Topics 

1. What are the top two issues facing Atlanta and how would you address them?

2. What are the top issues in District 6?

3. What is your position on the Belt Line?

4. What is your position on using a Tax Allocation District (TAD) to finance the Belt Line?

5. What is your position on the recent diversion of funds from the Westside Tax Allocation District (TAD)?

6. What is your position on the parking deck proposed for Piedmont Park?

7. What is your position on the proposed high rise towers at Tenth and Monroe?

8. What are your thoughts on addressing traffic congestion?

9. What should Atlanta do to develop a better mass transit system?

10. What is your opinion of the Neighborhood Planning Unit (NPU) system?

11. Do you think the Atlanta Police Department does a good job?

12. How do you think Atlanta can best manage the anticipated growth in the coming years?

13. What is your plan of action for economic development in Atlanta?

14. What should the City do to increase the tax base?

15. What new incentives should Atlanta offer to attract business to the City?

16. What are the critical elements of managing Atlanta’s water and sewer infrastructure?

17. What environmental issue most affects District 6?

18. What are your qualifications for the District 6 City Council position?  

19. Where do you stand on Atlanta’s homelessness and poverty issues?

	Steve responds to your questions.

Opinions

1. What are the top two issues facing Atlanta and how would you address them?

I think the top two issues facing Atlanta are:

· The City’s poor infrastructure

· A City government that doesn’t seem to care about its citizens.

Each of us invests a lot in the City and pays a lot in taxes, but few of us think we get good value in return. Atlanta’s list of weaknesses is long and serious: creaky water and sewer systems; a school system in need of improvement; not enough police officers; dangerous sidewalks; congested streets; unpredictable yard waste and trash service; dirty air, and so on.

People also don’t feel the City cares about them or listens to them. Atlanta is good at “blockbuster” projects but ignores matters of day-to-day importance to residents. Too many City Council members are unknown, unresponsive, and unfamiliar with their districts and Atlanta. Key decisions are made by small groups of people, hand-picked task forces, and unelected officials, often behind closed doors.

There is a good starting point for addressing these issues: Electing people who will listen to citizens, dig into the issues and tackle tough decisions, and put citizens’ interests and priorities first; and choosing leaders who are thoughtful, objective, open to new ideas, and willing to take a stand. Atlanta has, for many years, been the model of a livable, sustainable, successful city, but our advantages are slipping away as the City focuses too much attention on the short-term and on special interests.

The upcoming City Council election is a good place to start a process of change because your City Council Member is well positioned to make a difference to your quality of life. I sincerely believe that I would make a real difference to you, to District 6, and to the overall welfare of Atlanta.

2. What are the top issues in District 6?

Some of the top issues in District 6 are:

· Managing real estate development challenges and opportunities

· Inadequate city services

· Congested streets, poor mass transit, and pedestrian safety

The common thread in these issues are a lack of vision and planning by the City, inadequate resources being invested in District 6, and a lack of dedication and responsiveness from the City.

Neighborhoods in District 6 are under intense pressure from real estate developers. The issues vary from one area to the next but include such things as high-rises threatening to dwarf single family homes; “McMansions” in the midst of modest homes; rezoning requests; conflicts between neighborhoods and businesses; and large new developments with no thought to the infrastructure needed to support them.

As with other areas of the City, District 6 needs and deserves better municipal services. There are too few police officers, yard waste sits at the curb for weeks, housing codes are not enforced, streets are torn up and poorly repaired, sidewalks are a mess, traffic signals are antiquated, pedestrian crosswalks are inadequately marked, mass transit is almost non-existent, and the building permit process is a labyrinth.

These problems impact the residents of District 6 on a day-to-day basis, but they also impact many others. District 6 is one of the most-heavily trafficked and visited districts in the City. It has major thoroughfares, including Monroe, Piedmont, Ponce de Leon, North Highland, and McClendon. It has excellent shopping, commercial, and entertainment venues. District 6 benefits from great parks including Piedmont, Candler, John Howell, the Wildwood Urban Forest, McClatchey, and Winn.

