In 2018, Kasim Reed, the former Atlanta mayor, faced scandal and disappeared from the political scene. Now, he has reemerged as a contender for a third term, focusing on addressing the rise in violent crime in Atlanta. Reed claims to be the only candidate with the necessary experience to tackle this issue, promising to increase the number of police officers in the city. Similar to Eric Adams, Reed aims to strengthen law enforcement while also responding to calls for a change in policing culture. He stated in a recent television ad that they would be training in a manner influenced by the aftermath of George Floyd's death. Most of Reed's main opponents in the nonpartisan race are Democrats and are also promoting a similar message, which is a departure from the defund-the-police stance seen during the protests of 2020. Reed's performance in the upcoming November election could reveal how much voters are willing to forgive in politicians as long as they believe they will bring stability. His time in office was marked by a aggressive demeanor that some viewed as bullying, as well as scandals involving kickbacks, misuse of public funds, and weapons offenses. Felicia Moore, the City Council president and a top contender for mayor against Reed, hopes voters will consider the corruption scandals involving his administration. She stated that the leadership must accept accountability for the actions of their administration because he was the leader of that organization. However, in Atlanta, crime has become a major issue, with the number of homicides investigated by Atlanta police rising from 99 in 2019 to 157 in 2020. This increase occurred during a year when the US saw its largest one-year increase in homicides on record, and Atlanta is on track for an even worse year. Some of the homicides that have occurred in the past year have been particularly shocking to 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 returning home from a shift last month. A 40-year-old woman and her dog were brutally murdered while on a late-night walk near Piedmont Park in July. The violence in Atlanta is becoming more random and widespread, according to mayoral candidate Sharon Gay, who was also a victim of a mugging in Inman Park. The political implications of the violence extend beyond the mayor's office, with Georgia Republicans using the crime in liberal Atlanta as a campaign issue, despite a rise in violent crime in cities led by both Democrats and Republicans. Brian Kemp has allocated funds for a new "crime suppression unit" in the city. The upscale Buckhead neighborhood is considering seceding from Atlanta, mainly due to concerns about crime, which could have a negative impact on the city's tax base. Some critics believe that Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has not effectively addressed the crime issue. Prior to Bottoms' announcement that she would not seek reelection, former Mayor Reed criticized the high levels of crime in the city, which was seen as a shift against Bottoms and a hint that Reed may be planning a return to politics. When it arrived, it brought with it a significant amount of charm and elegance. Reed made a bold declaration at a lavish party at Tyrese Gibson's mansion in Buckhead, stating that the future of Atlanta was on the line. He emphasized that he was back and urged people to spread the word to other major cities. Within a short period of time, he had collected around $1 million in campaign donations. However, the notion that Atlanta would benefit from returning to the years when Reed was mayor, from 2010 to 2017, is a topic of much disagreement. Reed claims responsibility for maintaining low crime rates during his time in office and takes pride in recruiting numerous police officers. According to FBI statistics, violent crime in the city decreased starting in 2012 and continued to decrease during Reed's time as mayor. This decline in violent crime was part of a national trend that began in the early 1990s. However, despite the overall decrease in violent crimes in Atlanta through 2020, recent high-profile crimes have caused concern among residents. There has also been an increase in murders, rapes, and aggravated assaults compared to the previous year. Reed made bold decisions during his tenure, such as firing the city fire chief for making derogatory comments about homosexuality and implementing reforms to address the city's pension issues. Unfortunately, investigations into scandals within Reed's administration resulted in guilty pleas from several city officials. A former human services director, watershed management head, and chief financial officer have been indicted and are currently awaiting trial. In June, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Reed was possibly under federal investigation for using campaign funds for personal expenses, based on court documents and campaign records. In an interview, Reed stated that his lawyers were informed by the Department of Justice that he was not under investigation. The US Attorney's Office in Atlanta declined to comment. Reed admitted to accepting responsibility for issues that occurred during his time in office and pointed out that despite years of scrutiny, he has not faced any charges. He stated that he has undergone intense vetting and security measures that few people experience, and he has emerged with his reputation intact. He implied that racism may have played a role in the scrutiny he faced. He mentioned that federal investigations, such as those in Atlanta, often target Black political leaders, especially those in mayoral positions. According to a recent University of Georgia poll commissioned by The Journal-Constitution, Reed was slightly ahead in the mayoral race with approximately 24% support. However, 41% of likely voters were undecided, and Reed's opponents are working to sway them to their side. Some voters have grown tired of Reed. Bruce Maclachlan, an 85-year-old landlord residing in Inman Park near the location of Gay's mugging, expressed concerns about corruption seemingly connected to Kasim Reed. He mentioned feeling uncertain about the situation. Maclachlan disclosed his support for Moore, the City Council president, who was slightly trailing Reed in the poll with approximately 20% backing. He noted Moore's perceived honesty and lack of scandal. Robert Patillo, a criminal defence attorney, has experienced the crime issue firsthand. Recently, his sister's car was stolen, his laptop was taken from his car, and a friend's house was burglarized. He mentioned that everyone has been affected by crime in some way. Patillo expressed his support for Moore, believing that he would be more reliable and able to effectively address both crime and civil rights issues. However, he acknowledged the appeal of Reed, stating that people tend to turn to strong leaders when they are fearful. Pinky Cole, the creator of Slutty Vegan, had a contrasting opinion. Cole, a well-known young African American entrepreneur in the city, stated that Reed had assisted her with legal issues her business was facing. She believed that crime and the city's business climate were closely connected, a common viewpoint in Atlanta. She shared that two of her employees had been shot, one fatally, in recent months. Despite concerns about corruption cases, she trusted Reed's integrity and remembered how he had previously made the city safe. Cole expressed confidence that he would be able to do so again.