Japera hemming

I am a Project Director for a multi-million dollar national program that strengthens research capacity at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), helping them compete for and secure funding for science. 

Service:

Yes, I proudly serve on East Point’s Health Equity Community Advisory Board (CAB), a partnership launched in 2021 between the City of East Point and Morehouse School of Medicine. The CAB works to identify and address policies that create or perpetuate health disparities, and it has brought real momentum to advancing health equity in our city.

I also served as Treasurer for the Tri-Cities Magnet Chorus Booster Club when my oldest daughter was a senior, supporting our students and families through the arts.

Lastly, I was honored to be jointly appointed by my Ward A Councilmembers to the Blighted Property Task Force, which was created to research best practices and provide recommendations on addressing vacant and abandoned properties. Unfortunately, because of internal city issues, the task force has never convened.

While that has been a missed opportunity, I believe strongly that community participation in government is essential. As a councilmember, I would work to ensure that boards and task forces are supported, inclusive, and fully active—because neighbors deserve to see real solutions come from the time and expertise they give.

To me, servant leadership means putting my neighbors first — not myself, my relatives, or my personal acquaintances. In this role, it’s about listening before leading, making decisions that strengthen families and neighborhoods, and ensuring every action on Council is guided by fairness, transparency, and the best interest of the community. True leadership in East Point isn’t about titles or ego, it’s about service. 

I am the best candidate for two reasons: First, I have the experience and training needed to get things done, and second, I care deeply about our community. 

I know how to get things done. My professional experience prepared me to look for the root causes of our problems and craft thoughtful, practical solutions. I’ve spent my career managing millions in funding and leading projects at the federal, state, school district, and city levels—always focused on strengthening services, supporting families, and helping people build careers. I’m a problem-solver and a practiced leader, which is why I’ve written detailed policy memos diagnosing the problems we are confronting here in East Point and crafting workable solutions; each memo is available on the homepage of my website japera4thepoint.com. I’ve also studied our city’s Code of Ordinances in depth to understand exactly what the responsibilities of council members are. So, I can get to work providing solutions for East Point on day one. Learn more about my professional experiences here: japera4thepoint.com/experience.

I care. Nothing matters more to me than keeping the trust of my neighbors, and I know that unfair advantages for some hurt us all. I pay my bills, I tell the truth, and I treat people with respect. On the City Council, I will never misuse resources or abuse my position to do favors for my family or friends. My focus will always be on accountability, transparency, and fairness—bringing skillful leadership with integrity to deliver real improvements for every family in East Point.

My campaign platform is built around the metaphor of rehabilitating a home — because East Point is our collective home, and it’s time to get our house in order.

We start with the roof — leadership. When the roof leaks, everything underneath is at risk. Right now, City Council meetings are too often filled with conflict and delay. I will bring professional, transparent leadership that sets the tone for getting things done, not wasting time. I will work with my council colleagues to pass a Civility Ordinance with enforceable standards for council behavior.  

The foundation is our people. More than half of East Point — about 21,000 people — pay a high premium to rent homes, yet too many live in unsafe or neglected housing. I will work with the council to set and enforce minimum living standards to protect renters, curb absentee landlords, and raise property values across our neighborhoods. And for seniors, I will fight to expand the utility discount — currently just $7 a month — so more seniors can qualify for the discount and keep their homes with dignity.

The walls are our services and programs. They keep families safe and strong. But those walls are weak: This year only 65 children had access to Parks & Rec summer programs in a city with over 11,000 youth. I will work with the other council members to expand the parks and rec budget so at least 2,000 young people are served, creating safe spaces for kids and job pathways for teens. I’ll also make sure basic services like paved streets, finished capital projects, and reliable utilities get delivered.

The windows and doors represent transparency and trust. Right now, they’re shut. Our budget is nearly impossible to follow, and last year at least $20 million went unused while basic repairs were left undone. I will push for an Open Government Ordinance requiring each department to provide clear quarterly dashboards on projects promised to us. The Ordinance will also call for the publication of council scorecards so that everyone can see who is working to solve problems, and it will create an online portal so that all of our neighbors can track issues from start to finish. Open windows and unlocked doors are how we rebuild trust between City Hall and the people it serves.

And finally, the porch is our civic pride — the space that welcomes neighbors and shows who we are. Right now, our downtown and civic spaces sit empty. I will champion downtown development that restores the civic block, celebrates our culture, and tells East Point’s story to the world — from Outkast to Black Art in America, East Point has something to say, and it’s about time others heard us.

Finance Department

The Finance Department should be the strongest part of our city — its role is to steward our public resources, foster sound financial decision-making and teamwork to accomplish the City’s goals. The most recent forensic report showed how lax financial standards have cost us money and weakened trust. For example:

• Accounting: The City could not reconcile 33 checks worth over $205,000, and one vendor was paid twice due to poor bank reconciliation practices.
• Budget: Our budget is nearly impossible for residents to follow, and $20 million in funds went unused last year while needed repairs went undone. The largest share of our city’s revenue comes from property taxes — meaning residents pay dearly, but don’t see results.
• Grants Administration: We risk losing opportunities by not following best practices for documentation and oversight.
• Property Tax & Revenue Collection: The forensic report highlighted outstanding utility bills of over $14,000 at a councilmember’s residence, creating real or perceived conflicts of interest. And several of our enterprise funds run a deficit because we do not have accurate revenue collection strategies. 

