Eshé Collins

The Atlanta City Council’s primary role is to legislate, create policies, and approve budgets, ensuring the city functions effectively while holding agencies accountable. At-Large Councilmembers are elected by and represent the entire city, focusing on broad issues like public safety and infrastructure. In contrast, District Councilmembers represent specific neighborhoods, addressing local concerns such as zoning and district-specific services, balancing citywide and local priorities.

Yes, I have extensive experience in managing and influencing significant budgets. As a school board member and former Chair of the Atlanta Board of Education, I am responsible for overseeing the Atlanta Public Schools' budget, which exceeds $1 billion annually. This role requires me to ensure that taxpayer dollars are allocated equitably across the district to support student achievement, school operations, and essential programs. Additionally, in my role as the Director of the Equity Assistance Center-South at SEF, I manage a $1.7 million annual budget that support equity-focused assistance programs for public school districts and governmental agencies across the South. My experience extends to prioritizing resources, advocating for increased funding, and ensuring financial accountability, whether in public education or broader community initiatives. My budgetary expertise highlights my ability to lead in roles requiring fiscal responsibility and strategic allocation of resources.

As an attorney, elected official and non-profit leader, I am an expert in policy, equity and program management. My deep understanding of systems, funding, and equity issues allows me to make informed decisions on education, youth programming, and community support initiatives. An area where I may lack expertise is in urban infrastructure projects, such as transportation systems or major utility upgrades. To address this gap, I plan to rely on partnerships with organizations like the Atlanta Regional Commission, the Department of Transportation, and experts in urban planning. Additionally, I would engage with local engineering firms and community advocacy groups to gather diverse perspectives. I value collaboration and will tap into experts to ensure decisions are informed and effective for all Atlantans.

For news and information about Atlanta, I rely on traditional sources like the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC), Atlanta Voice, Capital B News for local news, politics, and events, and WSB-TV for real-time updates. Non-traditional sources include community newsletters, neighborhood associations, and social media platforms like Center for Civic Innovation, Atlanta Civic Circle and Nextdoor for hyper-local updates. I also follow nonprofits and advocacy groups for more information.

As a Councilmember, I would actively engage in advocacy beyond symbolic resolutions by forming coalitions with other city leaders, community organizations, and legal advocacy groups to challenge harmful legislation. I would work closely with municipal associations and civil rights organizations to ensure our collective voice is strong at the state level. Additionally, I would leverage relationships with key legislators to advocate for policy changes and ensure Atlanta's concerns are represented. To mobilize the community, I would lead grassroots efforts, encouraging residents to engage directly with their state representatives. Furthermore, I’d support legal challenges to unconstitutional or discriminatory laws by partnering with advocacy groups. Locally, I’d introduce policies that mitigate the impact of harmful state laws, providing protections for low-income residents, people of color, and immigrant communities within Atlanta's jurisdiction.

Atlanta often falls short in community engagement by failing to ensure that all voices, especially from marginalized and underserved communities, are heard in a meaningful way. Engagement efforts tend to be reactive and surface-level, often focused on informing rather than truly involving residents in decision-making. This creates a disconnect between city leadership and the communities most affected by policies, leaving many feeling unheard or disengaged. One way to address this is a participatory budgeting process, where residents directly decide how a portion of the city budget is spent. This would empower communities to have a voice in priorities, ensuring that their needs are reflected in city investments. I would also hold regular, rotating town halls in neighborhoods across the city, particularly in areas that have been historically underrepresented. By meeting people where they are and giving real decision-making power, we can build trust and ensure more inclusive engagement.

A significant challenge the City of Atlanta faces regarding transparency is the difficulty residents experience in accessing and understanding city financial and legislative information. Although meetings and reports are technically public, they are often buried in complex, hard-to-navigate formats, or made available too late for meaningful public input. This creates a gap between the city's commitment to transparency and the reality for many residents, fostering mistrust and disengagement. To fix this, I would propose the development of a real-time, centralized transparency dashboard that offers clear, accessible insights into city budgets, spending, contracts, and legislative actions. This platform would feature visual data breakdowns, making it easy for residents to track how funds are allocated and decisions made. Also, with the Office of Inspector General, the city can support by increasing funding, ensuring independence and implementing recommendations for accountability.

