Byron Amos is in the runoffs for Atlanta City Council District 3.
Candidate website: www.byronamos.com
What makes your policy on public safety different and better than your opponent’s?
Using the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing as a road map, I would make sure that the City of Atlanta’s police force reaches 2,000 active officers. This goal will make a significant difference in the safety and security of our city. Simply put, more officers always make a difference.
Second, I will engage the Courts to ensure that we have proper sentencing guidelines.
Third, I will support expanding the At-Promise youth intervention model developed in partnership with the Atlanta Police Foundation, and other community-based organizations. I would significantly expand the use of video cameras and license plate readers as has been done throughout the city and improve the monitoring of them. I will also increase the number of officers in each Beat so that one office will have the sole responsibility of community policing i.e., getting to know the people of the community.
Why are you the better choice to improve infrastructure and city services?
We must fully implement the City of Atlanta’s Renew Atlanta program. This effort, funded by the City of Atlanta’s taxpayers, will reduce Atlanta’s infrastructure backlog by more than $300 million upon completion. We can expedite project delivery by exploring the already started conversation around letting our City sponsored CID take the lead on the procurement process. In creating this process, we must ensure that all City regulations and procurement policies are adhered to. Leadership must be restored along with the uncompromising position that the delivery of services to the residents of the City of Atlanta is paramount. The newly elected Mayor and City Council must ensure that this message is shared and implemented through our city services department. We must ensure that our employees are well trained, certified, and qualified to serve our city. Some departments may need to be overhauled.
Why are you the better candidate on transportation policy?
The execution and implementation of the More MARTA plan. This initiative represents the largest expansion of MARTA services since the creation of the system. Full implementation of the More MARTA program will touch more than 90 percent of City of Atlanta residents. In my opinion, the proposed list of projects needs to be reevaluated. Transportation is expensive but the residents of Atlanta have already agreed to fund some projects and I believe that the leadership failed our residents by not supporting the projects that were immediately needed and that was not the best investment of taxpayers’ dollars. MARTA should be supported to deliver the things that are needed to move our residents around the city. We need a more robust bus system that must include more routes and rapid routes.
Why are you the better candidate for this office, period?
Leadership and experience matters. I am a lifelong resident of District 3. My 23 years of public service have been spent in direct service to the residents of District 3. From the time when I was a young man serving as Student Government Association Vice President at Booker T. Washington High School, my community service continued as both Chairman and Vice Chairman for our local NPU. Further, I have served as the PTA President, Civic Association President, and finally was elected as a member of the Board of the Atlanta Public School (APS) System. My hands-on experience in preparing and providing oversight for a budget of 1.2 billion dollars provides me with a foundation to thoughtfully represent the people of District 3 as a member of the Atlanta City Council. I have intimate knowledge of the plans realized and unrealized for this district.