Devin barrington Ward

The most important role of the City Council is to serve as a checks and balance to the executive branch, particularly the Mayor’s office. This involves passing a budget that prioritizes residents’ needs, ensuring strong oversight of city departments, & creating ordinances to improve city functions & quality of life. At-Large members focus on citywide issues rather than district-specific concerns, allowing them to address systemic challenges & promote broader, longterm solutions across the city.

Yes, I’ve managed budgets, most notably as a member of the Fulton County Continuum of Care Board, overseeing $2.46 million in HUD funding for homelessness services. With 8 years of director-level experience, I’ve handled six-figure budgets & gained expertise in fiscal oversight. My budget management skills were strengthened through trainings with the Congressional Black Caucus Political Leadership Institute & The Management Center. Additionally, my work with the Movement for Black Lives taught me the importance of participatory budgeting, ensuring that city budgets reflect the needs of marginalized communities.

My progressive approach emphasizes: community engagement through participatory budgeting, needs assessment for vulnerable populations, an equity & justice framework to allocate resources where needed most, & transparency via public oversight. Finally, I prioritize reinvestment in public infrastructure and anti-poverty initiatives for long-term justice & equity in city spending.

My expertise lies in public health, housing justice, & progressive public safety, particularly through my work on homelessness, HIV advocacy, & criminal justice reform. As a member of the Fulton County Continuum of Care Board, I’ve managed HUD funding and developed equitable housing policies. My advocacy for PrEP funding has deepened my understanding of addressing health disparities in marginalized communities. Additionally, I was appointed by former Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms to the Taskforce to Reimagine the Atlanta City Detention Center and appointed by the Fulton County Commission to serve on the county's Smart Justice Coordinating Council, focusing on alternatives to incarceration. I also consulted on the Policing Alternatives & Diversion (PAD) Initiative. Where I can strengthen my expertise is in the area of infrastructure and sustainability, I will rely on partnerships with organizations like Georgia Conservation Voters and Sierra Club Georgia Chapter to make informed decisions.

For news about Atlanta, I rely on a mix of traditional and non-traditional sources. Traditional outlets like WSB-TV, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and Capital B Atlanta provide key updates, while non-traditional sources such as NPUs, community forums, my neighbors, grassroots organizations like Movement for Black Lives and ACLU Georgia, Atlanta Community Press Collective, and trusted social media platforms. This approach ensures a well-rounded understanding of local issues.

I will use my strong relationships with state legislators on both sides of the aisle, as demonstrated by my work on the 2019 passage of a PrEP Drug Assistance bill with State Representatives Park Cannon (D) & Sharon Cooper (R). My experience as a former Chief of Staff in the General Assembly allows me to navigate the legislative process & build coalitions to protect Atlanta from harmful state laws. Beyond passing symbolic resolutions, I will introduce ordinances with real impact, like the one I proposed in response to HB1105, which would instruct the Mayor & Police Chief to explore every legal avenue to prevent local enforcement of the bill. I’m committed to allocating funds to support legal challenges that contest the constitutionality of state laws like SB63 & HB1105, which disproportionately harm low-income residents, people of color, & immigrants. I will work to safeguard our progressive policies by ensuring we have the money to fight back in court & protect vulnerable constituents

Atlanta often gets community engagement wrong by treating it as a check-the-box exercise rather than fostering ongoing, meaningful dialogue. Public meetings are typically held at times that are inconvenient for working-class residents, such as Mondays at 1 PM, limiting participation from those most impacted by policy decisions. This approach alienates many communities, particularly Black, Brown & other people of color, immigrants, & working families, from being heard.

One solution I would propose is offering legislation to move one of our monthly full Council meetings to the evening, making it more accessible to working-class people. Additionally, I would implement participatory budgeting, allowing residents to directly decide how a portion of the city’s budget is spent. By combining these efforts with neighborhood assemblies & online engagement tools, we can shift from a top-down model to a co-governance system, ensuring more voices are heard & included in decision-making.

