01/01/2026
December 31, 2025
Farewell Message
Dear East Pointers,
As I prepare to turn off the lights in the mayor's office for the last time and ready to hand the keys to the next administration, I look out at where we are today and reflect on the path we have traveled. I know, now more than ever, that there is truly no point like East Point.
For 12 years, we have walked this journey together—first during my time as Ward D At-Large Councilmember, then for the last eight years as your Mayor. It has been one of the greatest honors of my life to serve you. We started with a commitment to make our City a prime destination. Today, East Point is home to thriving small businesses, presents the best community gatherings in Fulton County that celebrate the strength of our diversity, and continues to be a terminus for the world as visitors travel to/from the airport.
Friends, look at what we have built together. The State of our City is strong because we stood united. We attained a AAA bond rating, we have seen crime go down, and our population is growing. Our impact now reaches far beyond our borders; East Point water literally goes around the world, found in the products manufactured at the nearby Coca-Cola facility and the ice used on Delta flights. But our true strength lies in our compassion. Through the Office of Equity, Inclusion and Empowerment, we prioritized our neighbors, helping over 400 individuals experiencing homelessness find permanent or stable housing and connecting over 1,500 people to vital services that have empowered them to get ahead. People experiencing poverty has decreased, partnerships with our schools and community organizations has increased, our City employees are paid a livable wage, we are committed to health equity, there is unprecedented road repavement, sidewalk installation and construction of trails, innovation in water, sewer, stormwater and electric infrastructure, housing for all income levels, we have laid the foundation for new Tax Allocation Districts necessary to ensure community focused adaptive reuse of industrial properties and soon, implementation of drones as first responders will position the City to have a response time of 90 seconds or less to 80% of police calls.
We have faced unprecedented times, moments of grave uncertainty where the weight of our families and community rested on our shoulders. Yet, when faced with these historic challenges, we proved our ability to not only survive but to thrive. We prioritized people, leading the way in the state to protect our health and well-being. We learned that we are stronger together, and that there is no "I" in team. We identified resources, bridged gaps, and supported one another through thick and thin. WE did this as a community.
To our incoming Mayor Keisha Chapman and the 2026 City Council,
I encourage you to lead with courage, govern with integrity, serve with humility and never forget that the highest honor of this office is the trust placed in you by the people of East Point. You assume office at an important time in East Point’s history. You inherit a city that is confident in its future and deeply rooted in community.
As you begin your service, I offer this charge, not as instruction, but as encouragement from someone who knows this work well. Always prioritize the people of East Point, our amazing East Pointers. Policies, plans, and projects matter, but people matter more. Be people-focused in every decision you make. Listen deeply. Lead with empathy. Remember that behind every agenda item is a family, a worker, a student, a senior, someone who chose East Point as home or hopes to do so. When you keep East Pointers at the center of your work, the right outcomes will follow.
Continue to make safety your top priority. If people don’t feel safe, nothing else matters. Safety is the foundation upon which everything else is built. Continue supporting our police, fire, and emergency personnel. Invest in prevention as well as response. Foster trust between public safety professionals and the communities they serve. A safe East Point is a thriving East Point.
Lead the way in infrastructure repair and enhancement. Roads, sidewalks, stormwater systems, lighting, these are not just physical assets; they are quality-of-life commitments. Infrastructure tells residents whether their city sees them, values them, and plans for them. Continue modernizing what is aging, improving what is inequitable, and building for the future with resilience and intention.
Attract economic and community development that serves existing residents while welcoming new ones. Growth should never come at the expense of the people who built this city. Seek development that creates jobs, expands opportunity, supports local businesses, and preserves affordability. Welcome new residents while honoring long-time East Pointers. Let growth be inclusive, intentional, and community-serving.
Continue to collaborate regionally. East Point does not exist in isolation. Our strength is magnified when we work with neighboring cities, counties, and regional partners. Continue connecting East Pointers to pathways, trails, transit, and opportunities across the region. These connections expand access to jobs, recreation, health, and community, and position East Point as a gateway, not a boundary.
And finally, continue to position East Point as a destination for people from around the world. East Point has always been more than a dot on the map. We are a crossroads of culture, commerce, creativity, and connection. Celebrate our diversity and showcase our arts, history, and neighborhoods. Let the world see what we already know, that East Point is a place where people belong, where innovation meets tradition, and where community comes first.
East Pointers, thank you for allowing me the honor of serving you. It has been the privilege of a lifetime.
After attending over 400 Council Meetings and presiding over more than 250 of the meetings as Mayor, I now ask each of you to keep moving forward with that same motivation and intention to represent our city to the best of your ability. The height of our trajectory depends on you continuing to join with and work together. This is the end of my tenure as Mayor, but not in service. I ask that you keep building what we started. I greatly appreciate the love you show and the community it creates. Let us continue to fight for our progress and love one another. Always remember, there’s no point like East Point!
May God bless our new leadership, and may God continue to bless every East Pointer and our great City of East Point.
On behalf of my family, thank you for being our family.
With gratitude,
Mayor Deana Holiday Ingraham
34th East Point Mayor
