Andre Dickens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Andre Dickens
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Dickens in 2024
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| 59th Mayor of Atlanta | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Keisha Lance Bottoms |
| Member of the Atlanta City Council from the at-large district Post 3 |
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| In office January 6, 2014 – January 3, 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Lamar Willis |
| Succeeded by | Keisha Waites |
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| Born | June 17, 1974 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Georgia Institute of Technology (BS) Georgia State University (MPA) |
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Andre Dickens (born June 17, 1974) is an American politician. He is the current mayor of Atlanta, Georgia. Before becoming mayor, he was a member of the Atlanta City Council. He won the mayoral election in 2021, defeating Felicia Moore. Dickens also works as a leader at TechBridge, a group that helps other non-profit organizations with technology.
Contents
Andre Dickens: Early Life and Education
Andre Dickens was born in Atlanta in 1974. He grew up in Southwest Atlanta with his mother and stepfather. His stepfather adopted him and his two siblings when Andre was seven. They often enjoyed taking things apart and putting them back together. This sparked Andre's interest in engineering.
School Days
Dickens went to Benjamin Elijah Mays High School. After high school, he studied chemical engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He earned his degree in 1998. Later, he continued his education at Georgia State University. There, he earned a Master's degree in Public Administration, focusing on how cities grow and develop.
Andre Dickens: His Career Journey
Andre Dickens started his career in 1994 as a chemical engineer while still in college. After graduating, he worked full-time in that field. In 1999, he became a sales engineer at DSM Engineering and Plastics. He was recognized for his work there.
Starting a Business
At 28, Dickens and his older sister started their own furniture company called City-Living Home Furnishing. It grew into a successful business with two locations. However, the company faced challenges during a housing crisis and closed in 2011.
Serving on the City Council
In 2013, Andre Dickens was elected to the Atlanta City Council. He served as an at-large member, meaning he represented the whole city. From 2014 to 2021, he focused on improving public safety in Atlanta. He also worked to create more affordable housing and programs for citizens. He helped create more opportunities for students in Atlanta's public schools.
One important thing he did was support a law to raise the minimum wage for city employees to $15 an hour. He also helped create the Department of Transportation. He supported the BeltLine Inclusionary Zoning, which helped increase affordable housing along the BeltLine. He also helped start the Atlanta Youth Commission.
Mayor of Atlanta: Making a Difference
Andre Dickens became the mayor of Atlanta on January 3, 2022. As mayor, he has focused on several key areas to improve the city.
Important Decisions as Mayor
Early in his term, on February 25, 2022, Mayor Dickens lifted the indoor COVID-19 mask rule in Atlanta. This ended a nearly two-year rule for places like restaurants and hotels.
During his first year, Mayor Dickens made a big investment in housing. He set aside over $100 million for new and improved homes. His team works with programs like inclusionary zoning to help with this. The goal is to provide affordable housing, especially in growing areas like Westside Park and the BeltLine.
Mayor Dickens also made the city's first investment in early childhood education. This helps young children get a good start. He also created a Nightlife Division to help manage places that have had problems with crime.
Helping People Experiencing Homelessness
Mayor Dickens' team has set aside over $13 million to help people experiencing homelessness. This is part of a plan called LIFT 2.0. By the end of 2024, the city hopes to help 1,500 families find housing. They work with local government, businesses, and community groups to achieve this.
In October 2022, Mayor Dickens chose Darin Schierbaum to be Atlanta's new Chief of Police.
Public Safety Training Center
Mayor Dickens has supported building a new training center for police and fire departments. This project is sometimes called "Cop City" by some groups. There has been a lot of discussion and protest about this training center. Many environmental and community groups have expressed concerns about it.
In September 2023, Mayor Dickens said he wanted to make sure residents' voices were heard. This was about a citywide vote on the training facility. Activists collected many signatures to try and get a public vote on the project.
City Funds and Rules
In 2022, a city office found that nearly $121,000 used for a Senior Citizen Ball did not follow proper rules. This event celebrated Atlanta residents aged 65 and older. The Mayor's office responded by saying they are committed to following all rules. They promised to make sure proper procedures are followed for future events. Mayor Dickens also said he would pay back the city for hotel costs for himself and his family.
Affordable Housing Efforts
When it comes to housing, some people have raised concerns about initial plans for the Civic Center. They felt there wasn't enough housing for people with lower incomes. Housing advocates also wanted more rules to prevent landlords from refusing to rent to people using Section 8 vouchers. Mayor Dickens has worked to address these issues.
In February 2023, Mayor Dickens made a deal to sell 81 acres of land. The plan is to use this land to build affordable housing units. In May 2022, some housing advocates were concerned when his first budget plan didn't include money for an affordable housing fund. After hearing these concerns, he added $7 million to the budget for affordable housing. This increased the total investment to about $65 million.
Electoral History
Andre Dickens first ran for mayor in 2021. He came in second place in the first round of voting. This meant he went to a runoff election against Felicia Moore. In the runoff, Andre Dickens won by a large margin, becoming the mayor of Atlanta.
See also
In Spanish: Andre Dickens para niños
