CEO-elect holds community sessions

October 23, 2024 Christine Fonville

DeKalb County CEO-elect Lorraine Cochran-Johnson revealed the plan her transition team has put in place as she gathered data and feedback from the public during the first of a series of countywide community listening sessions.

Held in Dunwoody on Oct. 22, Cochran-Johnson was joined by Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch as well as Chamblee Mayor Brian Mock, Doraville Mayor Joseph Geierman, and DeKalb County Commissioner Robert Patrick among other elected officials to “gather community input for long-ranging planning on critical issues facing DeKalb.”

“On the campaign trail, we met many people who said, ‘we’ve not been asked to engage,’ so this is an official ask because I want to hear from you,” Cochran-Johnson told the audience made up of in person attendees and virtual participants.

A survey with questions about infrastructure, public safety, housing, economic development and quality of life was conducted with Cochran-Johnson and members of her team stating that data collected from the survey, and by other community engagement efforts, would be used to “formulate policies and more.”

Cochran-Johnson also said the information gathered would be shared with the public sometime in December when the CEO-elect plans to publish a 100-day action plan report detailing what her administration will do in the first months of 2025.

Currently, listening sessions are scheduled for 6 p.m. at the following dates and locations:

Porter Sanford Performing Arts Cente3, 3181 Rainbow Drive, Decatur on Oct. 23.
The Outlet Community Church, 3039 Briarcliff Road, Atlanta on Oct. 24.
Stonecrest Library, 3123 Klondike Road, Stonecrest on Oct. 28.
Decatur United Methodist Church, 300 East Ponce De Leon Avenue, Decatur on Oct. 29.

In a timeline shared with participants, Cochran-Johnson said more community engagement opportunities would be available throughout the remainder of the year, though dates, times and locations are to be determined.

“I want to hear from residents from Dunwoody to Decatur to understand the issues they feel are most important as I set my priorities,” said Cochran-Johnson. “Across DeKalb, you will find great diversity in assets, infrastructure, crime patterns and economic development. I want to know what DeKalb residents feel are the most important issues facing their communities, their experience with governmental service delivery and how best to engage and communicate to ensure maximum service delivery.”

For more information, visit lorraineforchange.com.