3. What is your position on the Belt Line?

I support the Belt Line and the concept of bringing transit, parks, and economic development to a 22-mile loop around the City. To optimize the promise of the Belt Line, the plan must:

· Give equal importance to transit, parks, and economic development;

· Ensure that parks, transit, and economic development projects are contemporaneously initiated at points throughout the 22-mile loop;

· Ensure that communities which are not on the Belt Line have reasonable connectivity with it;

· Be financially sound for the Belt Line and the City; and

· Allow full citizen participation, with decisions being made in an open, objective, thoughtful, and public environment.

4. What is your position on using a TAD to finance the Belt Line?

I support financing the Belt Line in a way that:

· Ensures parks, transit, and economic development throughout the City;

· Does not financially burden the City; and

· Leaves future TAD financing capacity for other projects

· Ensures that funds generated in the TAD are not diverted to other areas

I support the idea of a “smart” TAD, namely one that meets the above criteria. While there are many questions about the proposed Belt Line TAD, there is not enough information available to determine if the TAD meets the above tests. For example:

· Will the TAD adequately assure that economic development happens throughout the City (as opposed to only in some areas)? 

· Will the transit and parks elements have as good of chance of implementation as, for instance, real estate development in the Northeast quadrant? 

· What are the financial projections for what will happen in areas not in the TAD, especially whether there will be increased tax burdens to support needed services? 

· Is it wise to exhaust the TAD capacity for this project,  given other needs in the City?

· Will the Belt Line TAD leave TAD capacity for future projects in other parts of the City?

· How do we ensure that the money raised by the Belt Line TAD will be used for the types of projects originally envisioned? 

I hope the ongoing Belt Line meetings and work currently being done will address these and all other questions and concerns, and that the decision-making process will be open-minded and thorough.

5. What is your position on the recent diversion of funds from the Westside Tax Allocation District (TAD)?

It is a bad idea to take money generated in a TAD and to divert it to other purposes. I disagree with the recent City Council decision to take $28 million from the Westside TAD through a complicated and convoluted funding tool and divert those funds to Turner Field/Atlanta Brave obligations and other purposes. 

While those other purposes may be worthwhile, it is unacceptable and inappropriate for the City to divert money meant for the Westside of Atlanta to other uses. Money from the Westside TAD--and any TAD for that matter--should be used for redevelopment in the originally designated area. If a TAD has excess funds, those funds should be used to pay down bonds and/or returned to the general treasury. 

This approach will ensure better accountability and that the City adequately funds services such as police, fire, parks, and streets--not just projects that unelected officials at the Atlanta Development Authority deem appropriate. The need to safeguard TAD funds and ensure their proper usage will be especially important if a TAD is used for the Belt Line.

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6. What is your position on the parking deck proposed for Piedmont Park?

I do not support the proposal to build a parking deck in Piedmont Park. The process which led to the current recommendation was not objective, thorough or fair and it didn’t include broad or diverse views from throughout the City. I don’t know what solution would have been produced if the planning and decision-making processes had been different, but the proposal clearly would have been far different from what we now have before us. That much is clear from the significant dissatisfaction and dissent that exists all over Atlanta about the current parking garage proposal. Just the fact that 18 of 19 Neighborhood Planning Units (NPUs) are opposed to proceeding with the current parking deck plan shows me that a vastly different approach for Piedmont Park, parking, and traffic would have resulted from a good process.

The best approach to take now would be to start the planning process over but to use a system which evaluates all ideas, focuses on the future, considers the interests of all Atlantans, and is objective, independent, fair, and comprehensive. Piedmont Park is one of Atlanta’s greatest treasures, and we need to make sure that all ideas are reviewed and that the best ideas are allowed to rise to the surface.

7. What is your position on the proposed high rise towers at Tenth and Monroe?

I oppose the plan by Trammell Crow to put two high rise towers on the corner near Tenth and Monroe and adjacent to Piedmont Park. That area should remain open greenspace, should become part of Piedmont Park, and be incorporated into the greenspace and transit plans for the Belt Line. Similarly, the entire portion of the Belt Line which runs next to Piedmont Park between Tenth and Piedmont Avenue should also become part of Piedmont Park and shouldn’t have commercial development on it.

