INFRASTRUCTURE & VOTING W/ KEISHA LANCE BOTTOMS DC YOUNG FLY, KARLOUS MILLER, & CHICO BEAN

We've never invested in the infrastructure that we need to make sure that >> his favorite word. >> I'm just glad that somebody said it before me. >> He love He loves some infrastructure. >> Some infrastructure. >> That's right. >> Infrastructure is important. >> My grandma was born a slave. >> Really? >> Mhm. She was born 1913. >> What' you say? >> On the plan 1911 on the plant. Born no slaves. >> Born 1911. >> Well, slavery ended in 1865. >> That's what they told you. >> [laughter] >> He ain't lying cuz I'm from Mississippi. You feel me? >> They put me and Jesus to the side in a room with other people to be panled [music] by some people for them to tell us are we qualified to vote or not. So it was like because our registration went up the part. But this is the same registration that you use when I voted the last two times. >> These flock cameras. [music] >> Mhm. They recording people information allegedly and >> facial recognition and it's it's it's becoming a hot thing in Georgia. Have have any [music] of that come across your desk? >> Yeah, there's an extensive camera network in this state. >> Do August run. >> This is the biggest thing that happened in my family and my in my in my campaign all year long. So, >> OH BOY GOT A MINUTE. This biggest miss >> and we did get you some some swag. a new perspective. >> Now, we was doing our research. They say y'all got five generations [music] of family right here. >> At least somebody just sent me a picture of the slave owner. >> Uh-uh. >> Uh I just got it last week. >> A picture of the slave owner. >> Uh-huh. Just got it last week. And um she believes he may have been, you know, the the father because he gave my grandmother's grandfather 500 acres of land. M wow. >> Yeah. In Crawfordville, >> man. And what happened to the 500 acre? >> That's a good question. >> They took it again. >> That's a good question. >> You might need to do a little research. >> All the cotton gym fly was just on. >> He's like, >> so he he did a lot that was pretty extraordinary. So it we're thinking it must have been, you know, some something more than slave slave owner >> connection. Little collateral. See, my grandma was born a slave. >> Really? >> Mhm. She was born 1913 on the plan. 1911 on the plant. >> Born no slave >> boy. >> 1911. >> No. >> Well, slavery ended in 1865. >> That's what they told you. [laughter] >> He ain't lying cuz I'm from Mississippi. >> You feel me? >> Down. This [ __ ] real down south, boy. >> He ain't lying. I'm from Mississippi. Slavery ain't officially in in Mississippi since 2013. >> 2013. >> Yes, it did. Wow. >> 2013 >> city. You know, I'm from DC. They freed the slaves there before anybody. >> [ __ ] because y'all had the industrial going on. >> No, cuz they had to build a city. So, >> now hold on. You said 1911 now. You a Delta. >> Uh-huh. >> Ain't that the year? >> Uh, no. Uh-uh. >> 193. >> 1913. I know we're close. I know we're close. My mama Delta. >> I'm Alpha. So, Oh, [ __ ] Uhuh. >> Where she played? >> Uh, Marsh Brown. >> All right. >> Bubbling Brown Sugar. Miss Bubbling Brown Sugar. Uh-oh. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Now, have you ever been inside the White House? >> Yes, you have. >> In the basement, there's a glass case of the foundation if hopefully it's still there, but it's in a little like a janitor's closet, and it's a glass case, so you can see the foundation that the slaves built. >> Oh, yeah. A lot of people don't know that that the the shape of DC was supposed to be a full triangle. >> But when Virginia found out that they freed the slaves, they took their piece back. That's why it's shaped the way that it is. M >> man damn >> what's history on top of history >> and Banaker designed DC right >> Mhm. >> I didn't know you had been in the White House. That's what I'm saying. I'm still messed up. [laughter] >> Yeah. Twice. I met Bill Clinton when when Clinton was president. They did this program. They had uh Coen Pow had this program called the Red Wagon program and they sponsored my school, my middle school cuz it was, you know, it was crazy. We was, you know, >> like East Side High of a middle school. So they brought them in to kind of restructure everything. And I was always one of the people that they would get to talk for the school cuz I always was good at communication. So we went to the White House and met Clinton twice. I walked over his little green that he had in his office. This putting green. He was like, "So you're just going to trample my green?" I was like, "My bad." >> Oh. [laughter] But yeah, I've been in there. >> Not only have you been there, you vandalized. >> Yeah, I've been a little bit. >> You've been in Oval Office. >> Yeah, I've been in Oval Office. Yes. Yes. Yeah. Way. >> You have, too. You've been up there working and making it happen. Yes. Yes, I have been. >> But the real question, Miss Bottoms, because Okay, we're trying to bridge the gap here. >> Uhhuh. >> Okay. We We got >> Oh, we filming. >> Yeah, we been. [laughter] >> We all pregame. This is This is natural. We We roll right into it. >> Yeah. Get your [laughter] >> We got an organic flow over here. >> Oh yeah. >> I was getting warmed up. >> Oh yeah. They said the stove on the stove is on. No, because we want to bridge the gap. Okay. Cuz a lot of people, >> they like to steer away from politics >> and they don't understand first of all the importance of politics, >> the foundation of politics and why we need a representative inside that look like us to speak for us. So why did you take on the chance say you know what I'm going to be the voice for the people in politics and why do the people in the streets needs to come in >> to give their voice. >> Yeah. So I always grew up thinking it was for somebody else but you're a great example. You can see it, you can be it, right? To have people making decisions with you in mind, saying this young kid is important enough that he gets to come into the Oval Office of the White House. >> Yes, ma'am. >> And for me, it was just more of a and I didn't think that I would ever go into politics. It wasn't something that I grew up dreaming about. I always thought that was for somebody else. It was more organic. I was a judge, ran for a higher seat on the court, lost, started going all around Fulton County, and I'm like, "Oh, wow. This is when you have solid representation. This is what community looks like." So, I ran for city council before running for mayor. But now being on this side of it, you every single thing about our lives are influenced by political decisions from did that pothole get filled on your street? >> Nope. >> Does the bus come down your street? >> Um >> the bus come but they ain't fixed that pothole. >> Yeah. I mean from things big and small. How much are your taxes? >> A lot. >> What resources are put into your schools? It's the the the hospital it will it be zoned for your community? I mean every single decision goes back to a political decision in many ways. So it was for me just the honor to have a seat at the table to be able to represent voices that often don't go heard. >> So for the ones who don't go, can you give them insight on where they can possibly start? Like for example, it's a lot of people that got opinions and voices what they what should happen in the community, but they don't know that they can go somewhere and speak their reasoning. >> Yeah. And they're people who show up every single day in a city hall somewhere and you can watch them on public comment. They're people and that's the thing that's uh sometimes can be a little frustrating. The people who know how to get to you know how to get to you and demand >> what they need. And the people who often need support the most don't even know where to start. They don't even know that they're empowered >> to go and talk to somebody who's in elected office. But some people show up in city hall. People will send you emails. People will write you notes. When I was on city council, I saved every single card and note that I got and I had them up in my office because it was important cuz you know, you you can get beat up a lot, but it was important to also remember there were a lot of people who saw the work and appreciated the work and allowing them to be my visual motivation to do what I was doing. Yeah, I'm the father of a about to be 18y old beautiful, beautiful beautiful baby and she's going to school here in Atlanta. And uh one of the things that I found interesting about you is that your dad Major Lance was a R&B singer. So you grew up with a famous father. Like what advice would you give to a a young black woman getting ready to navigate the city of Atlanta? One with a famous