Roosevelt Searles III

Our health is affected by a variety of factors that are directly influenced by policies made by the city council and supported by the Atlanta Mayor. What is your plan to control the COVID-19 pandemic in Atlanta? What are your plans to encourage vaccination given that Georgia and Atlanta’s vaccination rates fall far behind the national average? Given that a growing number of Atlanta businesses are opting to implement vaccine mandates, would you support a vaccine mandate for public employees?

I would not impose or support any mandates concerning the personal health of our residents. There has been so much misinformation when it comes to the effectiveness of this vaccination. Unfortunately this had led to mass adverse reactions and thousands of deaths as a direct result of obtaining the vaccination. Taking in consideration that the vaccination does not prevent the spread of the virus nor does it prevent one from contracting the virus, we must all be concerned. In 2020 there were 690,000 deaths in the US from heart disease, compared to 345,000 deaths from COVID. I would advise anyone with questions, to visit the VARES info for the CDC and the VARES info for the globe.

COVID-19 has exposed and exacerbated economic disparity in Atlanta. What are your plans to promote economic opportunities for all people in our city? How do you plan to ensure this growth is shared by all, especially historically marginalized groups?

I will start with introducing legislation aimed at legalizing marijuana for recreational use and sales within the city limits. 5 of the first dispensary permits will be reserved for minority based businesses. This will cause a positive ripple effect across the city. Bringing billions in revenue, freeing up officers and saving taxpayers millions on the backend. Each marijuana arrest in the US cost on average $4,300. We are wasting time, money and effort while ruining people’s lives in the process.

Atlanta’s population has seen steady growth over the past few years, and many have noted that this growth has pushed members out of their communities. What are your plans to increase affordable housing availability?

The plan is to stop the current zoning efforts to the mass up of lots in single family neighborhoods. My goal is to introduce modular building allowing the city to build its own affordable housing, cost effectively while employing our unsheltered population at the same time. Most of which will feel a sense of pride building the home they will soon be living in. This technology costs pennies on the dollar and can be placed strategically throughout the city.

Do you support the Atlanta Homeless Union’s 4 demands - for “housing, healthcare, water, and a seat at the table” - and if so, how do you plan to meet these demands as mayor?

I already work closely with members of the ATL Homeless Union and I have explained my concerns and heard theirs. Unfortunately, there has been a shift in the morale of the union and many of the members do not know who to trust. Some of them have just dropped out altogether. The main concern for me is how the money is being spent and what type of leadership they have in place. I recently spoke with one of the organizers and she informed me that there was no leadership within the union, leading me to believe that everyone is just doing as they please. This causes major concern and I have already begun investigating these issues.

In order to meet their demands, I have created The Homeless Advisory Board, introduced plans to authorize a city hospital and most importantly I’ve drafted a full manual on building modular homes, revitalizing abandoned city lots and offering affordable housing in each district of the city.

In the wake of all these natural disasters occurring nationwide, what is your plan to make Atlanta more resilient to the effects of climate change? Do you support declaring a climate emergency?

I do not support declaring a climate emergency at this point. I would need to hear from experts and speak to scientists to really determine our effects on the climate. There has been a lot of misinformation concerning climate change and I believe we all need to look and stick to the facts.

The health of all persons, including immigrants and incarcerated populations, matter. During the pandemic, we’ve witnessed COVID-19 outbreaks in prison and ICE detention facilities. As mayor, how will you ensure that the health of these individuals are maintained and held to the appropriate standards?

All persons entering our facilities must be tested and wearing the proper protective gear at all times. This rule will be passed to the top all the way down to the janitors. Any inmate that tests positive shall be isolated from the general population.

The pandemic has further exacerbated the opioid crisis. What measures would you implement to decrease opioid deaths and the spread of infectious disease among people who use drugs in Atlanta? Further, what harm reduction policies would you implement more broadly?

I will introduce legislation increasing the city time when caught or found with opioids. This same legislation will increase the requirements for which a doctor is able to prescribe opioids, how many patients per month and how many pills per patient will all be monitored.

I have found that many Doctors are aiding in the drug trade and this creates a smooth transition from the pharmacy to the streets. In addition, our crime suppression task force will be required to work with the drug unit to ensure interdepartmental coordination is consistent with the standards of our new operating procedures. Plain clothes officers will be engaged and tasked with conducting weekly stings to deter opioid sales.

Racial justice, particularly in the context of the Black Lives Matter and Stop Asian Hate movements, has been central to our city’s discourse in the past year. How would you address hate crimes and discrimination as mayor?

I will introduce legislation implementing fines and exteneded jail time for those who commit crimes of hate and discrimination. There have been far too many deaths in the city over senseless violence. Race on Race crime will also be treated as a Hate Crime. It’s time we stop killing each other and pointing fingers. Every resident will be held accountable, no matter who's on the other side.

The Atlanta City Council recently voted to move forward with a lease to the Atlanta Policing Foundation for the construction of a police training facility, called “Cop City”. Do you support this move, and what is your stance on public safety and policing more generally?

I don’t support the move simply because the city doesn’t support the move. We have to listen to our taxpayers and those who put us in position. Now if it were 5-10 people with concerns then yes maybe an executive decision needs to be made. However when you have hundreds of people crying out on an issue then I believe it needs to be heard and taken seriously.

There are other lots in the city and different avenues for us to go down, unfortunately the only way to stop it is by executive force. At this point, I believe a city wide vote should be held and left to the general public to decide. Now that enough attention has been created around the idea.