Khalid Kamau | Khalid Kamau Facebook
Khalid Kamau | Khalid Kamau Facebook
Khalid Kamau, South Fulton's mayor, has moved into a deteriorating apartment complex in honor of a promise he made during his campaign.
Kamau signed a one-year lease for the one-bedroom apartment and will pay $800 per month, Fox 5 Atlanta reported. Kamau said that he initially thought of bringing the complex down, but after his campaign trail last year, he thought of a better idea.
"There was an outcry from the legacy homeowners," Kamau told Fox 5 Atlanta. "A couple of residents said I love my house, I do not want to lose it. So I decided to move in before I make a final decision. I hope it brings attention to Camelot and it brings development dollars to our city."
The Camelot Condominiums, built in the '70s, are off of Old National Highway, Fox 5 Atlanta reported. The condominiums have been plagued with fires, crime and squatters throughout their 50-year history.
"I come from the movement of black lives and the student non-violent committee, we believe you must live amongst people to understand them, so it is not a stunt but a principal," Kamau said.
Kamau hopes this will spark community involvement leading to improvements for Camelot, Fox 5 Atlanta reported. He said his actions are not a bid for publicity; he intends to sleep in his new unit every night. Various residents have expressed appreciation for the mayor and believe his actions to be sincere.
"Now we have a mayor who says, 'I am with you, I support you. I want to see first hand, I am willing to live here,'" resident Condia Perry told Fox 5 Atlanta.
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