In my professional role I don’t often talk about the subject of love, but today I do. What I’m going to share with you are my thoughts and feelings about cities and why they are worthy of love.
Some people see cities as places of traffic and noise, but I see them as places of opportunity, culture, hope, and life. I’ve seen firsthand how cities shape lives and futures.
As I’m sure you know, love isn’t just an emotion or feeling—it’s an action, a commitment.
And when it comes to cities and our communities, love reflects the choices we make every day to strengthen our communities and build a future that is better than today for the generations to come.
One of the ways we show love for our communities is by recognizing their worth. And cities are invaluable. At GMA. We call this ‘The Value of Cities’ –and for good reason.
The simple fact is that Georgia’s cities are the engines of our state’s economy.
Although cities occupy just 9% of the state’s land area, they are home to more than 5 million people, representing 45% of Georgia’s total population.
Cities are the economic and cultural hubs that provide 70% of the jobs in our state. They are the centers of commerce.
Georgia’s metropolitan areas are home to 91% of the state’s Gross Domestic Product. Let’s now consider the services cities provide, many that we often take for granted.
When you turn on your tap in the morning, clean, safe, affordable water flows out.
When you drive to work, you travel on roads maintained by your city.
When your child plays in the park, that space was planned, built, and maintained by people who care about the community.
Public safety, waste collection, streetlights, sidewalks, parks—these services don’t just appear; they are the result of dedication and investment in our shared home.
It's in our cities where innovation happens.
Large or small, cities are centers of commerce, hubs of creativity, and catalysts for progress.
It is in cities as much as anywhere where entrepreneurs take risks, where artists bring culture to life, and where people from different backgrounds come together to solve problems and build communities.
But beyond that, cities are also where democracy flourishes, where decisions are made and policies are crafted that shape the everyday lives of residents.
From dealing with poverty and gang violence to making transportation and water/sewer infrastructure investments, to creating effective land-use plans, city officials are making critical decisions that will impact not just their community, but also the long-term health and economic viability of our state.
There is a lot going on in cities. But as you no doubt can guess, a thriving city doesn’t just happen—it is built through collaboration and consensus-building. And that often takes hard work.
We show love to our cities and communities through engagement and involvement.
Community engagement means being involved, staying informed, and finding ways to contribute.
But more importantly, it requires people to work together, across different perspectives and experiences, as well as different political affiliations, to create solutions that serve the greater good.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve never seen a Republican or Democrat pothole. I’ve never heard of anyone caring what race or sex a firefighter was who was on the scene risking his or her own life to protect the life and property of strangers.
We can, and should, respect our differences while uniting around the values that truly matter—integrity, service, compassion and yes, love.
Successful cities have leaders who collaborate—leaders who don’t often see differences as barriers but as opportunities to build something stronger.
The best solutions arise when different perspectives are heard and respected. True progress happens when people sit down together, put aside their differences, and find common ground.
Cities are built on the premise of people working together lead to stronger, more resilient, more united communities.
One important way to show love for your city is to love your fellow elected officials and city staff.
Serving in public office is not an easy task. I’ve been there…it’s hard.
Every day, you must balance your own ideas, priorities, needs and wants, with those of your constituents.
You must navigate difficult conversations, build consensus with fellow leaders, and make decisions that impact entire communities.
Elected officials work with city staff, residents, businesses, and other stakeholders to address complex issues such as economic development, public safety, infrastructure, parks and community services.
It’s a job that requires patience, resilience, and a deep sense of commitment.
Your work is not always glamorous, but it is essential.
You spend sleepless nights over budget decisions, take phone calls at midnight about streetlights, and wrestle with making the best choice for your communities from among many different viewpoints.
It’s easy to criticize from the outside, but public leadership is a burden few understand until they carry it.
The best cities are those where residents and officials share mutual respect and a common goal: making the community the best it can be.
You can also show love to your city by being thoughtful in the words you use when speaking about concerns and issues.
Words shape the way we think about our communities and one another.
The words we choose can unify or divide, inspire or discourage, create solutions, or deepen divides.
Words can build walls, or bridges. Walls divide us, but bridges bring us together. Words have power, and it is our responsibility to use them wisely—to lead with clarity, foster understanding, and ensure that our words reflect our shared commitment to building thriving communities.
I want to leave you with this: cities are more than the sum of their buildings, roads, and policies.
They are a reflection of the people who care for them. And when we love our cities—not just in words, but in action—we create places that are welcoming, resilient, and full of opportunity for all.
The destiny is in your hands. And it will be shaped by your active engagement, your collaboration, and your willingness to work together in a spirit of love to find common ground in order to work toward the common good.
You have the power to make your city’s dreams come true, and every single person reading this has the power to shape the future of their city. The power to invest in it, to improve it, to build something lasting, to make it the shining City on the Hill.
So I ask you: How will you love your city today?
