Atlanta mayor says she'll focus on affordable housing, education, fixing corruption

ATLANTA — New Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance-Bottoms spoke only to Channel 2 Action News about her first weeks in office.

Atlanta is fresh off hosting the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday, which included a visit from the president.

Bottoms told Channel 2's Dave Huddleston that she is thankful that the big event went off without any major issues.

The new mayor said she has noticed a significant change in pace from the frenzy of running a campaign to the quiet of settling into her new role.

"I'm enjoying the stillness, but I suspect it won't last very long," she said. "I know there will be an increased pace to this. I just know the first week hasn't been too bad."

Bottoms said that over the next few weeks, she will focus on her top priorities: affordable housing, education and fixing corruption within the procurement office.

"We have to make some changes inside City Hall so people have the confidence in us that allows us to do the work that needs to be done," she said.

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City Hall was shaken by charges of corruption in the procurement office. Two contractors and the procurement director pleaded guilty. Former director Adam Smith will be sentenced next week.

"The landscape inside City Hall will look very differently in a few months," Bottoms said.

The mayor said she has a meeting Thursday with the school superintendent to discuss education initiatives.

She also told Huddleston that Atlanta Fire Chief Joel Baker plans to retire in February.

Bottoms said she spent Wednesday afternoon at the State Capitol meeting with several Republican lawmakers.

She said she will announce her transition team on Thursday.

Cox Media Group