A challenge with transparency in Atlanta’s government is political interference in the Office of the Inspector General (OIG). Recent reports show the OIG has faced obstruction while handling over 90 investigations, with allegations of city officials impeding its work. This undermines the OIG’s ability to hold city officials accountable & maintain public trust. As a solution, I would propose legislation affirming the OIG’s independence & autonomy. This would include strict measures to prevent interference from city departments & high-level officials, ensuring that the OIG can conduct investigations freely & without political pressure. Additionally, I’m committed to allocating resources to support the OIG’s work, ensuring it is well-staffed & adequately funded to tackle issues of corruption & abuse effectively. Such legislation would send a clear message that transparency & accountability are priorities for Atlanta & would strengthen public confidence in the integrity of city government​

To strengthen the purpose of NPUs and expand their co-governance responsibilities, I would propose integrating participatory budgeting into the NPU system. This would allow NPUs to directly influence how city funds are allocated in their neighborhoods, empowering residents to have a say in local priorities such as affordable housing, transportation, and public safety. By giving NPUs control over a portion of the city budget, we can align their work with the broader city planning process and ensure they are more than just advisory bodies—they become active partners in shaping the city. My proposal would include funding for equitable support and resources to ensure under-resourced NPUs have the capacity to engage meaningfully in this process. This shift toward participatory budgeting would enhance transparency, improve civic engagement, and make NPUs key drivers of community-based decision-making.

To support the livelihood, safety, and well-being of transgender people, particularly Black and brown trans individuals in Atlanta, I propose a decentralized shelter model. This model would create shelters in all 12 Council districts, each with dedicated bed space for queer and trans youth, providing safe, stable housing to reduce their risk of violence. Additionally, I would advocate for mandatory anti-discrimination protections in housing and employment, expand mental health services, and partner with local organizations to offer community-led safety initiatives.

Looking at best practices from cities like San Francisco, Atlanta can also implement a transgender-specific crisis response team to address violence, similar to Portland’s approach, which has shown success in lowering violence against trans individuals. These efforts would help foster a safer, more inclusive environment for transgender residents.

As a Councilmember, I will focus on strategies to reduce gun violence by addressing its root causes. While state law limits Atlanta's ability to pass local gun laws, I will introduce legislation requiring that all children in Parks and Recreation programs receive anti-gun violence, conflict resolution, and de-escalation training.

Additionally, I will propose legislation directing the Mayor’s Office of Violence Reduction to develop and submit a comprehensive plan to tackle gun violence. Recognizing the connection between gun violence and mental health, I have already proposed a Mental Health Crisis Emergency Fund to provide preventative services and treatment for uninsured or underinsured residents, ensuring we address mental health challenges that contribute to violence.

Yes

Yes

As a Councilmember, I will advocate for several strategies to support Atlanta’s youth development. First, I’ll expand Parks and Recreation programs to include anti-gun violence, conflict resolution, and de-escalation training, helping to foster safer communities. I will also reform the Summer Jobs Program into a Summer Jobs and Entrepreneurship Program, offering youth job skills while encouraging innovation. Additionally, I’ll establish free literacy programs at all recreation centers for children reading below grade level.

To address housing insecurity, I’ll prioritize leveraging the city’s 363 acres of land to house unsheltered APS students and their families, creating stability to improve student outcomes. This comprehensive approach supports youth through education, job readiness, and housing security, addressing the core challenges many Atlanta families face.

Atlanta's aging water infrastructure, much of which is over 100 years old, has led to frequent water main breaks, leaving thousands of residents and businesses without water access during major incidents. Decades of underinvestment in modernizing these systems have left them vulnerable to failures. To address this, I would rapidly deploy AI-based leak detection tools that can identify vulnerabilities in the system before they cause major breaks, enabling more efficient repairs. I also championed legislation that secured $7.5 million in emergency assistance for small businesses impacted by water crises earlier this year. Additionally, I will require the Department of Watershed to submit a quarterly plan outlining improvements and replacements to ensure accountability and proactive upgrades in the system. These measures will strengthen our water infrastructure, reduce water loss, and prevent future disruptions.

To improve accessibility in Atlanta, I will work with local, state, and regional bodies to address the issues outlined in the federally mandated consent decree. First, I will advocate for increased funding to repair broken sidewalks and install curb ramps that meet ADA standards. I will also push for a streamlined, accessible reporting system that prioritizes repairs based on community needs. Collaboration with transit authorities like MARTA is critical to ensure transit stops are fully accessible. Additionally, I’ll introduce legislation requiring regular audits of pedestrian infrastructure to assess and ensure compliance with ADA requirements.