8. What are your ideas on addressing traffic congestion in Atlanta?

Traffic, transit, and congestion are among Atlanta’s most pressing and difficult issues. The problems must be addressed only through cooperation between the private sector and various municipal, county, state, and federal agencies. Careful planning and study is essential, and one of my first priorities will be to find a way to fund studies of key streets in District 6, Monroe Drive being at the very top of the list. The unwillingness of the City to locate and invest resources in this critical area is unacceptable.

Many ideas have surfaced to address Atlanta’s transportation and congestion problems. Few progressive transit ideas are tried in Atlanta, but one of the first things I would want to do is experiment with the easier-to-implement ideas (even if only on a trial basis), while accelerating studies of longer-range options. For example, the Georgia Tech Trolley recently expanded beyond the college campus and now serves Piedmont Park and Peachtree Street in Midtown. Why can’t similar systems be tried in other areas?

Also, we need immediately to rethink Atlanta’s parking, transit, traffic, and road strategies to better coordinate parking and transit. For example, should there be a central parking authority, how can parking be used for multiple uses, and how can we put parking in locations which serve the public and businesses but do not burden streets, parks, neighborhoods, and safety?

9. What should Atlanta do to develop a better mass transit system?

A world-class transit system is absolutely critical to Atlanta’s future. Without one, we will choke on polluted air, be perpetually stuck in traffic jams, spend too much of our resources on fuel, and waste too much of our precious time. If elected, I would want the City to convene an environmental summit of local and regional business, governmental, and civic leaders to begin developing a comprehensive, progressive plan to address this most pressing issue. Continued growth and prosperity in the Atlanta region is essential, and a continued failure to address this issue will eventually hurt our quality of life and will cost more over the long run.

10. What is your opinion of the Neighborhood Planning Unit (NPU) system?

I fully support the NPU system. NPUs are an excellent way for citizens to learn what is happening in the City and in their neighborhoods. NPUs also are highly effective vehicles for people to express their opinions and concerns.

I have heard that some people want to dismantle the NPU system. This would be an error. I, for one, would like to see Atlanta’s NPU system strengthened in terms of the information available to the NPUs and the role the NPUs in decision-making. A few ideas to do this follow:

· The City should supply more user-friendly information to the NPUs, for example by providing a “layman’s” language summary of proposed ordinances during the NPU review process

· NPU positions should be given more weight and credibility, especially by the City Council, in proceedings before the Zoning Review Board, the Board of Zoning Adjustment, and the License Review Board, and in matters affecting the City’s regional parks

· The City should provide more resources to the staff of the Planning Department in its role of supporting the NPUs

11. Do you think the Atlanta Police Department does a good job?

I have the highest regard and respect for the Atlanta Police Department and especially for Chief Pennington. The Department does a tremendous job and our police officers willingly put their lives on the line everyday to protect us. We have a tremendous group of professionals and our improving crime rates are testament to a job being done very well.

Unfortunately, we do not give our police officers the respect and credit due them. For at least the past four years we have had fewer officers that were authorized in the budget. In District 6, we actually have fewer officers than we had 4 years ago despite a population increase and more commercial enterprises. For too long, the City has not adequately invested in the equipment, training, and resources that our officers deserve. Our compensation packages are not competitive with those in other jurisdictions. The result of these failures is a Police Department with unacceptable turnover and morale below what it should be. The City Council must play a more active role in ensuring that the Police Department--and all of our other public safety officials--are treated fairly and professionally. Most importantly, the City Council Member from District 6 must be active and effective in ensuring that the needs and interests of our District are properly addressed.

12. How do you think Atlanta can best manage the anticipated growth in the coming years?

The City’s growth rate is being questioned due to sprawl, traffic congestion, poor mass transit, a shortage of parks, a school system in need of improvement, air and water quality, threatened neighborhoods, and other factors. Continued healthy growth is essential for a strong Atlanta, and the challenge is to manage that growth while maintaining a good quality of life. The City needs to develop a strategy which achieves the following objectives:

· Growth and development should be encouraged throughout the City. So much growth now occurs in limited areas of Atlanta, and yet many areas have seen little economic development in recent years. The City should establish special incentives for economic development in areas that have fallen behind.

· High density should be encouraged where it does not conflict with existing neighborhoods and if the infrastructure exists to support it (e.g., roads, schools, mass transit, parks). If an area does not have the necessary infrastructure, high density should be allowed but only along with a commitment to build the infrastructure in a timely manner.

