Kasim Reed to Legislature: ‘It’s time for a cease-fire’
Last year witnessed several loud, knock-down-drag-out fights between the Legislature and elements associated with the city of Atlanta. Usually, the city lost.
But in an effective appearance before the state House this morning, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed essentially promised that – while the situation may be even more dire this year – there won’t be a repeat.
“It’s time for us to have a cease-fire. We can deal with the stuff between us later. But right now, Georgia’s dominance as the capital of the South is threatened,” the mayor said.
Note that Reed identified Georgia as the capital of the South. Not Atlanta.
Reed’s invitation to speak was recognition that the House had served as the starting point for his political career – though Reed actually spent more years in the Senate. So the mayor understands that his former colleagues can be a prickly bunch. If Reed used the word “humble” once, he used it five times — before House members and in interviews afterwards.
His language, if employed outside the state Capitol, might even have raised some eyebrows.
Said Reed to the House:
“I’m also clear on one thing. I’m a rookie member on this team, and I’m quite comfortable with that. The speaker, the governor, the lieutenant governor, the House and the Senate are the captains of this team. You all are the captains of this ship. I want you to know you’ve got a rookie member who’s ready to do my part, whatever it is. I’m ready to go get the water, wash the laundry, clean the towels, whatever it takes.
“But I also want you to know you have a capital city that is a humble city that wants to work with you – in every way that I can. I want to make sure that the city is safe, that the water that flows downstream to your communities is clean, and that when you read the papers – the Atlanta Journal and all of the rest – that you feel a sense of pride.”
Blogger Andre Walker of Georgia Politics Unfiltered has helpfully posted Reed’s speech on YouTube:
After addressing the House, Reed went to the chamber’s anteroom, where a line formed of House members wanting their photo snapped with him. A line of 10 grew to 15, then grew to 20 – then 25. Not a normal reception at all.
In interviews with reporters, Reed summarized his approach. “Now is not the time for us to be turning on one another. We need to work on problem-solving. People don’t want to hear about anything else. They want to know what are you doing to help me keep my job,” the mayor said.
Reed said transportation will be his focus in the Legislature:
“If we don’t change things, we’re going to be a transient city and a transient state. We’re going to be a stopover, as opposed to the place that people make home. And we can’t do it without one another. Georgia will not thrive if Atlanta does not do well. But at the same time, you have to have a capital city that is respectful of the state and its traditions, and cooperates in that fashion.”
Again, the language is remarkable.
Reed’s strategy became most clear when asked about MARTA. State law dictates that the transit agency can use only half of the proceeds from sales taxes on operation. The rest must go toward capital projects. Last session, MARTA chief Beverly Scott made several trips to the Legislature, to argue that the transit agency is on life support when it comes to funding.
Here’s what Reed said:
“My sense is that MARTA is a work in progress, that you cannot force it, and that you can’t get into a situation where you’re making hard statements about MARTA.
“I think everyone understands the gravity of the situation. I think everyone understands that, without any change in MARTA’s funding, it goes broke in about 18 months. That can’t stand from a competitive standpoint. It would devastate the [state-owned] Georgia World Congress Center. So there are multiple competitive reasons that MARTA needs to function well.
“If MARTA cuts service in a serious way, or reduces its weekend service, we will lose convention business to Orlando and other cities immediately. It’s a fact. So we’ve got to get the emotional components out, which is what my message was about. We can get back to point-scoring when things are good. When you’ve got surpluses, we can play these games. But everybody that I know is broke.”
For instant updates, follow me on Twitter.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
95 comments Add your comment
devildawg
January 28th, 2010
12:42 pm
Wow, that sounds like a mature, thought-out statement. Please be as good of a mayor as you sound.
Our District...
January 28th, 2010
12:43 pm
Thanks Mayor Reed. Make us proud and tell them whatever they need to hear to get the job done.
Intown Lib
January 28th, 2010
12:49 pm
Dear Georgia:
The hand has been extended. Don’t bite it or we are guaranteed that Georgia will be the southern version of Michigan.