dad and two just having to navigate the city that you grew up in. What what kind of advice would you give? Because, you know, as a black woman, one of the things that they always try to restrict you from is having strength and being able to, you know, assert yourself in ways that and I think that you're a great example of that. So, what would you be what would be an example that you would set or give to the young woman that's ready to navigate Atlanta? >> Well, now I just say for you, you are the first man that she's ever loved. And so much of your example will be what she looks for in a mate, what she'll accept, what she won't accept. That mean that um that as young women, we're looking for perfection. But there are, you know, how how does he treat me? How does how does he treat the women in his life, etc. And for her, I would just say, you know, the thing I wish I told my 18-year-old self was that I was enough, that I was good enough, and that my willingness to try and conform to certain standards, beauty standards, whatever those standards may be, were me diminishing my light. And it didn't serve anybody for me to do that. And I'm so grateful my daughter Lincoln is here with me. She's 15. Um I'm so grateful to just be an example not just for my daughter but for other young women. >> Like yeah, you can you can go for it. You don't have to be apologetic. And again, it's not trying to offer perfection or for anybody to believe that that I'm perfect or anything like that, but I do want people to be able to see flawed and all. You can still be all those things and you don't have to apologize for it. >> Love that. >> I got a question. [clears throat] I faced a lot of comments, criticism. I was on the show. We was talking about the homelessness issue. What were some of the challenges that you faced as the mayor of a city like Atlanta when it comes to dealing with that particular issue? >> Uh the homeless challenges in Atlanta are I think often larger than a lot of other cities. One because we are we're warm climate so that obviously attracts a certain population. Um, but also I met a former mayor who said this, "The worst thing that you can do when you are addressing your homeless issue is to talk about it." And I said, "That's strange. Why wouldn't you want people to know that you what you're doing?" He said, "Because then you're going to attract more people to your city." Now, I don't agree with that. But that being said, home uh Atlanta has had a lot of success in working with a lot of partners addressing homelessness. So whether it be our veterans or whether it be uh LGBTQ youth, it's much easier to address those easily defined populations. This is a veteran. Okay, bet. We we got some housing for veterans and we got some wraparound services where you have the counselors and the social workers come to the door. It gets much more difficult when you are at that population that's suffering from some type of me mental illness. Um they are hardest to reach, often the least resistant to services. you often got to get to them 12 or 15 times before they will even consider accepting support. So, it is um it's a it's a huge challenge. That being said, I I just saw a woman a couple of days ago um who had shared with me that we housed her brother during CO. He was a veteran and he is still in that permanent housing because he was able to get the support that he needed. But it is doesn't mean that any leader should ever give up on addressing it. But it is it it is challenging when you get to that that that population that's resistant for any number of reasons. And you all probably know this. I I had a a family member who was brilliant, who at some point um experienced schizophrenia and, you know, was was practically homeless. Um so it's it's hard trying to break through to people h who have mental illness. That's a really difficult group. >> Hey, we interrupt this program with a special update from Prize Pics. Prize Pigs just made it simpler for new users. Just go to the app. That's the Prize Pigs app. Use promo code 85 South and you can win up to a decent amount of money. I won't even say a number. Just a decent amount. You go on there and you pick your pics or you can just look at somebody's lineup and copy their pics. It's it's up to you. You can follow your friends. It's really social over there and I think you're going to love it. Prize picks. It's good to be right. Now back to the 85 South Show. >> She ready to get that belly rub. >> You know she a freak cuz she got her stomach put up and out at the same time. >> THAT [ __ ] GOT ME [ __ ] UP. >> UH-UH. >> Hell yeah. >> She want you to role play with that [ __ ] Army matey. I'll find the coach. >> That's it. >> What's your name? >> Big. >> Big fine. That's what they call you. >> That's what they call. >> You call you that? You lying. Let me see you. Let [music] me see you cry. Let me see you. Let me see you. Let me see you. [singing] >> You You've been the judge. You've been the mayor. You're running for governor. Which one of those positions would you say impacted you the most or taught you the most in regards to what it is that you do? >> Uh part serving as mayor. Um, I in each spot I learned something new. When I was a judge, so much of it, you mentioned my dad. My dad had been incarcerated when I was eight. >> Mhm. >> Um, so much of what I I tried to practice as a judge was seeing people, not just a number, this person coming before you, but whose daddy is that? >> What's the story? What's the family story? When I was on city council, it was very fulfilling because I could see a problem. Hey, we need to do a neighborhood cleanup here and we need to work on that. When I became mayor, it there were a lot of lessons just in leadership and how you lead, how you make sure that you're bringing other people with you when you lead. I learned a lot. Learned a lot from my mistakes. Um, and then going to the White House as senior adviser to the president was a was affirmation. Like if I can sit in a senior meeting five steps from the oval office every morning at the beginning of my day and I can hold my own when I sit across from the resolute desk, the president of the United States, then I I I can do anything. I I I I heard you say affirmation. Now, speaking of affirmation, it first of all, being a a woman, African-American woman amongst a male dominant um uh situation. >> Yeah. >> We learned from our trials and our tribulation. Was there ever a moment? Because with these positions, it come with a lot of power and a lot of pressure. Was there ever a moment where you were like, you know what, man, I'm not cut out for this. What was what did you have to learn to say, you know what, I must overcome any situation that I that I face, especially when the people is dependent on me? >> I never felt that way. And then part of it goes back to my childhood. When I was eight, I came home one day, my daddy was being led away in handcuffs. Everything about our lives changed. >> So, I always knew I was resilient. For me it was more um and my dad died suddenly when I was 50 when he was 55. Sorry it >> so when I turned 51 I started looking at life and mortality very differently and I know you you've experienced sudden loss. When you lose somebody suddenly it's like that is that's a marker in time. >> Sure. And it was if I have four more years on this earth, if God only gave me four more years, what what do I want that four years to look like? And um so I never felt that I couldn't do it. I think in fact if I ever felt I couldn't do something, I was going to push harder to prove that I could. >> It was, you know, what what does this mean for my family? what does this mean for me? Um, and then making decisions from there. And my therapist said to me, and I love how she described it. She said, "You were a strong mayor. I want you to be a powerful governor." >> And I said, "What's the difference between strong and powerful?" She said, "Strong people push through and they have strokes and heart attacks and high blood pressure and they die." She said powerful people stop and they feel and they process and they learn the lessons and then and only then do they move on. So I would say the difference with me as I sit here today is I am dead focused on always being powerful and not just being strong. >> That makes sense. >> And I got another question. This this is major for anybody who live around here. >> Yes. >> What we going to do about this traffic? >> Somebody needs to do something about this traffic. >> About this traffic. >> No, I mean it really is bad. It can take me from I was so glad that y'all on the south side cuz I'm I was coming from my house on the south side >> because you know >> north side, south side, east side, west side. It can >> in Alabama >> it it can take, you know, over an hour just to go a few miles in in metro Atlanta especially. And there are a lot of issues there. We've never fully funded mass transit. We've never invested in the infrastructure that we need to make sure that >> his favorite word. >> I'm just glad somebody said it before me. >> He love He loves some infrastructure. >> Some infrastructure. That's right. >> Infrastructure is important. I didn't know that word before I got on city council. [laughter] Infrastructure, I didn't know what it meant. Um, but again going back to why elected officials matter, somebody sitting in a room deciding where that money is going >> and how how money is going to be put toward traffic and how traffic lights are are timed and all all of that's made by somebody in a planning department in somebody's government >> and they funding. It's funding funding and planning. Now, another big issue is these flock cameras. >> Mhm. >> They recording people information allegedly and >> yeah, >> facial recognition and this it's it's becoming a hot thing in Georgia. Have have any of that come across your desk? >> Yeah, there's a an extensive camera network in this state when it's used for the right purposes. It can help you help police officers solve a crime. It can help find a missing person. >> They be solving crime. Yeah, that's it. You can track people. You can also be prosecuted for a crime with those, you know, depending on >> Make them look in your car, [ __ ] They be looking anyway. That's why I'm bringing the cameras up. You whether they you want them looking or not, they looking. You know, that's a double-edged sword because if you if somebody wants police patrol in their neighborhood, for example, you're not gonna be able to have somebody on, you know, a lot of senior citizens will ask, "Well, I need more pat police patrols in my neighborhood." Well, you're not going to be able to have somebody on every street on on every corner. But sometimes cameras can be helpful, but also there are complaints because people are concerned that it's an invasion of privacy and that they that everybody's constantly under surveillance. >> I got a real question. Um, >> properly trained. >> I got a I got a I got a question because I feel like this this is a small city hall council meeting and we get a one-on-one with the future governor. You like I keep putting that out there. future governor property taxes. >> Yes, [laughter] >> it's a lot of elderly people that have been owning their homes for 20, 30 years. And we speak a lot on this on this show about generational wealth and how people life insurance. That's the one key goal. If you don't have a any type of income, at least you know you got that to pass on to your children. with how do we sustain ownership when you have tax assessors coming on your property giving a estimate of what they think you should pay on something you've been owning for years and once it goes up these people 70 80 years old >> on fixed income >> fixed income they can't pay $7,000 on a property that was once 2500 at the end of the And then they pile up if they don't pay. How do we I don't want to say take away property tax because the property taxes fund the schools, the fires, firefighters, the the the policing. It funds that. How do we get into a fixed income with property tax? >> I think there there are several things that you can do. One thing when I was on city council on that land, I introduced something called displacement free zone legislation. So on the west side of Atlanta, uh we created um a fund that would help senior citizens offset pay their property taxes. >> When I was mayor, we created an affordable housing trust fund that helped pay property taxes, help people with uh affordable housing, you know, down payment assistance, gave us a lot of flexibility. I would love to see us do that statewide. >> Um because that's a huge problem. The other big problem we have in this state is with air property. >> Your grandparents pass, they leave the house >> to your uncle and then his son moves in and then nobody's ever cleared the title. >> Never. So, it's often difficult for them to access resources to be able to make repairs or help pay the property taxes or whatever it can be. So, that's one thing we need to really do a deep dive on cleaning up air property, helping people get clear title to their property. >> Yeah. One of the things that I always say growing up in Washington DC, I'm from the city of politics. And one of the reasons why I've never really been too keen on politics is because I say that, you know, people send representation to my city to get things changed in their cities. But we watch these people >> ride through the conditions that you want change where you're from and can care less. So, one of the things that I always say is you have to have somebody who's willing to fight for what you have going on. And in Atlanta, you know, that's the big city, but Georgia, you you're running for governor. So, what would you tell people that, you know, don't have anybody that they feel like are fighting for them. Why should they want Kesha Lance Bottoms to be the person fighting for them in Washington DC? >> Somebody asked me this question. I walked into a barber shop in Valdasta. They like, "What difference does it make to me? How is my life going to change?" Because when you go into a lot of communities outside of metro, the metro area, it feels like you've gone into a time machine. >> That nobody's been there, nobody's caring about them. They're not feeling the difference. [clears throat] >> And what I said to them um was, "Let me tell you things that I care about. I I care that hospitals are closing across the state. Um, I care that small businesses aren't getting the support they need. I care that public education has not been fully funded since 1985 when I was in the marching band at Frederick Douglas. >> Tokyo to >> you know [laughter] I he was in the band. He >> you were in the band >> played Sn. >> All right. I I could see that for sure. I play clarinet. >> Play clarinet. That's why you so selfish, [laughter] >> you know, and going through those things that ma that I want to work on and I want to address. And as we start talking more about these things, I said I I care about people who've been incarcerated and having a meaningful opportunity to have a second chance when they come out of prison. Like I've got a program for that. So when I started talking about things that were of interest to him, then he's like, "Okay." And at the end we took a picture together. So, um, like even what struck me today when I got ready to come here, my 24 year old son Lance, who never wants to do anything with me, when I said I'm coming here, he's like, I want to go >> because you all talk about things that are of interest to him. And whether it's in Atlanta, whether it's in Valdasta, wherever it is across the state, people have to know why it makes a difference to them. What difference is it going to make in my community? >> Mhm. >> And you know, I don't want to be the person who just shows up for a vote and then not be able to say I did anything to help the community. So, it matters to me. Now, you know, we in the entertainment business and you know, for a while it was a lot of entertainment, a lot of movies being shot in Georgia. >> Like when you the governor, >> are we going to keep that going? Are we going to bring some of those incentives back to get their entertainment back to where it was in Georgia or >> It's a big industry in this state. A lot of young people going to college to be trained for jobs in the film industry. We're not only just competing with other states now. Now we are competing overseas and you're competing with AI. So I believe we need to do whatever we can do to make sure that the in the film industry still has a strong presence here because it's good for our economy. It's good for the people of this state to have an opportunity >> to train and and get these well-paying jobs. [music] >> And LeBron on on the move too. That nigga's in Philly. They saying he going to fly in from New York. They say it's a 45minute helicopter ride. >> I got to have some neighborhood he can be comfortable. >> All that bike ride in Philly cheese steak. That [ __ ] didn't come for that. That [ __ ] is coming for championship on. >> We don't need no ATV. Them four-wheel >> man. He don't want to hear all that. He don't want to hear ALL THAT AT NIGHT. THAT MAN is 40 years old. He needs some rest. >> Come on, Philly. >> Hold up. Wait a minute. Yeah. Hey, I CUT IT. CUT IT OFF. HE CAN'T WAIT to get in that locker room and tell them young [ __ ] cut the music down. Looking at this lineup, Tyrese Maxi, Ed Con, Jaylen Brown for sure is