News & Views FROM THE MAYOR Mayor Rochelle Robinson It has been 90 days since I was sworn in on January 5. Three months filled with speaking engagements at most of the public schools in the City and County and several meetings and events in Douglas, Cobb, Paulding and Fulton counties. Some may wonder, “What does this have to do with being the Mayor of Douglasville?” As your Mayor, I am an ambassador for the City of Douglasville. Whether I am speaking with students who want to know how they, too, can become mayor; an attorney from Puerto Rico, who wants to present a plan for economic de- velopment here; or serving on a Transportation & Air Quality Committee at the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) with TAQC Chair Tom Wort- han, Chairman of the Douglas County Board of Commissioners, I take my role seriously. THE FIRST 90 DAYS. My first month in of- fice gave me the opportunity to learn and forge working relationships with City Council mem- bers and City Hall staff while receiving appoint- ments to two committees at the ARC. With February came Black History Month and I was amazed by the number of calls and email invi- tations I received from local, state and national organizations, many of which were for speaking engagements. So far, I have offered words of encourage- ment to students at Stewart Middle School, Arbor Station Elementary School, Chapel Hill Elementary School, Chapel Hill Middle School, Brighten Academy, New Manchester Elemen- tary School, New Manchester High School and Mt. Carmel Elementary School. I was also the keynote speaker at a Veterans Appreciation Breakfast at Lithia Springs High School and to the members of the faith-based community: Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church, New Bethel Baptist Church and Christ Apostolic Life Church. In the next few weeks, I will speak at a Career Day at a City middle school and at a meeting of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at a local high school. And I have met with people, businesses and organizations in Douglasville on topics ranging from homelessness to education and economic development. I am as committed as ever to making Doug- lasville a city where people want to come, live, work, play and stay; a place of destination with more family-friendly businesses, restaurants, shopping and areas of mixed-use development. whether through classes to the public or work- Recently, the City welcomed Gamurz, one of the newest small businesses in downtown Douglasville. This has been a huge plus for the gaming community and provides a place for people to interact with others of this increasing- ly popular pastime. nity partner, which includes collaborating more As always, we hope that you will support all of the businesses in the City, so that we can keep our buildings occupied of how the potential Special Local Option Sales TEAM WORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK. I know it sounds like a cliché, but there is much to be said for working together to achieve a common goal. Before we reach beyond the City limits, we must first learn how to get along with each other, which brings me to another vi- sion - to establish mutual respect and a strong working relationship between the Mayor and City Council. When we remove egos out of the way and stop worrying about who will get the credit, it is possible to work with each other to accomplish what is the best interest of the City. And while we may not agree on every point, the ability to disagree amicably and without enmi- ty goes a long way. Sometimes, we just have to agree to disagree and move on with no hard feel- ings. We are a team. At City Hall, we have implemented quarterly meetings with the directors of the City’s Human Resources, IT, Communications, Finance, Police and Community and Development Services departments. The meetings give City Manager Marcia Hampton, the directors and myself a chance to review the goals we set at the Mayor and City Council retreat as well as empower and equip them with the tools they need in order to successfully lead their staffs. We have a police department of which I am very proud, and under the leadership of Chief Gary Sparks and Assistant Chief Sue Anne Shaw, the City is in great hands. With my background in public safety, I applaud their efforts to keep us safe and protected. I am working with Chief Sparks to ensure the police has adequate staff- ing and competitive salaries, as we look for oth- er ways of recruiting and maintaining a strong force. Their involvement in the community, ing with at-risk youth, gives us the foundation for a successful and thriving community. COLLABORATION WITH THE COUNTY/RE- GION. Part of my vision is to be a good commu- with the Douglas County Board of Commission- ers. In the last month, Chairman Worthan and members of his staff have met with me and City Hall staff to discuss transportation plans and related issues. We are also working on details Tax (SPLOST) will benefit the City and County, mainly in the area of street resurfacing, side- walk and roadway upgrades and intersection improvements that will address congestion and safety concerns. If this passes in November, we will be well on our way to realizing and enjoying a walkable community. A unified front will at- tract industry that will benefit and strengthen financially both the City and County. A strong local economy can’t help but make the City an even more desirable place to live. In the region, Chairman Worthan and I repre- sent City and County governments on the ARC’s Transportation & Air Quality Committee and I serve on the Community Resource Commit- tee. City Planning Director Michelle Wright is a member of the ARC’s Transportation Coordinat- ing Committee. Her appointment was the result of a collaborative effort between the mayors of Douglas, Paulding, Cobb and Carroll Counties. PEOPLE, NOT POLITICS. As I have said be- fore, my focus is on people, not politics. I want everyone to feel they’re a part of government and for our government to work for the people. This includes tough conversations and discus- sions about homelessness, transportation, tak- ing care of our seniors, children, and other is- sues that affect us, either directly or indirectly. While some topics make us more uncomfort- able than others, they still have to be brought to the table. The Rotary Club, of which I am a member, has as its motto, “Service above self.” That is my motto as well. Each day, I strive to bring my best self to you and I want to exceed your expecta- tions. With your continued support, we are going to make the City of Douglasville an even better place to live. May God bless you, your family and our great community. FROM THE MAYOR | Community www.newsandviewsusa.com 43