Atlanta mayor talks about victories, regrets over last 4 years

ATLANTA — Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms held her last news conference as mayor Monday to thank voters for giving her the opportunity and talked about the last 4 years.

“I’m grateful for my team and all that we’ve been able to accomplish,” Bottoms said.

From the ransomware attack, civil unrest and protest, to threats of Buckhead becoming an independent city, Bottoms told Channel 2′s Dave Huddleston that she leaves office doing everything she promised when she was elected.

“We have marked every single thing that we set to accomplish at the end of the term, off of that tracker,” Bottoms said.

A 30% pay increase for police officers, more than 500 places to live for the homeless and not a single layoff, furlough or tax hike during the pandemic.

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“We’re leaving $181 million in our city’s reserves, more than what’s required by our city’s charter,” Bottoms said.

But during the 75-minute news conference, Bottoms said there were some things she wished would have turned out differently, like the murder of Sequoia Turner, 8, at the Wendy’s restaurant where Rayshard Brooks was also killed.

“At that time, I made what I thought were the right decisions at that time, but if there was anything I could do to make a difference in a child being alive, I would do everything differently,” Bottoms said.

Bottoms told Huddleston that she’s glad she was able to finish out her term, but thought she was going to be asked to move to Washington, DC as part of President Joe Biden’s team.

“Did I think I would be a part of the Biden administration? I did. But obviously our plans don’t always align with what God has instore for us,” Bottoms said.

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