Several items on Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms’ legislative agenda were approved during today’s Atlanta City Council. Items include: The Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, the Office of Violence Reduction, Premium Pay, the Atlanta Children’s Eternal Flame Project and Commission on Fatherhood, Men, and Boys.
Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion: As the Bottoms’ Administration continues to shine a light on underserved communities by building a bridge towards greater inclusiveness across the city, legislation was unanimously approved to codify the Mayor’s Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. The measure will put the City of Atlanta in step with 32 other cities across the country that have similar offices.
“Equity, Diversity and Inclusion have been the cornerstone of our Administration,” said Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. “Formally making this office a part of our City government will ensure that this impactful work continues for years to come. Thank you to the members of Council who voted to support the creation of this permanent office, which will continue the needed work towards improving outcomes for the people of Atlanta.”
The Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (OEDI) works together with City departments and external partners to develop social justice policies and programs that confront issues around economic and workforce mobility, housing affordability, health, LGBTQ affairs, transportation, education and youth engagement, immigrant affairs, climate change, resilience and sustainability, and criminal justice reform. Codifying this office will ensure these issues remain a focus of City Hall for years to come.
Office of Violence Reduction: Mayor Bottoms addresses the uptick in crime by creating the Mayor’s Office of Violence Reduction (MOVR) through legislation today. The creation of this office was among the recommendations made by the Anti-Violence Council, which was comprised of community members and partners.
“We are committed to making investments in expanding violence interruption programs, which have proven successful in other cities,” said Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. “The creation of the Office of Violence Reduction is another step in the right direction towards keeping our communities safe. Thank you to members of the Anti-Violence Advisory Council for their efforts and recommendations.”
The MOVR will focus on crime-prevention efforts that lead, coordinates, and supports the City’s initiatives. The nine critical initiatives for violence reduction include public awareness, community capacity, and infrastructure building, expansion of nuisance properties, hiring 250 additional officers in fiscal year 2022, expanding the City’s Operation Shield camera network by 250 cameras this year, and completing the One Atlanta: Light Up the Night Program to install 1,000 new streetlights in high violence areas by December.
Atlanta Children’s Eternal Flame Project: To honor Atlanta’s Missing and Murdered Children and to create a lasting tribute for the victims and their families, Mayor Bottoms is committed to building a permanent memorial on the grounds of City Hall.
pe that this memorial will honor the lives of each victim and bring some comfort to the families impacted by this dark time in our city’s history,” said Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. “We must continue to call the victims’ names and remember their lives to ensure they are never forgotten. These innocent young people mattered then and they matter today.”
The proposed project will include an eternal flame and the names of 30 victims identified by the Atlanta Mission Children Memorial Task Force with space below each name to place flowers or other tokens.
Premium Pay: With a focus on equity in action, Mayor Bottoms ensures frontline employees continue to get compensated for their work through Premium Pay legislation. Premium Pay will provide an additional $500 a month to eligible workers that perform essential work functions and whose work is associated with heightened risks due to the nature of their duties and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“This important legislation recognizes the continued hard work and support of our frontline employees and strives to improve the safety and services to our communities,” said Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.
This payment is made possible under Biden’s Administration’s American Rescue Plan, which authorizes the expense. The additional payment will remain in effect through the end of the fiscal year on June 30, 2022.
Atlanta Commission on Fatherhood, Men, and Boys: Mayor Bottoms’ vision of One Atlanta includes a focus on the issues specifically facing fathers, men, and boys within the city of Atlanta. To address these issues, legislation to establish the Commission on Fatherhood, Men, and Boys was approved. The purpose of this commission is to provide an organized and collaborative structure for the discussion and development of policies, projects, and programs that promote equity for fathers, men, and boys.
The Atlanta Commission on Fatherhood, Men, and Boys will consist of members appointed by Mayor Bottoms and Atlanta City Council.