A Little Atlanta Inspiration
Very few things penetrate my hard little cynical heart these days, but when they do I feel the need to share. Reading the fascinating inside story of how community advocate Kyle Keyser decided to run for mayor and then managed to raise the $4500 filing fee in just under three days, I felt like the grinch who finally learned the meaning of Christmas.
I haven't been involved with Keyser's group ATAC for several months now, mainly because I began despairing that crime in Atlanta was a problem that the powers that be simply refused to really tackle head-on. I felt hopeless and decided there was no point in paying attention to those who had not yet lost hope. Keyser isn't going to win the mayor's race, but he will certainly keep the other candidates on their toes when it comes to the issues of rising crime in Atlanta and police incompetence. And in his continuing quest to achieve his ultimate objectives of a safer Atlanta with more accountable public officials and police force, that will be a tremendous achievement.
Ultimately it's a very inspiringly American story. An average guy who would never have seen himself doing something like this a year ago is now thrust into the spotlight of running for mayor. He calls up on his friends and neighbors to help him, and they come through. And then, once he cleared the first hurdle of qualifying, Keyser knew exactly where they should go for lunch afterwards.
My heart grew three sizes today.