By working with state and federal partners, I will seek to leverage grants and resources to enhance mobility for bikers, transit riders, and those with disabilities, ensuring that Atlanta becomes a more accessible and inclusive city.

To ensure transportation and infrastructure projects like Complete Streets, the Vision Zero Action Plan, and Safe Routes to School are prioritized in high-risk areas, I would advocate for a data-driven approach that directs funding and resources to neighborhoods with the highest rates of traffic injuries and fatalities, which often have lower incomes and higher percentages of Black residents. I would also push for an equity-focused infrastructure budget that prioritizes these communities, ensuring that projects are completed where they are most needed.

To combat homelessness in Atlanta, I will advocate for a progressive approach by prioritizing the creation of low-barrier shelters & permanent housing solutions across all 12 council districts, ensuring equitable access to housing. My decentralized shelter model will use 363 acres of city-owned land to build permanent supportive housing with wraparound services such as mental health care and job training, tailored to those with little or no income. This model prevents displacement of vulnerable communities and combats the "not in my backyard" mindset by distributing shelters citywide. Additionally, I’ll push for community-controlled housing, such as community land trusts and cooperative housing models, ensuring that development benefits residents, not large corporate developers. These initiatives align with housing-first principles and shift away from punitive measures that criminalize homelessness, focusing instead on long-term, people-centered solutions.

To ensure public benefits when incentivizing affordable housing construction, I would require:

1. Deep affordability: A minimum percentage of units must serve households at or below 30% Area Median Income (AMI) to prioritize low-income families.

2. Long-term affordability guarantees: Developers must commit to keeping units affordable for at least 30 years.

3. Community benefits agreements: Mandating developers provide benefits like public amenities, workforce training, or local hiring.

To hold developers accountable, I would establish strict oversight mechanisms, such as mandatory annual reports and independent audits, to ensure compliance. Developers who fail to meet these requirements would face financial penalties and loss of future incentives. Additionally, I would propose a public transparency portal where residents can track compliance with affordability, sustainability, and community impact goals.

To protect tenants at risk of eviction, I would work at all levels—local, state, and federal—by pushing for comprehensive tenant protections. Locally, I would introduce a trigger rent control bill that would automatically go into effect if the state repeals the current ban on rent control. This would cap rent increases and prevent unjust rent hikes. Additionally, I’d push for a Tenant Bill of Rights, which includes protections from eviction and stronger rental assistance programs. Partnering with private entities, nonprofits, and tenant advocacy groups, I’d expand legal aid and tenant education services. At the state level, I’d advocate for repealing preemption laws that block local rent control and push for stronger tenant protections. Federally, I’d work with HUD to increase the availability of housing vouchers and secure additional funding for affordable housing initiatives.

To balance Atlanta's need for increased housing density with residents’ desire to maintain neighborhood character, I would advocate for smart growth policies that preserve the integrity of single-family neighborhoods while promoting mixed-use, higher-density development in areas with robust transit and infrastructure like MARTA station parking lots.

This includes upzoning underutilized areas and encouraging affordable housing options, such as accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and duplexes, which allow gentle density increases without drastically altering neighborhood character. Additionally, I would support community input processes to ensure that more residents have a voice in how their neighborhoods evolve.

By using inclusionary zoning, which mandates affordable units in new developments, and ensuring that any density increases are coupled with necessary infrastructure improvements, we can meet the Mayor’s goal of 20,000 affordable units while addressing community concerns.

Yes, I'd like to highlight my focus on equitable economic and public health initiatives. My Atlanta Baby Bonds Initiative aims to provide every child born into a low-income family with a trust fund that grows over time, helping to break generational cycles of poverty. Additionally, I am proposing the establishment of a mental health crisis response unit within the Atlanta Fire Department to handle nonviolent emergency calls with care, as well as fully funding the Policing Alternatives & Diversion (PAD) Initiative to expand it to 24/7 availability.

These policies reflect my commitment to ensuring that all Atlantans, particularly the most vulnerable, have access to essential services and economic opportunities. I believe in co-governance, where community members have a direct voice in shaping these initiatives, ensuring Atlanta's growth is both inclusive and just.