My Plan to Improve Finance:

I will put transparency, accountability, and collaboration at the center of fixing our Finance Department. That means:

• Accounting: Require timely bank reconciliations and follow-up on audit findings so discrepancies don’t go unchecked.
• Budget: Simplify the budget into a plain-language version tied to performance outcomes, so we can clearly see how tax dollars are spent and what we get in return. I will also work with the Council to set clear budget priorities so that our departments are collectively working to address issues with synergy. 
• Grants: Ensure adequate staffing and training so we capture every dollar available, with clear reporting to council and the public. Department heads like those in Parks and Recreation and Water Resources have already been writing successful grant applications, but they need additional help to increase their success.
• Property Taxes & Collections: Enforce standards evenly, collect delinquent accounts fairly, and prevent conflicts of interest — because every resident deserves equal treatment.

At the end of the day, the most important vote City Council takes is passing the budget. That’s where accountability begins. By setting clear policies, funding the right tools and staff, and making financial information accessible, we can stop wasting money, restore trust, and deliver the services we are already paying for.

The most pressing issue in East Point today is that too many projects remain incomplete, even though we have paid millions through property taxes and special tax options like MOST and TSPLOST. People deserve to see where their money is going. I would require the city to establish performance-based objectives tied to every budget request, to set clear rules for how ‘carryover’ funds are used, and to create public dashboards so neighbors can track progress toward goals.

I also believe our lack of robust youth programming is a major gap. We have nearly 11,000 young people in East Point, yet only 65 are being served through Parks & Rec summer programs. I would work to expand the department’s budget and pursue intergovernmental agreements with Fulton County Schools to use school facilities in the summer, so more kids have safe, affordable places to learn, play, and thrive.

Looking 5 to 10 years ahead, I see an East Point that truly feels like home again. More families will own homes here, and more seniors will be able to age in place with dignity because housing is safe, stable, and affordable. Blighted properties will have been transformed into opportunities, and our neighborhoods will reflect pride rather than neglect.

Downtown will be the front porch of our city again — a lively place where small businesses thrive, our arts and history are celebrated, and our culture is visible to the world. Our unique story will be part of the city’s identity, not hidden.

We’ll balance economic development with community trust by tying every dollar to performance and accountability, so neighbors can see progress in real time. And we’ll pursue growth that doesn’t displace people, but instead creates opportunity — through youth programs, intergenerational spaces, and workforce pipelines that keep local dollars circulating in our community.

Most of all, East Point will effectively engage neighbors from EVERY ward. We will be ONE EAST POINT — where transparency is the norm, neighbors know their voices matter, and every generation feels connected to both our history and our future.

I think our city government does well in recognizing the importance of community partnerships — like working with Morehouse School of Medicine on health equity or the Partnership for Southern Equity on the Equitable Growth & Inclusion Strategic Plan. Those are the right building blocks. The challenge has been follow-through and accountability. Under my leadership, I want to build on our strengths — keeping the focus on collaboration and resourcefulness, but pairing it with stronger measures of success so we can actually see results in our neighborhoods. 

For 12 years, we’ve given the Ward A At-Large incumbent a chance to do what’s right — and she’s taken our votes for granted. Under her leadership, East Point has been promised progress, but sadly we’re still waiting. Families sit in the dark during summer power outages. Roads remain unpaved even though we’ve collected millions in taxes. One in five residents lives next to blighted property. The $111 million Commons redevelopment project collapsed after decades of promises, and only one mile of the East Point Path has been completed. Our hospital closed, Parklane Elementary shut down, and $785,000 of taxpayer money walked out of this city in 2021 because our financial practices were so lax. These are leadership failures. The incumbent has not carried out her most sacred duties — financial oversight, procurement oversight, and legislation and policymaking. The consequences of her leadership have left East Point without the economic momentum enjoyed by our neighboring cities.

At the same time, we still face basic infrastructure issues: outdated utilities, stormwater and sewer pipes, and public facilities in urgent need of repair. In 2023, we raised our voices and used our votes to push out many of the council seats that held us back. We demanded new leadership and real accountability.

This year’s election is a chance to build on what we started and choose leadership that’s not just open to change, but ready to lead it with integrity, vision, and accountability. East Point deserves reliable services, thriving neighborhoods, and economic engines that actually work for the people who live here. I am asking you to join me — because we are on the cusp of meaningful progress.

Please vote Japera Hemming for Ward A At-Large, because I will, with joy, compassion, and professionalism, help rebuild the home we deserve.

East Point, it's time to get our house in order. And, there is JOY in rebuilding!