Recently, I was presented with an opportunity to continue my mission of public advocacy in a dramatically different role.
[Here's the mayor's Press Release announcing citizen advocate.]
On Monday, I became the City of Atlanta’s first ever Citizens Advocate, and while the title may be new, the work itself is something I have done with greater or lesser degrees of success as a journalist for many years.
Like most journalists, I have listened to the citizens, become acquainted with the problems they have encountered with their government, investigated the source of those problems and researched some solutions for them. As the city’s Citizens Advocate, I will still do that, but with a measure of authority that will allow the taxpayers more control over their government and ensure greater accountability.
Every city department has a resolution process in place in terms of customer service or professional standards. In those cases where problems have proven resistant to the city’s traditional channels of resolution, it will be my job to investigate what went wrong, identify those policies, procedures or personnel that have proven to be roadblocks to resolution, and present a report of my findings to the administration.
No doubt some of you may be concerned about my future; you might even be shocked that I have chosen this path. I am grateful for your concern, but it’s important to note that Mayor Kasim Reed didn’t just ask me to join the team, he asked me to join the team and bring my criticisms with me.
I think that it would be very disingenuous of me not to take the job. After all, what kind of person would I be if I continue to offer criticism of the city, but I am not willing to do what I can to help solve its problems when given a perfect opportunity to do so?
The city will publicly announce the job a little later and will offer more information about it at that time.
Thank you, as always, for your faith in me. I hope I will continue to be worthy of it. SR
Best wishes. I assume you will still continue your blog?
@Nick
Not sure yet, still trying to figure that out. I think there are some valid worries about responsibility for reader comments. It’s one thing for me and you to make remarks on the blog I run as a journalist, but there may be a different level of culpability.
On the other hand, I can see the sense in continuing a public forum for things like announcements of meetings, new policies, developments in city programs, etc. Not sure. The mayor has not said a word about discontinuing the blog yet, but I can see problems arising. I don’t think it could continue in its present form. To Reed’s credit and the credit of his COO Peter Aman, the blog has not been a focal point of our discussions.
I guess everybody has a price…
Really? You know, I have never been convinced of that. Most people I know don’t have a price.
Check my blog and you’ll see that I was busting the city’s chops just three days ago. And I’m not done.
I can assure you that most journalists feel pretty frustrated from time to time that all they can do is write about issues. Despite the standard of objectivity, every good reporter I’ve ever known has had some stories where right and wrong were clearly delineated and they passionately wanted right to triumph. I have been extraordinarily blessed (I’m not religious, but I do believe) with an opportunity to actually DO something, and my overwhelming fear right now is that I will fail.
I understand where you are coming from, and just about anybody would think what you’re thinking, but in fact this position would be a total flop if the person in it were not prepared to make waves.
I wasn’t bought. I was blessed. Maybe with a responsibility that no one in her right mind would want, but hey, this is me we’re talking about.
Congratulations on the job! I hope you will not be disappointed in it. I hope you will be able to continue your blog.
I think this is very exciting. Kudos to Major Reed and his genuine approach to fixing/bettering things in Atlanta. Very promising. Enjoy your new position Stephanie. Action time.
Stephanie, I’m really happy for you. I think you’ll be wonderful in this position, and I certainly don’t see this as your selling out. I hope it works out well!
Congratulations, Steph! Atlanta is lucky to have you.
Pat,
I couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you for your faith in me and my “attitude” over the past six-plus years. — Steph
The damn auto-correct on my IPad spit out “contests” instead of “congrats”.
After two meetings early in the day, listening to the federal-news segment of The NewsHour at 6 pm, then attending another meeting tonight, I wasn’t sure how to assess the day.
This announcement nudged the day into the PLUS column for me.
Congrats!
Several years ago, The Council On Aging [Diane Williamson, Director] developed the Civic Engagement Institute. NPU members attended as students while City Councilmembers and City Department personnel participated. Among other things, graduates have been instrumental in re-invigorating the Atlanta Commission on Aging and guiding into existence the Senior Zones Policy [at the time of its passage into City Code, only the second of its kind in the Nation.] Graduates also have participated in the quest for a Community Benefits Policy and [the ever-elusive] Affordable Housing Impact Statement. From time to time, mention has been made of a City Civic Engagement Department. [Search: "civic engagement" city of].
With the establishment of the City Advocate Office and with continuing fervor on the part of the workers in the Mayor’s Office of Constituent Services, Atlanta has reached a nouveau plateau in serving its citizenry.
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By the way – at one of those three meetings mentioned above, the group agreed that one of its top ten priorities would be to insist on the public pronouncement of a designated point of contact for public input and complaints involving the Department of Public Works.
Ben Howard
Great move by Reed and his boy. Get you on the payroll and problem goes away. Im glad you got the job, I’m sure you needed it. When I saw what happened to you at the Paper is was disappointed, and frustrated, It seemed as if one of the better voices in the city was silenced. I learned of your blog and was excited to see that good information would continue to be made public. Now it seems as if it is gone again.
I wish you the best of luck with your new job, Im sure you will do your best at it.
I don’t think there is any shortage of folks willing to point out flaws in the system. But like the recently departed 911 director, they can’t fight the force of the entrenched majority of do-nothing employees or managers busy with CYA shell games. Too many advocates find it easier to concentrate on the ‘cat in a tree’ level of complaints.
Do you like a challenge? Since you have already done some research, how about an official follow up on why false alarms are not being billed; the most effective way of quickly reducing call volume.
Congrats on the new position! I have been reading your blog/posts for the past couple years and know you will be a great, albeit critical, addition to city hall. I imagine that you are definitely going to need staff. Would you be interested in a future public leader like myself? I’d be happy to send a resume your way
Bill what happened with the 911 director? Things were finally getting better up there?
Congratulations, I hope you’ll be able to be effective there and not smothered. Good Luck. I also wish you could keep this blog going. I enjoy it and the comments. What happened to Broxton B? I didn’t see a comment from him.
Ernestine, I’m still here but have been traveling.
I am pleased that Stephanie has a new job because it will make her life better. She will need a thick skin at City Hall, but I think that she already has that. I suspect that she will be challenged by citizen anger because the citizens will be directed to her after being ignored by those responsible. She will do a good job and I hope that she continues this blog.
Congratulations, Stephanie!
Wow, what a letdown! I’m glad that you have a job, I would not wish the stress of unemployment on anyone. Having said that, I would have preferred it not be as a lackey to Kasim Reed. I’m among those who believe that he does not give a damn about the citizens of this city, this is just another step in his career path. Putting you in this position just silences a respected voice of opposition.
If you truly think you will be effective, I invite you to come over to the west side of the city and address the persistent lack of attention that we face relating to issues about abandoned houses, illegal dumping and over-burdened police.
My apologies to Burroughston Broch. I totally got your name wrong, and sloppily wrote as my faulty memory served instead of going back and checking previous posts.
Ernestine, no offense intended and none taken.
I’ve been called much worse, and that by friends.