· Growth, transit, and natural resource planning must be closely coupled.

· Zoning should be adhered to and changes made sparingly and only when there is broad support from the surrounding area. It is best for residents, businesses, and developers to have more certainty about what the future holds.

· Neighborhoods should be protected from development that threatens their historic, architectural, or design characteristics, and the views of existing neighbors should play an important role in the development processes.

· The City must develop a plan to address the needs of poor and disadvantaged people when they are displaced from an area being developed or redeveloped.

13. What is your plan of action for economic development in Atlanta?

My plan for overall economic development for the City will center on three areas:

· Increasing conventions and tourism

· Improving downtown Atlanta

· Supporting small businesses and intown business commercial districts.

Tourism: Atlanta’s convention and tourism industry has been successful for many years, but lately has been losing steam. Large conventions have been lost, we have not been attracting many major sporting events, and many visitors don’t feel welcome. Concerted, prompt, and real action is needed to reverse these trends, including better multi-county and statewide coordination, enhanced experiences for visitors, and facilities competitive with those at other cities.

Downtown: Downtown Atlanta needs serious improvements. It is a core of activity and has tremendous history and potential. But Downtown closes when the work-day ends, is poorly maintained and patrolled, and receives too little attention and tender, loving care. A world-class, international city must have a vibrant downtown, and Atlanta fails that test.

Small Businesses: Atlanta’s success derives in large part from its entrepreneurs and its intown business areas such as Virginia-Highland, Little Five Points, Buckhead, and East Lake. Atlanta must do more to encourage and support small businesses throughout the City and must better nurture, protect, and inspire our intown business districts.

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14. What should the City do to increase its tax base?

To increase the tax base, the City needs to provide a better vision for the future, be more businesslike and efficient, and be more consistent in the application of laws, policies, and enforcement. When people or businesses think about moving to a City, they want to know their chances of being successful, whether they will be treated well, whether there are good opportunities, and whether the city has a bright future.

Atlanta’s reputation in all of these areas is declining. We are negatively affected by businesses which do not adhere to parking, noise, building code, and trash ordinances. Neighbors are besieged by requests to rezone, to cut down trees, and to build on every square inch. Businesses and ordinary citizens spend too much time getting simple requests approved, obtaining permits, and finding out answers. The answer to this growing problem lies in two key areas:

· More efficient and effective delivery by the City of its core service responsibilities

· Better planning for the future, including the City infrastructure, residential and commercial development, transit, parks, safety and security, schools, etc.

15. What incentives should Atlanta offer to attract new business to the City?

To attract new businesses, the City must offer financial incentives competitive with those being offered by other cities, and I support those types of arrangements. However, those arrangements must be planned, decided, and implemented in the open, and the public must be allowed to participate in the process and know how its’ money is being spent. I also support public-private partnerships to attract new business and events, but these partnerships must be fully accountable to the public, have good public oversight, and be responsible for advancing the public interest.

In the final analysis, the critical element in attracting new businesses is not the financial package, but being a city that is attractive to businesses and people. Atlanta must offer good services, modern transit, clean air, good schools, affordable neighborhoods, great parks, and a high quality of life. Those factors will be our key to success, not whether we make the most financially-attractive offer.

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16. What are the critical elements of managing Atlanta’s water and sewer infrastructure?

The critical elements of managing Atlanta’s water and sewer challenges are:

(1) Innovation;

(2) Regular oversight and involvement; and

(3) Developing ways to measure progress and performance. (Atlanta’s water and sewer problems developed over many years, and it will take years to correct the problems.)

Atlanta needs to be more innovative and progressive in handling the stormwater issues. For example, stormwater could be managed in small headwater catchment areas by building cost-effective stormwater management parks throughout central Atlanta. Such parks could help revitalize Atlanta with improved aesthetics, recreational opportunities, and enhanced property values. Another idea is to rebid the sewer separation project, probably with longer time frames than are currently being used. The bids for the project have come in at more than double the City’s original estimates, and re-evaluating the process and the plan are essential.

