As the election season heats up, residents in Carey Park are raising alarms about their youth, noting serious challenges that could shape the future of Atlanta City Council District 9.
Last week, Charles Bourgeois, a candidate hoping to represent the district, faced consistent themes while door-knocking in the community—most notably, the alarming rates of school absenteeism, poverty, and the risk of youth turning to crime.
Cedric Haney, a local HVAC instructor, expressed his concern about escalating dropout rates and the resulting shift of teenagers towards scamming or theft. He criticized incumbent Councilmember Dustin Hillis for his lack of visibility in the community, stating, “I’ve never seen him in the community, walking around or anything.”
As interest grows in Bourgeois’s campaign, particularly with such voter sentiments at play; his challenge to Hillis is deemed unusually competitive for the race. Highlights from his fundraising efforts have indicated an impressive $207,000 raised from small to medium donations by the end of September, while Hillis has accumulated $232,000.
The urgency of addressing youth-related issues resonates strongly within communities facing economic hardships.
Haney emphasized the vital connection between poverty and youth crime, mentioning that many parents are too busy juggling multiple jobs to supervise their children. This lack of guidance contributes to chronic absenteeism, a trend prevalent in Atlanta Public Schools where about a third of all students were affected in 2024. Notably, Frederick Douglass High School, primarily serving District 9, recorded an alarming 47% rate of chronic absenteeism.
Bourgeois pointed to the influence of economic stability in keeping students engaged in their education and off the streets. He stated, “When we start talking about kids [doing] petty crime, that’s because these kids have no hope. They don’t have a vision.”
Even with a reported 23% drop in youth crime attributed to the Summer Youth Employment Program, which provided jobs for 5,000 young individuals, some residents urge for more substantial solutions.
Residents like Haney question whether local leaders, including the mayor, have done enough to address the severe educational and social challenges plaguing youth in District 9.
In response to these issues, Bourgeois has devised a pilot initiative named “Perfect Attendance, Best Behavior.” This program aims to support students in the city’s lowest-performing high schools by incentivizing academic performance and keeping kids in school. Students maintaining a GPA of 2.9 or above and perfect attendance would have opportunities for summer trade apprenticeships and receive $4,000 grants for their families, funded by local businesses.
Bourgeois envisions this initiative as a means to underscore educational and vocational development, highlighting the need for youth to be equipped with marketable skills in trades like plumbing, welding, and electrical work, dismissing the prevailing focus on athletics and social media.
The proposal signifies a collaborative effort, as it would need the Atlanta Board of Education’s endorsement—which Bourgeois believes is critical in changing the narrative for youth.
Current Councilmember Dustin Hillis, however, is leaning on his record of infrastructure improvement to secure his position. Acknowledging that public safety was a focal point during his prior campaigns, he noted that under the current leadership, crime rates have declined, a point he attributed to Mayor Andre Dickens and Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum.
Hillis claims that the issues of truancy and youth crime fall primarily outside the city council’s jurisdiction—a responsibility better suited to Atlanta Public Schools and Fulton County.
During his campaign, Hillis emphasized his administration’s efforts to address stalled infrastructure improvements, touting advancements such as enhancing public parks and trails, which he believes are vital to residents in District 9.
At a recent community gathering, Hillis spoke passionately about accomplishments like securing funding for trails in the citywide Trails ATL master plan and finally addressing the long-held infrastructure concerns, such as chronic sewage backups, a critical issue for residents like Judy Pratt, who has lived in Whittier Mill Village for over 40 years.
Pratt praised Hillis for his proactive measures, declaring her support for his campaign while also hoping her pet would win a local voting initiative.
James Henderson, a local pharmacist, echoed that sentiment, commending Hillis for his responsive leadership and attentive approach to community needs. “He just lets us know we’re not falling on deaf ears,” Henderson noted, reinforcing Hillis’s focus on infrastructure over educational responsibility.
As early voting continues through October 31, candidates like Bourgeois and Hillis are fervently working to secure support in a climate where half of Atlanta’s 15 council members are running unopposed. Election Day is set for November 4, presenting a significant opportunity for residents to determine their leadership amidst what many see as a critical juncture for the youth of Atlanta.
image source from：atlantaciviccircle
