Candidate Profile: Mandy Mahoney 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.

Age (as of Election Day)

42

Position Sought

City of Atlanta City Council District 5 Representative

Party Affiliation

non-partisan

Family

Sean Mahoney (husband), Paul Mahoney (son)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

no

Education

Emory University, B.A. Biology & B.A. Environmental Studies; Duke University, MS., Environmental Science; Emory University, J.D.

Occupation

Advisor & Immediate Past President & CEO (10 years), Southeastern Energy Efficiency Alliance

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

no

Campaign website

https://www.mandy4atlanta.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I believe our communities should be safer and healthier so that residents have not only what they need to survive — but thrive. I’m ready to serve Atlanta with purpose, experience, and a commitment to equity. Under Mayors Franklin and Reed I served as the City of Atlanta’s first sustainability director. Prior to that, when the Beltline was only an idea, I worked on making it a reality under the leadership of Mayor Franklin. I am ready to take the lead on local efforts that address issues in public safety, affordable housing, and transportation infrastructure and investment.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

As an East Lake resident and engaged community member, I’ve long believed that public safety
and housing affordability are the most important issues facing our neighborhoods. During my time running for office and listening to voters, my perspective has been reinforced.
Everyone deserves a safe neighborhood and community to call home. We need to restore the trust of our community in the city’s ability to keep us safe. Atlanta must invest in not only public safety efforts but also in our neighborhood infrastructure. Neighborhoods that are welcoming to all residents and have the infrastructure we deserve is key to both public safety and providing housing for residents. Plans for our neighborhoods should include support for existing residents and use lessons learned to provide a modern path to affordable and sustainable housing. We need partners in the private sector to develop housing, but we must also ensure accountability and transparency that has been lacking in previous public-private partnerships in our city.
We tie housing and public safety together because they are innately intertwined. No one should be afraid in their home or on their street or around the corner for any reason. We know that people that are invested in and that feel invested in by their community are more likely to help provide a vibrant and dynamic presence to our city.

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

I am the only candidate that will be ready to serve on Day 1. The policy positions amongst District 5 candidates are small, if existent at all. The difference between me and the other candidates is that I am the only candidate that has experience working in City Hall, as I was the City of Atlanta’s first Sustainability Director and I worked on the team that got the Atlanta BeltLine off the ground. I am the only candidate that has executive leadership experience managing a $20M+ operating budget. I am the only candidate that has led specific, measurable advocacy efforts that yielded legislative policy change. The question for District 5 isn’t “What?” but instead “How?” I am the only candidate in this race that has a proven track record that answers that question.

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

N/A

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

Atlanta has had some strong responses to the pandemic, including various stages of mask mandates. Additionally, the multi-step/phase approach to reopening City Hall has been good for City employees. However, we haven’t fully taken advantage of the opportunities the pandemic has presented by failing to accelerate pedestrian infrastructure. Unfortunately, the City has used the pandemic as an excuse for underdelivering on various services such as waste pick-up and business licenses.
In order to help reduce the spread of the virus, the city should follow the guidance of public health officials, incentivize vaccinations, and ensure seniors and those who are immunocompromised are not put in harm’s way.

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

In order for all residents and businesses to thrive in Atlanta, our physical safety is most important. We cannot have equity in Atlanta — across lines of race, gender, sexuality, or economic status — without the safety of our people. In fact, communities that have been historically marginalized experience higher rates of crime and violence.
Despite decades, even centuries, of ever-increasing investments in institutional policing, we have to face the sobering reality that crime remains a persistent and devastating problem in our communities. The causes of crime are complex, a mix of institutional, economic, social, and personal factors. Yet, research data consistently show the outsize impact of poverty, poor education, mental health issues, and drugs on crime rates. City Hall must work closely with APS, employers, and community organizations to address these underlying causes.
While I do support hiring more police officers to address public safety, I also recognize that we cannot simply police our way out of crime. It is true that Atlanta’s police force is understaffed, despite authorization for hundreds more officers. We must reevaluate all that we ask of our officers, and ensure they are fully trained and fairly compensated. Atlanta should recruit candidates from partners such as Georgia Perimeter College, Atlanta University Center, and Atlanta Technical College. Police departments that employ a higher percentage of officers with postsecondary degrees have improved crime rates, lower turnover, and stronger police-community relationships.
Fortunately, Atlanta has been building momentum with the effectiveness of the Policing Alternatives & Diversions Initiative (PAD). PAD is based on a national model of diversion programs and is one of seven programs selected nationally to participate in an initiative by L.E.A.D. National Support Bureau. I believe there is an opportunity for the City of Atlanta to invest in bolstering PAD Atlanta’s administrative infrastructure and capacity to scale while relying on the subject matter expertise of PAD Atlanta’s leadership and personnel.
Additionally, I propose to work in deep partnerships with frontline community organizations as well as with Fulton and DeKalb counties and the court systems to identify and align strategic priorities and resources. We must go beyond cooperation and move to coordination among public health agencies, nonprofit organizations, and other resource providers.
Diversion and policing alternatives are essential strategies for Atlanta’s public safety success. When effectively implemented, they reduce crime, advance equity, and save taxpayer money over time. The City of Atlanta should hire social workers to respond to certain 911 calls and provide the appropriate resources for individuals experiencing mental health issues and other non-emergency calls. Similarly, we can improve crime by humanely addressing homelessness. Perception of public spaces as unsafe and uncomfortable results in fewer eyes on the streets to deter both property and violent crime. Atlanta currently has a robust network of organizations working to eradicate homelessness, and supporting those coalitions – along with investing in housing affordability and mental health – is an important and tangible action to affect public safety.

