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Reed: Oxendine plan for a ‘parallel Connector’ is a budget-buster

3:37 pm September 10, 2009, by jgalloway

Atlanta mayoral candidate Kasim Reed finished off a state Capitol rally on Thursday by warning John Oxendine, the Republican candidate for governor, that this talk of a new connector through east Atlanta is “improbable” and a “budget-buster” that would wreck the state’s credit rating.

Oxendine, the state insurance commissioner, has spent much of the last 10 days or so raising the topic _ on behalf of (mostly Republican) commuters in northeast metro Atlanta who feel shut off from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport by a clogged Downtown Connector. In a video on his Web site, Oxendine draws an imaginary line _ a possible “parallel Connector” _ from the Ga. 400 intersection with I-85 through many of Atlanta’s most heavily populated neighborhoods.

Said Reed:

“My message to John Oxendine is that his proposal and program is flatly wrong, and represents the worst idea that could be put forth for the city and the region.

In addition to that, I will tell you why it will not succeed. One, as mayor of the city of Atlanta, I will do everything in my power at both the local level and the federal level to stop the implementation of that road program.

But let me be even more blunt. What is as important as any other thing in the state of Georgia to people who serve in the House and the Senate is the AAA credit rating of the state of Georgia, whether you are a Republican or a Democrat. If you want to kill a bill in this building, you talk about how something impacts the state’s credit rating.

“You cannot fund the kind of road construction that Mr. Oxendine is discussing and achieve the objective of building out the state’s reservoir program, and maintain Georgia’s AAA credit rating. Georgia does not have the debt capacity in this kind of economy to do that. If you don’t believe me, look at the cuts that the state has had to make right now in order to maintain that.”

Accompanying Reed, now a former state senator, were several of his ex-colleagues from Atlanta and its borders: state Sens. Vincent Fort, Steven Henson, and David Adelman; and state Reps. Roger Bruce, Rashad Taylor, Kathy Ashe, and Pat Gardner.

State Rep. Karla Drenner, the only openly gay member of the Legislature, also endorsed Reed and was supposed to attend, but did not. Her endorsement matters: Unlike the two mayoral candidates ahead of him, Reed supports civil unions _ but not gay marriage, citing his religious upbringing.

Adelman, who represents a portion of Atlanta that’s in DeKalb County, made this point that he and other lawmakers obviously intend to spread:

“More and more, we’ve all become aware of the vital importance of the relationship between state government and [the] city of Atlanta. But we’ve never had a mayor of Atlanta who has served in this state Capitol.

Kasim Reed will be the first mayor of Atlanta to have served as a member of the General Assembly, and as a result not only does he recognize the importance of the relationship between state government and the city, but he has the personal credibility, relationships and good will……”

Reed himself had two talking points worth noting. On crime:

“The nature of violence in the city of Atlanta has changed. And we’re going to have to be as aggressive towards criminals in our city as they are being toward our citizens. And that will start the moment I am elected mayor.”

And on city pensions, an issue aimed squarely at Councilwoman Mary Norwood and Council President Lisa Borders:

“We’re also facing unprecedented fiscal challenges, brought on by the decisions of the Atlanta City Council in 2001 and 2005, to vastly improve a pension system that is literally crippling the city of Atlanta today.

So if you’re wondering where your money for parks is, if you’re wondering where your money for green space is, if you’re wondering where your money for transportation is, it is in a $100 million pension liability that _ although we have known about it for more than two years _ we have not turned and face it and implemented a series of steps to turn a tide that has atlanta on its knees and has Atlanta’s credit rating one level above junk status.”

On the topic of Aaron Turpeau, the former chief of staff for Maynard Jackson, who first distributed that “black mayor” memo, and then _ on Wednesday _ a defense of the same, Reed said this:

Mr. Turpeau’s continued comments and involvement are just disappointing, and pretty sad. The notion that his position was inappropriate — if he wants to defend that position, he can continue to defend it. I’ve made my views very clear. And we’ve turned the page on that. He can continue to write to himself with these open letters, but we’ve turned the page.

