2021 Georgia Local Elections

2021 Local Elections Runoff

ATL City Council

CARE USA

Amir was born and raised in Atlanta. He is a graduate of Duke University and Duke School of Law and is the first Iranian-American elected official in the American South. He lives with his wife in Old Fourth Ward.

Amir works for CARE USA, an organization fighting world hunger and poverty. He practiced law with an international law firm for five years before starting a nonpartisan nonprofit called GeorgiaForward. While running the nonprofit, he launched the Young Gamechangers program, a leadership action program bringing together 50 Georgian leaders under the age of 40 to address issues in Georgia cities. Amir then served as the COO of College Advising Corps, a national education nonprofit working to increase the number of low-income students who apply and attend college.

Amir Farokhi is currently the Atlanta city council member representing District 2. He was elected in 2017 and has served one term. He is chair of the City Council's Zoning Committee and a member of the Public Safety and Transportation committees.

12/31/19 CCDR

December 31, 2020 CCDR

CCDR Jan 31, 2021

Amended December 31, 2020 CCDR

6 30 2020 CCDR

June 30, 2021 CCDR

April 30, 2021 CCDR

September 30, 2021 CCDR

Said, "we must complete the BeltLine in a timely fashion and realize its vision of access and equity. We must find creative avenues to build parklets, to strive towards the goal that a park is within walking distance for all Atlanta residents."

Started an initiative to fund building accessible street crossings.

Plans to implement an Accessible Business Entrance Program aimed at incentivizing businesses to have accessible facilities.

Wants to improve city services, "ensuring that your trash gets picked up on time, the streetlights work and our sewer system is functional. It means repairing cracked roads and potholes."

-In 2019, he passed a ban on non-reusable plastics by vendors on all city properties, including the airport.

- Said, "we must complete the BeltLine in a timely fashion and realize its vision of access and equity. We must find creative avenues to build parklets, to strive towards the goal that a park is within walking distance for all Atlanta residents."
- Started an initiative to fund building accessible street crossings.
- Plans to implement an Accessible Business Entrance Program aimed at incentivizing businesses to have accessible facilities.
- Wants to improve city services, "ensuring that your trash gets picked up on time, the streetlights work and our sewer system is functional. It means repairing cracked roads and potholes."
-In 2019, he passed a ban on non-reusable plastics by vendors on all city properties, including the airport.

Public Services

Said, "I have passed bills that offer temporary relief from things like business licenses or permits for outdoor dining. But we must do more."

- Said, "I have passed bills that offer temporary relief from things like business licenses or permits for outdoor dining. But we must do more."

COVID

Supported a "push in 2018 to more than double the budget for the City's Office of Cultural Affairs ... \[and wants\] to continue this push and dedicate more dollars to support artists and cultural organizations."

Said, "I am in the process of launching Atlanta's first Guaranteed Income pilot ... in District 2."

Wants to collaborate with MARTA to introduce a non-residential parking tax to raise funds that can be used to invest in infrastructure and development around public transportation.

Said, "since taking office, I have been a proponent of Participatory Budgeting (PB) ... In 2020, with Central Atlanta Progress, I launched 'Downtown Decides, a $1 million transportation-specific PB Pilot run Downtown ... The program was a great success."

- Supported a "push in 2018 to more than double the budget for the City's Office of Cultural Affairs ... \[and wants\] to continue this push and dedicate more dollars to support artists and cultural organizations."
- Said, "I am in the process of launching Atlanta's first Guaranteed Income pilot ... in District 2."
- Wants to collaborate with MARTA to introduce a non-residential parking tax to raise funds that can be used to invest in infrastructure and development around public transportation.
- Said, "since taking office, I have been a proponent of Participatory Budgeting (PB) ... In 2020, with Central Atlanta Progress, I launched 'Downtown Decides, a $1 million transportation-specific PB Pilot run Downtown ... The program was a great success."

City Budget

Supports spending "money on immediate relief, which is provided by policy tools such as abatements, home repair for seniors and subsidies. This will be accomplished through the Mayor's recent $100 million bond, passed by the Council."

Passed a Housing Equity Bill to stop landlords from denying housing to those who wish to pay through vouchers or other government-assisted funding.

Supported the city's ratification of a Renter's Rights Bill targeting predatory pricing on security deposits.

Want to explore ways to retrofit low-income housing to be more cost effective and sustainable.

- Supports spending "money on immediate relief, which is provided by policy tools such as abatements, home repair for seniors and subsidies. This will be accomplished through the Mayor's recent $100 million bond, passed by the Council." 
- Passed a Housing Equity Bill to stop landlords from denying housing to those who wish to pay through vouchers or other government-assisted funding.
- Supported the city's ratification of a Renter's Rights Bill targeting predatory pricing on security deposits.
- Want to explore ways to retrofit low-income housing to be more cost effective and sustainable.

Housing & Urban Development

Said, "I would grow programs such as pre-arrest diversion and others that lower crime rates using more targeted social service outreach while taking the burden off of APD. We should also explore the creation of an Office of Nightlife and Culture, greater emphasis on inter-governmental cooperation as well as using city design to rethink spaces and make them safer."

Wants to appoint a permanent police chief.

-Supports retention bonuses, greater investments in equipment and expanded use of technology.

Voted to approve a 30% pay raise for city police officers and firefighters.

Supported a bill to end cash bail requirements for nonviolent offenders.

- Said, "I would grow programs such as pre-arrest diversion and others that lower crime rates using more targeted social service outreach while taking the burden off of APD. We should also explore the creation of an Office of Nightlife and Culture, greater emphasis on inter-governmental cooperation as well as using city design to rethink spaces and make them safer."
- Wants to appoint a permanent police chief.
-Supports retention bonuses, greater investments in equipment and expanded use of technology. 
- Voted to approve a 30% pay raise for city police officers and firefighters.
- Supported a bill to end cash bail requirements for nonviolent offenders.

Public Safety

Plans to introduce zoning regulations that promote dense development, "which will use market forces to drive up housing stock, lower prices and ease our housing challenge without bankrupting the city."

Said, "I'm launching 'Jumpstart Atlanta,' an effort to address persistent regulatory and zoning challenges that various businesses face that could be safely done away with."

Proposed in August three new zoning ordinances. The first allows for more accessory dwelling units. The second rezones thousands of properties located within a half-mile walk of MARTA stations to allow for the building of more small apartment buildings. The third eliminates all city-imposed parking requirements for developers, meaning builders are no longer required to include street parking for most houses or apartment complexes.

- Plans to introduce zoning regulations that promote dense development, "which will use market forces to drive up housing stock, lower prices and ease our housing challenge without bankrupting the city."
- Said, "I'm launching 'Jumpstart Atlanta,' an effort to address persistent regulatory and zoning challenges that various businesses face that could be safely done away with."
- Proposed in August three new zoning ordinances. The first allows for more accessory dwelling units. The second rezones thousands of properties located within a half-mile walk of MARTA stations to allow for the building of more small apartment buildings. The third eliminates all city-imposed parking requirements for developers, meaning builders are no longer required to include street parking for most houses or apartment complexes.

Zoning

Amir Farokhi

- City council members work together with the rest of city council to set and implement city policy. 
- City council is tasked with ensuring the health, comfort, and safety of residents of the city 
- City council members work with the mayor to govern city departments, such as the police department, fire department, transportation department, and parks and recreation department. 
- City council members represent either the whole city or residents of a specific district. 
- Most city council members in Georgia are elected in odd years to four year terms. Elections are nonpartisan. 

Passes laws and regulations for your city.

Atlanta City Council Member, District 2

Election results

Candidates (1)