Highlights from the AthChat mayor's debate

The AthChat podcast held a mayoral debate at Cine in downtown Athens, Georgia hosted by Russell Edwards and Drew Abney. Mayoral candidates LaKeisha Gantt, Mara Zuniga and Tim Denson were present. Dexter Fisher had to skip this debate for health reasons.

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TRANSCRIPT

Tim Denson on Housing:

"We don't have enough housing. We need more housing and we need a larger percentage of it to be affordable housing. We can be creating more housing with our inclusionary housing policies and expanding them using our affordable housing fund that Athens-Clarke County already has to make social housing and of course using the new homestead exemption to bring down taxes for homeowners already."

LaKeisha Gantt on Housing:

"We cannot ignore student housing. Just the sheer number of students that are here, that actually takes up any type of naturally affordable housing. We need to worry about the people that are here and the people that still are struggling, the people that are in neighborhoods that have been gentrified. I read reports often that say, oh Athens, this is the best place to retire. And that's all great. But I think we would all agree that we are full. We are full. It's beautiful, but we have to manage what we have."

Mara Zuniga on homelessness:

"The surrounding areas bring their own house to Athens for services. It shouldn't be a local solution because they would be only a bandaid the way that I see it."

Tim Denson on homelessness:

"Speaking to the idea that we are a hub for services, we are because DBHDD in the state of Georgia has designed it that way. We serve an entire region including Walton County, Oglethorpe County, Jackson County, all those places. It is designed that way because it's a more efficient and effective way to help people who are experiencing homelessness in Northeast Georgia. My challenge is going to be to this entire community, for the UGA, the Chamber of Commerce, the hospitals, the state of Georgia to join with us and to take up a commitment that we will reduce the chronic homeless in Athens-Clarke County by 50% over the next 10 years."

Mara Zuniga on partisanship:

"When you elect us, you're electing us on a nonpartisan stance. Whatever party we may believe in or may be aligning with, you have to put your hat at the door. You're no longer part of any party."

Tim Denson, questioning Mara Zuniga:

"Who is it that you supported for president this past election?"

Mara Zuniga:

"First of all, it really doesn't matter because any one of us, could ask a question and we could tell you any answer. It doesn't mean we're telling you the truth. ah It is irrelevant to a local election as well. I want to tell you that when I was young, I was on the far left just like you. Except I was 19 and I grew up. ah I grew up because ah there are different avenues that you reach solutions, you know? 19 years old, I knew what communism meant."

You can watch the full video on my website or listen on the AthChat podcast, thanks to Russell Edwards and Drew Abney.