allar. LeBron James at 41 years and goddamn 12 months. Embiid >> is that better than the Knicks right now? >> For sure. >> He going to make them all step up and play like they best game. >> This the best team meet on with [ __ ] in their prime. >> When people stay hurt like Embiid, I give I have a problem giving them a nod, man. Cuz a [ __ ] can't stay healthy. Yes, I know what he can do. But has the [ __ ] done it on a consistent basis? That's what the question mark lies. >> Use that [ __ ] laying on that table like a bad [ __ ] Every year, every year that [ __ ] go get some work done. I don't know for basketball or something. >> Got to lay up in that hotel for a couple. >> But that [ __ ] have a fire on every August. >> Yeah. >> Till October. >> Yeah. >> This year no fire. He ready to play. >> Who pissed me off? Man, say you just play 50 60 games. Long as you ready for the [ __ ] playoffs. >> Now, my old people wanted me to ask you cuz I be hanging out with a lot of old people. You know, they want some casino. >> Oh, yes. I do too. I want it on the ballot. >> Talk. >> We did our research. Now, we went to the people and we had live poker. Please put some live poker in. >> I want it. I want it on the ballot of my son Lance and I were talking about this. He was talking about some other things that he wants to see on the ballot, but um it's estimated $300 million can come in a year through casino gambling in this state. And people say, "H, you know, gambling problems, etc." I'm like, "Well, when my mama wants to gamble, she drives to Alabama. She's still going to gamble. >> I'm not It's because we don't have it here. It's not stopping her. She's going to get in her car and go to Cherokee, North Carolina or or Alabama or wherever she goes. I would like for us to keep that money here. >> Facts. >> Dealers in casinos or union jobs, those dealers often make six figures. I mean, there it's a whole uh uh economy that goes along with casinos. So, >> yeah. And I think it can help us fill in some of these gaps, whether it be support of transportation and infrastructure, >> uh, education, >> healthcare. >> Uh, one of the things about another thing about politics is, you know, black men are low in numbers when it comes to, you know, voting and, you know, just going out to the polls. And I think that's because a lot of the things that we care about aren't addressed. Like in Georgia, one of these are some of the, you know, most disparaging laws towards fathers, like, you know, going to court and getting, you know, your rights to your child and all of that type of stuff. So, like, what would you say to those guys who feel like, you know, man, I ain't no point in me going out, you know, I can't even go to court and get, you know, legitimized to my child. That's just, you know, the the child support laws and all the things that making it so difficult for black men to do what it is that we're judged on doing. But people don't know the backstory. Like what would you say to those men in regards to your care about helping them become more involved in the city life and the government and everything? >> You know, again, when we show up, then we are seen. And there's a a lot. First of all, I don't I I I I think black men are unfairly pegged sometimes as not participating. the numbers may be a little lower um than than some other groups, but it's, you know, black men aren't just sitting out elections. I also don't think it's fair to act like it's the responsibility of black men to carry elections like it's all of our responsibility. But that being said, again, it all matters. Judges are elected. Those those child support laws were passed by somebody sitting in the state capital. those people were on the ballot and they were elected. >> So it it may not be perfection in terms of your your list of 10 most important things that you're getting, but if your voice is heard on five of those things, then it can make a difference and you can move the needle and then you can elect people who are more favorable to whatever your concerns are. You know why? Black maternal mortality is a big conversation topic because people recognize that black women show up in big numbers to vote. So, it's a big topic. And I would just say for black men having that whatever that thing is that and and I'm not saying black men are monolith but like what what is that thing that black men want elected officials to focus on >> like being able to articulate that and saying if you focus on these things then you know we'll we'll come out in bigger numbers. first. >> Now, I did want to ask you this. We were talking about incarceration briefly. You said your father was incarcerated. Like, what would you say to some of the young black men who made the mistake and are trying to get back into society and, you know, do things right this time? Are there going to be resources and things for them as well? >> I tell you, like, um, my mom said her neighbor used to tell her, it's the called and the uncalled. like everybody's done something and I would say for black men who have been incarcerated um you know life is often about second chances. >> Yeah. But sometimes they come home and they don't have the resources or and the things that they need to try to get back real >> when they labeled a felon. forward. >> So, one thing that I want to do, I want most of our prisons in Georgia are in communities with technical and community colleges. I want to make sure that we have training in our prisons for people who will be completing their sentences so that they can come out with a bill or if they or trade or or even if they want to complete their college degree. I think that should be fully available uh to people by part and we can do it by partnering with our technical and community colleges in our university system. Um also and we did it in the city of Atlanta. We had a job training program. People who were incarcerated in the city jail were going out every day working for the water department. They came out with full full-time jobs when they completed their sentences. They were able to put money away for child support, etc. something like that is possible in the state. But then we even got to go more basic than that. A lot of people, my experience when I was judge, a lot of people who showed up in court hadn't finished 8th grade, hadn't finished ninth grade. So, you know, there's a literacy issue there. Like sometimes it's undiagnosed ADHD or dyslexia or whatever the thing is. When you have somebody who's incarcerated, you have their attention. you can address those issues too. Helping them learn to read and write so that they can be prepared to go to the next level. And I I'll tell you another issue I've I heard recently and I think you know I go back to my daddy because when I used to go visit him around the state there's a room full of people who look just like him and children who look just like me and the choices he made because his music had stopped selling and he didn't feel like he had any other choices but to sell drugs to make ends meet. the the but I when I think about my daddy my daddy was just a wonderful person. He was a a good you couldn't find a better person and he made a horrible mistake. So I think when we when we look at people not as as their worst mistake but who are they behind this and I'm not talking about violent offenders who've gone out and raped people and murdered people. Those aren't the people I'm talking about. >> And the vast majority of those incarcerated are not those people. I'm talking about these people who, you know, at some point will complete their sentence and need to go back out into society. Had a man bring to my attention. He said, "But the problem I have is there are gaps in my resume that I can't explain >> because I was locked up for seven years. There are programs that you we can design that you are setting aside work for people who have completed their sentences that we can work with our private partners to set aside jobs but it's got to be intentional work. Speaking on the primary care cuz I I'm on the borderline when it comes to I have friends that are elevated and understand and are are knowledgeable to the fact of what politics is and then I got to go to the projects and try to translate everything I just heard into terms of and I don't want people to look at people in the hood like they don't want change. Like you say, >> it's people that don't know how to talk to them in response of what they're asking for. >> Can you explain why primary is important and what do people need to have in order to register to vote? Because I was uh a victim of I voted every time for Barack >> and when it was Kesha time to run, I wanted to make sure I I voted for the first African-American woman president. But