Sincerely,
City of Atlanta
Reed is Doomed
January 28th, 2010
12:56 pm
Reed’s office was bought with cash from outside the State of Georgia. 50% of Atlantans do not support his office.One speech will not remove the need for real change in the mayor’s office.
Art Vandalay
January 28th, 2010
12:57 pm
The problem with that is those state senators from Deliverence don’t want the convention business here. Thier response to losing conventions to Orlando “good let all those business yankees go down there and clog their streets and take up their parkin’ we don’t like ‘em here anyhow” they want dirt roads and farms there is no compromising with those incapable of having visions of progress
No Change At All
January 28th, 2010
1:03 pm
Lip service from a thug bought and paid for by out of state political interests.
Change you can really count on
January 28th, 2010
1:10 pm
Well one thing for sure. Reed has his work cut out for him because there has not been a mayor of Atlanta that has ever done a good job for the city or the people living in it. If hes out to make good changes then I applaude him in the biggest way.
Time will tell what kind of leader he is but my guess is there are many many elected officials still in office that will fight him all the way. Good luck to you Mayer Reed. I wish you all the luck in the world.
Real Georgia
January 28th, 2010
1:12 pm
With comments like Art Vandalay’s and Intown Lib, its hard to understand why people from outside of Atlanta don’t think much of them.
Art Vandalay
January 28th, 2010
1:15 pm
well “Real Georgia” then answer it right now, what are your thoughts on mass transit, tourists from other states vacationing here, conventions bringing large crowds here, people and businesses relocating here from other places. Because it is fact that the majority of Georgians don’t want any of those things here.
Bitter is Never Attractive
January 28th, 2010
1:16 pm
Amazing to see people take issue with the election that they lost after leading so handily. Get over your bitterness and allow this man his attempt to lead this city back from grave. Atlanta is nearly dead, surrounding subs have worked hard and deliberately toward that purpose!
Michael Johnson
January 28th, 2010
1:18 pm
For the statement made by No Change At All at 1:03 PM. What a irresponsible backwards statement which probadly reflect the level of your education. It’s comments like yours that prevents unity and progress. Kasim Reed is far from a thug. I admire his choice of words, as he tries to bridge the gap between Atlanta and Georgia.
Art Vandalay
January 28th, 2010
1:19 pm
The funniest thing is the suburbs that were so dead set on keeping things exactly as they were are now the undesirable locations. Their lack of progress have led to laughably low land values while intowns vision(at least what they could get done while working around the state) have led to some amazing neighborhoods that are among the fastest growing in Georgia.
Art Vandalay
January 28th, 2010
1:23 pm
look at what the midtown alliance has been able to do over the last 20 years Midtown Atlanta is now THE premier neighborhood of the southeast
doug
January 28th, 2010
1:24 pm
anybody can give a good speech…WE, WHO LIVE IN ATLANTA, AS IN THE CITY LIMITS, WANT THINGS TO CHANGE. NO MORE TAXES. LET’S CLEAN UP THE CITY. NO MORE TAXES. LET’S CHANGE POLOTICS AS USUAL. FRANKLIN LET THE PENSIONS FOR CITY WORKERS GET OUT OF CONTROL, NOW WE HAVE TO PAY. PAY WE WILL. GET IT TOGETHER REED. WE ARE WATCHING. IF YOU TAX US MORE AND DO NOTHING, WE WILL TAKE OUR MONEY AND LEAVE.
nan
January 28th, 2010
1:24 pm
Enter your comments here
Michael Johnson
January 28th, 2010
1:25 pm
Art Vandalay speak for yourself. The majority of Georgia will prefer jobs rather than unemployment. With mass transit, tourist, and conventions that mean more jobs. So please just say what you think personally, and not speak for GA as a whole.
Art Vandalay
January 28th, 2010
1:28 pm
If nothing changes keep your eyes on Tampa and Charlotte one of them will be the new Capital of the South. I would say Orlando but they have the same can’t get out of their own way problem regarding transportation.
