PEDS commends the City of Atlanta for launching Open Checkbook, which tracks every taxpayer dollar spent. This is a major
step forward in improving transparency.
Yet with regards to sidewalk maintenance, far more is needed.
At a recent meeting,
Atlanta's Transportation Committee members approved resolutions authorizing Public
Works to approve contracts costing up to $3.3 million for sidewalk repair and maintenance.
Sally Flocks, President & CEO of PEDS, expressed gratitude for funding sidewalk repairs, but
reminded committee members that the amount falls far short of the estimated $20 million cost of annual sidewalk and curb ramp deterioration.
Inadequate funding makes transparency especially important.
Sally
asked what methodology Public Works is using to prioritize projects and called on city officials to post this online. She also asked the City to post a list of planned and completed sidewalk maintenance projects and the location and cost of each.
Later in the meeting, City Council member Amir Farokhi called on James Jackson, Interim Commissioner of the Public Works department, to provide reports at a future meeting.
Please join us in thanking Council Member Farokhi for his persistent efforts to obtain more information about the size of the city's backlog of broken sidewalks and how much the city is spending to eliminate it.
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