when I went down there, me and Jesus, so that's how I know it was just me. >> They put me and Jesus to the side in a room with other people to be panled by some people for them to tell us are we qualified to vote or not. So it was like because our registration went up the par. But this is the same registration that you use when I voted the last two times. So why are we trying to figure out what was the issue and what do people actually need to register to vote? >> So there are a few things at play. There are uh they've been purging, removing people from the voting roles, >> right? >> Saying you you didn't vote in the last two election, whatever the number is, and they're taking you off the voting roles, saying you got to vote again. >> I mean, you got to register again. So, you got to check your voter registration. You can go to the Secretary of State's office, make sure your registration is still active. >> If it's not, you can register to vote before October 3rd of this year. So, everybody can go online today if you are in Georgia, Georgia Secretary of State, check the voter registration, put in your name, date of birth, you can see if you are still active. I did it recently to check everybody in my house who's eligible >> and then if not you can register online to vote >> because what they will take you off the voting roles. Now ideally when you show up they should just reactivate you. >> Yes. >> Um because if as long as you're still live you can still show up and vote but you got to check it and then reactivate it. >> This episode is sponsored by Better Help. You have heard us talk about Better Help for a while now, but one thing that really stands out is how many people keep coming back to say it made a difference for them. It's one thing to hear us mention it on the show. It's another thing to hear directly from the people who actually use the service. If you're curious, don't just take our word for it. Go to betterhelp.com/res and check out what people been saying. New reviews are added every day, and it's encouraging to see many people talk about finding the right therapist, feeling supported, and making progress in their lives. Better Help has an average live therapy session rating of 4.9 out of five based on more than 1.7 million client session reviews, and more than 6 million people worldwide have used the platform. Getting started is simple. You answer a few questions, BetterHelp matches you with a licensed therapist based on your needs. And if the first match isn't right, you can switch your therapist at any time. See the reviews and see what stands out at betterhelp.com. See what's right for you. Visit betterhelp.com/85 south. That's betterhelp hp.com/85 south. >> What's up y'all? It's your girl XP >> and it's your girl Dre Nicole >> and London. We are on the way August 22nd. We'll see y'all soon. Yes, y'all. We outside at the O2 shepherds Bush Empire. Make sure y'all pull up and come see your girl. >> Poorminds.com. Get your tickets now. >> Cheerio. >> Mhm. >> You know, politics gets, you know, can get real ugly, you know. And then the other side, especially now in today's time, they known to get real real >> dirty with the things that they put out and all of the different ways that they try to, >> you know, make the the other party look lesser than. So, how are you going to combat that? Like, you know, I Michelle Obama say when they go, you know, when they go low, we go high. But sometimes you got to go to hell when they go low. So, >> Cardi B say we need to scrub the ground. >> Yeah. You know what I mean? like how how do how are you navigating that? Because you're entering you've you've been elected, you've been a part of the process, you've been in the White House, so you understand politics, but now that it's you, how are you going to combat and, you know, cuz the other side, the the Democratic side, they want to see somebody who's not afraid to, you know, go back at them. So, how do you feel about that process? >> No, I'm I I mean, I went to Douglas High School. Like, I'm not ever afraid to fight back against somebody. you know, but every fight is not worth fighting. Yes, ma'am. >> Is part of it is the discipline of what what battles do I want to engage in? >> I'm running against just put in $87 million yesterday. >> Oh, Rick. >> Uh, so Slick Rick, >> Slick Rick, [snorts] >> you know, uh, you going to see all the the ads and it's going to be on YouTube and it's going to be everywhere. It'll probably be running it in the middle of this podcast. You going to see it everywhere. >> Not now. They don't [laughter] go this way. >> No, we not play a play that [ __ ] Can't bribe us. No. [laughter] >> Hello. >> Oh, >> but if he do try to come, we'll at least get the money. >> We'll charge. >> So, >> we'll charge it towards your campaign. >> He got the money now. He got the money. >> That's He does. >> But we'll mess the audio. >> What am I mad at him about? I mean, [laughter] what I'm mad about is he got a billion dollar no bid contract for his health care company and he doesn't even want people to have healthc care coverage through expanding Medicaid in the state. That is what I'm mad about. >> Oh, talk your talk about. >> So, what I've told my family, turn off the TV, get out the comments, >> like, >> you know, and for us at for for everybody, just don't be distracted. And people may not they're not gonna agree with everything that I said sitting here today. Somebody's not gonna like what I said about police. My truth is my truth. Somebody's not going to like what I said about voting. I mean, somebody's going to disagree with every They can find something to disagree with, but we got to stop looking for perfection. >> Yeah. If if we can get if we can agree on nine out of 10, eight out of 10, seven out of 10 things that aren't important or six out of 10, let's go with that. But this is a guy who says, "I'mma be Trump with a southern tone. I'mma be Trump's favorite governor." And you just got to ask yourself, does that align with what I want in my life right now and for my family and my community? And who is it who who do you believe will better understand your challenges and at least try and do right by you? >> So, um, and and let me just say this. Well, no, I'm not going to say it. I'm going to get in trouble. >> Yeah, don't say that. Don't say >> I won't say it. Okay. I'm >> We got your back. Don't say it. >> Okay. Now, without giving is gonna be very proud of me. >> Yeah. But see that's the thing like you know the the things that you don't say and and reserving yourself in those times like knowing when to say you know what no I am going to say it and I am going to let the people know because there's so many voters who want to know that >> you know if somebody says something about you they want to see that response and just hearing your story about your dad being incarcerated that's connected to so many people who probably didn't know that about your history and know that you had those same type of experiences that they have. So sometimes they want to see you like, man, let that [ __ ] go. Excuse my language. You know what I mean? >> And I found this when I ran for mayor. People will insert a narrative. >> Like people think you just woke up just like this. >> Life has always been good. And I wrote a book recently and I talk about like my my mom owned a hair salon over across the mall west end and my daddy was always you'll never let see you sweat. You better walk out that door looking your best. So you always walk out trying to look your best and and present as your best, but people don't know all the other stuff that you leave behind. >> Like they don't know the days when we would fill up those buckets of water at my mama's salon because the water was cut cut off at home. You had to take the water home so you could brush your teeth, you could wash up, you could flush the toilet. They don't know about those days when she'd be standing in that shop working and go to walk out and the car was gone cuz the car had been repossessed. >> So it's and this is not like like oh wo it's me like I'm really grateful >> all that God >> has done for me and all that he's allowed me to overcome and generational curses >> that have been broken. But what I do know is but for the grace of God I my my daddy had an addiction problem. It's nothing but God's grace that I'm not addicted to drugs cuz I know how that works. >> Yeah. >> I've seen family members experience mental health breakdowns and episodes and completely disconnect from reality. So I know it's nothing but the grace of God that that's not me. But what I do know is that to whom much is given, much is required. >> So I'm gonna go out every day thinking about people like my family and what I wish they had had