City of Atlanta Election Results

http://fultoncountyga.gov/images/stories/Elections/2013/Elections/3_FULTON_ELECTION_SUMMARY_REPORT.pdf

City of Atlanta Parks and Recreation Survey

Follow the link below to take park in an important survey.

Share your needs and priorities for Parks and Recreation facilities in the City of Atlanta.

Your opinions and ideas will have an impact on the Parks Master Planning process.

To show our appreciation for completing this important survey, you will receive a coupon for 20% off an upcoming City of Atlanta Parks and Recreation program or membership.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/iPARCS

Stop, research, and make an educated vote

Tired of your community looking bad and feeling unsafe? Tired of feeling like your tax dollars are not well spent? Tired of paying for city services that you are not receiving?  Frustrated with living next door or near abandoned, rundown and unkempt properties?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you must also be ready to hold the policy makers in the City of Atlanta accountable.  If you live in Southwest Atlanta, the elected officials who influence the quality of life in your community (clean and safe streets, usable recreation space-with programming of interest to the community, landscaped right of ways, maintained infrastructure, consistent code enforcement, active economic development planning, etc) include:

Mayor Kasim Reed

City Council

C.T. Martin

Kiesha Lance Bottoms

Cleta Winslow

H. Lamar Willis

Aaron Watson

Michael Julian Bond

The City Council is the chief policy making body for the City of Atlanta.  As a legislative body, the council’s main role is to make laws. The Council also has oversight of multiple agencies, boards, and commissions. Additionally, the Council plays a key part in the budget process and financial well being of Atlanta. 

Before you vote, educate yourself

Stop, research, and make an educated vote. Don’t rely on someone else to explain the issues to you, or tell you which candidate to support.

Look around your street, the schools in your area, your community at large and determine what major issues you think need to be addressed? What issues are the Also, it is important to consider the character of the candidates.  Ask yourself questions like, “Why do I trust one candidate more than another? What are their perceived strengths and weaknesses?

Here is a short list of important questions to ask yourself before you cast your vote:

 1.  Do you trust this person?

Do a little research…don’t be afraid to do a quick Google search…see if what they have a history of saying one thing and then doing another.

2.   Does this person understand the job they are seeking? Do they understand the financials of the City?

If the candidate doesn't understand the responsibilities of that office or the financial condition of the City how can he or she be expected to spend our money wisely?

3.   Does their vision for the City work with yours?

Whatever you feel is right for the future of the city, try to find candidates who shares your vision (clean and safe streets, high paying jobs on your side of town, improved recreational facilities, arts and entertainment, outdoor activities, etc)

4.   Will they represent southwest Atlanta or just their own special interest?

When you review their voting record or their remarks around the city, will it be clear that their record reflects that they are representing their constituents well or the interest of others.

5.    Can they play well with others, but effectively represent their constituents?

The Council is made up of fifteen members. Sometimes in order to be an effective representative the council member will need to persuade others of the merits of their ideas and to go along with them and get something accomplished.

6.  Are they open to input from the citizens?

In order to be an effective representative it is important that an elected official stay in close contact with the people who voted them into office.  How often did you see the incumbent in your community in a listening capacity (prior to election season, when not pushing something on their agenda)?  Does the candidate have a formal process for receiving citizen input?  Does their voting record reflect citizen input?

7.  Who does the candidate associate with?

Are you worried about who else is supporting the candidate or if they might be swayed by special interest?  Look at their campaign donors.  

Council war-chest update: Watson and Norwood raise six figures, Arthur Blank scatters his cash

Council war-chest update: Watson and Norwood raise six figures, Arthur Blank scatters his cash

Councilman H. Lamar Willis addresses disbarment, defends public service record

Councilman H. Lamar Willis addresses disbarment, defends public service record

Community Grant Opportunity-Community Engagement

AmeriCorps grants are awarded to eligible organizations proposing to engage AmeriCorps members in evidence-based or evidence-informed (e.g., based on proposed program’s data or a similar program’s data) interventions to strengthen communities. An AmeriCorps member is an individual who engages in community service through an approved national service position.  http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=242033

Atlanta to Receive $18 Million Grant for BeltLine

Atlanta to Receive $18 Million Grant for BeltLine