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Sam Bacote
Sam Bacote is running for Atlanta City Council Member, District 5.
Personal background
Sam was born and raised in Atlanta. He has a bachelor's degree in economics from Morehouse College, a master's degree in business administration from University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and a master's degree in public administration from Harvard University. He is the director of the PATHS Foundation and a community board member at Hughes Spalding Children's Hospital. He lives with his wife and two children in Glenwood Park.
Professional background
Sam is the Chief Administrative Officer of the Grand Boulé of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and Chairman of the Atlanta Association of Convalescent Aged Persons, Inc. He was the Chairman and CEO of the Fulton Atlanta Land Bank Authority and one of the first Mayoral Appointees to the Westside Tax Allocation District Advisory Board. While in high school, he co-founded one of the largest minority-owned sound, lighting and stage companies in the southeast.
Political background
Sam ran for the Georgia State Senate for District 36 in 2002 but did not advance to the runoff.
ON THE ISSUES
CAMPAIGN FINANCE
Public Services
Plans to adopt standards that would properly assess the effectiveness of a new tree protection ordinance.
Supports outlawing the use of plastic bags and straws in the city and expanding Atlanta's use of renewable energy.
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COVID
Promises to work with public school officials to coordinate how best to get back to in-person learning and "would \[partner\] with private benefactors that would be willing ... to help in providing learning devices, internet access, food and other resources."
Said, "during the height of the pandemic last year, I helped steer over $1,000,000 in relief funds for small businesses in mostly distressed areas to sustain this vital part of our local economy."
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City Budget
Said, "I would like to see more transparency and a managed ... participatory process involving citizens."
Supports raising property tax rates while increasing homestead exemption levels.
Plans to "look for special collections and additional assessments from car renter, hotel and motel visitors and additional ad valorem collections from corporate properties and owners of properties assessed above $100,000."
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Housing & Urban Development
Promises to "spend time learning about the detailed processes, issues and policies around use of City owned parcels, cadastral
maps and paper streets."
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Public Safety
Wants to explore non-law enforcement violence protection programs, like community intervention teams and mentorship programs for at-risk youth.
Supports getting rid of aggressive policing tactics, like stop and frisk or "those typically used that involve contacting, stopping, searching large numbers of people indiscriminately without probable cause."
Against "enforcing laws in ways that criminalize people for their poverty or lack of housing."
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Transportation & Infrastructure
Said, "significant investment is required if \[MARTA\] is to reach deep into the metro area's wealthiest white suburbs while improving how it serves historically Black neighborhoods of our city."
Plans to implement two funding options for infrastructure improvement: "an impact fee ... that is assessed on new, larger commercial developments in lieu of a general tax payment ... \[and\] a continuation of TSPLOST."
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Zoning
Said, "\[zoning\] changes require the utmost sensitivity and respect for those directly affected so as not to be too abrupt and disruptive despite efforts to address wrongs of the past."
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