Tim
January 28th, 2010
1:28 pm
An analogy of Atlanta and Georgia is like Israel in the middle of the Middle East. Atlanta is a big, glitzy, cosmpolitan city/culture connected to the global economy, culture and marketplace. Georgia is mostly a rigid, backwards thinking populace “stuck” in its beliefs about how they think the world actually works.
Duluth, GA
January 28th, 2010
1:28 pm
I am so proud of Mayor Reed. Instead of bickering or arguing with the incompetent leaders of GA he took a whole new approach which is very commendable. I only hope that the new Governor will care more about Atlanta than the outgoing governor does. If Atlanta dies, so will the state of Georgia. Why is it so hard for the rest of the state to understand that?
Art Vandalay
January 28th, 2010
1:30 pm
The problem is Micheal that those who do want that envy Atlanta for being where they are located, sorry but Macon and Augusta don’t have the national appeal, the state needs to embrace Atlanta as the place where their convention, business, and tourism industry exist not envy it and try to steal it away.
Art Vandalay
January 28th, 2010
1:31 pm
Georgia needs to realize it is lucky to have an intenational city like Atlanta instead they despise it
Intown Lib
January 28th, 2010
1:38 pm
These anti-Franklin and anti-Reed comments are pretty absurd. Franklin moved several balls down the field of positive change. A short list: (1) sewer projects getting done; (2) modernized the City’s accouting system; (3) expanded the airport – 5th runway, rental car facility, etc.; (4) facilitated visionary transportation/economic development projects such as BeltLine & Peachtree Streetcar and a helluva lot more.
All Reed needs to do is consolidate these victories and shore up the weak spots that Franklin couldn’t get to (public perception of crime; pension reform; relations with the State). City Hall didn’t & still doesn’t need the kind of chaotic and misinformed “change” that Mary Norwood would have inflicted upon Atlanta’s residents.
Let’s give Reed a chance to use his skills and assets to move Atlanta and Georgia forward. The trouble our state will be in if Atlanta and the rest of Georgia cannot properly handle the budget, water, transportation and more is quite imminent. We are closer to being the next Michigan (a dying state) than most people realize.
2by8
January 28th, 2010
1:40 pm
Atlanta better get it right. Without transportation this will never be a major city in case the (country folks who do not want to sit next to a person of color don’t realize), you go to any major city in the world you have ample means of transportation. I remember when I first moved to Atlanta in 1997 I was talkng to a gentleman on the train and he stated that transportation brings high crime. Well look you have 10% unempolyment and business are not willing to come to Atlanta because of traffic.
The Transportation system should not focus on Atlanta alone the surronding communities need to be included you should have trains runing to Savannah, Athen,s cummings and conyers so people that live in those area can still commute to Atlanta.
If you want to be the Leader in the South EAST Transporation is the way out. So stop the silly fussy and fighting and get on with it.
White Boy
January 28th, 2010
1:42 pm
No Change At All’s statement represents he or she well…can you say “deliverance” (1972). I love backwards people, they are so funny! I mean it, they truly keep me entertained. They are like little mentally challenged kids, you can’t but feel sorry for them!
thetruth
January 28th, 2010
1:44 pm
Kasim, you seem to spew the same rhetoric as all the others. This statement especially rings home==
“My sense is that MARTA is a work in progress, that you cannot force it, and that you can’t get into a situation where you’re making hard statements about MARTA.
“I think everyone understands the gravity of the situation.”
A work in progress……my god after 25 years of consistant underperforming, scandels, crime, and wasted taxpayers money…it is my opinion that MARTA is completely broken. If you really want to fix it alone, everyone…and I mean almost if not everyone that makes ANY decisions need to be fired and replaced. Trust me when I say that there are many many people looking for work!