I would prioritize increased funding for the Neighborhood Planning Unit (NPU) system because NPUs are the backbone of Atlanta’s community engagement and grassroots decision-making. They give residents a direct voice in city planning, zoning, and community development. However, the current system is underfunded, leaving many NPUs lacking the resources, technical support, and personnel needed to function effectively. By prioritizing funding, we can strengthen NPUs’ capacity to address local issues and ensure equitable representation for all neighborhoods, especially marginalized communities. I would bring together community leaders, neighborhood associations, city planners, and advocacy groups to highlight the importance of NPUs as a tool for inclusive governance. Engaging local businesses, developers, and civic groups would further broaden support by emphasizing how well-resourced NPUs can improve community relations and contribute to sustainable city development.

The Atlanta City Council can take several specific actions to support the safety, livelihood, and wellbeing of transgender people, especially Black and brown individuals, who face heightened discrimination and violence. The Council can allocate more resources to shelters, housing programs, and healthcare services specifically designed for transgender individuals, addressing homelessness. Secondly, City Council can strengthen and enforce local anti-discrimination laws in housing, employment, and public accommodations, ensuring swift penalties for violators and creating more avenues for reporting. Next, Council can form a dedicated board of transgender community members to advise the City Council on policy needs, including public safety, economic empowerment, and healthcare access. Lastly, City Council can collaborate to establish specialized training on transgender issues, ensuring respectful, safe interactions and prioritizing hate crime investigations involving trans individuals.

To address gun violence as a public health crisis, the City of Atlanta should invest in a multifaceted approach, such as fund community-based intervention initiatives, such as Cure Violence or Street Outreach, which employ trained community members to mediate conflicts before they escalate. Next, expand access to trauma-informed care and mental health services, particularly for communities disproportionately affected by gun violence. Integrate these services into schools, healthcare facilities, and community centers. Also, we should provide job training, employment opportunities, and mentorship programs in high-risk areas to address underlying socioeconomic factors that contribute to violence. Investing in strong gun buyback programs can reduce the number of firearms in circulation and create safer communities. Finally, the expansion of afterschool programs, mentorship, and recreational activities to provide at-risk youth with safe environments and alternatives to violence.

Yes

Yes

To build a robust support network for Atlanta’s youth, the City should prioritize affordable housing for families, youth employment programs, mental health services, early childhood education and safe public transit. We can ensure stable housing by increasing affordable housing options, supporting youth in a safe, stable environment. City of Atlanta can strengthen partnerships with local businesses to create job training, internships, and mentorships for high school students, equipping them with skills for future careers. We can expand access to school-based and community mental health services, offering counseling and trauma-informed care for youth. Also, city of Atlanta can continue to work with Atlanta Public Schools to increase access to high-quality early childhood programs, setting a strong foundation for long-term success. The city can ensure safe, affordable transit options for youth to access education, extracurriculars, and employment opportunities across the city.

Atlanta’s aging water infrastructure, much of which is over 50 years old, has not kept pace with the city’s growth or maintenance needs. Years of underinvestment in repairs and upgrades have left critical systems vulnerable to failures. Additionally, increasing strain from climate change and heavy rainfall exacerbates the problem, overwhelming outdated pipes and systems. To strengthen our water infrastructure, I will advocate for dedicated funding to modernize water pipes, treatment facilities, and monitoring systems, reducing the likelihood of future failures. Also, we should strengthen our proactive maintenance schedule and use of advanced technology, such as sensors, to identify potential issues before they cause disruptions. We must leverage partnerships to secure additional funding and expertise for infrastructure projects, ensuring the system’s long-term sustainability. We must incorporate climate adaptation strategies into all future water infrastructure projects.

To improve accessibility in Atlanta, I will prioritize the acceleration of sidewalk repairs and curb ramp installations, streamline reporting systems, improve public transit accessibility, increase pedestrian and bike safety and regional coordination and support. I will collaborate with local, state, and regional bodies to increase funding for rapid repair and installation of ADA-compliant sidewalks and curb ramps across the city, particularly in underserved areas. I will work to implement a more effective, user-friendly reporting system for residents to report accessibility issues, ensuring swift responses and transparency in repairs. We need to work with MARTA to ensure all buses, trains, and stations are fully ADA-compliant, including better signage, elevators, and accessible seating. We must expand safe, accessible pedestrian crossings and protected bike lanes to support all residents, including those with disabilities.

