Committee for a Better Atlanta poll also indicates optimism about the city’s direction
ATLANTA (April 28, 2025) – Transportation, traffic and housing are the top issues for Atlanta voters in the upcoming Mayor, City Council, and Council President elections, according to a poll commissioned by the Committee for a Better Atlanta (CBA), a coalition of business and civic organizations founded in 1996 to ensure a healthy business climate for businesses and civic organizations in the City of Atlanta.
The poll also indicates general optimism about the City’s direction, with 54% believing Atlanta is headed in the right direction, 65% approving of the job Mayor Andre Dickens is doing, and 50% of voters approving of the job their council members are doing on the City Council.
When it comes to public safety and crime, 57% of likely Atlanta voters say the City has improved in these areas during the past four years. Improving public safety and reducing crime were key elements included in CBA’s policy platform, and when evaluating candidates’ preparedness for office in 2021.
Voter responses also identified homelessness, transportation investment, and affordable housing as issues that worsened over the past four years.
“We look forward to sharing our platform with candidates and hearing their perspectives on the policies that directly address the concerns of Atlanta residents,” said Jordan Dawson, Co-Chair, Committee for a Better Atlanta. “We want voters to be fully informed about how candidates prioritize issues such as delivering funded transportation projects, safe and thriving neighborhoods, and strategies to increase housing supply.”
In the CBA poll, 27% of respondents said that income equality should be prioritized, indicating that economic equality is closely tied to broader concerns about affordability and community development.
- Reducing vacant or abandoned buildings (16%) and revitalizing neighborhoods (15%) are also priorities, reinforcing that voters want economic development to create livable, thriving communities.
- Creating jobs (15%) ranks just as high as these priorities, further indicating that
economic security remains a concern — but likely as a means to address the high cost of living, rather than a standalone issue.
“It is evident that Atlanta voters believe economic development policies should encompass more than just job creation and increased wages,” said Tiffany Callaway Ferrell, Atlanta Gas Light. “These policies should also focus on making Atlanta’s economy more inclusive through affordable housing initiatives and measures that help residents manage the rising cost of living.”
In the coming months, CBA will announce its policy platform, identifying key areas that Atlanta’s elected leadership must address to fuel and sustain the City’s economic growth, vibrancy, and sustainability. The poll identifies key issues that resonate most with voters and help align CBA’s platform with public sentiment.
Each qualified candidate for Mayor, Council President, and City Council races will be invited to participate in the CBA process and be evaluated based on their written questionnaire and interview with CBA board members. Candidates will then be scored based on their overall preparedness for office and ability to address the issues facing the City of Atlanta. The candidate scores serve as a voter’s guide, helping citizens to make an informed choice about their elected officials.
About this poll: The Decision Co. — survey, research, and data science experts based in Grapevine, TX — surveyed 300 likely 2025 general election voters through phone calls and text messaging. The polling of known registered voters was conducted March 16-17, 2025, and has a margin of error of ±5.65%. This survey was weighted to the likely 2025 general election voters universe.
About Committee for a Better Atlanta: Committee for a Better Atlanta, founded in 1996, is a business coalition whose mission is to foster a healthy business environment by advocating a common business and civic agenda to policymakers as well as citizens. CBA members represent businesses and organizations that are concerned about the future of Atlanta. The CBA aims to articulate a shared civic and business agenda to support policymakers in the City of Atlanta. Stay informed at CBAtl.org and on LinkedIn.
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