Success in resolving our stormwater issues will depend on constant oversight by the City. Questions have already surfaced about the technology and engineering solutions, contract overruns and time delays, and the construction process. Significant changes to the original plan will undoubtedly be required. The City must remain directly involved throughout the sewer project, and maintain regular and thorough oversight. Unpleasant surprises will arise if the City takes a hands-off attitude and acts as if the project will be completed on auto-pilot. Finally, in order to know how the project is progressing and whether tasks are being handled effectively, measurements and milestones must be established.

The City does not have a clear plan for dealing with its future water supply. Our growth and success depend on a steady supply of water, and the City must promptly engage in efforts to ensure this result.

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17. What environmental issue most affects District 6?

The environmental issue that most affects District 6 is the failure by the City to have a comprehensive vision and plan for dealing with air, land, and water resources. The City has seen significant economic and population growth over the past decade or so, but has addressed environmental challenges only on ad hoc basis (or ignored them altogether). This short-sighted approach has contributed to poor air quality, tree canopy destruction, congested roadways, inadequate access to mass transit, damaged streams, and stormwater problems.

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18. What are your qualifications for the District 6 Council Position?

I have more than 20 years of management consulting experience, ten of which were with Cap Gemini Ernst & Young. I specialized in strategic planning with an emphasis on increasing shareholder value, aligning corporate vision with workforce efficiency, and streamlining and eliminating redundancies. I served as project manager of projects that reduced costs and/or increased revenue by over a billion dollars. My experience equips me to focus the City on cost reduction, increased revenue, and stronger customer service.

As a management consultant to Fortune 500 companies, I developed processes and methods for solving ingrained and long-term issues. This experience will enable me to help the City overcome obstacles that are embedded in the culture of City Hall. I have a proven track record of developing unique and innovative approaches to issues, and of implementing solutions that are measurable and attainable.

I worked with Fortune 500 companies to introduce new product lines, increase revenue streams, and revitalize established products. This skill base will play a vital and refreshing role to the City of Atlanta. I offer the ability to analyze and contribute to developing new ideas or revamping existing processes to increase the revenue base from taxes, to spur tourism and business development, and to strengthen the City.

I also have eight years of service in the U.S. Army. The last four years I served on the Personal Staff of the Commanding General of Forces Command at Fort McPherson. I was a management consultant to the Commander and his immediate staff. In that role, I was responsible for developing solutions and implementing action plans across all service branches to reduce the force size while maintaining combat readiness. I was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for my service with the Commander.

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19. Where do you stand on Atlanta’s homelessness and poverty issues?

I do not have an extensive background in this area, and feel that it is critical that I work with organizations and government agencies to become better versed in this issue.  I have done significant volunteer work with the St. Vincent de Paul Society and have had lengthy discussions regarding this issue with key people in that organization. 

Homelessness is a complex issue and cannot be addressed with a “one size fits all” solution.  The homeless generally fall into one or more of four categories:

(1) Those with mental and physical disabilities or addictions, who cannot generate enough income to sustain a livable lifestyle

(2) People who are very short on means, often just one paycheck away from losing their home, and who do not have the resources or skills to obtain meaningful employment.  Single mothers with children often fall into this category and have to deal with childcare versus working.  Others in the category often are abused women who do not have the skills to enter the job market

(3) Individuals who choose to live in poverty and “panhandle” to earn enough to sustain themselves

(4) Immigrants who arrive in this country without the skills, support systems or language abilities to successfully perform in our society.

These categories are simplistic yet far more complicated than they appear, but they can provide a basic framework for the issue of homelessness.  Each category requires different approaches to address the issue. 

The new Gateway Center, operated by the Atlanta Union Mission,  is a good first step in addressing the needs for people who are in categories 1, 2, and 4. 

The Gateway however is only a transitional point, and I believe the City needs to do a better job of coordinating services provided by private and nonprofit organizations to link available resources and identify shortfalls.

· For those in category 1,  a stronger resource base needs to be supported and encouraged. 

· For those in categories 3 and 4,  more resources to be identified and offered to provide a supportive environment that can allow people to live safely while learning both life skills and job skills so they can focus on their goals and achieve their own desires. 

· The array of services needs to be collectively resourced, and the City needs to be more active in making this coordination effort a reality. 

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Steve Brodie On the Issues
Campaign for Atlanta City Council District 6

Last updated: 10/17/2005