Editorial from City Council Candidate Torry Lewis, District 4

Why the Atlanta City Council District 4 Race is the Most Important Race in Atlanta and Why You Should Care!

July 6, 2013
By: Torry Lewis, MPA

“It's too early…that district has no impact over here…the incumbent has won for the last two decades.” Those are just a few reasons why some people in the Atlanta area have failed to start studying and supporting candidates in the upcoming Atlanta City Council District Four race. Yes I am a candidate in the election, but I have also lived in the district for four years. My candidacy, however, does not cloud my reasoning as to why this should be the most watched and energized race this year.

As the district lines have changed, District Four has witnessed a more dynamic shift than all of the others.  The new district now includes parts of Georgia Tech, all of the Atlanta University Center, the government centers downtown, Phillips Arena, and it has lost all of the Pittsburgh Community. This dynamic shift of political lines represents a vital “key” in the city. This oddly shaped district, which has been dominated by 20 years of neglect, is currently home to some of the highest unemployment rates in the city, has one of the highest crime rates, and it represents some of the least developed areas in Atlanta. Why? Because of poor advocacy for the citizens of the area coupled with a lack of knowledge about the business process by our current councilwoman.

We hear councilmen speak about crime and development, but there must be some attention placed on jobs. The district is full of prime real-estate that can be used for some of the rust-belt companies that are seeking to make Atlanta home. How do we get them in Atlanta? Some companies already dread the traffic and the lack of proper public transit, however District Four represents an in-town alternative to suburban relocation or expensive developed relocation options such as mid-town, Buckhead, or downtown. It is possible to get these companies to move to this in-town location, but there has to be a city councilman that has the ability and business knowledge to broker these deals. Adding tax incentives on the local level and lobbying for other incentives on the county and state level can be the catalyst for bringing new companies into the district. Not only new companies, but companies that will hire people who live in the district. Grants for new companies that hire a large percentage of residents of the district would not only lower the high unemployment rate, but will raise the discretionary income of the district.

While we are reserving 100 plus million dollars, why don’t we use $10,000,000 as an investment to serve as additional grants to these potential new businesses? This is not a new idea…it’s just a good one. That $10 million can easily turn into $15-20 million of revenue from an energized new tax base.  Though Invest Atlanta serves as an organization that has been tasked with bringing in new businesses to the City, our councilperson should be on the frontline in dealing with the issues in our community. 

But there's more...

Incentives are not the only thing that will make businesses and jobs flock to our area. We have to do our part as well. We need to figure out innovative ways to lower the crime rate. There has been much talk about increasing the number of police, but none about new technology in policing and training. When you walk in the West End and other neighborhoods in the district—just like you have to worry about your car's axle on the street—you have to worry about your ankles on the sidewalks. Businesses are not going to invest in an area that has been neglected by the city. As we court more businesses to the area, we will be able to (with the assistance of the current residents) create an actual, workable list of projects that will spur responsible growth...not just things that will put lipstick on a pig. 

To my Buckhead and Midtown neighbors...you want this district to succeed! You want to be sure that your property taxes are not in line to raise, but to stay steady to even decrease (yes a decrease in taxes is possible). The math and logic are simple, the more people work, the higher the tax base; the higher the tax base, there is a less likely chance that your taxes will raise; lower taxes equal higher quality of life and more income that is available to pump into our economy and schools; a vibrant economy is a vibrant Atlanta. Simple. Of course these are not new ideas...

The aforementioned ideas work for this district, in particular because it is now such an important factor in the development at Fort McPherson, The Atlanta Beltine, and some downtown projects spearheaded by Central Atlanta Progress. We need a councilperson that can be at the boardroom and make sure that the community can be at the table. We need a councilperson that can be trusted to LEAD revitalization efforts downtown. We need a councilperson that can be innovative enough to curb our issues with the homeless and that can lead the efforts to establishing a clean vending program in the city.

This race is important because half of downtown could get a councilman that has remarkably failed our district and our city for the last 20 years. If anything, the new precincts in the district should be scared that they could have a representative that has not performed well in the district that she has held for so long. A strong and vibrant District Four can lead to a stronger, resilient, and sought-after Atlanta. That is why you should care.