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Brandon Graham
Brandon Graham is running for Atlanta City Council Member, District 3.
Personal background
Brandon was born and raised in Atlanta. He has a bachelor's degree in music and journalism from Columbia College and is currently working on a master's in business administration in operations at Clark Atlanta University. He is a regional leader from the Southern Equity Partners Organization and is a part of the NAACP.
Professional background
Brandon is a teacher at Benjamin E. Mays High School, teaching broadcast journalism, film and television. Brandon is founder and CEO of the Creative Surge Company, a business consulting and venture capitalist group. Through this company, Brandon shares ownership of an entertainment and talent company, a real estate, decor and renovation company and a clothing brand that promotes Historically Black Colleges & Universities.
Political background
Brandon Graham's campaign for city council is his first entry into politics.
ON THE ISSUES
CAMPAIGN FINANCE
Public Services
Wants to create a Blight to Bright Advisory Board of community leaders, investors, developers and residents to identify vacant properties that could be developed and review upcoming development projects.
Wants to map businesses in District 3 to "\[ensure\] that a percentage of their workforce will be District 3 residents."
Plans to create a Business and Economic Task Force of Invest Atlanta, community and business leaders, investors, educators and residents to promote business development.
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COVID
Wants to create a new cabinet position called Chief Emergency Medical Officer, who would have a team to manage, develop and organize the city's ability to be prevent and deal with health crises in the city.
Plans to follow two main policies: required universal and correct use of masks and physical distancing to the greatest extent possible.
Wants to make sure that students learning virtually have access to the internet, daily school lunches and academic and social support.
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City Budget
Plans to expand the resources of the Affordable Housing Bond program.
Wants the budget to focus on the public school system, including youth programs, transportation and fair and affordable housing.
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Housing & Urban Development
Wants to engage the local community to increase awareness around Atlanta's Affordable Housing Bond program.
Prioritizes addressing the lack of fair and affordable housing and unprotected legacy residents.
Said, "legislation has to place investors, rehabbers, developers and real estate attorneys who are attempting to poach our properties on notice, with issue of criminal charges, fines and jail time."
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Public Safety
Plans to create a task force to address crime, establish mental health resource agents within the Atlanta Police Department and educate the public on how to stay safe.
Wants to bring together child services, Atlanta Public Schools, Atlanta courts, restorative justice groups and non profit organizations to create a youth intervention plan.
Plans to start a "Where is Your Teen?" initiative to motivate companies and organizations to create programs for teenagers.
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Transportation & Infrastructure
Wants to have "a positive, progressive and inclusive transit ecosystem," by supporting Atlantans who don't have access to a car, have a disability and/or prefer using public transit.
Plans to expand participatory budgeting so that residents decide how public funds are spent on transportation projects.
Wants to create a committee with organizations like Atlanta Bicycle Coalition and BeltLine Now.
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Zoning
Wants to update the zoning code to allow for more flexibility when building housing and more people to live near transit and to fix exclusionary zoning policies.
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