch, 5th Street Plaza, 14th Street Park, and Atlanta Civic Center redevelopment to constantly evolve the way we move and connect as a thriving, modern community.

  • Create a combined tactical response team from the Atlanta Department of Transportation and Atlanta Watershed Department to repair or stabilize roadway, sidewalk, and water meter dangers within 72 hours of ATL311 or elected official report to deliver a safer city while also reducing sizable exposure to legal settlement fees for adverse injury claims. 

Housing

For too many, rent is unaffordable and ownership is unattainable.  Competing interests and time to permit are impacting supply.  To ensure we reduce the cost of housing, our efforts must be multidisciplinary and swift to deliver change as our population grows and we prioritize maintaining a diversity of neighbors in every Atlanta community.

  • Complete and adopt ATL Zoning 2.0 (zoning rewrite) in collaboration with Atlanta communities to speed the delivery of housing of all types by: 

    • modernizing code structure to simplify understanding of allowed build; 

    • reducing variance requirements for traditionally approved requests; 

    • standardizing streetscape and quality of life design requirements used in successful special interest zones to lift up the required standard across all neighborhoods; and

    • updating small multi-family zoning classifications to reflect single family scale to encourage neighborhood adoption of gentle density solutions.

  • Explore the use of AI to automate plan submission process and initial review.

    Expand Department of City Planning staff at planner and inspector levels to:

    • increase the speed of our permitting process;

    • enhance accuracy of review and avoid missed permit requirements;

    • address non-compliant build prior to project completion; and

    • provide greater support to neighborhoods as they embrace change and navigate complex projects.

  • Expand zoning incentive programs to increase funding to Atlanta Housing Trust Funds which can be used to offset the build costs of mixed income social housing models in targeted growth areas to accelerate wealth mobility and welcome more resident diversity with easy access to transit, good schools, healthcare, and jobs.  

  • Legislate the use of city owned property for mixed use, mixed income housing projects in partnership with private development companies.  Normalize the practice of utilizing lease conditions or deed restrictions to ensure Affordable Housing units in perpetuity.  Practice a graduated qualification model as families earn greater income but remain in need of modified levels of supportive housing.

  • Initiate creative housing structures that address multiple housing challenges simultaneously.  For example, utilize Candy Factory lot on North Avenue, owned by Atlanta Housing, to build a subsidized program pairing college students with senior citizen roommates.  Programming requirements are structured to provide stability and mentorship to students while seniors benefit from youthful activation and exposure to current cultural trends - both populations reduce the serious impacts of loneliness.  

  • Acknowledge that Short Term Rentals are reducing long term rental housing supply - especially in high demand, high value areas of the city. 

    Update Short Term Rental ordinance to:

    • provide licensing clarity;

    • reduce concentrated impact on multi-family buildings;

    • specify violation procedures; and

    • establish a fund for dedicated STR program management. 

    Structure Atlanta’s program to allow a balanced STR presence while protecting neighborhood continuity and quality of life. 

    Ensure all operating STRs are licensed, taxed and maintained in compliance with city code enforcement.

    • Targeting older multi-family buildings that are naturally more affordable, utilize grant programs like Community Development Block Grants to revitalize the units at lower cost to property owner and sustain below market rent;

    • Utilize Community Land Trusts to acquire property and offer as a preserved low cost land lease to lower unit cost; and

    • Encourage participation in housing voucher programs to create more inventory supply without reducing return to property owner.

Safety

Atlanta strives to be the national model for best public safety practices. Crime is trending down and city strategies are working. Our goal should be to maintain a safe, welcoming city where every person can live, work, and visit confidently. We want a thriving city that knows they can rely on our public safety resource network to assist in times of need.

  • Support a collective effort:

    1. encourage neighborhood’s to be active, engaged citizens who report concerns like lighting outages, blighted properties, graffiti, and trash and debris and ensuring the city has timely delivering of response; 

    2. meaningfully support of bridge services like Policing Alternatives and Diversion (PAD) and establish strong partnership with Fulton County to expand crisis centers; 

    3. support expansion of APD incentive programs like workforce housing, retention bonuses, and take home cars to improve officer retention rate, keep pace with Atlanta’s growth, and reduce response time; and

    4. expand Atlanta Fire and Rescue resources including the potential addition of a new station servicing the fast growing populations of Old Fourth Ward - Midtown.

  • Maintain a strong partnership with the Atlanta Police Department to ensure the units have the resources to maintain a high standard of best in class training, equitable service delivery, cutting edge professional development and access to mental health resources.  

    • Stay focused on consistent review of outreach programs and law enforcement strategies through City Council Committee meetings, ACRB hearings, and a fluid communication channel with safety partners;

    • Compare performance tracking data for equitable and effective efforts that consistently make Atlanta safer and more welcoming to all; and

    • Explore the best practices and real time strategies of other cities for fair and creative problem solving.