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31 comments Add your comment

Star Atlanta

September 10th, 2009
3:43 pm

Very impressive! Reed is the only mayoral candidate who can bridge that divide and bring much needed resources to this city.

Spoken For

September 10th, 2009
3:46 pm

“Kasim Reed will be the first mayor of Atlanta to have served as a member of the General Assembly, and as a result not only does he recognize the importance of the relationship between state government and the city, but he has the personal credibility, relationships and good will……”

I never thought about it that way. Sounds like Kasim Reed has a plan and the wherewithal to make it happen.

Hamilton

September 10th, 2009
3:48 pm

Has Kasim resigned from the Ga. Legislature yet? Who cares what he says. He ain’t going to be mayor and if he resigned then Kasim = No Political Power.

Silent Majority

September 10th, 2009
3:51 pm

I’d like to hear Norwood and Borders side of the pension issue.

Whitey

September 10th, 2009
3:53 pm

As a Buckhead resident, I fear for the contiuation of the Jackson machine if Kasim wins. He ran Shirley’s campaign and got “No Where To Be Seen” Pennington in Atlanta.

Silent Majority

September 10th, 2009
3:55 pm

I’d like to hear Mary Norwood and Lisa Borders’ perspective on the pension issue. This is the type of discussion that matters.

Polls

September 10th, 2009
3:57 pm

Is he out of single digits yet? I admire him and his perseverence to keep going and not drop out. Most people that far back would have a long time ago.

Star Atlanta

September 10th, 2009
4:00 pm

@Whitey who are you supporting? And please list what impresses you about his or her record regarding serious issues. All that other propaganda is nonsense. Thank you.

Bill

September 10th, 2009
4:02 pm

Mohammed Kasim Reed has been a threat to Georgia since he came back from 7 years of all black schooling in D.C. Where is the diversity in his education? Pathetic!!! A leader for all? Yeah right!!!

Whitey

September 10th, 2009
4:08 pm

I want a candidate who is going to come in and run this city efficiently so I don’t have to pay an extra 3k a year on my property taxes anymore. Kasim has zero business experience but more than enough litigation (red tape) experience. I don’t consider him as a solution. Should I? He might be able to hook a bunch of his friends though. Still undecided.

Sammy

September 10th, 2009
4:10 pm

If this mayoral race comes down to who has the strongest record, we all know Lisa Cousins…I mean…Borders will be demolished. Her campaign will be smart to keep that issue as far from discussion as possible.

Jasher

September 10th, 2009
4:12 pm

Star Atlanta, did you read the article?
I don’t understand how Reed is bringing in resources to the CITY as a STATE Senator. Can you detail those?

Jasher

September 10th, 2009
4:15 pm

Polls, I agree. You know a campaign is desperate for recognition when they’re swinging for the candidtae in *second* place.

DoPeBoYFreSh

September 10th, 2009
4:16 pm

Truth! Yo Kasim the illest candidate! He got experience! He got wisdom! He got that paper! Kasim gonna take the A back! A self made man in world run by white corporations. Do what you do KR don’t let haters bring you down.

Lucas

September 10th, 2009
4:18 pm

Hey – well played, Reed. For a self-proclaimed “Reagan Conservative,” Oxendine proposes some pretty drastic things. He’s the kind of guy who makes me thankful the Georgia government is in permanent gridlock.

Dawgs

September 10th, 2009
4:18 pm

This is exactly why I’m leaning with Kasim Reed. That experience of being in the state legislature and actually passing meaningful resolutions through, is pivotal to have when working with the leaders of our State Government. No other candidate can offer this, and is clear positive difference between him and the other people from our messed up City Council who are running.

Jasher

September 10th, 2009
4:19 pm

Sweet minty Jesus! Kasim’s do-boys are out en masse on the blogs. I better go lock my door.

