Common Sense Policies Creating Jobs In Atlanta

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Kasim Reed for Mayor

A lot of people talk about what it takes to create jobs. Here in Atlanta, we’re actually doing it. A new study by Arizona State University found that Atlanta ranks number 2 in the nation for job growth among major metropolitan areas, following Houston by less than 1 percentage point.

Atlanta had 3.1 percent job growth between January 2011 and January 2012, compared with Houston’s 3.7 percent growth. The figures reflect non-agricultural job growth among populations of at least a million workers.

When I ran for Mayor, I promised to put people first, and it’s paid off.  As we continue to build bi-partisan support for common sense policies, I look forward to growing Atlanta’s economy even more.


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Mayor Kasim Reed Welcomes President Barack Obama to Atlanta

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Kasim Reed for Mayor

President Obama and Mayor ReedMayor Kasim Reed will greet President Barack Obama as he disembarks Air Force One at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport today.  President Obama will be in Atlanta campaigning and participating in several fundraisers for his re-election campaign.

“I am proud to welcome President Barack Obama back to the City of Atlanta,” said Mayor Reed.  “As the result of his strong leadership and sound judgment, our country is moving in the right direction again.  Under President Obama’s stewardship, we have an automobile industry that is adding well-paying jobs and leading the world, sustained reductions in unemployment, expanded access to healthcare for the uninsured and more opportunities for young people to obtain the American dream of a college education.  At times like these, America needs a leader like President Obama who has consistently delivered concrete results.  As Mayor of the City of Atlanta, I will do all that I can to ensure that he is re-elected in November.  Our nation needs him.”

Mayor Reed will join President Obama, Tyler Perry, Cee-Lo Green and more than 1,000 Obama supporters tonight at the African-American Leadership Council’s Gala Reception held at the Tyler Perry Studios.  Tyler Perry is hosting the event where there will be a musical performance by Atlanta native, Cee-Lo.

Afterward, Mayor Reed will join President Obama, Tyler Perry and President Obama supporters for a private dinner.

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Mayor Reed returning to Meet the Press

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Kasim Reed for Mayor

Meet the Press – Kasim ReedMayor Kasim Reed will return to NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, March 4, 2012, for a roundtable discussion about Super Tuesday and the 2012 presidential election.  Savannah Guthrie of NBC News; Mark Halperin, senior political analyst for Time magazine; and Republican strategist Mike Murphy also will join Mayor Reed for the roundtable discussion.

“This year’s election truly will be a litmus test for the direction of the nation,” said Mayor Kasim Reed. “It is important for the leaders of our nation’s cities to participate in these vital national conversations about the economy, job creation, health care and foreign policy.”

Sunday’s broadcast begins with an interview between Meet the Press moderator David Gregory and GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich. During the first half of the show, Gregory also will moderate a debate between U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, and Eric Cantor (R-VA), House Majority Leader.

Tune in to Channel 11 WXIA at 10 AM to see Mayor Reed once again representing Atlanta on the national stage!

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2012 State of the City Address

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Kasim Reed for Mayor

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Mayor Kasim Reed Announces Launch of ‘Invest Atlanta’ at 2012 State of City Address

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Kasim Reed for Mayor

New look and direction for city’s economic development agency and job creation plans stand as major themes of speech at annual breakfast.

Responding to changing economic dynamics and untapped business opportunities, the City of Atlanta today launched “Invest Atlanta,” a modernized version of the city’s economic development agency formerly known as the Atlanta Development Authority, Mayor Kasim Reed said.

Mayor Reed unveiled Invest Atlanta during his annual State of the City business breakfast address before more than 900 business and community leaders at the Georgia World Congress Center. During his speech, Reed stressed the necessity for a focus on economic development and job creation through 2012.

“I have made economic development one of my Administration’s top priorities, and this change represents an effort to modernize our approach to economic growth,” said Mayor Reed, who also serves as the Chairman of the Board of Invest Atlanta. “We must get our economy moving again because our unemployment level is too high and families are hurting. Focusing on business creation, attraction, retention and expansion not only creates jobs but also brings in new tax revenues for the city.”

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Mayor Reed Discusses Jobs With President Obama

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Kasim Reed for Mayor

President Obama and Mayor ReedMayor Reed is back in Washington, DC this week meeting with President Obama as part of the president’s “Insourcing American Jobs” Forum. Top on the Mayor’s agenda is discussing with President Obama the $600 million that the state needs to deepen the Savannah port, bringing more business and more jobs to Atlanta.

Scott Henry has a great post up at Creative Loafing about what the Mayor’s efforts will mean for Atlanta’s future.

I can’t meaningfully predict whether we’ll get that money, but it would certainly make Atlanta a more exciting place over the next several years if we did, seeing as it would transform the city into even more of a freight and logistics hub than it is now.

But consider that Obama has, according to what I’m hearing, already tapped Reed for a major public role in his re-election campaign this year. I don’t how much leverage that gives the mayor to wrangle the port-deepening money, but it sure can’t hurt.

Mayor Reed’s tireless efforts have grown the cities reserves from $7.4 million two years ago to $94.4 million today. And his ability to take Atlanta’s priorities straight to President Obama give us an opportunity to grow our economy and our workforce as successfully we’ve grown our reserves.

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Reed Administration Grows City of Atlanta’s Reserves to $94.4 Million

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Kasim Reed for Mayor

City’s reserve fund was $7.4 million when Mayor Kasim Reed was inaugurated in January 2010.

ATLANTA – The City of Atlanta has $94.4 million in its general fund reserves, an increase of $87 million since January 2010 when Mayor Kasim Reed was inaugurated. The audited data was released as part of the city’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011.