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

I do not support the creation of Buckhead City. Dividing our city is not the answer; it will only harm all Atlantans. Atlanta — including Buckhead — has benefited from the cooperation and collaboration amongst business leaders, elected officials, and grassroots organizers to solve hard problems. This is, in part, why Atlanta is home to 16 Fortune 500 companies and is a major cultural, technology, and economic engine in the United States. Not only would the creation of Buckhead City have tax and governing implications for our residents but it would also send the wrong message to people across the globe that look to Atlanta as the cradle of the Civil Rights movement and present-day movements for justice.

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?

We cannot let the possibility of the creation of Buckhead City become a reality. We must recognize that the situation in Buckhead is unique. I would encourage other elected officials, public safety officers, and local stakeholder groups like the Buckhead CID, Buckhead Coalition, Buckhead Council of Neighborhoods, NPUs and active Nextdoor members to come together at listening sessions and public information sessions to discuss concrete plans to directly address resident concerns.
I believe the Buckhead cityhood movement reflects two primary forces at work. First is the growing fear and anxiety related to increased crime, street racing, and general lawlessness. Second is a lack of trust and confidence that the mayor and city council will address these public safety issues with effective solutions along with the necessary resources. As a result, many Buckhead residents believe they are better equipped to directly address these issues on their own.
My proposals to fund improvements to 911 response time, provide affordable housing for our first responders in the communities they serve, and deliver greater training and staffing support to public safety personnel are all citywide solutions that will help alleviate concerns in Buckhead and beyond.
As we should do with every corner of Atlanta, we should address the issues most important to the residents and stakeholders of Buckhead: public safety, infrastructure, and transparency/accountability.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Transparency + Infrastructure — Garbage pick-up is questionable and yard waste pick-up doesn’t happen. Our first responder numbers are below what is needed. Streets are crumbling and sidewalks are non-existent. Parks with private conservancies are maintained while the majority need immediate attention. Who is accountable for our current situation? It should be our elected officials.
911 Response Times — Our city’s emergency workers are in short supply. Violent crimes are on the rise. Worst of all there are no plans in place to address this.
Housing Affordability — Atlanta does not have an adequate supply of affordable housing. Our long-standing residents who are on fixed or limited incomes are being taxed out of their homes. Even our city employees and first responders find it difficult to live in their own communities.

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

I have spent my career at the intersection of public, private, and philanthropic collaboration in order to protect the best attributes of our city while also addressing our needs and challenges. For the past 10 years, I served as president of the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance, a nationally renowned public policy nonprofit that serves 11 states across the Southeast. Before that position, I worked for Ray Weeks when Mayor Shirley Franklin chose him to lead the formal launch of the BeltLine in 2005. I was then tapped by Mayor Franklin to serve as Atlanta’s first director of sustainability, where I led the creation of the city’s first Climate Change Action Plan that saved taxpayers money and drove efficiency efforts. A trusted community leader and volunteer, I serve on the boards of the Turner Environmental Law Clinic at the Emory Law School and the East Lake YMCA. I also volunteer on the Drew Charter PTA, where my son attends school. My past board experience includes the Piedmont Park Conservancy (board secretary) and Georgia Organics (board chair).

The best advice ever shared with me was:

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

Atlanta must integrate climate change into our infrastructure planning like other major cities such as Chicago and New York. Having spent the last 15 years as a national leader on climate and energy issues, I have a clear idea of what the City Council can do to combat climate change. We should require city infrastructure projects to incorporate sustainability goals and consider climate change impacts. Atlanta has already set aggressive goals to get to 100% renewable energy but we have to pass ordinances that will enable us to achieve that goal. We must maximize energy efficiency and utilize renewable energy on city buildings and make it more cost-effective for homes and businesses to maximize energy efficiency and utilize renewable energy. Furthermore, we need to dust off the Resilient Atlanta plan and put it to work.