It’s hard to believe that three years have passed since the beginning my first term in office in 2021. As we welcome 2024, I have reflected on the county’s progress, as well as my own, and I am proud of what has been accomplished. While I have learned a great deal about the behind-the-scenes of DeKalb County and its operations and acknowledge some levels of success as a first-term elected official, I realize there are still many challenges ahead.
As a professional planner, growth and economic development will always be a priority to me. Unfortunately, DeKalb County is lagging behind other metro counties in terms of building permits, housing development, and high-paying jobs. I am honored that CEO Michael Thurmond named me as the first commissioner to serve on the Board of Directors of Decide DeKalb, as this has afforded me the opportunity to influence major development projects not only in District 1, but across DeKalb County. Although we have made progress on major developments such as Assembly Studios and PepsiCo, there is still more work that needs to be done in order to make DeKalb County more business- and development-friendly and to prepare our county for the new post-pandemic landscape.
Last year, I sponsored legislation to establish a small business revolving loan fund and technical assistance program for Decide DeKalb. Through this budget request, I was able to assist in securing $2.7 million from the County to help small business owners to obtain much needed capital for start-up and growing businesses.
As hybrid work-from-home and in-person work models are becoming the norm, property owners and leaseholders of office and other commercial spaces are changing how they utilize their workspace. As a result, DeKalb County’s zoning may have to go through some changes. Last year, I proposed an ordinance amendment to expand film, TV and movie production in commercial and mixed-used, land-use designations. Currently, studios are only permitted in office-distribution (OD), light industrial (M) and the Indian Creek Overlay District. As a planner, I have many ideas on how to utilize DeKalb County’s land-use for highest and best use and ways to make District 1 more viable.
From a social perspective, I have heard from residents and business owners regarding the increase in property crimes in District 1, which concerns me a great deal. Currently, the County is focused on deploying resources for violent crimes, however, property crimes impact our quality of life as well. I have committed funding from my office to purchase and install 20 Flock Safety cameras around District 1, with possibly more to come. This is a start, but curbing crime will take more resources and additional solutions.
The biggest — and most vital — ongoing county projects occurring are the sewer upgrades and critical infrastructure projects. Over the past few years, residents and business owners have shared with me their stories of flooding, unusually high water bills and sinkholes. I realized that not only are these projects capital intensive to correct but may also require some creative solutions. As the 2022 and 2023 Presiding Officer, I used this platform to highlight DeKalb County’s critical infrastructure needs to Governor Brian Kemp’s team and officials in Washinton D.C., including agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It is imperative that DeKalb County remains on the radar of state and national organizations in an effort to secure additional funds and to discuss gaps in funding opportunities for citizens to fix large infrastructure projects on private property.
Earlier last year, my office also contracted with Georgia Safe Sidewalks to repair broken sidewalks throughout District 1, and we held a “Flip the Switch” event to celebrate the much needed traffic stop light at Pleasantdale Elementary School. We also kicked off the Mercer University Trail Feasibility Study to enhance connectivity in District 1.
As your Commissioner, I kept my word to dedicating resources to protect and enhance our neighborhoods by paving roads, repairing sidewalks and putting funding towards our most vulnerable communities. DeKalb County is on the move, however, we still have challenges ahead. We need to create a better process for permitting and plan reviews. We need to ensure that businesses are secured, and employees feel safe at their place of work. We also need to deal with the homelessness and panhandling that is increasing in District 1 and around the County. And finally, we need to create a district that is better connected, more walkable and also creates a better sense of community. I am committed to improving our district to ensure that we will be a destination to continue to work, live and play.