Try Me
January 28th, 2010
1:46 pm
Those who characterize everyone outside of Atlanta as backward deliverance folks do neither any service. It’s unfortunate that Atlanta is so often characterized and even defined by those with the most arrogance and the least reason.
mc
January 28th, 2010
1:47 pm
ATL – will never be an international city – been on peachtree at 12 midnight – thugville! Paris – it is not! And Paris it will never be.
Never Reed for this intown lib.
Jeffrey
January 28th, 2010
1:49 pm
Re: “Reed is Doomed”—I’m sure there was lots of outside cash coming into Reed’s campaign. That is not an anomaly in politics today, trust me! That’s a whole other issue to talk about. But while I didn’t vote for Reed, he is my mayor, and I will support him during his tenure in that office. If I don’t (or we all don’t), then he’ll fail, and if he fails, so do we.
Susan Atkins
January 28th, 2010
2:02 pm
Reed is the Devil incarnate.
DJ Sniper
January 28th, 2010
2:05 pm
Great speech by Mayor Reed. The longer I live here, the more I’m amazed at how backwards this state is. First of all, our elected officials, led by the inept Sonny Perdue, have done absolutely nothing to improve public transportation in this city. His solution was to keep building more roads. More roads leads to more traffic, and the cycle just continues. Of course, Perdue was in bed with the Concrete Mafia, so as long as his pockets were lined, he really didn’t care about public transportation.
The other issue is the people who live here(particularly in the suburban counties) who have continued to vote against MARTA for the wrong reason, and that reason is race. Even in 2010, there are people in Gwinnett, Cobb, Forsyth, and other counties who don’t want MARTA in their neck of the woods because they think the “undesirables” from Atlanta will invade. Um, do these people actually think that there is no crime in these areas? Gwinnett County is one of the largest drug hubs in the Southeast, but people are worried about criminals from Atlanta riding the train up to the ‘burbs to rob them blind? Get a clue people!!!!
Justin
January 28th, 2010
2:08 pm
Thank you Mayor Reed.
Justin
January 28th, 2010
2:08 pm
Enter your comments here
Arrogant City-Dwellers
January 28th, 2010
2:33 pm
Wow. It’s really nice to hear some of you arrogant Intown folks call people like me rural, “Deliverance”-type, and backwards…….even though I work for the man you are all praising right now. Get over yourselves. The City isn’t that great. Oh, I know you all REALLY wish this city was like New York with its truly posh neighborhoods, but when I can stand on the porch of a new house and throw a rock at a ghetto slum house, New York, it is not. You can take all of the nice, posh, and SAFE parts of Atlanta and fit it on one of my rural, “Deliverance”-type, and backwards farms. It already smells like manure here anyway.
Falcon Fan
January 28th, 2010
2:33 pm
mc why would you even compare Atlanta to Paris?
Observer
January 28th, 2010
2:34 pm
I am a life long resident of Georgia. It is quite obvious that the state representatives are not the sharpest knives in the drawer. We haven’t overcome the racial divide, and many caucasians do not see black people as human, let alone intelligent. Taking into consideration, we will continue talking at each other rather than to each other, thereby solving nothing. It is obvious that transportation issues have to be solved if we are to survive economically. This is not rocket science.This state, as well as the country, is DOOMED TO OBLIVION if we continue to have no respect for the views of each other!
jm
January 28th, 2010
2:35 pm
Great speech Mayor Reed. Please keep up the good work of rebuilding relations with the State. Hopefully it will be easier next year with Barnes at the helm, instead of the previous “do-nothings” running the show.
lol
January 28th, 2010
2:37 pm
he is smooth talker… just like somebody else in office.
and just like somebody else in office, he can only talk
Ruined Art...
January 28th, 2010
2:37 pm
Hey Art Vandelay, you have now ruined a perfectly good fake name. And my favorite burrito. Go back to the northeast and let the real folks from Georgia deal with Georgia’s problems. You have obviously never spent any time outside the perimeter to see what people actually think about Atlanta. I am sure all your info comes from the morons (yes I guess I am in moron mode since I am writing) who spend countless hours on these blogs.
