Kasim Reed (born June 10, 1969) is a Democratic member of the Georgia State Senate, representing the 35th District since 2002. He was a member of the Georgia House of Representatives from 1998 to 2002. After serving as campaign manager for Shirley Franklin's successful 2001 Atlanta Mayoral campaign, he decided to run for the position n 2009 since Franklin is term limited.

In college, he instituted a student fee that added millions of dollars to the Howard University endowment since its inception in 1991. In 2003, he was involved with the effort to prevent the Georgia State Senate from considering reinserting the battle emblem of the Confederate States of America in the official State Flag of Georgia.

I came out to the event to see if the endorsement of Ambassador Andrew Young would have an impact on how the public and the media felt about the Mayoral candidate. The event was held on Auburn Avenue one of the areas that was once considered to be one of the wealthiest African American communities in the United States. If you look at it now, you will see the failed policies from so many politicians who have just let our historic communities go the way of any other urban neighborhood.

I looked around at the crowd and didn’t see too many people from the community. I did see a lot of supporters for the candidate and the media. The media didn’t seem too impressed. As a matter of fact after Senator Kasim spoke and asked the media if they had any questions, no one said anything except for yours truly, little old me.

I asked Senator Kasim about a topic that is near and dear to me. I asked “What are your plans to change the image of Atlanta being considered the worst city in the United States for its treatment of the homeless?”

Senator Kasim Reed said, “I will work with Gateway to improve the program they have and incorporate what they are doing with the city. I will also work with law enforcement agencies and other city employees to make sure they have training on how to assist the homeless in getting help.”

I followed up and asked the Senator how he “felt about the crime in our communities and what he planned to do about it?”

Senator Kasim Reed replied, “I plan on hiring more police officers and I will open up every rec. (recreation) center in the city within my 1^st 100 days. They will be open later so that parents will have somewhere for the children to go when they get out of school.”

He was then interrupted by Ambassador Young, “The YMCA on Campbellton Rd is already very successful with their programs and they stay open late.”

I don’t think he was aware that the YMCA has costs and that area is considered a low income area. Shout out to my old neighbors in Shamrock apartments.

Another person asked a question who Senator Kasim knew by name so I figured he was with the Senator. He asked “What will be done to deal with the gang problem in the city?”

Senator Kasim Reed answered, “I will work with reformed gang leaders on creating mentoring programs to deal with how we stop youth from ever getting into gangs.”

He also said he would work with the school system and create character training programs to work with teenagers who had dropped out of school.

I was impressed by all the answers he gave but still felt suspicious because sometimes the best sounding politicians can be the worst for the people and the best for the system. I do however have to admit I was impressed when he spoke of killing the pipe line to prison system for young African Americans.

I first met Senator Kasim Reed at his art mixer and he seemed very comfortable with talking with the people and he allowed every photographer there to ask any questions they wanted. He was very personable and was able to look me in my eyes.

I don’t know. My grandmother once told me if I ever meet anybody who sounded like Al Green or looked like him they have to be good people. I thought to myself he got the look; I just hope good people make good politicians.

I asked Mayoral Candidate Lisa Border for a chance to interview her for TheRSVPReport and her reply is the following:

Lisa Borders August 28 at 1:44pm

Richard,

Thank you so much for the request; however, our media interview and forum requests are becoming overwhelming. A more efficient course of action might be to email your questions to my communications team and they will be able to provide my views on key issues impacting the city.

Best,
Lisa

I just hope that when the people want to hear from her directly they don’t have to go through a communications team. Until Truth Prevails My Eyes Will Be Watching.

http://www.kasimreed.com/

http://www.gatewayctr.org/

http://www.bordersforatlanta.com/