Andre Dickens

Last updated

Andre Dickens
Andre Dickens.jpg
61st Mayor of Atlanta
Assumed office
January 3, 2022
Dickens (fourth from right) and other newly elected mayors meet with President Joe Biden in December 2021 Joe Biden in the Oval Office with newly-elected mayors FGq2Q3EXwAQiJZ9.jpg
Dickens (fourth from right) and other newly elected mayors meet with President Joe Biden in December 2021

On February 25, 2022, Dickens lifted the indoor COVID-19 mask mandate in Atlanta, ending a near 2 year restriction on restaurants, hotels, and other venues. [17]

During his first year in office, Mayor Andre Dickens made one of Atlanta's largest-ever, single-housing investments, committing more than $100 million to new and updated housing. The Dickens administration continues to partner with and leverage tools such as inclusionary zoning to assist with this investment. In order to offer affordable housing alongside increasing interest rates, new developments in areas with major public interest such as Westside Park and the BeltLine will take precedence. [18]

Secretary of State Tony Blinken with Mayor Dickens in May 2023 Secretary Blinken at Refuge Coffee with Mayor Dickens.jpg
Secretary of State Tony Blinken with Mayor Dickens in May 2023

Mayor Dickens' early accomplishments in office include the city's first-ever investment in early childhood education and the creation of a Nightlife Division to combat establishments with a history of violent crime. [18]

During Mayor Dickens' term, over $13 million in funding has been set aside to combat homelessness, with the help of the LIFT 2.0 homeless response plan. By the end of 2024, the City hopes to achieve its goal of providing 1,500 housing placements for impoverished families by collaborating with local government, corporations, nonprofits, and community members. [18]

In October 2022, Mayor Andre Dickens appointed Darin Schierbaum as Atlanta’s 26th Chief of Atlanta Police Department [19]

Atlanta Public Safety Training Center

Dickens has supported the city's funding the construction of a controversial police and fire department training center, dubbed "Cop City" by environmentalists and community activists. [20]

On June 2020, Dickens voted to withhold $73 million in police funding which was criticized by former Atlanta Mayoral campaign opponent as Mayor Dickens' attempt to contribute to the "low morale within the Atlanta Police Department." [21] [22]

Amid controversy, more than 1,300 climate, justice, and community groups urged the resignation of Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens due to his perceived support for law enforcement following the police killing of anti-"Cop City" activist Manuel "Tortuguita" Terán on January 18, 2023. The groups expressed strong disapproval of Dickens' refusal to condemn the killing and criticized his alignment with law enforcement, particularly in the context of Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp deploying the National Guard to quell protests, escalating tensions and threats against demonstrators. [23] Dickens stated protests as unpeaceful while non Georgia residents were arrested on domestic terrorism for traveling into the state with explosives as a means to protest the construction site of a new public safety training center — dubbed “Cop City.” [24]

On September 2023, Dickens expressed a commitment to prioritize residents' voices in the citywide vote on a $90 million police training facility. However, his administration faced criticism for not moving forward with the signature verification process, prompting concerns raised by Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., particularly regarding the practice's past criticism by Georgia Democrats. [25] As of September 2023 activists had turned in more than 116,000 signatures in an effort to get a referendum on the ballot regarding the future of the planned training facility. [26]

Taxpayer Funds

In 2022, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) determined nearly $121,000 used for Dickens Senior Citizen Ball celebrating Atlanta's residents 65 and older, did not follow procurement guidelines, ultimately using taxpayers dollars to fund the party. The OIG has referred its findings to the City of Atlanta Ethics Office for review of potential violations of the city’s Ethics Code. [27] The Office of Mayor Dickens responded to the OIG report by saying they are committed to compliance with rules and regulations and would ensure to follow proper procedures for the 2023 Senior Ball. Dickens also said he intended to reimburse the city for hotel room costs for himself and his family, the report said. [28]

Electoral history

2021 Atlanta mayoral election [29] [30]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Felicia Moore 39,202 40.8
Nonpartisan Andre Dickens 22,153 23.0
Nonpartisan Kasim Reed 21,54122.4
Nonpartisan Sharon Gay6,5786.8
Nonpartisan Antonio Brown4,5444.7
Nonpartisan Kenneth Hill5380.6
Nonpartisan Rebecca King3720.4
Nonpartisan Mark Hammad3430.4
Nonpartisan Kirsten Dunn2670.3
Nonpartisan Walter Reeves1620.2
Nonpartisan Glenn Wrightson1500.2
Nonpartisan Richard Wright1380.1
Nonpartisan Nolan English980.1
Nonpartisan Roosevelt Searles III720.1
Total votes96,158 100.00

A member of the Democratic party, Andre Dickens first served for the Atlanta city council in 2013. In 2017, as an incumbent he ran unopposed in the general election for the At-Large Post 3 seat for city council. [31] After two terms on city council, Andre ran for mayor of Atlanta. Throughout his campaign he captured numerous endorsements ranging from state senators to local influential leaders in the community. [32] Dickens captured 23% of the vote in the general election to edge Kasim Reed for the second spot in the runoff race. Although Dickens did not win the 2021 Atlanta mayoral primary election (coming in second place), he won the following runoff election by a wide margin. [33]

2021 Atlanta mayoral election runoff
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Andre Dickens 50,071 63.7
Nonpartisan Felicia Moore 28,57236.3
Total votes78,643 100.00

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References

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Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Atlanta
2022–present
Incumbent