Behind the popular essay series “How I’d Fix Atlanta”; DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond reflects on his longtime political career

In February 2022, Austin Ray launched “How I’d Fix Atlanta,” an essay series authored by Atlanta-area residents offering their take on a variety of topics. The series is now about to wrap its third season, having covered everything from transit to policing to finance. Ray and Susi Durán, a field economist and essay writer, discuss the essay series, the feedback it has received from the community and what’s next for the series moving forward.

Plus, when DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond took office in 2017, he pledged that it was a new day for one the most diverse counties in the southeast. A big part of his overarching mission was to restore trust in county government. Now, after serving two terms, Thurmond returns to “Closer Look,” for a look back at some of the challenges and successes he’s faced as CEO and to talk more about what’s next for him.

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