Clyde

September 10th, 2009
4:51 pm

I don’t think anyone can deny that having a mayor with relationships in state government would be a significant asset to the city. You guys can name call and use all the smoke and mirrors you want, but no other candidate can stand on the strength of what they’ve already done for this city. Let’s show our maturity and have a substantive conversation for once.

ReadytoVote

September 10th, 2009
4:58 pm

This has become enough. Borders and Norwood just don’t have that extra political experience I’d like to see in a candidate. Norwood is nothing but a ploy for Gov. Perdue and his Repubs, Borders is nothing but a ploy for Cousins…I’ll take Reed before any of these.

DW

September 10th, 2009
5:01 pm

@Hamilton, Reed resigned a month or so ago. That’s why Mr. Galloway referred to his “ex-colleagues”.

Sammy

September 10th, 2009
5:01 pm

Has Jasher ever said anything substantive about his candidate (obviously Borders)? I challenge Jasher to list Ms. Borders’ record for all to see. As president of the city counsel, has Borders done anything about the pension issue? Oh I guess she’s been saving all her good ideas for when she’s mayor because she hasn’t solved one problem since she’s been in office.

Encouraged

September 10th, 2009
5:05 pm

First and foremost, I like the fact that Senator Reed has tried and tested relationships in the State legislature that can benefit the City of Atlanta on a going-forward basis. He has a track record of getting difficult things accomplished in a bi-partisan fashion. Atlanta desperately needs his kind of relationships if we are going to tackle the important state-wide issues that linger before us like transportation gridlock and the State’s water crisis. Furthermore, the fact that he has the support of State Rep. Drenner, the state’s ONLY openly gay legislator, reinforces the strength of those relationships.

Secondly, I particularly like the quote you noted above: “The nature of violence in the city of Atlanta has changed. And we’re going to have to be as aggressive towards criminals in our city as they are being toward our citizens. And that will start the moment I am elected mayor.”

If you read this quote and listen to Reed on the campaign trail, he is the ONLY candidate on the who is properly and consistently acknowledging Atlanta’s growing gang problem. This cannot be understated. I support a comprehensive approach to our public safety problem. When you talk about giving young children structure, addressing Atlanta’s gang problem in an aggressive way by putting more police on the street, and decreasing the city of Atlanta’s drop-out-rate over a four year period, your talking about real and concrete things that you can do to address the problem.

I commend Reed and applaud the other State legislators that stood with him today to endorse his candidacy for Mayor.

Borders Business

September 10th, 2009
5:05 pm

Borders is a blatant racist

ATL Future

September 10th, 2009
5:09 pm

I agree with Borders Business….that memo she put out, she’s just not ready to be the Mayor of Atl

Churchill

September 10th, 2009
5:10 pm

Shame on Kasim Reed for running a campaign based on his record…doesn’t he know that today’s politics is all about pandering and empty promises. Shame on the state senators and representatives who endorsed Kasim Reed today because they’ve seen his leadership in action and know that he fights tooth and nail for the City of Atlanta. Why would all that matter when we can call him Mohammed and lean on unscientific polling data by GOP hacks.

http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-599&hl=y | Political Insider

September 10th, 2009
5:46 pm

[...] already got historians taking issue with state Sen. David Adelman’s assertion this afternoon that _ if elected, of course _ Kasim Reed would be the first mayor of Atlanta to have served in the [...]

Politics At Its Finest

September 10th, 2009
9:25 pm

@Whitey: There is a candidate that keeps name dropping Jackson as a mentor… it ain’t Reed…or Norwood

@Bill: Howard University? The school Thurgood Marshall, L Douglas Wilder, Patricia Roberts Harris, Sharon Pratt Kelly, Edward Brooke, Adrian Fenty, LaSalle Leffall, Harris Wofford….[insert 1st African-American of _____ here] went to? Do you know who any of those people are? Don’t underestimate the importance of HBCUs or the people who went to them. Someone from an HBCU is probably the one signing your paycheck.

So, until we can talk about the real issues of the city (crime/taxes/transportation) and quit bashing the other person (Joe Wilson-style) the city of Atlanta is in deep trouble.

