Candidate Profile: Alfred Shivy Brooks For Atlanta City Council

ATLANTA — Fifty-six City Council candidates are running for 16 seats in Atlanta's Nov. 2 municipal election.

Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Alfred Shivy Brooks is running for Atlanta City Council Post 1 At-Large.

Age (as of Election Day)

37

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

My wife, Crystal (37), is a registered nurse and a certified educator. My son Bryce (15) is a sophomore at Maynard Jackson Highschool and Christian (5) is in kindergarten.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Georgia State University

Occupation

High School Teacher

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

NA

Campaign website

brooksforatl.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am running to end the status quo of Atlanta’s government doing too little for the most of us, while doing a whole lot for the few. Our campaign is not just for the corporate executives living in high rises but for our unsheltered community, mothers who have lost their children to police brutality, families who don’t know where their next meal is going to come from, and for every Atlantan who has been overlooked and unheard for the past 24 years. I see too many families who don’t have a place to call home, too many families who don’t have food on the tables, too many families who don’t have a stable income, as well as the harm inflicted on Black and Brown communities. Much of this is due to the criminalization of Blackness and poverty at the hands of out-of-touch politicians, who choose their rise as an individual over our collective rise as a people and a city.
The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is mass poverty and the issues it creates. I intend to address mass poverty by focusing on the underlying causes of it and addressing the needs of our residents regarding affordability, responsiveness, and safety. Homelessness, crime, and displacement caused by mass poverty are issues that must be front and center in our work, for they impact all citizens of Atlanta, from the very poor to the very wealthy; from the unemployed to the owners of large corporations. And doing better to address these issues will do better for us all.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I’ve stood on the frontlines advocating for civil rights, working families’ rights, and have fought for social justice, to ensure police accountability since the age of , when I began marching the streets of Atlanta with my father in protest of the brutal beating of Rodney King in 1991. Today, I stand on the frontlines, advocating for an end to mass homelessness, an end to pervasive poverty, and the protection of voting rights in Atlanta.

I served as a public servant before running for office, as both an educator and a community organizer. I am the only candidate in my race that has actively participated in the social justice movement of the last two years. This uniquely positions me to be a bridge between the community and its distrust for elected officials and city government,

It is my calling to lead as a public servant and find ways to better our community through policy.

I believe that together, we will positively change the trajectory of how Atlanta does politics. Our time is now. We deserve leadership that CARES. We Can’t Wait.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

I am running to end the status quo of Atlanta’s government doing too little for the most of us while doing a whole lot for the few. Our campaign is not just for the corporate executives living in high rises but for average Atlantans, and for every Atlantan who has been overlooked and unheard for the past 24 years. I am determined to make Atlanta affordable for everyday citizens, end mass homelessness, and reduce crime by addressing the root causes, not just the symptoms. I am driven to run precisely because we need not only innovative change and leadership but also improved ethics and transparency in the Council. I am running against an incumbent who has faced numerous serious ethics violations and who is arguably one of the most corrupt politicians in our city’s history.

The people who created these issues, and turned a blind eye as the situation worsened, will not be the ones to help us fix them. Now is an opportunity for positive change, with fresh voices and visions. There is an emergency for change. Atlanta deserves better and deserves leaders who CARE. We can’t wait!

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

Covid-19, and the economic crisis it induced, have devastated our communities. Millions of Americans have accumulated months of back rent and could face eviction at any time. Many of our neighbors have lost their homes, and homelessness is spiking across the country. At the same time, many Americans are newly facing food insecurity since Covid struck. It is going to take time to fully vaccinate our communities, and longer to fully repair the economy. Meanwhile, local governments have been disinvesting from public health infrastructure for decades, with terrible consequences. This has disproportionately affected communities of color regarding basic health issues, such as eradicating lead paint and pipes, unclean air, and other forms of environmental racism and injustice.

I bring bold, multi-faceted leadership to the Council and will fight for a strong recovery plan to help our citizens weather the Covid crisis and emerge safe and fulfilled on the other side.

