--- title: "S.M. Johnson - Mainline" language: "en-US" source_url: "https://www.mainlineatl.com/author/smjohnson/" content_type: "text/markdown" --- [![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/runoff-map.jpg)](/heres-the-lay-of-the-electoral-land-going-into-the-nov-30-runoffs/) [ Nov 15 2021 ](/heres-the-lay-of-the-electoral-land-going-into-the-nov-30-runoffs/) ## [Here’s the lay of the electoral land going into the Nov. 30 runoffs](/heres-the-lay-of-the-electoral-land-going-into-the-nov-30-runoffs/) ATLANTA — General elections held on Tues., Nov. 2, resulted in 10 races advancing to a runoff election on Nov. 30. Early voting for Atlantans will begin Nov. 17 and run through Nov. 24 in both DeKalb and Fulton counties […] [ Here’s the lay of the electoral land going into the Nov. 30 runoffs Read More »](/heres-the-lay-of-the-electoral-land-going-into-the-nov-30-runoffs/) [![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/534fe520a38cd13576e35a6df429ec8a-1024x1024.jpg)](/local-elections-endorsements/) [ Oct 11 2021 ](/local-elections-endorsements/) ## [Who\’s endorsing the candidates in the Atlanta elections?](/local-elections-endorsements/) A look into who is endorsing who in the upcoming Nov. 2 municipal elections for city council, the mayor\’s office, and board of education ATLANTA – Organizations and public figures have been endorsing candidates throughout the history of campaigns and [ Who\’s endorsing the candidates in the Atlanta elections? Read More »](/local-elections-endorsements/) [![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Screen-Shot-2021-09-01-at-10.05.36-PM.jpg)](/atlanta-city-council-candidates/) [ Sep 1 2021 ](/atlanta-city-council-candidates/) ## [Op-Ed: For $539,000, you too can be mayor of Atlanta](/atlanta-city-council-candidates/) Atlanta can’t afford to re-elect the status quo ATLANTA — Atlanta politics have been slowly and begrudgingly changing over the years. What has always remained in place is the regular cast of characters in City Hall. The charismatic mayor, the [ Op-Ed: For $539,000, you too can be mayor of Atlanta Read More »](/atlanta-city-council-candidates/) [![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/ivotedstickers-scaled-1-1024x1024.jpg)](/candidates-for-the-nov-2-city-of-atlanta-municipal-general-elections/) [ Aug 23 2021 ](/candidates-for-the-nov-2-city-of-atlanta-municipal-general-elections/) ## [Candidates for the Nov. 2 City of Atlanta municipal general elections](/candidates-for-the-nov-2-city-of-atlanta-municipal-general-elections/) ATLANTA — On Friday, the following candidates submitted the paperwork and appropriate fees to qualify for this year’s municipal elections. A formal certification process will occur next week to finalize the Nov. 2 ballot. Mayor Roosevelt Searles Richard Wright  Kenny [ Candidates for the Nov. 2 City of Atlanta municipal general elections Read More »](/candidates-for-the-nov-2-city-of-atlanta-municipal-general-elections/) [![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/brittney-geter-featured-img-1-1002x1024.jpg)](/meet-brittney-geter-atlanta-mayor-race/) [ Aug 17 2021 ](/meet-brittney-geter-atlanta-mayor-race/) ## [Meet Atlanta mayoral candidate Brittney Geter](/meet-brittney-geter-atlanta-mayor-race/) After more than a century of status quo candidates, Atlanta’s mayoral race now includes a historic newcomer: Brittney Geter, Atlanta\’s first Black trans woman mayoral candidate in its 173 year history. ATLANTA — The lives of Black transgender women should [ Meet Atlanta mayoral candidate Brittney Geter Read More »](/meet-brittney-geter-atlanta-mayor-race/) [![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-22-at-12.31.56-PM.jpg)](/report-with-10000-cameras-and-counting-how-many-does-the-apd-need-to-protect-and-serve-atlanta/) [ Jul 22 2021 ](/report-with-10000-cameras-and-counting-how-many-does-the-apd-need-to-protect-and-serve-atlanta/) ## [Report: With 10,000 cameras and counting, how many does the APD need to protect and serve Atlanta?](/report-with-10000-cameras-and-counting-how-many-does-the-apd-need-to-protect-and-serve-atlanta/) A look into Operation Shield—Atlanta’s own surveillance network making it the most surveilled city in the U.S. ATLANTA – On June 21, the Atlanta City Council adopted an ordinance sponsored by Councilwoman Andrea Boone (District 10) that would help expand [ Report: With 10,000 cameras and counting, how many does the APD need to protect and serve Atlanta? Read More »](/report-with-10000-cameras-and-counting-how-many-does-the-apd-need-to-protect-and-serve-atlanta/) [![Protesters at night; one holds a large hand-lettered sign reading ](/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/mainline-a-better-world-is-possible.jpg)](/atlanta-school-board-elections-impact-us-all/) [ May 12 2021 ](/atlanta-school-board-elections-impact-us-all/) ## [Atlanta elections: The rest of the ballot](/atlanta-school-board-elections-impact-us-all/) How voting for school board members affects everyone even if they don’t have children ATLANTA — As election season begins to pick up speed, it seems like a perfect time to remind everyone once again how important the whole ballot [ Atlanta elections: The rest of the ballot Read More »](/atlanta-school-board-elections-impact-us-all/) [![Protesters at night; one holds a large hand-lettered sign reading ](/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/mainline-a-better-world-is-possible.jpg)](/update-what-you-should-know-about-atlantas-current-development-deals-on-the-westside/) [ Feb 23 2021 ](/update-what-you-should-know-about-atlantas-current-development-deals-on-the-westside/) ## [Update: What you should know about Atlanta’s current development deals on the Westside](/update-what-you-should-know-about-atlantas-current-development-deals-on-the-westside/) New plans aim to combat gentrification and increase affordable housing unlikely to help with old housing policies still intact ATLANTA — The affordable housing shortage in Atlanta continues to plague the capital city as much, if not more, than COVID-19 [ Update: What you should know about Atlanta’s current development deals on the Westside Read More »](/update-what-you-should-know-about-atlantas-current-development-deals-on-the-westside/) [![](/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/BLACK.jpg)](/atlanta-inaction-silence-police-brutality-report/) [ Feb 4 2021 ](/atlanta-inaction-silence-police-brutality-report/) ## [In Atlanta, inaction and silence stem from all branches of city government](/atlanta-inaction-silence-police-brutality-report/) How the City of Atlanta has failed to fundamentally address gun violence and police brutality before, during, and after police killings of George Floyd and Rayshard Brooks UPDATE: We have updated the Atlanta police shootings database originally released with this [ In Atlanta, inaction and silence stem from all branches of city government Read More »](/atlanta-inaction-silence-police-brutality-report/) [![Protesters at night; one holds a large hand-lettered sign reading ](/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/mainline-a-better-world-is-possible.jpg)](/op-ed-things-i-wanted-to-say-in-2020/) [ Jan 3 2021 ](/op-ed-things-i-wanted-to-say-in-2020/) ## [Op-Ed: Things I wanted to say in 2020](/op-ed-things-i-wanted-to-say-in-2020/) Conversations, statements, comments, recommendations, and other rants I wanted to have in 2020, but didn’t. ATLANTA — As 2020 came to a close, I couldn\’t help but notice how many wrap-ups and reviews there were. In a year that felt [ Op-Ed: Things I wanted to say in 2020 Read More »](/op-ed-things-i-wanted-to-say-in-2020/)