Carla Smith

Website: www.voteforcarla.com
Email: district1atlanta@hotmail.com
Phone: 404-627-8313
Fax: 404-627-8013

League of Women Voters of Atlanta-Fulton County
Voter Guide for
November 6, 2001
General Election
Questions for Candidates for City Council.

Biographical Information: Married, one child

Neighborhood Experience: Neighborhood watch - very active and have been secretary & president

Chair of public safety committee.

Member of Citizens Advisory Committee for APD Zone 6.

Created and chaired the Welcome Committee - initiated welcome packets, neighborhood phone directory.

NPU-W member

Golden Age Center Board member, then president

Board of Grant Park/SAND Community Credit Union

1.As a member of City Council, what would be your top 3 priorities and why?

1.Public Safety - District One will reinvent itself if the city can assure safer and more tranquil streets and neighborhoods.

2.Parks, open space, sidewalks transportation, bike and jogging paths to link the neighborhoods to each other and to downtown. My vision is to see high numbers of people in District One going to work, shop and play by some other means than auto.

3.Public Works - quick efficient street, sidewalk, water and sewer repairs and maintenance are a must.

2.As a City Council member, you are elected by a district. How would you balance the desires of your electoral base with the needs of the entire City?

District One encapsulates many of the problems faced by Atlanta as a whole, ranging from traffic congestion and skyrocketing property values in some areas to communities deeply in need of social services in others. I see no divergence between the needs of the City and the needs of District One. Policies, which benefit my constituents, benefit the entire city.

3. Should the City Code of Ethics be strengthened? If so, what changes should be implemented in the Code?

Yes.

Ethics Board should have:

1. at least one full time staff person.
2. enough people on the Board so a quorum is always assured -perhaps nine members.
3. more streamlined enforcement procedures for collecting information and interviewing witnesses.
4. more power to dispense penalties, fines, etc. that include wide spectrum depending on severity of the violation.

And should:

5. review files of all elected and appointed officials on regular basis, not only for complaints.
6. not include people in companies or law firms doing business and having contracts with the City.

4. With this election, at least half the City Council will be new. What, in your opinion, is the key issue for which Council consensus is needed? How will you contribute to building consensus?

We cannot elevate any one of our serious challenges over the others. We must fix the sewer and water infrastructure, provide City services, clean up corrupt practices, and fix the traffic problems all at the same time. It will take hard work, but with 7½ years of experience working for Councilmember McCarty I know how Council works and how to build the consensus need to advance Atlanta's multiple needs.

1. What experiences or other qualifications make you the best candidate for this position?

Within the first couple of weeks of moving to Atlanta I was burglarized like many others in District One have been. I immediately joined Neighborhood Watch and the Public Safety Committee of my neighborhood association and took action.

I eventually went to work as an assistant to the Council Member of District One. I worked in this office for 7.5 years. During this time I learned the inner workings of city government. City Hall is just like other settings, it is not what you know it is who you know. I know the people at city hall who get the job done. I also know the process of City Council. I can be an effective leader for District One residents. I also will be able to build a coalition with other City Council members so we can pass legislation for the betterment of Atlanta.

I am the one who took your calls when you called City Hall and I’m the one who got things done. If I’m elected to Council I will still be the one you call and will still be the one who gets things done. I am known for my follow through, and I believe this is one thing that makes me stand out from the others. If you have ever tried to get anything in government, you know things fall through the cracks. I am also very aware of these black holes in city government. I will do my best to try and fix this, but what you are really getting with Carla Smith is someone who will follow through. I do not let projects go unfinished.

2. What are three of the most important issues facing the city of Atlanta?

My platform issues are listed on my web site. (www.voteforcarla.com)

1. Lack of fiscal management
2. Public Safety has and always will be an important issue in the City of Atlanta
3. Maintenance of basic city services

3. What specific actions would you take in your first year in office to begin dealing with these issues?

a. Within my first year in City Hall I will take a close look at the budget presented by the current Administration, working to pass a budget that will not require us to raise taxes.

The City of Atlanta has been fortunate in securing funding for many of its programs from the federal government. However, considering the current issues facing our nation this money will be more scarce. We need to realize this loss and work toward the City of Atlanta providing efficient basic services. I will fight for Southeast Atlanta and our basic services.

b. The greatest responsibility our City owes its citizens is to provide quality fire and police protection. Public Safety is now a heightened concern. Not only are we the citizens of Atlanta worried about our daily safety issues, now we are worried about terrorism. Hopefully Atlanta will not be a target of terrorism but we need to take a look at all this. As your representative on City Council, I will help ensure that our public safety officers get the education they need to protect us on all levels. I will also work toward recruiting new officers and keeping them.

Another issue with this is that the police are currently working 12 hour shifts, 6 days a week and are unsure if they are going to be paid. I will fight hard to make sure Atlanta’s finest are paid for their hard work. We have to stop wasting money and work within a budget that addresses only our most important issues.

c. Basic City services
Street maintenance: I will work with the Public Works Department to repair potholes steel plates, etc. in a more timely and efficient manner.
Traffic: We need more traffic calming measures in our neighborhoods. I will work with traffic engineers to come up with more traffic calming solutions. This is not impossible. Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington use streetscapes and are a great model for the City of Atlanta to learn from. Parks: Maintenance of our parks needs to become a much greater priority. I will work to make that happen.
Herbie Curbies: I know this is not glamorous but it is an issue with a lot of residents. Trying to pull your trash out to the street with broken Curbies doesn’t enhance our quality of life. The Sanitation Dept. makes it difficult to get a new Herbie Curbie but in the past 7 years I have gotten many of you new ones. I will continue to do so, just call me with your request.