and what I wish somebody had thought to do for them. Um, and that's the heart that I bring to running for office. >> And that's important. >> Now you know what you're up against. You already said your opponent he got the bag. Without giving them too much of the sauce, what's your strategy approaching as the mayor? >> It's your campaign run down the governor. >> Y'all are my megaphones. Everybody >> has the ability to influence somebody. >> It may be you calling or posting saying, "Did you register to vote? Did you check your voter registration?" >> It may I may not have the $87 million and I'm not even surrendering that. I don't know what God is going to send me to have. But I'm saying right now, he may have the money, but the people still had the power. >> Mhm. >> Still had the power to show up. Still had the power to sit in the barber shop and talk to the person cutting their hair and ask them are they voting and telling them why they should vote is, you know, the used to call it the hotline, you know, what whatever the thing. We we still have our own respective platforms for you all. is millions of people. For some people, it may be the 20 people on their contact list on their phone. But in May, we were outspent by $100 million. I raised under $3 million. This man wrote himself a check for 110 million and put it in his campaign. And Democrats still outvoted Republicans by 150,000 votes. >> [applause] >> ain't the money. >> Yeah. And and that's another thing like you know race is such a big issue now especially with all the things going on in the world. All of the you know you you go on social media, you go on these different platforms and you see that it's just split down the middle with all of these different perspectives and it's based in skin color. So, as a black woman, how do you feel the best approach is to get the people who don't look like you to know that you're for them just like you're for us? >> Yeah. Because again, my truth is my truth. I'm not going to sit in a room full of white people in Emerson or wherever I am and say anything different than I'm saying here. There may be five other things they disagree with, but my truth is going to be my truth. And as I'm moving around this state, what I'm seeing, everybody really wants the same things. We want great communities. We want a good health care. We want good jobs, >> education. >> We want great education. We don't want our taxes to be too high. I mean, we all want the same. We want to be able to support our businesses. >> We all want the same things. Just how do we get there is the question. M >> booty. >> What's one issue in Georgia that you feel like has been that's not talked about as much that's that's vitally important? >> You know, something that comes up on every stop that I make uh especially with young people is access to mental health care. Young people especially are talking about anxiety and depression and how do they get help not just for themselves but for their family members. And then caregivers are saying, "I'm burned out. I don't have support. I need access for my mental health and to be able to help care for my loved one." That's something we don't talk about enough, but it comes up in rooms that I'm in enough that I I I know that it's a big issue. >> And our teachers still being severely underpaid, too. Average starting teacher pay in Georgia is $43,000 a year. >> That's horrible. >> That's the average starting teacher teachers pay. So you got teachers working two and three jobs just to be able to go teach our kids. So that needs to be raised. I do want to eliminate income taxes for our teachers. I think that can go a long way in helping support them. >> Yeah, for sure. >> They're watching our children alone. >> I couldn't do it. >> That's a long time. I would all of our children in one in one room. >> Yeah. You got to have a lot of >> I can do a lot of I said I I know I can do anything. I cannot do that. I'm certain of that. That's a >> We was just having a conversation earlier when I were like you know what teachers should cuz that's a that's been a big thing for a long time. Teachers been underpaid. Teachers been underpaid. But if you really sit back and look the teachers is the main focus point when we drop our children off. >> Yeah. Yeah, >> they are with our children the most. >> That's right. Often more they more than anybody. Yeah. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Without question. Like and me, I'm not a resident of Georgia, but I'm probably going to be very soon cuz my daughter's going to school here. And one of the things >> Okay, we need you to come on in so you can register to vote. >> Yeah. [laughter] Yeah. But um you know, one of the things one of the things that I've noticed is you know, we've been blessed, you know, all of us. So, you know, we have a little bit more access to information and to to do things, but a lot of people are being priced out, especially in the city of Atlanta. They're being priced out. You know, people who've lived here for years of they can't afford to stay in these places that they were raised. And coming from DC, gentrification has been something that is >> broke my heart over and over again. So, how do you not just in Atlanta specific, but just in the state of Georgia, how do you feel like you can combat people being priced out of the city that is, you know, abundant? There's so many opportunities here, but so many people who are from here don't get to benefit from them because they can't afford to live here. >> Yeah. I mean, that it's it's the the rose and the thorn. You got these neighborhoods redeveloping, amenities are coming in, all these things that people often need in communities, but then it's at the expense of the people who built the communities, right? So it is you got to be intentional about whether if somebody is coming in and they are getting um money to help build or whatever making sure that you're carving out affordable and workforce housing saying you got to set aside this number of units for people who can so they can continue to live in this community. grants, lowinterest loans, helping people with down payment assistance, >> helping people, like I said, with those property taxes, this pro um taxing people out of communities. A lot of people lose their houses again because they can't pay the taxes. >> My grandparents paid off their house, you know, 30 years ago. My mother now has that house. But every year when she gets that tax bill, she's complaining about how much money those taxes are and wondering if she's going to have enough to pay the taxes for that year because their house is on the west side of Atlanta and it now sits almost directly on the Atlanta line. Mhm. >> So the, you know, the belt line is cut through a lot of communities in Atlanta and it is >> it shouldn't be at the expense of the people who built these communities and stuck with these communities when these communities often didn't stick with them. >> Now, I I did notice when you were the mayor, you did get a lot of push back on some of the things that you wanted to do from the governor, right, in the state of Georgia. >> What's your plan to not be like that? You know, I I'm a I'm a [laughter] I want what's best for the people. So, there were things that the governor and I some things we got along with. A lot of things we didn't get along with. But going back to am I ever afraid to fight back? No. I was never afraid to fight back against him. And God willing, when I'm elected governor, you know, you you get input input and you try and work with people as best you can, but there comes a time where sometimes you just going to have to agree to disagree and everybody's going to have to do what they need to do. >> Another thing that's very important, I'm an H.B.CU graduate and you know, in comparison to, you know, the PWIS and in all over the country, H.B.CU use are tremendously underfunded. You know what I mean? It's so it's difficult to get the financial aid and the scholarships and everything that you need to go to school. So in the state of Georgia, like what would you say to people who are looking to, you know, go to H.B.CU and support H.B.CU CUS and being in the position of the governor, how would you help them to elevate and be kind of, you know, not necessarily on the same playing field as like a Georgia or, you know, the bigger schools, but to be evenly killed in regards to what can come out of a H.B.CU cuz we produce greatness, but it's so difficult because we come out in a tremendous level of debt. We're competing at the same level, but you know, we're starting down here. So, how would you just, you know, close that gap up as the governor? >> I was just having this conversation with my husband this morning. I said