To ensure transportation and infrastructure projects like Safe Routes to School are prioritized in areas disproportionately affected by traffic crashes, I will advocate for an equity-based allocation of resources. This means directing funding and attention to low-income, majority-Black neighborhoods with high injury rates first. I will work closely with community members and advocacy groups to identify the most dangerous streets and intersections and prioritize them in project plans. Additionally, I will push for transparent timelines and public reporting to ensure accountability in completing these projects. Collaborating with state and regional transportation agencies, I will advocate for more frequent maintenance, improved lighting, crosswalks, protected bike lanes, and other safety measures. By embedding equity into the city’s transportation policies, we can reduce fatalities and make Atlanta’s streets safer for everyone, especially those most vulnerable.

To address the rise of homelessness and ensure more low-barrier and long-term housing options, I will advocate for increased investment in affordable housing initiatives, prioritizing units for those with little or no income. This includes expanding the city's partnerships with nonprofits, developers, and federal housing programs to build more permanent supportive housing. I will push for using city-owned land for affordable housing projects and promote mixed-income developments with set-asides for low-income residents. Additionally, I will streamline zoning and permitting processes to encourage the construction of affordable units. To support individuals transitioning out of homelessness, I will ensure that wraparound services—such as mental health care, job training, and case management—are integrated into housing programs. By collaborating with local organizations and leveraging federal funds, we can create sustainable housing options and address the root causes of homelessness.

To ensure public benefits from incentives for affordable housing, developers should be required to meet specific criteria. First, a significant percentage of units—at least 20-30%—must be designated as affordable for households earning below 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Second, developers should offer long-term affordability guarantees, ensuring units remain affordable for an extended period of time. Third, projects should include sustainable building practices and access to public transportation. Fourth, developers should provide community benefits such as public amenities, green spaces, or contributions to local infrastructure improvements. For accountability, I will advocate for clear enforcement mechanisms, such as legally binding agreements that tie compliance to project approval, periodic audits, and penalties for non-compliance. Also, I will push for public transparency, with progress and compliance reports made available for community review, ensuring accountability.

To support tenants, especially those at risk of eviction, I will collaborate with public and private bodies at all levels to expand tenant protections and housing stability programs. Locally, I will work with city agencies to increase funding for rental assistance programs and ensure tenants have access to legal representation in eviction cases. Also, I plan to partner with nonprofits and housing advocates to provide tenant education on rights and available resources. At the state level, I’d advocate for stronger tenant protections, including just-cause eviction laws and increased notice periods. Federally, I will push for increased funding for Section 8 vouchers and emergency rental assistance through partnerships with HUD and local housing authorities. Additionally, I’d work with private developers and landlords to create affordable housing incentives that include long-term affordability and protections against sudden rent increases, helping to keep vulnerable tenants housed.

Balancing the need for additional housing density with the desire to maintain neighborhood character requires a thoughtful, inclusive approach. I will support strategic upzoning in areas near transit hubs and commercial corridors, allowing for increased density without dramatically altering single-family neighborhoods. This approach prioritizes smart growth where infrastructure can support it, preserving the character of quieter, residential areas while addressing the housing crisis. I will advocate for mixed-use and mixed-income developments in appropriate areas, incorporating affordable housing set-asides and inclusionary zoning. I will promote gentle density strategies like accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and duplexes in single-family zones, providing more affordable options without compromising the neighborhood's scale. Throughout, I will ensure robust community engagement, listening to residents’ concerns and finding compromises that meet both housing and preservation goals.

My proven track record as a leader, advocate, and public servant committed to equity and community development makes me the best candidate for Post 3, At-Large. I have demonstrated my ability to navigate complex policy issues, manage billion-dollar budgets and prioritize the needs of our youth and underserved communities. My deep understanding of Atlanta’s challenges, from housing affordability to public safety, positions me to effectively advocate for all residents, not just specific districts. I bring a collaborative leadership style, working with diverse stakeholders to create solutions that uplift the entire city. My focus on transparency, equity, and community engagement will ensure that every voice is heard in shaping Atlanta’s future. With my expertise in education, law, and policy, I am uniquely equipped to address the critical issues facing our city and to create a thriving Atlanta for everyone. I hope to have your support and vote! Thank you for this opportunity!