Keisha Lance Bottoms | Executive Profile | ATLANTA TREND

By Robert Green Atlanta Trend

• Aug 17, 2021

Keisha Lance Bottoms becomes 60th Mayor of Atlanta

On January 2, Keisha Lance Bottoms was sworn in as the 60th Mayor of Atlanta.  Mayor Bottoms immediately announced her commitment to prioritize affordability, transparency, public safety, education, and transportation in her first 100 days in office.  She took the oath of office at the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College before an audience of more than 2,000 residents, community representatives, dignitaries, and elected officials. 

“I am honored to have the privilege of serving the people of Atlanta, and I am thrilled to serve as only the second woman Mayor of our great city,” said Mayor Bottoms. “As the 60th Mayor of Atlanta, I will seek a new understanding, one grounded in civility and productive dialogue, to build a greater Atlanta. Within my first 100 days in office, we will take measurable actions to prioritize equity, affordability, a stronger school system, and access to transit. The theme of our campaign was ‘Keep Atlanta moving forward, leaving no one behind,’ and that is what I intend to do as Mayor.”

During her inaugural address, Mayor Bottoms pledged to roll out a $1 billion-dollar affordability plan – the largest affordable housing investment in the City’s history. She also announced her commitment to introduce a sweeping ethics and transparency reform package that will ensure the City’s contracting and procurement process is beyond reproach.

As an advocate for education, Mayor Bottoms announced that she will appoint a Chief Education Officer to her senior staff.  The position will act as a liaison between the Administration and Atlanta Public Schools and provide counsel to the Mayor on issues of early childhood education, vocational training and apprenticeships. Mayor Bottoms also announced her intention to establish a college savings account initiative for all students enrolling in Atlanta Public Schools.

“Thanks to generations of tremendous leadership, the bar has been set incredibly high for our city. I thank everyone for your belief in me, and for your belief that, as one Atlanta, we can raise the bar higher still,” added Mayor Bottoms.

Additionally, Mayor Bottoms announced her goal of achieving a AAA credit rating, the highest rating possible for a municipal government, for the first time in the City’s history. She announced an expansion of the Clean City Initiative to beautify highway entry and exit ramps throughout the city in recognition because Atlanta is a world-class city, and its infrastructure and credit should reflect this.