THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS
Delivered by Commissioner Khadijah January 7, 2021 in Assembly Hall
To my fellow Fulton County citizens, commissioners, elected officials and staff, friends and of course family.
GOOD MORNING, and thank you for your trust in me to be a Commissioner of Fulton County.
While I have been sent here by the people of the Mighty Six … the Sixth District, I fully understand that I represent ALL OF FULTON COUNTY.
You know, TODAY, IS TRULY A GOOD DAY.
And despite yesterday’s terror attacks on our democracy, I STILL say today is a GOOD DAY.
IT’S GOOD DAY, because we just witnessed some of the largest participation in voting we have ever had.
And it is through our voice and our vote that we have shown how to make a more perfect union, indeed a more perfect County.
When I ran for this office, many of you commented on my purple boxing gloves.
Well, I am a fighter.
I promised on the campaign trail to fight for the least of these. To fight for what is right and just.
To fight for everyone’s fair share. Be assured, I plan to KEEP my promise. You may recall, my mentor, the late Commissioner Emma Darnell, always talked about we have promises to keep.
Well, in the Mighty Six District we will continue to keep our promises.
IT’S GOOD DAY, because starting right here and right now, we will renew our focus on service to PEOPLE who need us more than ever in critical areas.
HEALTH AND HUMANS SERVICES: we will improve our quality of life. We will eliminate food deserts. We will improve access to affordable housing, and we will fight for environmental justice.
And we will fight for Grady and our community health clinics to make sure we serve the people where they are.
On CRIME AND SAFETY: We have to work together with our law enforcement brothers and sisters. But not just to lock people up.
We must focus on prevention; and mentoring young people so that we reduce juvenile delinquency. But to do this we must also focus on
BUSINESS & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: As a commissioner of Fulton County, I will use this office and all my power to help find the resources we need to help create jobs for young people and for our adult population looking for good paying jobs.
And added to that, I will work to make Fulton County a place that promotes entrepreneurship. My parents were small business owners; I am a business owner. And we should do all we can to ensure that any child in Fulton County that dreams of owning his or her own company, will have the support of their government to make their dream come true.
And a word about the HOMELESS. As a commissioner, you can be assured that I will fight to ensure that our County plays a greater role in finding solutions, not just band aids. That means being laser focused on problems (that when not addressed) result in homelessness.
Such as mental health issues.
Let’s have a holistic approach. Let’s create more partnerships. As we come out of the PANDEMIC, many people will suffer from depression and we need to be ready to help them overcome. I have always been a PROPONENT OF mental health. It should not be taboo in our community.
And I will also fight for our YOUTH and our SENIORS.
We need to expand summer youth activities, increase summer jobs programs, and after-school programs.
We must also maintain our status as one of the best counties in the country when it comes to how well we take care of our SENIOR ADULTS.
So IT IS A GOOD DAY, brothers, and sisters, because right here and right now I believe we will build a better Fulton County by focusing on these areas and more.
And please know, while I am a fighter, and I carry my boxing gloves wherever I go, I am a BRIDGE BUILDER. I believe in cooperation and compromise, and working together to things done. And doing so without surrendering our values and morals and ethics.
SO, YES, IT IS A GOOD DAY, because we will not give up the good fight for justice, peace, and freedom.
IT IS A GOOD DAY, because we will not yield to thugs, terrorists who try to steal our democracy.
IT IS A GOOD DAY, because we are here, together in love and fellowship and service to our fellow man and fellow women.
IT IS A GOOD DAY from Bankhead to Buckhead, from Alpharetta to Palmetto and everything in between.
I ASK YOU TO JOIN ME IN THE CELEBRATION, because if and when we do this, ALL OF THIS … TOGETHER … we will make certain that each and every day in Fulton County, Georgia, will be … A GOOD DAY.
Thank you and God Bless You!
IT'S A GOOD DAY
IT’S GOOD DAY, because starting right here and right now, we will renew our focus on service to PEOPLE who need us more than ever in critical areas.