Reasons I won’t be voting for Kasim Reed:

* I don’t know why he hides his first name, Mohammed. His hiding his name, Mohammed Kasim Reed, scares me. Why does he hide his name? Isn’t he for ‘transparency?’

* He accepted the maximum donation possible from TI’s recording company. How is he going to keep my kids safe if he is financially tied to a felon who was illegally purchasing weapons with silencers in a parking lot (Piedmont/North Ave Walgreens) with families all around?

*I feel he is part of Atlanta’s Hip-Hop institution. He is in sooo thickly with all of them. He is part of them. They sing of violence, defamation, rape, etc, and Kasim represents them and claims to be “endorsed” by them (how can a hip-hop artist endorse???) – and even makes a video announcing they support him. Thank you…that video sealed my vote for Mary!

*Kasim is rude and vindictive in his speech towards Mary. Mary will call him out on the facts, but she does so with class and politeness. Kasim’s words are VERY nasty and ugly, including his tone of voice. How does he talk about others who are against the corrupt Atlanta political machine behind their backs, if that is how he talks down to her in PUBLIC?

*He and Shirley Franklin are ONE and THE SAME. He is part of her! My God, Shirley’s own husband had his airport business seized for taxes he never paid. Shirley’s no-good, partying daughter went off and married a thug who is now spending the rest of his life in prison for his leadership role in a massive cocaine ring!! Kai Franklin has been under investigation to see what she knew of the cocaine ring! A defendant in court stated Shirley would pull strings to get Tremayne out of jail. Tremayne used 404 Motorsports on our beloved Cheshire Bridge to funnel drug money. One man and his gfriend (a cute Spelman grad), who were to testify against him, were murdered in their Highland Court townhome. At one point, Tremayne lived w Mayor Shirley – she welcomed him into her home during the drug dealing!!! Obviously, her judgment cannot be trusted – and, she’s asking us to now trust her judgment and vote for Kasim???

*Kasim does not pay his taxes on time. He showed up and paid over $60k in back taxes/fees so he could run for mayor. Who is one of his closest friends? Shirley, whose husband didn’t pay taxes and had his business taken from him for it.

How about a government that actually works for instead of a government that just looks like you?

Someone here said it best: I believe it was Sophie. The groundswell of anger at the black machine, for the incompetence and corruption of City Hall, for the private contracts, for the raised taxes and no service, for the water shed management and the bogus water bills, for the LACK of public safety, for the conniving ‘leadership’ that is so divorced from those who pay their paychecks, etc…

Well, from all over Atlanta, there will continue to be this groundswell of citizens, TAXPAYERS who won’t accept what we have been thrown for over many years.

From the southside to the northside, from the east to the west, people of all races have finally had the veil ripped from their eyes. Perhaps it’s the thug culture that owns our streets on the southside and in midtown, where people can’t go about their business without robberies. Where a climate of lawlessness has held sway for too many years. And a police chief who is mumbling that ‘crime is down’. Walk the streets of most Southside and midtown areas and tell me that crime is down.

People are saying that they have had enough. Quality of life issues are important. The arrogance of City Hall can’t continue forever.

Regardless who gets this mayor’s office, things will never be the same. People have seen that we need change in radical ruptures from the past.

I think I have never been prouder of Atlantans than I am right now. They won’t be silenced again, regardless how much the Machine here in Atlanta wheezes on.

Teela