one of the best uh Netflix documentary reals I saw was somebody in a folding chair on the sidewalk and it's like me doing a documentary on trying to get my financial aid at my H.B.CU, >> right? >> Cuz [clears throat] that's so real. >> I mean, that see what's going on in Howard. >> Um, yeah. My my my little cousin a victim of that. They they unenrolled her at Howard. You know what I'm saying? Because of the because of the money issues. >> And that's how we started talking about he's like, "How'd that happen?" >> Oh, I know how. >> And I was telling him, I said, "When I was at FAMU, I said you could always tell when fees were due cuz you have a class that you couldn't get a seat in. And when those fees were due, class would be emptied out. >> Everybody Yeah. gone. So, it is um but all that being said, like there's so much support that our H.B.CU need from the infrastructure support, the the facilities, the buildings to helping our kids with scholarship opportunities. And so, I talked about when you put casino gambling on the table, our H.B.CU, they can access a little bit of the hope scholarship in Georgia. It does. you have a certain GPA and some other requirements, you can get a scholarship, but it's not fully funded. I think there needs to be intentional funding for our H.B.CU. Part of it is that infrastructure issue because the facilities are often not updated. There's still a dorm on on Spellelman's campus. I think they're replacing now that doesn't have air. >> Yeah. Like my freshman dorm didn't have air. They just got it like two, three years ago. So, and that's the thing about going to a H.B.CU. the it's the same everywhere. It doesn't matter which one you go to. You can ask, "What's the nasty uh freshman boy doing? What's the nasty freshman girls doing?" All of those things are the same everywhere. But, you know, somewhere like Georgia, which has, you know, two or of the most prestigious and more houseman like for them to still be going through the same things that with the alumni that they have, it's like it it's a bigger issue. >> But, you know, we often don't know what we don't know. Like, we often think we we send our tuition. That's enough and it's a lot and often families don't have enough to do more. We're not educated in how you create endowments and what that means for schools. Morehouse and or Spellelman especially does better than most >> but trying to condition alumni to even give back because for a lot of people that had such a traumatic experience they don't want to give back. And that's and I was having this conversation with my 18-year-old. He was frustrated with some stuff about registration and I said, "Baby, what whatever HBCU you go to, it's going to be the exact same thing. They're they're consistency." So part of that is administrative support. I'll never forget when I got to Georgia State cuz I graduated from FAMU. When I got to Georgia State for law school, when I was at FAMU, my financial aid check for the fall always came in December. It was my Christmas money. And when I got to Georgia State and somebody said my check was ready and I went across the street, went to the office and I saw this window and I'm like, no, this is not the office. I turn around, I walk out. I'm like, I thought you said it was across the street. They were like, yeah. I'm like, there's no line over there. I don't understand. Like, it was an empty office. Now what? I gave the guy my license and he pulled out my check and I remember standing there and this is like the end of August. I was like, "This is my check for the fall. Like, it's ready. Is it here?" >> I was blown away. >> Mhm. >> So, I don't profess to understand why we still can't figure out that piece at our H.B.CU. But I do believe if in a state like Georgia, if we're able to get it right at Georgia State, in Georgia and all these other places, there's some best practices that we can help support our H.B.CU with. Now, you really from Atlanta? I want [clears throat] to ask you this. Do you have a favorite era of Atlanta? >> Oh, that's a great It would have to be the 80s. I mean, I was in high school in the 80s. I was in middle school in the 80s, in high school in the 80s. So, Green Bry skating rink, Green Bry Mall. >> Talk. >> Um, you know, like all all the things. >> Green had a skating ring. You just put me on some. Green BR had a skating ring. >> No, the skating ring. It was called Green Bry skating ring. >> That's what I'm saying. Where? >> Over on off Fair Road. It's the AKA house now. >> That was the skating rink. >> I ain't know. >> That was the skating rink over on Hogan Road. Yeah. >> Put me up on GD. >> Green Bry skating rink. >> Green skating ring. >> Now you grew up where you uh with the Atlanta Child Murder Time. >> I did. >> You remember that? >> Very well. I remember that very well. That was um between 79 and 81 I think. Um that was a scary scary time. You I mean because literally children were disappearing. Um I remember being at church one Sunday. I went to church at First Corinth Missionary Baptist on Bankhead. Kmart used to be across the street. is where Killer Mike and TI have built some housing there now. >> And um >> a boy um his name was Curtis Walker disappeared coming from that Kmart. I think he lived in Bowen Homes. He was helping people like load their groceries. He had disappeared from there. >> They found him over Camel Road. [clears throat] >> First or second child disappeared leaving the skating rink, walking home from the skating rink. So it like so much was happening in our community. I and I remember being at church one Sunday and standing in the parking lot and people talking about the little girl who had been uh I think it was Angel Lenir who had been taken out of her window like so you remember a lot of the names like Yousef Bell I remember his name very well. >> U he went to school with my cousin. My cousin later told me they questioned him cuz he was one of the last people to see him alive. So it was this era in Atlanta that a lot of people didn't even know about. When I was mayor, I reopened the cases. >> Yeah. >> And we did a memorial that now sits um on the grounds of city hall and honor them. And we had their portraits hanging up in the airport because I mean these were kids like me that I mean I was of the age that these kids were when they were disappearing. So we had some of the DNA testing done um just to try and just close out any questions. >> And then Wayne Williams lived on Penelope right there in Dixie Hills. My great aunt lived on Penelope. Like it literally it was happening in our community. >> Do you remember what the community response was to that that time? >> Everybody was on edge every and I just saw a clip recently of the Jacksons at the airport. I remember when they came to do the concert for the reward money. So every day on the news it was another child is missing, another child's body has been found. There was one child who was never found, Darren Glass. And when I was mayor, um I was working with the police department and some others to go back and see if they could locate his remains. Um they believe he was somewhere off of Red Wine Road near Camp Creek Marketplace. Like and this it was so impactful to me. That's why I remember these details. So it um it was a horrible horrible time in our city. >> Yeah. >> Did they ever did they ever catch the the person? >> Wayne Williams is incarcerated. >> Um based on what I know, um you know, it looks like the evidence was was directly connected to him. Um, you know, the governor is, you know, it's a big position, but like you said, you're from Atlanta, born and raised in Atlanta, and this is, you know, the metro black metropolis, you know, just as a city overall. How is Atlanta, being the mayor of Atlanta, being a council woman, a judge, how has that prepared you for running the state of Georgia? >> Yeah. So, and I'll just go back to Wayne to this part. Some believe he was not responsible for all of the killings that there's still somebody out there who was not held accountable. >> For me, the I mean, it's been a lifelong preparation even when I didn't know I was preparing to run for governor. So it all the things I've talked about these life experiences the this the ability to lead to make decisions when you don't even have a blueprint for how to make decisions. That was the case with me when I was mayor. Biggest cyber attack in the history of a municipality. >> Yeah. >> In the country. Um, you know, we went one co >> uh social justice movement with George Floyd and and and and Trump was the president then and we still finished with four years of a balanced budget, $180 million in the bank, those 7,000 units of affordable housing. That's affordable housing trust fund. And these things we were