And by outside the perimeter I don’t mean Dunwoody or Marietta. Head to south Georgia, or the mountains, or the coast. This is an awesome state and we are lucky to have Atlanta, ya’ll just need to get your act together and quit acting like you are the only game in the state. Sounds like Mr. Reed has taken a good first step towards it.
lol
January 28th, 2010
2:38 pm
oh and purdue is a disgrace to this state… at least we can agree on something
White Boy
January 28th, 2010
2:38 pm
Thanks for proving my point “Arrogant City-Dwellers”. Be the first the in your trailer park to read a book…please. Also, thank the 8 year old that typed your response.
DirtyDawg
January 28th, 2010
2:38 pm
Hopefully Mayor Reed’s ‘yassa-massa’ approach to the Republican, OTP-dominated Legislature will produce some better results when it comes to a sensible sharing of transportation funding. We’ll see. There was a time when MARTA was the envy of the country when it came to metropolitan transit systems, but years of underfunding and lack of support from an increasingly hostile Legislature – one driven primarily by prejudice – has taken its toll.
Frankly, the only hope I see is if, by some miracle, Roy Barnes will be returned to the Governors office to try and finish the work he started back before the nitwits handed the office over to, arguably, the dumbest peckerwood ever to have held it.
JohnAtl
January 28th, 2010
2:39 pm
DJ Sniper – Check your facts, please. There has not been an actual MARTA vote in the suburbs since 1990. You are remembering a straw vote in Gwinnett – it meant nothing, and it was very close.
I commend Mayor Reed for reaching out. Just imagine how much we can get done when Roy Barnes returns to office.
If “the Ox” happens to win, it’s over for Atlanta and this formerly great State. You can count on it.
mc
January 28th, 2010
2:39 pm
Falcon Fan: exactly it is not! It does not even compare with Chicago, or Seatlle as far as that goes;
Falcon Fan
January 28th, 2010
2:42 pm
If you vote down Marta coming into your county, don’t complain about traffic! Again why would people put New York, Paris, Boston, Chicago, or any other older American European city to Atlanta. Atlanta was a R.R. hub while these other cities were booming. Charlotte will do it right by learning from Atlanta’s mistakes and backward politics.
mitch
January 28th, 2010
2:45 pm
MC- Please tell me why you are here?
White Boy
January 28th, 2010
2:46 pm
mc-Shouldn’t you be out looking for a new trailer hitch?
Arrogant City-Dwellers
January 28th, 2010
2:46 pm
And thank you White Boy for proving my thoughts about City Dwellers who think all of us who live outside of the Perimeter live in trailer parks and can’t read.
TP4U
January 28th, 2010
2:49 pm
Mayor Reed is on the right track. Let all Georgians pray our legislators and constitutional officers get how desperately we need a transportation system. We are losing companies wanting to relocate in the South to Charlotte and other cities because of our lack of transportation. We don’t need anymore roads. We need a rail system that will move people to jobs. Until we make transportation a priority we will lose more jobs, more homeowners will lose their homes and the crime issue will continue to increase. I have lived in metro Atlanta for 20 years and we have been stuck on stupid no matter who has been in charge. When the gubernatorial candidates ask for your vote==the questions should be, “Will you support and vigorously work toward a rail system?”
White Boy
January 28th, 2010
2:51 pm
“Arrogant City-Dwellers” You are too stupid to own a house. Shouldn’t you also be out looking for a new trailer hitch? Or is it not your responsibility because you don’t own the trailer either?!
professional skeptic
January 28th, 2010
2:52 pm
Kudos, Mayor Reed, for extending the olive branch. For the sake of all Georgians, I wish you the best in your efforts to reach common ground with the rural legislators.
