Kasim Reed, the former mayor of Atlanta who faced scandals in 2018, has reemerged as a top contender for a third term, focusing on addressing the rise in violent crime in the city. He believes his experience and track record make him the best candidate to tackle this issue, emphasizing public safety as his top priority. Reed's approach to strengthening law enforcement aligns with the calls for cultural change in policing, similar to moderate Democrats like Eric Adams. As part of his campaign, Reed has pledged to add 750 officers to the Atlanta police force. In a recent television ad, he mentioned that they will be training in a different way after the George Floyd incident. Most of Reed's opponents in the nonpartisan race are Democrats and are also sharing a similar message, which is not the same as the defund-the-police movement from progressive activists during the protests of 2020. Reed's performance in the upcoming elections might show how much voters are willing to overlook in politicians as long as they promise some peace and order. During his time in office, Reed was known for his aggressive style, which some called bullying, and was involved in scandals such as kickbacks, theft of public funds, and weapons violations. Felicia Moore, a top rival for mayor, is urging voters to consider the corruption cases linked to Reed's administration. "The leadership should be held accountable for the actions of their administration," she stated. "He was the person in charge of that organization." However, in Atlanta, crime has become a major issue. The number of homicides investigated by Atlanta police jumped from 99 in 2019 to 157 in 2020, a year that saw the largest one-year increase in homicides in the US. This year, Atlanta is on track to have an even worse situation. Some of the homicides that have occurred in the past year have shocked residents, such as the killing of an 8-year-old girl in a car with her mother last summer, and the kidnapping and murder of a 27-year-old bartender last month. A 40-year-old woman and her dog were brutally murdered while taking a late-night walk near Piedmont Park in July. The incidents of violent crimes in Atlanta are becoming more frequent and are occurring at all times of the day, according to mayoral candidate Sharon Gay, who herself was mugged in Inman Park 18 months ago. The violence in the city has also become a political issue, with Georgia Republicans using it as a campaign point, even though violent crime rates are rising in cities led by politicians from both parties. Governor... Brian Kemp has allocated a significant amount of money for a new "crime suppression unit" in the city. The affluent Buckhead neighborhood is considering breaking away from Atlanta primarily due to concerns about crime, which could have negative consequences for the city's tax revenue. Some critics attribute the crime issue to the current mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms, accusing her of not effectively addressing it. Earlier this spring, shortly before Bottoms announced she would not seek reelection, Reed criticized the rising crime rates in the city, leading many to believe he was turning against Bottoms, whom he had previously supported, and possibly planning a political comeback. When it arrived, it brought a significant amount of glamour. Reed proclaimed at a lavish party at Tyrese Gibson's Buckhead mansion that "The future of Atlanta is in jeopardy." Within weeks, he had collected about $1 million in donations for his campaign. However, the belief that Atlanta would benefit from returning to Reed's time in office from 2010-17 is controversial. Reed attributes the low crime rates during his tenure to his efforts and proudly mentions his recruitment of numerous police officers. According to FBI statistics, violent crime in the city decreased starting in 2012 and continued to drop during Reed's time as mayor. This decline in crime was part of a national trend that began in the early 1990s. Despite this overall decrease, there has been a recent increase in high-profile crimes that have caused concern among residents. In early September, murders, rapes, and aggravated assaults were all up compared to the previous year. Reed was known for his strong leadership, as he made controversial decisions such as dismissing the city fire chief for making derogatory comments about homosexuality. He also made tough choices in addressing the city's pension liability issues. However, scandals within Reed's administration resulted in guilty pleas from several officials. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported in June that former human services director, watershed management head, and chief financial officer have been indicted and are awaiting trial. Court documents and campaign records suggested that Reed may be under federal investigation for using campaign funds for personal expenses, although Reed claimed in an interview that the Department of Justice informed his lawyers that he was not under investigation. The US Attorney's Office in Atlanta declined to comment on the matter. Reed acknowledged the issues that occurred during his tenure and mentioned that despite years of scrutiny, no charges have been brought against him. He mentioned that he had undergone intense vetting and security measures that few people experience, and had emerged unscathed. He suggested that racism may have been a factor in the scrutiny he faced. He noted that federal investigations, such as those in Atlanta, often target Black political leaders, especially mayors. A recent poll showed Reed leading the mayoral race with approximately 24% support, but 41% of likely voters were undecided. Reed's opponents are trying to persuade undecided voters that there are better options available. A portion of voters are fed up with Reed. Bruce Maclachlan, an 85-year-old landlord residing in Inman Park near the location of Gay's mugging, expressed his concerns about corruption surrounding Kasim Reed. He mentioned that it raised doubts in his mind. Maclachlan shared that he was supporting Moore, the City Council president, who was closely trailing Reed in the poll with approximately 20% backing. He believed that Moore seemed to be trustworthy and untainted by any scandals. Robert Patillo, a criminal defense attorney, has experienced the crime issue firsthand. Recently, his sister had her car stolen, his laptop was stolen from his car, and a friend's house was broken into. He believes that everyone has been affected by crime in some way. Despite this, he still plans to vote for Moore, as he feels Moore would be more reliable and capable of addressing both crime and civil rights issues. However, he acknowledges that Reed's tough stance may appeal to those who are fearful. Pinky Cole, the founder of Slutty Vegan, has a different perspective. Cole, a well-known young African American entrepreneur in the city, stated that Reed had assisted her with legal issues her business had encountered. She believed that crime and the city's business environment were connected, a viewpoint that is widely shared in Atlanta. Recently, two of her employees were shot, one of them fatally, which has impacted her greatly. Despite concerns about corruption cases, she trusted Reed's integrity and remembered how he had previously improved the city's safety. Cole expressed confidence that Reed would be able to do so again.