The city council has been in control of the budget….and we are screwed because of it! Hell, the US economy is in bad shape. Now is not the time to talk about irrelevant, insignificant things. We need a leader who is SMART enough to get us out of the hole we are in and has the experience to navigate Atlanta politics without getting consumed in minutia.

Karl Rove politics are out of style. Intellect is en vogue. I would rather have a smart leader who has a record of achievements than a bubbling idiot who loves distractions (memos, biased polls, empty promised).

newA

September 10th, 2009
10:51 pm

Great article… Reed appears to be knowledgeable and tough. How much power do the legislator endorsements have?

Episode 34: John Oxendine on Kasim Reed and an east Atlanta connector | Political Insider

September 11th, 2009
3:41 pm

[...] our Thursday episode, you’ll recall, Atlanta mayoral candidate Kasim Reed denounced Oxendine’s talk of [...]

Fallacy or Fact

September 12th, 2009
12:59 am

@Jasher: Kasim’s district in the Georgia State Senate is over district 35, which is in Atlanta. As a State Senator, he is able to introduce and push legislation through our state government that has direct and indirect benefits for the city. That is how Reed has brought resources the the “CITY as a STATE Senator”. Have you taken the time to look at how our government works?

As for “swinging for the [candidate] in *second* place,” Norwood is the obvious front runner according to polls, but she is a far cry from getting over 50% of the vote she need to outright win. The election is almost guaranteed to go to a runoff which means it is actually a smart move, not a desperate one, to try and secure second place. Trying to overcome a leading candidate with a far lead from from third place in this situation would not be the smartest move. More likely than not, it would only help the candidate in second place.

As for your comment of, “Sweet minty Jesus! Kasim’s do-boys are out en masse on the blogs. I better go lock my door,” I think this falls under the realm of the ad hominem logical fallacy. This is where an argument attacks the person who holds a view or advances an argument (Kasim supporters is would seem in this case) rather than commenting on the view or responding to the argument.

@Polls: Kasim Reed – 16%
Lisa Borders – 19%
Mary Norwood – 33%
Jesse Spikes – 3%
Other – 1%
Undecided – 28%
*580 likely voters were surveyed August 26 – August 27, 2009. Margin of error is +/- 4.1 percent.

Yes, he is well out of single digits and a definite competitor for the runoff, especially considering 28% of people said they were undecided.

@Bill: Ah, yes, Mohammed Kasim Reed. Lets rely on peoples’ ignorance to guide them toward negative stereotypes and call him a “threat to Georgia” just to make sure they get the implications of terrorism. Now lets insinuate that he is a racist because he attended an upstanding university in Washington D.C. that happens to have a majority of Black non-hispanic students…although that doesn’t sound quite good enough, so I can see why you decided to lie and call it “all black schooling”. Hopefully no one will bother to look at the Howard University’s website though, because they do make a point of encouraging diversity at their educational institution.

@Hamilton: “Who cares what he says. He ain’t going to be mayor…” I must admit that I am jealous of your wondrous abilities to predict the future.

@Whitey: If you are going to complain about property taxes, then I suggest to reconsider Kasim considering that he has an 11 year record in the State Legislature and never once voted for an increase in property taxes. The city council is responsible for the recent tax hike. Admittedly, Norwood didn’t vote for the tax hike. In fact, she didn’t vote at all which seems like the most politically convenient move even if it doesn’t demonstrate the best leadership and decision making qualities needed to run a city the size of Atlanta. Business experience doesn’t equal lower taxes.

Of course, Kasim is a partner in a law firm. Apparently you either didn’t know that or don’t consider a law firm a business.

@Borders Business: To be fair, your comment of, “Borders is a blatant racist,” seems to have a lack of evidence to back it up. At least give people something to go on if you are going to make such a harsh claim.

Fallacy or Fact

September 12th, 2009
1:05 am

Also, I apologize for my grammar errors. I never seem to catch them all until it is too late. I would blame the fact that I am tired except that it is my own fault that I am tired and so I ultimately blame myself. ^_^