At the first televised debate of Atlanta Mayoral candidates last night, two of the three top contenders declared public safety as the number one issue facing the city.

This comes as many residents complain about crime in Atlanta. An FBI report issued earlier this month shows violent crime in Atlanta has actually decreased since last year.

State Senator Kasim Reed contends that keeping the city safe is the most important issue. Reed says routine crimes are becoming more violent as criminals are emboldened by an overwhelmed police department. City Council woman Mary Norwood agrees. She says citizens are not safe in their homes, on the street, or going to work and that cannot continue.

Of the top three candidates at the debate, only Atlanta City Council President Lisa Borders gave a different answer. Borders says the city’s finances are a mess, and before anything else can be addressed the books must be fixed.

The debate was sponsored by the Atlanta police foundation, with a portion of it airing on WSB television.