In Second Inaugural Address, Reed Stresses Public Safety and Infrastructure

In the Atlanta Civic Center, before a few hundred onlookers, Georgia Supreme Court Justice Robert Benham swore in Reed.

“I present to you your re-sworn mayor,” announced Benham.

Reed, who won reelection with more than 80 percent of the vote, highlighted the achievements of his first term: stabilizing the city’s pension system, growing the city’s reserves without raising taxes, and expanding the city’s police force to 2,000 officers.

Reed vowed to “double-down” on efforts to address crime, and get repeat offenders off the streets.

“Too often in the city of Atlanta, the women and men of the Atlanta Police Department do their jobs and risk their lives as they arrest criminals only to find that they are summarily released,” said Reed.

He opened the door to using Atlanta City Jail to address overcrowding at Fulton County Jail.

Meanwhile, Reed detailed his plan to address the city’s near billion dollar infrastructure backlog. He wants a bond referendum by mid-2015, to the tune of $150-$250 million. To offset some of that cost, he’ll appoint a blue-ribbon commission to search for savings within the city budget.

“This bond referendum will expand our green spaces, improve our roads, bridges, and sidewalks and we’re going to ask the people of Atlanta for their full support,” said Reed.

Reed called the upcoming decision of hiring a new Atlanta schools superintendent one of the most important the city faces. He said he wants to make sure Atlanta students have more opportunity.

“At the end of the day, every young person who desires a post-secondary education should be able to get one, regardless of income,” said Reed.  

Reed said funding for such an initiative would come from private donors, which he said was more than achievable.

We have posted Mayor Reed’s prepared remarks for his second inauguration, which you can download here (PDF).