Don't waste hours Googling candidates.
Branch has information on all of your candidates, in one place.
Jodi Merriday
Jodi Merriday is running for City Council Member - Post 3.
Personal background
Jodi was born and raised in Atlanta. She attended Warren T. Jackson Elementary, Sutton Middle and Frederick Douglass High schools. When she was 15, she worked at Six Flags and Wendy's. She has a bachelor's degree from Hampton University, a master's in sociology from Temple University, a master's in Development Management from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a doctorate in African- American Studies from Temple University.
Professional background
Jodi is a diversity and inclusion consultant. She is Chief Executive Officer of Diplomacy, Inc., where she provides trainings on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI), Title IX and multiculturalism to public officials, universities and other organizations. She was appointed Ombudsman and established the Atlanta Public Schools' (APS) Office of the Ombudsmen following the APS cheating scandal. She worked as an Assistant Professor at Gordon State College, and Lecturer at Spelman College, Community College of Philadelphia, Art Institute of Philadelphia and Clark Atlanta University. She was also Adjunct Lecturer at Georgia State University, Special Assistant to the President of Spelman College and Assistant Director of the Georgia State University Neighborhood Collaborative.
Political background
Jodi Merriday's campaign for city council is her first entry into politics.
ON THE ISSUES
CAMPAIGN FINANCE
Public Services
Believes equity is the biggest challenge facing Atlanta.
Wants to "strengthen schools, create jobs, improve roads."
Suggest an edit
COVID
Plans to fund loans, subsidies and incentive grants to supply the resources needed to manage the health crisis (PPP, COVID testing and vaccination sites).
Wants to consider more "rent and utility grants, tax assistance grants, moratoriums, installment/payment plans \[and\] food/grocery give-a-ways" to support people financially struggling due to the pandemic.
Plans to partner with United Way and other private organizations and philanthropists "to create and fund a 90-day safety net point of capture for displaced individuals and families to provide housing and pathways to stability."
Suggest an edit
City Budget
Wants to fund sidewalk and urgent transportation needs through parking fees and fines, donations from corporations and "exploring cost sharing with visitors."
Suggest an edit
Housing & Urban Development
Supports using the Housing Opportunity bonds and partnerships with public and private organizations to develop affordable housing.
Plans to fund permanent housing and wraparound services for individuals experiencing homelessness.
Suggest an edit
Public Safety
Wants to hire 250 police officers, build a state of the art training facility for the police, give police officers bonuses if they stay on the force, and repurpose the city jail.
Plans to fund de-escalation training for police officers following former President Obama's guidelines for 21st Century Policing and "additional technologies such as Operations Shield Camera Network."
Supports using youth intervention programs and community-based policing tactics and promises to "lead community listening tours on gun violence."
Suggest an edit
Transportation & Infrastructure
Supports adopting Vision Zero.
Wants to make it easier for residents and visitors to move through the city using their preferred mode of transportation.
Promises to fund construction and repair for streets, sidewalks, bike lines and path installations.
Read more...
Suggest an edit
Zoning
Said, "I support inclusionary zoning to support a wider distribution of affordable housing ... \[and\] increasing the number of dedicated affordable units by augmenting the incentives for developers to supply units at rents below the 80th percentile of the area's median income."
Supports increasing the types of housing that is available for differing types of family structures and would update "zoning ordinances in single-family zoning areas to allow accessory dwelling units city wide."
Suggest an edit
