Mayoral candidate views

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Lisa Borders

I believe in Caring for Our Community. Everyone has the right to live in a clean, safe and affordable community, and I will not rest until every citizen of Atlanta has that. To this end, I will continue the “10-Year Blueprint to End Homelessness,” support the ongoing mission of Grady [Memorial] Hospital, and ensure that our seniors remain in their homes. Furthermore, I will use public/private partnerships to improve efficiency and decrease costs by funding critical services, such as code enforcement and fee and fine collection.

Mary Norwood

Whether we live in old tree-lined neighborhoods, new townhomes or 30-story vertical communities, the built environment — how we care for it, and whether we are safe in it — determines our quality of life. As mayor, I will fight crime, enforce property codes, pick up trash, transition the homeless to work, secure funding to place homeowners in vacant homes, and maintain our streets, traffic lights and sidewalks. Businesses and neighborhoods alike thrive only to the extent that we make living in Atlanta welcoming and attractive.

Kasim Reed

Given the right planning, downtown can support thriving retail, an urban living experience. Recently, Atlanta has added compelling attractions. We must also give people a reason to build homes and businesses there. By adding 750 police officers, downtown benefits tremendously. On panhandling, I believe the answer is to get people into long-term housing. The construction of a multimodal transport station will remove blight and improve connectivity. Finally, downtown must have amenities such as grocery stores and more retail options.

Jessie Spikes

My first priority will be to expand the work of the Gateway Center and Peachtree & Pine to transform the lives of homeless persons through employment readiness and life stabilization programs. Second, the “Policy Advisor for Human Services-Homeless Programs” position will have adequate staffing to provide the city the best chance of finding a long-term solution. Third, I will initiate public/private partnerships to perform the research needed to create solutions. Finally, I will prosecute aggressive panhandlers.