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Jamie Nicole Atkinson (LinkedIn and Twitter) is a Budget Consultant for the City of Austin, Texas.
In 2016, I will…
…be a more useful person. To quote Charles Dickens, “No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.” 2015 was a year of personal focus for me, so my intention for 2016 is to disburse more of my energy to help others.
I joined ELGL because…
…I’m eager to collaborate with professionals enthusiastic about the potential for government.
One thing you should know about my hometown is…
Virginia has independent cities and counties, so you are never in both a city and a county. This leads to interesting dynamics between neighboring cities and counties and much more robust counties than you might find elsewhere.
If I had to buy a Fathead, I would buy…
Probably Hines Ward. I’m a huge fan of the Steelers and he always had a smile on his face.
You should probably know that I…
…I’m having a lot of trouble coming up with anything for this. Next!
Do you agree/disagree with the following statement(s)……Explain….
It’s better to be courageous than popular.
Agree; however, better than both is being able to make the courageous option popular. Leadership!
Local government has recovered from the recession.
I can only speak to what I know, and Austin (TX) didn’t feel much of the recession, at least not compared to other parts of the country. We have more issues associated with growth than recession.
I remember the days of Trapper Keepers and the overhead projector.
Yes, but I’m not usually one for nostalgia.
Improving walkability should be a priority for cities.
Love this one! It really depends on your city and your residents. If walkability isn’t realistic for your community, you should instead focus your energy on other modes of mobility, i.e. more efficient roads, bike lanes, and transit.
I envision running for mayor or council one day.
Nope! I have no interest in politics. I prefer analyzing data and advising leaders.
Local government should expect more from employees.
More than what? I believe in excellence in whatever profession one chooses to pursue. Be your best self and give your best in whatever you do!