Remarks by

City Council President Ceasar C. Mitchell

following the Oath of Office

 

January 4, 2010

Atlanta Civic Center

 

Our Atlanta: A City of People

Mayor Elect Kasim Reed, Members of the Atlanta City Council, Judges of the Municipal Court, other esteemed members of the dais, and most certainly the citizens of our great City of Atlanta, it is with great humility and exceeding anticipation that I stand before you as the 7th President of the Atlanta City Council.

 

As I submit these brief remarks here today, I know that I am here in this moment in time only by the grace of God, as a product of the nurturing hands of my family - a mother who served the youth of our community as an educator in the Atlanta Public School system, and a father, who, as an Atlanta Police Officer, worked diligently by day, and by night, to bring dignity and opportunity to city employees as the founder of the Afro-American Patrolman’s League, offer peace and comfort to bereaved families as a Police Chaplain, while sacrificing everyday and in everyway to build positive relationships with citizens as he patrolled our city streets to keep our communities safe.

 

I also stand on the broad shoulders of each of the Council Presidents and Vice Mayors who have preceded me in taking this esteemed oath.  They laid the foundation for my service here today.

 

But by no means would I have the honor to serve without the many great citizens of Atlanta – the teachers who taught me, the coaches who trained me, the ministers who prayed for me and over me, mentors who guided me, colleagues who worked with me, a team that campaigned with me and the many who placed their trust in me with their vote – all people who, from time to time, have in someway, large and small, faithfully supported me and dutifully prepared me from childhood, to adulthood, into my public service, and during this last campaign.  To all of you, I am humbled and grateful.

 

As we, the citizens of Atlanta, begin a new chapter in our collectively journey, this is an appropriate moment for us to reflect on who we are as a community, and the great strides we have made over the many decades of our City’s history.   Indeed we are caretakers of land that once provided sustenance for our Native American brothers and sisters, and contained a network of Creek and Cherokee Indian boarder trails – two of which intersected at a “pitch” tree now commonly referred to as a “Peachtree.”

Since that time, we have grown and evolved into a diverse community of peoples of all races, ethnicities, religions, orientations, persuasions and perspectives - hailing from all around country and indeed the entire globe.  It is this authentic diversity which has helped Atlanta to stand as a tall and sturdy oak in the world forest of civil and human rights, community empowerment, economic progress and civic partnership.

 Whether it was establishing a rail depot to provide for commercial transit in the early 19th century, or creating a regional coalition to offer commuter transit in the late 20th century, Atlanta’s leadership has always had the will and the courage to meet the needs of the people and seize the opportunity of the day.  From having the foresight to install a sewer system in the early 20th century West End neighborhood, to undertaking the massive citywide overhaul of our water and sewer infrastructure in the beginning of the 21st century, Atlanta citizens have displayed the stewardship and the vision to protect the health and welfare of our environment and future generations.  When faced with the choice of whether to walk against the wind of bigotry or to set sail to the isle of mediocrity, comfort and cowardice, Atlantans have chosen the difficult and oftentimes unpopular path at the time to find and embrace our better selves, whether it be civil rights, women’s rights, gay rights or issues of basic human dignity.

 

This is who we are, and this is from where we have come.

Where we go from here, is in our hands - the entire Atlanta Community.  So where are we now? Where do we go from here?

 

The years 2008 and 2009 presented us with many tough and unexpected challenges.  We faced an economic downtown, a housing crisis and record job loss as a nation. Locally, we have struggled to maintain the city’s financial standing, deliver the most basic of services to keep our neighborhoods safe, clean and green.  But I think of Anne Frank who profoundly said, “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”  I believe that today is as great a day as any for each of us individually, to commit to being a part of the solution.  I know that working together hand-in-hand to face these challenges, we can, by virtue of our sincere and unified efforts, transform these challenges into opportunities to better our City one kind word, and one selfless act at a time. 

 

As your Atlanta City Council President I am honored to serve alongside the dedicated public servants who constitute our city government.  A Mayor who is sharp, committed, focused and determined to address the city’s problems and bring new opportunities to our city’s doorstep.  A City Council that is experienced, confident and eager to find the undiscovered country of our city’s long-term prosperity.  Judges ready to defend the law and administer truth and justice.  I am excited about the work we will do together to maximize our collective potential by establishing a culture where ideas are valued, innovation is welcomed and accountability is required. 

We do not have the luxury, nor the prerogative, to offer 20th century solutions to address 21st century conditions.  We must employ and then deploy all of our intellectual and social capital in our quest to become the world-class city we aspire to be.  We have the opportunity to evolve beyond being “a city too busy to hate” and work towards becoming “a city never afraid to innovate.”  With our economic, community, civic and academic partners, we can lead the nation in the technological and environmental revolution sweeping the world.

Second, we will further our efforts towards building regional and statewide relationships with other local governments and the State of Georgia.  Issues such as transportation, greenspace and water conservation impact all of our lives.  Working with our government partners at all levels, we can create a viable plan where Atlanta, the Metropolitan Region and the entire state can interdependently support our respective economies, protect our natural resources, integrate our services and position Georgia to become a global leader in commerce and trade.  Indeed the future of Georgia will be predicated on vision and leadership, and not reside in fear, cynicism and separation. 

Furthermore, as Council President, I will work humbly with my colleagues to diligently represent the interests of all people who live, work, play, study, worship and sacrifice daily to make Atlanta the best place in the world.  We have a unique opportunity, if we commit, to break down those barriers that have held us back, and remove the silos of demographic distinctions which have divided our neighborhoods, segregated our churches and schools, and stunted our economic vitality. 

We are not a city of walls created by the brick, mortar and steel of tall buildings and edifices.  We are a city of people who depend on each other everyday and who can each individually contribute to our collective success as a community.  Indeed Government exists to serve the people and in this city government we must ensure that the needs and concerns of people are met with professionalism and compassion.  Our primary responsibility is to actualize the words of President Thomas Jefferson who said, “the will of the people is the only legitimate foundation of any government, and to protect its free expression should be our first object.”  Therefore, City Hall will remain the People’s Hall.

 

I truly believe that in spite of all, this is Atlanta’s time to rise to the challenge.  Our City’s motto Resurgens and our symbol the Phoenix should serve as a beacon for all of us who believe in the dream that is Atlanta.   So let us be excited and breathe the air of anticipation and optimism.  We are indeed on a continual quest for the best Atlanta - one that began long before today. 

 

Leaders such as William Hartsfield, Ivan Allen, Sam Massell, Maynard Jackson, Marvin Arrington, Carl Ware, Wyche Fowler, Andrew Young, Bill Campbell, Shirley Franklin, Cathy Woolard, Robb Pitts, Ceasar C. Mitchell and many others have plowed a path for us to continue.  Our possibility, our vision, is to become a catalyst for economic opportunity, a voice for justice, a healer of lost souls, an incubator for moral leadership and a clarion for change.  This is Our Atlanta - a City of People!  It is she that we serve.  Onward and Upward!!

 

Thank you and God Bless!