  • Continue robust support for community-centered policing practices including youth programs, athletic leagues, and approachable discussions in community spaces with citizens and zone officers to nurture a healthy dynamic relationship

  • Explore the use of AI and camera technologies to automate our city’s event permitting and licensing processes that currently utilize sworn officer time to reallocate those human-centered resources to higher priority needs.

NextGen Action

District 2 is growing and our challenges are evolving.  As mindful legislators, we should zero in on opportunities to fine tune our ordinances to deliver responsive city services and a healthy balanced experience for today’s needs and tomorrow’s demands. 

  • Improve ATL311 ticketing system to :

    1. provide ticket management from date of reporting to actual issue resolution within the city department;

    2. provide bi-weekly report of outstanding ticket data to District Council Members for effective follow-up and advocacy; and

    3. update backend platform to reduce errors and expand public information.

  • Introduce legislation to:

    • address light pollution in Atlanta’s dense urban cores to establish codified screening, intensity, and direction guidelines; and

    • improve and amend the city’s noise ordinance to address the challenges with distance based controls for amplified sound bounce in areas of varied building heights.

  • Update the city’s special event code to:

    • balance the frequency of use for permitted events vs public enjoyment;

    • recalibrate fees to be commensurate with the cost of facilitating the permit program;

    • conduct a study of nationwide practices for fees and philanthropic contributions for the restricted use of public space; and

    • address impact with standardization of logistics including road closures, bike lane management, security requirements, stage placement, and loading protocols. 

  • Continue the modernization of Atlanta’s alcohol licensing program to:

    • ensure a healthy balance between thriving businesses and a peaceful quality of life for residents;

    • streamline process for cost savings to business owners;

    • clarify licensing requirements to improve compliance; and

    • improve city response to violating licensees that repeatedly cause a negative impact on the surrounding businesses and neighbors.

  • Support the expansion of Atlanta’s landscape of nighttime activities to:

    • be more inclusive of a wider range of residents and visitors;

    • include activities that expand sales tax revenue and strengthen adjacent economic growth for hospitality, food and beverage, transit provider and cultural stakeholders;

    • work with Metro Atlanta Chambers and Convention Authority to maximize the economic boost from large scale events; and

    • maintain an array of new nighttime experiences for the local community that sustains our small and medium businesses.  

  • Establish collaborative partnerships with property owners and commercial leasing partners to activate vacant commercial space within critical community nodes to balance offerings with resident-centered services, F&B, and arts and culture tenants.  Healthy vibrant active nodes will reduce crime and enhance connection to the community.  

Community Investment

When we focus on people-centered social determinants of health, we will achieve our shared vision for vibrant, diverse communities - shaped through the lens of the people who live and work there.

  • Preserving the story of Atlanta, its people, its significant places and events is critical to our community and our sense of place.

    We can grow while we remain rooted.

    This requires a commitment to all the ways historic preservation tells our story and the effort that it requires.

    Understanding and championing this is critical to the soul of our city.

  • Work with state elected officials to identify a dedicated state-level funding stream to expand financial support for low to no cost urban quality-rated early childhood education programs near a reliable transit network.

  • Identify a location in each District 2 neighborhood to expand or create an urban garden for direct food access, educational enrichment, and interpersonal connection between residents of all ages.

  • Expand support and partnership with programs like GOODR to make choice-based fresh food and household supplies accessible to struggling neighbors.

    • Establish a District sponsored graffiti reduction grant program;

    • Complete a street sign inventory and partner with ADOT for strategically efficient replacement / repair of signs;

    • Work with GA Power to place lighting in dark popular pedestrian routes and school zones; and

    • Address property overgrowth / debris with owners and code enforcement 

  • Create a city-wide employer partnership network with existing small to medium business in vocational industries for certified apprenticeship programs in partnership with local trade programs.

  • Quickly eliminate multi-year arborist backlog that stymies canopy replenishment by taking the following action:

    • inventory all existing tree stumps and introduce a one time funding allocation to grind below the sidewalk surface;

    • execute plan with Trees Atlanta to replant a diversity of right of way appropriate species;

    • utilize chipped wood for public park space improvements; and

    • reset city queue to allow for immediate grinding of stumps moving forward.

  • Explore legislation to establish a Council District funding allocation from special event permit fees from all large scale ticketed events to be used for identified discretionary infrastructure improvements within a specified short time frame to deliver quick and frequent results.

  • Provide annual district resource support to D2 neighborhood civic organizations to:

    • expand neighbor engagement rate;

    • create new connection channels; and

    • grow grass roots, neighborhood initiated projects and programs for targeted forward progress

  • Work alongside Fulton County, Atlanta Public Schools, and behavioral health outreach programs to support and elevate mental health and recovery programs as critical components of addressing housing instability.