FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Council Communications
Atlanta City Hall
55 Trinity Ave. SW
Atlanta, GA 30303

October 24, 2023 

Atlanta City Council Member Keisha Sean Waites Statement Following Railtowns United Virtual Town Hall

ATLANTA — Post 3 At-Large Atlanta City Council member Keisha Sean Waites issued the following statement following her participation in the Railtowns United virtual town hall. The event featured several leaders of rail-connected communities nationwide to discuss steps to help make neighborhoods with railroad crossings and railways safer.

"It has become evident that there is a need for effective interactions between communities and railroads. Thousands of cities and towns nationwide have grappled with these challenges in isolation, often with limited success. We must do better - that comes from working together, sharing best practices, and speaking with a unified voice about the issues that matter. Atlanta, as one of the largest rail towns in the country, recognizes the importance of Railtowns United. If they succeed, we all succeed. The town hall was a meaningful step towards safer, more thriving rail-connected communities. Atlanta's commitment is unwavering, and I urge fellow leaders to join us in building a viable future for all our towns."

Railtowns United Head of Operations Britni Eisenmann added, "Rail-connected towns across America are dealing with the same issues. Blocked crossings, legislative inaction, hazmat concerns, and railroad relationships are left to individual states or even small towns to manage, resulting in rare and short-lived successes. The interests of railroads and the towns they connect haven't been well aligned. We aim to change that.”

About Atlanta City Council
The Atlanta City Council is the chief policy-making body for the City of Atlanta. It acts by considering and enacting all laws that govern the City. The Council also approves the operating and capital budgets for the City as recommended by the mayor, and it continually monitors revenues and expenditures for local government operations. The Council reviews and has final say on many land-use and zoning matters. Major economic development projects for the City also fall under the Council’s consideration.

Comprised of 12 districts and three at-large posts, Council representatives include: Council President: Doug Shipman; District 1: Jason Winston; District 2: Amir Farokhi; District 3: Byron Amos; District 4: Jason S. Dozier; District 5: Liliana Bakhtiari; District 6: Alex Wan; District 7: Howard Shook; District 8: Mary Norwood; District 9: Dustin Hillis; District 10: Andrea L. Boone; District 11: Marci Collier Overstreet; District 12: Antonio Lewis; Post 1 At-Large: Michael Julian Bond; Post 2 At-Large: Matt Westmoreland; and Post 3 At-Large: Keisha Sean Waites.

To learn more about the Atlanta City Council, please visit http://citycouncil.atlantaga.gov/. For the latest updates, follow the Atlanta City Council on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.

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Office of Council Communications Contacts 

Zena Lewis
zolewis@atlantaga.gov
404-330-6309