By Daidrian Hammond
On Nov. 18, Clark Atlanta University hosted its first mayoral debate with rival politicians Felicia Moore and Andre Dickens. As Mayor Keisha Bottoms concludes her term, the fight to instill a new order, mayor and political team is between two candidates.
Moderators Karyn Greer and Dr. Rashad Richey gathered with journalists, community members, legacy residents and a live television audience to receive answers from each mayoral candidate about critical issues affecting the city of Atlanta. The biggest challenges both candidates addressed were affordable housing, infrastructure and crime.
Affordable Housing
Moderators Greer and Richey wasted no time and gave both candidates the space and opportunity to share their views on affordable housing. Moore and Dickens’ views included income to housing ratio, property taxes, housing assistance and legacy resident appeal.
Mayoral candidate Moore started by highlighting the difference between affordable housing and housing affordability. Moore explored and contemplated the thought, “Do people have the ability to increase their income or can people stay where they are now?” This thought inspired Moore’s ambition to create and foster an environment where the citizens of Atlanta are exposed to higher-paying jobs and skills that could increase their income and result in an increase in housing affordability amongst the city’s population.
Moore continued to express her concerns for affordable housing and offered an idea of alleviation for homeowners and legacy residents in Atlanta. Moore reiterated her desire to “freeze property tax assessments for legacy residents of 15 years and up.” Additionally, she plans to start partnering with non-profit organizations to combat gentrification, increase anti-displacement funds, complete a wholesale change in the housing authority and determine ways to decrease Atlanta's high utility burden.
Mayoral candidate Dickens relied on personal experiences and notable achievements to bolster his position as a leader and support his plan for Atlanta. Dickens identified the median home price in Atlanta as $400,000 drastically juxtaposing from the median household income of $60,000. Dickens firmly believes that “spending 30 percent of income on housing is inappropriate, 50 percent even worse.” Dickens highlighted being the founder of the 203k program as evidence of his effectiveness and to support his plan to create down payment assistance programs, a stabilization and anti-displacement organization, a trust and will process to ease the passage of property and build more housing units.
Moore resumed and appealed to the legacy residents by introducing a series of plans that ensure they can “age in place.” She begins with the notion of “development not displacement,” mentioning community benefits agreements and asserting that the communities experiencing displacement are deserving of the amenities developed around them. In terms of sustainability, Moore plans to build apartments, single-family homes and help people increase their income.
Infrastructure
With President Biden’s new $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill signed into law, Atlanta has the opportunity for the upgrade of a lifetime. Both candidates explicated their intentions on modernizing and restoring Atlanta’s deteriorating infrastructure.
Candidate Moore stated her intentions of “fulfilling unkept promises.” She continued with ideas to upgrade the transit and beltlines, as well as sewers and water pipes. She mentioned one significant aspect of infrastructure that frustrates every driver in Atlanta--potholes. Her plans to resolve the issue include assessing contracts and ensuring quality work.
Moore shifted to mass transit. Moore said that Atlanta is a place of “car centered culture.” She explained that promoting it heavily alongside convenience could sway people with the perspective that it is optional.
Candidate Dickens started by introducing a plan to establish an “Atlanta Department of Transportation.” He has plans to expand the beltline and alleviate the pressure of commuting long distances. He also plans to improve sidewalks and stated that he should “focus on small things to improve detail, things people see quickly.”
Additionally, one of Dickens’ goals is to improve the Marta transportation system through expansion. With his belief in “getting people out of their cars,” Dickens ambitiously stated that he wants “free Marta by 2035.”
Crime
Candidate Moore tackled crime from a different perspective. Moore pointed out that youth contributes to 60 percent of the crime in Atlanta. She wants to focus on the youth and establish mentoring programs, employment and recreation centers. Moore wants to help families obtain above living wage jobs and homeownership.
Additionally, Moore plans to “change police culture through conversations” by establishing an anonymous tip line to express concern from coworkers too. In terms of the police chief, Moore said that she believes law enforcement should operate to keep our city safe and citizen-police interaction safe. She plans to employ a new interim chief and implement a national search for a permanent one.
Candidate Dickens said he believes police interventions are paramount. He reiterated and emphasized the need for training. He stated he believes the chief should be based on merit and method. Dickens stated he has a plan to track the crime rate in his first 100 days. During that time, Dickens will establish a contract that will require specific goals to be met stating that “it’s not about who the chief is but what he does.”
Dickens also wants to establish an economic ecosystem that works for Atlanta citizens. With the youth, he plans to create active mentorship programs in tech and entrepreneurship.
Both mayoral candidates possess the insatiable desire to lead the city of Atlanta in a new direction following the end of Mayor Bottoms' term. The runoff election for Atlanta’s next mayor will take place Nov. 30.