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28th Annual Mayor’s Masked Ball Raises $1.2 million for United Negro College Fund

Posted on December 20, 2011 by Kasim Reed for Mayor

Event breaks last year’s record of $1.1 million; funds will provide scholarships for students who attend the four schools in the Atlanta University Center

ATLANTA – Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and a host of celebrities, dignitaries, civic and business leaders raised more than $1.2 million on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, at the 28th Annual Mayor’s Masked Ball, breaking last year’s record of $1.1 million. The money raised will benefit the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), the nation’s largest private provider of scholarships and educational support to minority and low-income students, and its 38 member colleges and universities. The Annual Mayor’s Masked Ball is one of metro Atlanta’s signature fundraising galas and premier social events of the holiday season.

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Mayor Kasim Reed Delivers Open Hand’s 20 Millionth Atlanta-Area Meal

Posted on December 7, 2011 by Kasim Reed for Mayor

Mayor presents city’s highest honor to volunteers and then delivers a meal to a City of Atlanta resident in the Summer Hill neighborhood

Mayor Kasim Reed joined Atlanta-based Open Hand today to celebrate a new milestone for the community-based, non-profit organization: The delivery its 20 millionth meal to a chronically ill metropolitan Atlanta resident. Open Hand is the largest provider of home-delivered, medically appropriate meals and nutrition education in the U.S., delivering more than 5,500 meals daily to those challenged by or looking to prevent chronic disease or disability.

Mayor Reed presented a Phoenix Award, the city’s highest honor, to the volunteers at Open Hand’s kitchen, 176 Ottley Drive, and thanked them for their years of dedication and service to the community. Then, Mayor Reed delivered a ceremonial meal to an Open Hand client, Ms. Carolyn Barber, who lives in the Summer Hill neighborhood in the City of Atlanta.

“Metropolitan Atlanta now has 20 million reasons to thank Open Hand and its thousands of volunteers for their many contributions to our city,” said Mayor Reed. “For more than 23 years, Open Hand has provided warm, nutritious meals to residents in need of care and assistance. Open Hand and its volunteers reflect the best of Atlanta. I deeply appreciate the vital work they do in the community every day.”

“Celebrating the delivery of Open Hand’s 20 millionth meal is a remarkable milestone made possible by volunteers, community partners and donors who have supported us since our early days in Atlanta,” said Jacqueline Yeaney, co-president of Open Hand’s board of directors.

By the numbers, Open Hand is powered by more than 25,000 volunteers, 100 to 125 of which are needed on a daily basis. Meal deliveries account for nearly 650,000 miles driven each year while providing about 1.7 million meals annually across 17 Georgia counties. The organization is closing in on its $4.2 million capital campaign goals which will fund a much-needed expansion which will result in a completely renovated 17,000 square-foot facility in 2012, more than tripling Open Hand’s current workspace.

“Open Hand continues to operate with the same core values and guiding principles in place when we opened in 1988,” said Yeaney. “We greatly appreciate the opportunity to help each of our clients become active managers of their health while regaining a sense of independence taken away by a chronic condition.”

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Mayor Kasim Reed, City of Atlanta Commemorate World AIDS Day

Posted on December 1, 2011 by Kasim Reed for Mayor

AIDS ribbonIn observance of World AIDS Day, Mayor Kasim Reed and the City of Atlanta hosted the National AIDS Education & Services for Minorities (NAESM), AID Atlanta and other HIV/AIDS community-based organizations in the atrium of Atlanta City Hall today. NAESM provided free, anonymous HIV testing. In addition, for the second consecutive year, Mayor Reed and the City of Atlanta partnered with (RED) ™ to illuminate City Hall red and raise awareness of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Atlanta City Hall will remain red for the entire month of December.

“The AIDS epidemic has an immense impact that is felt throughout our city, state, nation and across the globe,” said Mayor Reed. “We must continue to collaborate with our civic and community partners to make further advances in HIV/AIDS research and bring an end to the AIDS epidemic. In honor of those affected by AIDS, I am pleased to show Atlanta’s unified support by illuminating our building in red and joining NAESM, AID Atlanta and many other civic and community partners for World AIDS Day.”

The theme of today’s program was “Getting to Zero – Zero New HIV Infections, Zero Discrimination and Zero AIDS Related Deaths.” Speakers included Candace Byrd, Mayor Reed’s Chief of Staff; Tracy Elliott, Executive Director for AID Atlanta; Rudolph Carn, Founder and CEO, NAESM, Inc.; Kenneth Lee Samuel, Senior Pastor, Victory for the World Church; Leisha McKinley-Beach, Southern Regional Coordinator, Black Aids Institute; and Dr. Patrick O’Neal with the Georgia Department of Public Health.

“This special day serves as the catalyst as to why organizations such as ours and other organizations worldwide provide much needed services, education and at times now ‐‐ advocacy to continue the work that has to be done in order to conquer the alarming increase in numbers of this disease,” said Rudolph Carn, CEO and Founder of NAESM.

In addition to the free, anonymous HIV testing at today’s event, there were nearly a dozen organizations on hand to answer questions about HIV/AIDS, STDs and other related health concerns.

Participating organizations included Aniz Inc., Atlanta Harm Reduction Center Inc., Citywide Projects Inc., Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness, Georgia Department of Public Health, Hope Clinic of the Emory Vaccine Center, My Brother’s Keeper Inc., Vitamen, Southeast AIDS Training and Education Center and Traxx Atlanta.

Atlanta joined more than 30 cities around the world to illuminate landmarks in red with the goal of eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV by 2015.

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