As part of this leadership, I support the S. 674 - Public Health Infrastructure Saves Lives Act (PHISLA), which establishes a core public health infrastructure program to strengthen the public health system. Doing so improves our ability to respond to the COVID–19 pandemic. Research shows that communities of color have been disproportionately impacted and suffered due to Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) and lack of access to proper healthcare. PHISLA includes awarding grants to State, territorial, or local health departments. These funds will allow me to implement policies to support local health departments and public health facilities within the metropolitan Atlanta area. Systemic health inequities consistently expose racial and ethnic minority groups to higher risk of death from COVID-19. People of color are unequally impacted by unintended economic, social, and secondary health consequences of the pandemic mitigation strategies to include social distancing. Programs for local health departments will help address and correct these inequities and will therefore benefit our entire community, not just those who are currently underserved.

Next, to increase innovation in our response to the crisis, I will build partnerships with the city’s scientific researchers, racial and ethnic minority-serving organizations, grassroots community organizations, and other constituents in order to collaborate and build policies that will strengthen our public health infrastructure.

The Coronavirus Pandemic has also had a devastating impact on our small businesses. The ability to create jobs and opportunities for local businesses is essential to the strength of our city. As the CEO of a small business, I understand the importance of having policies that support our growth and prosperity. As we look to get our bars and restaurants opened and stimulate job growth in our city, we must make it easier to start a business with classes on permits, licenses, and tax credits. Everyone deserves an opportunity to become an entrepreneur. I will look to push policies for partnerships with Fulton and DeKalb counties, the state of Georgia, and the Federal Government in order to support local businesses.

Finally, we must also address a lack of affordability and access to jobs, which affects the quality of life of our residents. Atlanta is being impacted by a deficit of affordable housing, which is contributing to the outpricing, subsequent gentrification, and displacement of our residents. I will enact oversight, transparency, and accountability to the permitting of new and current development in the city, with the aim of guaranteeing that at least 15-20% of new developments are allotted to affordable housing at 50-80% of the area median income levels. Furthermore, our residents are in need of jobs that pay a thriving wage. We must ensure that our schools and city are working collectively to equip and re-tool our residents to fulfill the jobs of the 21st century. The city of Atlanta must partner with businesses to ensure that every high school-aged young person has a paid internship, so as to give our residents real-life experience in the workplace.

hat do you identify as the root causes of the recent and ongoing increase in violent crime, and how would you address the issue?

Once I am elected to City Council, I will propose the following immediate actions, to work in conjunction with a plan for the medium- and long-term success of our city:

· Implement conflict resolution training and workshops at local middle schools, high schools, and colleges. Teaching our young people better conflict management skills will help them confront even volatile life situations in a non-violent, assertive manner. I would also mandate conflict resolution for all citizens who are under probation or diversion supervision programs;
· Increase police presence in areas of nightlife. This will help deter violent episodes, keep our communities safer, and provide faster response times in dense areas;
· Implement legislation to require gun owners to secure their firearms in locked glove compartments or trunks when the owners are not in the vehicle;
· Add police substations in Buckhead to decrease response time and increase police presence for deterrence and prevention as well; and
· Modify zoning regulations and permits concerning alcohol sales after 2 a.m. This will curb late-night violent episodes and will not notably decrease business revenue.

Do you support or oppose the creation of Buckhead City? Why or why not?

I do not support the creation of Buckhead City but fully understand the frustrations that brought our Buckhead family to the point of considering separation. Safety and taxes intersect in Buckhead. Buckhead deserves a high return on its tax investment in the City, and right now Buckhead isn’t getting that. Buckhead has long been faced with slow police response times, a non-attentive City Hall, and a shift of the identity of the neighborhood. I not only recognize the problems, but I am offering real-life, pragmatic solutions to achieve the outcomes that Buckhead deserves.

