Upholding Accountability: Addressing Legal Actions and Council Overreach

Official Statement of Mayor Bianca Motley Broom

College Park, I never imagined I’d have to take additional legal action against our city, but the integrity of our government and the rights of our residents leave me no choice. While my legal challenge to Ordinance 2024-01 is ongoing, the actions taken by three members of City Council during the August 9 Special Called Meeting far exceeded any legal authority and violated fundamental due process rights. As you may soon hear from the media and other sources, the Petition for Review I filed in Fulton County Superior Court late last week directly responds to the Interim City Manager’s decision to clear the room and the censure purportedly issued against me during that meeting.

As your Mayor, I do not take this action lightly. I had hoped to resolve these matters without litigation. Lawsuits are disruptive and cast a shadow over our community. However, they are sometimes the only means to ensure that our city operates within its legal boundaries and that justice is upheld for all of us. The actions taken by the City Council have left me with no choice but to seek judicial review to protect the integrity of our local government.

The Interim City Manager cleared the room during that Special Called Meeting with the specific intent to quell dissent. Though the meeting was live-streamed, the temporary interruption and the absence of public presence in the room violated the Open Meetings Act. These actions also violated my due process rights and were a blatant disregard for the laws that govern our city and our state. They were taken without authority under our Charter or our Ethics Ordinance, making the censure resolution null and void.

I understand that the ongoing legal battles may cause fatigue and pushback, but addressing these issues head-on is essential, as our city leaders are bound by the same laws they have chosen to ignore. While I anticipate deflection and mischaracterizations from the Council that may follow, the bottom line remains: there is no mechanism under College Park’s laws to censure an elected official in the manner the Council has attempted. 

My commitment to you, the residents of College Park, is unwavering. I am fighting this fight not for my own benefit but to uphold our shared principles as a city to transparency, accountability, and the rule of law.

Thank you for your continued trust and support as we work to build the community we deserve.