OUR WORK
In his role on the Council, Councilmember Westmoreland brings a strong commitment to equity to public service, working to ensure that all Atlanta residents get an opportunity to thrive. Here are a few examples of past legislation he has created in his core policy pillars.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Created and Ensured Full Funding of Affordable Housing Trust Fund
Authored legislation establishing the "Building the Beloved Community Affordable Housing Trust Fund" which provides a dedicated source of city funding to create, preserve, and support affordable housing and housing stability for low and moderate income Atlantans.
Championed Legislation to Ban Predatory Investing and Safeguard Residents
Led efforts to outlaw exploitative investor practices that pressure homeowners to sell their properties for unfairly low prices, ensuring stronger protections for residents.
Advanced $200 Million in Housing Bonds for Affordable Housing
Contributed to the development and preservation of 3,500 affordable housing units, providing homes for residents earning below or well below the regional median income.
.jpg)
Secured a $75 Million Bond to Strengthen Services for Unhoused Individuals
Led a $75 million bond initiative to address homelessness in Atlanta, funding 700 new housing units and empowering local non-profits to deliver behavioral, emotional, and case management services.
RESILIENCY & SUSTAINABILITY
Launched the Southeast's First
E-Bike Rebate Program
Partnered with the Atlanta Regional Commission and Propel ATL to launch a $1 million City-seeded electric bicycle rebate program that helps residents adopt cleaner, more efficient transportation options while supporting working families, particularly moderate- and low-income individuals.
Championed the City's first Heat Vulnerability Assessment
Partnered with Council Member Liliana Bakhtiari to fund the City's first-ever assessment to identify neighborhoods at the highest-risk of heat vulnerability and climate change impacts.
Created the Smoke-Free Ordinance to Increase Public Health in Our Communities
Joined every other major American city in adopting a comprehensive Smoke-Free ordinance which banned smoking and vaping in most public places to protect individuals from the impacts of smoking and highlighting to our teens the dangers of vaping.
GREENSPACE & PARKS
Doubled Annual Funding for Park Maintenance
Worked with Council Member Dustin Hillis to double the City's Park Improvement Fund, generating an additional $16 million annually for park maintenance and operations.
Developed First Trails Master Plan in a Generation
Partnered with the PATH Foundation to work with residents, nonprofits, and philanthropic partners to develop and adopt the City's first trails master plan since the 1990s.
.jpg)
Made City Recreational Pools Free for All Residents
Worked with the Department of Parks and Recreation to allocate funding within the budget to make all city recreational pools free for all residents within the
City of Atlanta.
Authored Greater Protection for Atlanta's Tree Canopy for the First Time in 25 Years
Developed legislation offer greater protections over Atlanta's Tree Canopy for the first time in 25 years by increasing fees for removing healthy trees, raising fines for illegal tree cutting, establishing minimum tree density requirements, creating financial assistance for low-income and senior homeowners, and adding oversight measures to better protect and restore the city's tree canopy.
.jpg)
WORKFORCE & ECONOMIC MOBILITY
Launched a Small Business
Recovery Fund
Following the water main brakes in May 2024, Councilmember Westmoreland and the Atlanta City Council created a $7.5 million fund to support small businesses and their employees impacted by the incident.
.jpg)
Established the First-of-its Kind Middle Wage Jobs Fund
Expanded access to high-quality, living-wage careers that do not require a bachelor’s degree, connecting residents from underserved communities to meaningful economic opportunity.
Authored Legislation that Founded Atlanta’s First Economic Mobility Plan
Authored legislation establishing Atlanta’s first comprehensive Economic Mobility Plan, focused on expanding opportunity, strengthening middle-wage career pathways, and building generational wealth in underserved communities.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Modernized Impact Fee Framework to Support Infrastructure Investment
Led the first update to impact fees in 30 years, producing millions of dollars each year to invest in parks, streets, and sidewalks citywide.
Advanced a $750 Million Citywide
Investment Plan
Worked with Atlanta residents to create a $750 million investment plan in May 2022 for transportation infrastructure, public safety facilities, and parks, green space, trails, recreation centers, and outdoor pools.
Created a Funding Stream to Complete Construction of the Atlanta Beltline
Established a dedicated funding stream to ensure the Atlanta Beltline's full 22-mile trail loop and associated infrastructure can be complete by 2030 to help increase connectivity across the city.
TECHNOLOGY
Chair of the Artificial Intelligence Commission
Led Atlanta's First Artificial Intelligence Commission, bringing together technology leaders from the fields of entrepreneurship, government, academia, and law to help guide Atlanta through times of rapidly changing technology.
Banned Data Centers Near the Beltline and MARTA Stations and Created Land Use Neighborhood Protections
Helped pass legislation that restricts where new data centers can be built, banning them near the Beltline and MARTA stations and requiring a special use permit for any future construction.
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Championed the City's First-ever Investment in Early Childhood Education
Helped advance a $5 million City contribution within a three-year $20 million investment supporting early learning centers and youth scholarships.
