Continue to do more for less
Continue to deliver efficient city services and ensure completion of our current projects at the best value to our taxpayers and keeping taxes low.
While I’ve been the longest serving Councilmember, Brookhaven has achieved:
ranked the safest city in DeKalb county
a surplus of 25%-45% fiscal reserves every year for the past eight years
voted multiple times as the best suburban city in metro Atlanta
highest credit rating possible (Double Triple A), higher than the U.S government
only city in metro Atlanta to have an affordable housing requirement for all new developments
nationally recognized for its innovative public safety department with the fastest response rates in DeKalb County
Increased parks and greenspaces by 41%
the Excellence in Financial Reporting Award from the Government Finance Officers Association for the past eight years
a national model for sustainability efforts
tax cuts for the past four years for homesteaded residents
a strong track record of completing paving, parks and infrastructure projects on time and within budget.
All with the lowest millage rate in DeKalb County.
These superlatives about our city will continue, and be improved upon, without delay under my leadership.
Fix and “Future-Proof” Our Stormwater Infrastructure
Although we have addressed major flooding throughout the city with completed projects totaling in the tens of millions of dollars, we continue to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars per year on emergency repairs due to our aging infrastructure that was neglected by DeKalb County for decades.
My focus will be to modernize our stormwater infrastructure for the next generation by finding new funding sources (such as GEFA and the Clean Water Revolving Fund) with a focus on parity and replace aging infrastructure while proactively “future proofing” our stormwater facilities with new drainage facilities and regional detention ponds.
Increase Connectivity and Greenspace
My goal is to connect our neighborhoods with walking and biking paths, AND for every resident to be within a 10-minute walk of a park or greenspace, in order to increase our quality-of-life, reduce traffic congestion, and to increase connectivity between residents, visitors and businesses.
Brookhaven built the model mile of the Peachtree Creek Greenway (and is in the process of building the rest), which will connect to the Atlanta Beltline. Since my first election in 2014, I actively spearheaded this project and have been instrumental in ensuring it gets completed and built in a fiscally responsible way. Part of this strategy was building the new and innovative Public Safety Building on the Greenway that just opened.
Unfortunately, at this point, most Brookhaven residents have to drive to the Greenway. We have built, or have the designs for, sections of multi-use paths along Briarwood, North Druid Hills, Apple Valley, and Ashford Dunwoody Rd to connect the Greenway to the rest of the city.
With the removal of the restrictions on SPLOST funding next year and the new Special Services District created to finance our new City Centre, we have a unique opportunity to connect the individual sidewalks built by new development with our multi-use path sections to maximize access and utilization by all Brookhaven residents.
My connectivity priority also includes addressing our multi-modal transportation infrastructure needs, alternative transportation options (like BRT routes) and sidewalks across our neighborhoods, where it makes sense.
Another part of my connectivity strategy involves the continuation of Greenspace acquisition. Currently there are about 6.5 acres per 1,000 residents. My goal is to reach the national standard of 8 acres of greenspace per 1,000 residents. Every resident deserves to have a park or a greenspace within a 10-minute walk.