able to accomplish. And you know, again, going back to spending that time in the White House, seeing how things get done at the highest level um was was preparation. I didn't even know it was preparing me for this cuz I wasn't planning on running for governor. But the day after the presidential election, I you know, I cursed and then I prayed like, what am I called to do in this moment? And for me, it was getting out of the the comfort zone and say, I got to get back in the ring and fight for us. That's all I know how to do. >> Now, I want to ask you this. It's still a fairly new um thing, but it is being talked about nationwide when it comes to the AI data center. >> Yeah. >> Has that come across your desk at all? >> Yeah, people have asked me what my position is on that. I think we need to pause on them cuz people don't know the difference with facts and fiction cuz we don't have all the information. >> You know, people talk about how how high their power bills are. I'm like, I can't blame that on data centers. >> Water, too. >> And water, like my bills were already high. So, but I believe people when they say they're driving up their power bills. I believe people when they say their water's dirty. I just think we need to figure out what's real, what's not, and then figure out how we go from there. So, I think we need to pause them. >> I come I come from a era of recre recreational children, the youth programs >> and I'm and and I'm hands with a lot of the kids in the city and I see how some can, you know, deter and go this way and go this way because they don't have nowhere to hang at. >> Yeah. >> They don't have no programs. And I see a lot of the recreationals, especially in Atlanta, they're shutting down. So, are there any things into regards of like what type of programs we're going to have for the children in the summertime? Like camp best friends? We knew about all these things. Like when my sister was in them, I was I couldn't wait to be 13 so I can get in teen program and do all these things. So, it's like are there any programs in development for the children? Because it's a lot of recreation that's being shut down. >> Yeah. You know, again, funding these decisions that come out of government. There's somebody in government making a decision how much money is going toward funding recreation in this state. The budget of the state starts in the governor's office. So, the governor says, "This is what I want as my priorities." And then it goes from there through the legislative process. One of the things I was really proud of when I was mayor, um, we created a training program for the water boys >> and we said, "If you come into this program, we'll give you a gift card every month if you sit through this entrepreneurship training." >> The November before my term ended, a grandmother came up to me. Her son had finished the program. She said, "You don't know how much this meant to us. Last year we had hot dogs for Thanksgiving. And this year we had a turkey cuz my grandson bought it with his gift card from this program. They would get a gift card every month. Like so when you hear stories like that, you know that is changing lives. But I made the decision with our budget in the city to help fund that program. We had just closed the um uh Centennial Yards transaction right outside of MercedesBenz Stadium. out of this huge real estate transaction, biggest in the southeastern United States, we created some affordable housing. We did an affordable housing trust fund, a a child savings account for all the kindergarteners um in Atlanta public schools. So, y'all wonder where Trump got that idea from. He got it from me in Atlanta. M >> we uh created this this training program for the water boys and the list goes on and it is um we've got cuts that are coming that are making it more difficult for cities to be able to provide programs. And I believe that's when the state needs to help step in and fill in those gaps. >> Mhm. >> Cuz for a lot of our kids, especially if they aren't in programs in the summer, they don't eat, >> right? They don't do nothing. They're just sitting around. >> Yeah. A lot of kids rely on free lunch and breakfast. Those are the only meals they get during the day, right? >> And then they often get them in these programs, too. >> Mhm. Why do you think it's so controversial when when the word black comes into politics? Like anything that may benefit or help black people, they always seem to try to shut it down or try to make it seem like it's one-sided. >> Cuz you have Donald Trump saying that's a problem and you have Yes. people around him who are saying it's a problem. He's got people afraid. And which goes back to this guy I'm running against. He said, "There's not a single policy I disagree with Donald Trump on." >> So when Donald Trump says, "Get rid of all DEI programs. DEI is bad." This guy said, "I agree with everything that he said." >> Well, you you you know, as the mayor, you know, and just as a public official, one of the most important things is the team that you select, like the people that you surround yourself with. So, how have you been able to, you know, or what is the process that you go through in selecting the right people? What do you look for in people? Because I think that can help a lot of people in regards to what they surround themselves with cuz a lot of people fail because they surround themselves with the wrong kind of people and look in the at the wrong characteristics in people. So, you've been doing it long enough. What are some of the important things that you feel are necessary in selecting people to be in your circle or on your team? Yeah. You know, I've read this book, First Line, Good is the enemy of great. So, you want to surround yourself with people who aren't just good, they are great. You don't want to be the smartest person in the room. Some people are intimidated by people who know more than them. Iron sharpens iron. You want people who are as smart, if not smarter than you, cuz you need experts of of all kinds. And then the other thing, sometimes you don't have anything but your intuition to go on that that six sense that that thing that says he looks good on paper, but something just >> ain't right about that. Remember there was um somebody on on my team and my husband's like, "You need to watch that person." And I'm like, "But he's like so ain't right." And he was right. So sometimes you just feel things that you can't always process. >> Look, we ain't going to keep you here all day, but we got a thousand question. You might have to swing back. Tell you got to do a back. You know, November right around the corner, but you know, do a August run. >> This is the biggest thing that happened in my family and my in my campaign all year long. >> So >> Oh, BOY. GOT 18 MINUTES. THIS biggest miss. >> Now, we did get you some some swag. Okay. But you know what's funny? My um son Lance, I walked out the door. He was like, "Hey, whatever swag they give you, give it to me." >> Straight up, man. >> Got to get him another bag. >> Get him another bag. >> You got to give him boo. GIVE HIM ANOTHER BAG. [laughter] >> WELL, he will be happy. And Lincoln know you cannot get a bag. [laughter] >> No, we just know we we love you and we support you. you ever need us. >> For sure. Being for the city, you you represent the city very well. You're very stylish lady. >> We behind you 100%. >> This is good luck on your campaign. >> Well, y'all y'all are very astute. Y'all are up on on all the things that are important. I appreciate you all. >> Thank you. >> I appreciate the conversation. I appreciate the thoughtfulness. I just appreciate you all being a voice um speaking to people and and and being able to translate things that that often go unheard. That's super important. So, I'm grateful for you all. >> We got a hell of a track record, too. Everybody come on this show, win. >> All right, then. [laughter] And, you know, >> winning. >> Kudos to you. You know, like like I said, you know, I'm the father of a you know, >> as a father of a black woman, a young black woman, I know how important it is to have examples that, you know, are set that they can follow and see greatness and see strong, not willing to deter regardless of what people say. And for you to be in the position that you've been in for so long through your background and through everything that you've been through and still be willing to stand tall in the face of all the adversity that comes with this position. Salute to you black. >> Hey, this is the 85 show and this has been a conversation with Miss Kesha L. >> EVERYBODY GO VOTE. Go vote. >> Great. Heat. Heat. >> [music] >> Heat. Heat. [music] What's up y'all? 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