By Donnell Suggs, The Atlanta Voice

The annual State of Fulton County address took place at The Eastern on Tuesday morning. The event was hosted by Fulton County Government and the Council for Quality Growth, a local nonprofit organization.

The address came weeks after the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted a raid on the Fulton County election office in Union City on January 28. 2026. During the raid, 2020 presidential election ballots, voter rolls, and tabulation tapes were seized. Fulton County officials, including Fulton County Chair Robb Pitts, have made several public statements opposing the raid and its rationale.

A mix of Bad Bunny’s music played over the speakers inside The Eastern, a mixed-use event space off Memorial Drive, before the event began. While some people danced to the music, others found their seats to eat breakfast before Pitts, and others spoke.

Fulton County Chair Robb Pitts asked for and received a moment of silence for the late Rev. Jesse Jackson before he began his speech. Pitts spoke about the county’s triple-A credit rating, a favorite talking point of Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, and the County’s unemployment rate being below the national average.

“The strength of our workforce and our business community is the envy of counties across the nation,” said Pitts. “We have proven that we can keep our spending in check and provide the services our residents demand and deserve without raising taxes. We’ve got it all.”

During his speech, Pitts addressed healthcare, human services, and mental health care services. Regarding the latter, Pitts touched on the Fulton County Behavioral Health Crisis Center, which opened last year.

He says in just one year of operation, the crisis center has served over 1,400 people experiencing mental health crises. “No one should ever struggle alone,” he said.

The Fulton County Jail and the host of issues surrounding the institution were also a topic of discussion. Pitts announced a billion-dollar plan to renovate the jail at Rice Street during his speech. The topic of ICE was also mentioned. Pitts mentioned the implications that what has taken place around the country, especially in Minneapolis, Minnesota, can and will take place here in Atlanta’s largest county, and seemingly put them to rest. At least for now.

“Here in Fulton County, we have an opportunity to get ahead of this,” Pitts said.

He said the County, City of Atlanta, and “Congressional delegation” are working to develop a coordinated response plan in case ICE were to set up shop in Atlanta.

“Public safety and transparency remain our priority,” Pitts said.

Other speakers included Sarah-Elizabeth Langford, the executive director at the Development Authority of Fulton County, Terreta Rodgers, Amazon’s Atlanta Head of Community Affairs, ATL Airport CIDs Executive Director Gerald McDowell, and Jevon Gibson, the chief executive officer with the Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority.

Pitts thanked mayors from metro Atlanta cities such as South Fulton, Union City, Palmetto, Mountain Park, and College Park for attending the event.

Last year’s State of the County address took place at Flourish Atlanta by Legendary Events in Buckhead.