A Tale of Two Mayoral Candidates
Both candidates for the Mayoral runoff have indicated strong support for light rail on the BeltLine. How to choose? With two great choices on the runoff ballot, BRN went to the community to find supporters of each candidate to understand their choice for mayor.
Andre Dickens Committed to Progress on BeltLine Rail in First 90 Days
by Cristy Lenz
Andre Dickens
I was lucky enough buy my Inman Park house over a decade ago, before Intown prices skyrocketed. I love the walkability living intown affords. I’m close to the Atlanta BeltLine, MARTA, friends, great restaurants and shops. And while I’m lucky to live as close as I do to MARTA, I still have to have a car.
Transportation that almost gets you where you need to go isn’t good enough. And many of our fellow Atlantans who don’t have cars must piece together buses, trains, scooters and rideshare to get where they need to go. We need a city where everyone should be able to get where they need to go easily and affordably.
That’s one of many important reasons we need to elect Andre Dickens as our Mayor. Dickens is an engineer, and he understands that expanding public transportation is necessary to move our city forward, grow the economy, and create a more equitable, easily accessible and affordable city.
As an At-large Councilman, in 2019 he created the Atlanta Department of Transportation to help streamline the planning and execution of transportation projects. This relatively new department has already brought increased efficiency and effectiveness. Dickens supports resolving Atlanta’s transportation project backlog and building bike infrastructure. He earned a 98 on the BeltLine Rail Now scorecard for his commitment to BeltLine rail and other equity-focused transit projects awaiting implementation.
Dickens pledges that within the first 90 days of his mayoral administration, there will be movement on the addition of light rail on the BeltLine. He has the experience and know-how to execute on his transportation promises. He loves Atlanta and wants to build the infrastructure to make Atlanta the city I want to live in. One where vibrant neighborhoods are connected via public transportation, making it easier for all of us to get around the city we love.
Cristy Lenz is a small business owner and Inman Park neighborhood activist who ties her enthusiastic and early support of Andre Dickens to his community responsiveness. She considers BeltLine rail an important part of Atlanta’s quest for a comprehensive, reliable and equitable transit system.
Two Votes Reveal Felicia Moore’s Stance on Public Space, Money and Input
by Chad Carlson
Felicia Moore
In assessing the two candidates for mayor, rather than listening to what they say, it's best to check how they vote. Let’s look at two votes that had a profound effect on transportation in this city.
Over many years of extensive public engagement, voters in the City of Atlanta have time and again said that they expect the city to deliver BeltLine rail, a central component to a comprehensive transit system that serves all. In 2016, these citizens voted for a Transportation Special Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST), money that was to be spent on public transportation projects inside the city limits of Atlanta. Voters were led to believe that much of that tax would be used to start construction of light rail along the BeltLine. Instead of keeping that promise, City Council voted to divert millions from the public TSPLOST to fund a pedestrian bridge over Northside Drive, to serve a private stadium. Felicia Moore voted no---the only Council member to do so. Her opponent in the upcoming runoff election voted yes.
That same year, public streets and public space at Underground Atlanta, in the heart of our city, was given away by City Council…forever….to enable the sale of Underground to an out of town suburban strip mall developer, next to the largest public train station in the Southeast, with no proposed public input. Felicia Moore voted no; her opponent voted yes.
Ms. Moore’s opponents have tried to brand her as the “no” candidate; however, voting “no” on bad policy, which uses public money with no public engagement, is a big “YES” in my book.
Felicia Moore has a long history of robust public engagement; and she has something which is vital for good leadership in this city---curiosity. And that gets to the heart of the matter. It is curiosity that demonstrates a willingness to listen to, and learn from, others, something that is desperately needed in City Hall. This is why I am voting for Felicia Moore for mayor.
Chad Carlson is a 28-year resident of the City of Atlanta. He is a proud 25-year volunteer with Trees Atlanta, which has planted over 1,000 trees in his southwest Atlanta neighborhood, Westview. He credits Felicia Moore’s consistent record of transparency, responsiveness, integrity, and courage to speak out for his support for her campaign for mayor.