Atlanta Progressive News

I attended the Rep. Long endorsement press conference yesterday.  Afterwards, I got Mary to do a surprise call in to Adam Shapiro’s show on 89.3 FM WRFG during APN’s normal Thursday interview slot- if you didn’t hear it, you missed out!

The press conference was part of Norwood’s effort to demonstrate that her support comes from all over the City and from many races.  She was surrounded by numerous supporters whose racial and neighborhood diversity seemed to bolster her claim.  Rep. Long is the first major Black public official to endorse Norwood.

“Mary’s 12 point plan on public safety was the first to be made public,” Long said in explaining his endorsement.  He said his constituents told him about her “accessibility… She has come when they call.”

“What an honor… In a new Atlanta there is no place for this blight… this crime… this violence.  Every neighborhood is important.  Every citizen is important.  We are surrounded today by people from every single part of the city- Southwest Atlanta, Buckhead, Midtown… We are all one Atlanta.”

Norwood then asked her supporters to speak, something her campaign tells me was unscripted.

“I’ve been in this community for 30 years.  I’ve known Mary 5 years.  She always had a concern with parks.  She was there.  Any time you call Mary, she’s gonna answer.  I haven’t gotten anybody else; I might get a voicemail,” Yvonne Smith said.

Dave Walker, candidate for Council President, also spoke in support of Norwood.

“I’ve been trying to get people’s attention regarding Perkins Auto Recycling contamination for the last 10 years.  Mary Norwood was the only one who did what she said she would do- help us,” Lisi Eiser (spelling unknown) said.

Mrs. Fan directed her comments back at Lisa Borders, who has been attacking Norwood.  Norwood herself has not been responding to Borders’s remarks, noted previously on this blog.

“This is the only candidate I have ever known out of 76 years you see in your community and my community when it’s not election time.  If you want to talk about where the money is, you ought to tell us,” Fan said in response to Borders’s charge that Norwood missed a budget meeting called by Borders with the CFO.

“I will not support anybody because of their color (only because of their representation).  If you haven’t been marching in our neighborhood, don’t come marching now,” Fan said, alluding to Borders.

APN asked Norwood a question about what she would do to address to concerns of working families.  As noted previously on this blog, APN posed the same question to Kasim Reed and his response was that people should look at his website if they want to know his platform.

At least Norwood attempted to answer the question.  ”Housing is a major concern for all of us.  Brent Sobol is here.  He took an apartment complex back from the drug boys.  He kept it affordable.  We have the template.  We need to get rid of this blight, so people will come live in Southwest Atlanta,” Norwood said.

“One lady I know sold a car and bought a house [for under $10,000] in southwest Atlanta.  She’s a homeowner,” Norwood said.

“For people who do need to rent, Brent Sobol is the answer.  Take an apartment complex, keep it safe, keep it affordable.  There are hardworking families with very low incomes.  We need to look at the whole spectrum.  Everybody deserves to have safe, decent, affordable housing,” Norwood said.