Buckhead provides 37% of Atlanta’s tax revenue, and you deserve the highest return on your investment. Currently, Buckhead has the slowest police response time of all areas in our city. This is unacceptable. Buckhead’s zone covers the largest geographical space of all police zones in the city. This outsized area yields a 13-minute average response time. I propose adding an additional police zone in Buckhead to improve police presence, crime prevention, and safety. I am also a proponent of improved police training to address modern safety issues.

I also recognize the importance of preserving the character of Buckhead. Unlike many of my opponents, I actually live in a neighborhood, and I am pro neighborhood. Atlanta has fallen short in protecting the identity of our communities. I support zoning policies that will preserve the Buckhead you know and love. Our City council members must be more responsive to our communities than they are to their self-interests.

Buckhead deserves a better return on its tax investment regarding infrastructure and “quality of life” factors. Buckhead is one of the most visited areas in our city, which has brought great opportunity to the community but has caused Buckhead’s infrastructure to take a beating. We must improve the roads, bike-ability, and walkability of our Buckhead community. It is inexcusable that infrastructure projects take so long, while incumbent politicians sit back… and are only motivated to do… when seeking our votes for reelection.

Buckhead can’t wait to see… and feel… a proper return on the investment of your tax dollars. Atlanta has to do better by Buckhead and I have concrete policies that will address Buckhead’s concerns. Career politicians have failed us ALL, and now is the time to usher in real change to improve the safety and quality of life, for our Buckhead community.

How would your administration react to the creation of Buckhead City and the resulting loss of a major residential, commercial and cultural center and significant source of tax revenue? How would you respond to residents and businesses in that community if cityhood were rejected?

If Buckhead City were established, I would focus on developing under-served areas of Atlanta and bettering public safety by improving police and community relations. I would also focus on community n investment, improvement and expansion of services, and creation of plans to make Atlanta a high-quality city in order to sustain our financial needs independently of Buckhead but at the same time showing Buckhead the value of returning “home” as part of Atlanta. I would strive to reunify the city by being intentional about improving city services and drastically reducing police response times, and I would be visibly present to respond to community needs.

If cityhood were rejected, I would focus on addressing Buckhead residents’ concerns about taxes—their return on investment—and responsiveness, as well as a robust response to the crime issue which has affected our Buckhead family. As noted above, I would create a new police zone centered in Buckhead, so that response times, visibility, and availability of police are drastically improved in Buckhead. I would also work to improve Buckhead’s infrastructure, which desperately needs attention from the city, as it is heavily used due to Buckhead’s tourism draw. Additionally, we must improve the responsiveness of city leadership and departments to Buckhead’s needs, and I will work to do exactly that.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

My platform, CARES, is the backbone of this campaign and together we will normalize these five areas:
C - Connectivity through citywide broadband internet service, that will be free or low-cost to every Atlanta resident
A-Affordable living for all Atlanta residents of various earning levels
R - A more Responsive customer service culture in Atlanta, to address the needs of our citizens… from ATL311, to potholes, and policing
E - Economic development and sustainability that will lay the foundation to build generational wealth for everyday citizens
S - Safety through police reform, training, and better partnerships between police and our neighborhoods.

Some of my top priorities are to ensure the city of Atlanta is affordable, upgrade our 311 customer services, and improve our public safety.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have worked with the Department of Community Supervision, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, and the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation With these organizations, I worked to create policies that have centered the voices of individuals who have lived experiences with mental illness. I also procured millions of dollars of increased funding throughout each of those departments, respectively.

Through my advocacy for reformed public safety, a new department of Public Safety and Wellness has been legislatively proposed and passed by the Atlanta City Council.

Additionally, through my advocacy with the Atlanta Homeless Union, we pushed the Atlanta City Council to increase funding for the unsheltered community by $5 million.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

The best advice ever shared with me was:

You only lose when you quit.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

Through my experiences and background, I offer progressive policies with a pragmatic lens. I care deeply about Atlanta and truly believe that our best days are ahead of us. We must bring fresh leadership with innovative ideas to propel our city forward in a way that is modern and serves all Atlantans.