Sgt. At Arms
January 28th, 2010
2:53 pm
Saying Gwinnett County is the drug hub of the Southeast is an understatement. When you have the notorious drug mafia MS13 dug in deep you have real problems. Gwinnett County is surely outgunned
In addition to Gwinnett, Cherokee is the Meth hub of the Southeast, followed by areas of Forsyth with Marijuana but of course you’ll never hear about it on the 6:00 news unless its SE Atlanta…LMAO
White Boy
January 28th, 2010
2:58 pm
Tell them “Sgt. At Arms”!
Arrogant City-Dwellers
January 28th, 2010
2:58 pm
White Boy, you sure talk a big game over the internet. I bet you wouldn’t have the spine to say these things to me in person……..
And yes, I do own a house. A nice big, 2-story house on an acre of land in the suburbs. I could fit your one-bedroom loft in my bonus room with room to spare.
White Boy
January 28th, 2010
3:01 pm
You are no one to be afraid of trust me…and I do mean trust me. And no, you do not own a house!
Arrogant City-Dwellers
January 28th, 2010
3:02 pm
Why on Earth would you be arguing with me on where I live or don’t live? How old are you? 12?
I’ve never wanted to punch a poster so much before………
DJ Sniper
January 28th, 2010
3:07 pm
JohnAtl, thank you for that information. I remember the straw poll in Gwinnett a couple of years ago, and I remember how there were some people trying to use the crime angle as to why they didn’t want MARTA up there. I agree with you that this state will take another few steps backwards if Ox is elected governor. I pray that another Pub candidate can overtake him.
White Boy
January 28th, 2010
3:08 pm
That would be your girlfriend’s age. And that is the only person you are probably punching these days in your 1978 model trailer!
dylandawg
January 28th, 2010
3:09 pm
Same story everywhere. Lib city Atl pays more in taxes then it recieves in services. Anti-tax crowd freeloads. Lib states Mass, Ny, Calif,etc. pay more into the federal government then they receive back. Republican states, all recieve more back then they put in. Anti-tax crowd freeloads. Don’t believe me—look it up.
Sonny Lied!
January 28th, 2010
3:10 pm
White Boy:
While ACD may sound like an arrogant SOB from the suburbs himself, his posts are at least semi-intelligent. You really do sound like a kid. Grow up, dude.
Kasim Reed
January 28th, 2010
3:15 pm
People, People
We will get through this crisis together, as new mayor I plan on fixing the budget by doing illegal activities such as my last two counterparts. I will continue to tear down historical sites and monuments and make Atlanta look like disney world rather than the thug capital that it is. As Mayor, I will finish running all of the poor people out the city, build new land fields in your backyards, and ensure that elected/head officials continue to rob the city of its money.
Sincerely Yours,
Kasim Reed
White Boy
January 28th, 2010
3:17 pm
Sonny Lied! We all know that you and ACD are roommates and I would give you less than semi-intelligent! Thanks for playing. And it takes one to know one!
Sonny Lied!
January 28th, 2010
3:26 pm
Wow, Kasim Reed. That was………inspiring. (it’s “landfills”, btw, not “land fields”).
Reed and his experience with the State could be a huge boost for Atlanta, but he needs to remember that he is a mayor now, not just a state senator. He actually has to do work now. Mayor first, former state senator second. And the fact that he wants a good, friendly relationship with City Council is another plus. Queen Shirley always wanted to pick fights with council members, not compromise. But Reed has absolutely no knowledge of city politics yet. It could be a major weakness when dealing with the 3,000 NPUs that exist (which should be abolished, IMHO).
ATLNative
January 28th, 2010
3:31 pm
I usually like to come in before the fireworks start, but oh well. At any rate, there’s so much more involved here than just “people not wanting MARTA”. While you all whine and moan about the city vs. the ‘burbs, you forget that MARTA doesn’t even service the inner-city well enough. They didn’t even build a baseball stadium with rail access!! For the time being, forget MARTA. Concentrate on the Beltline. It’s the only thing that is remotely close to being a reality that actually goes near places people generally enjoy frequenting. It will foster business development, add transportation, and give people jobs. MARTA requires new tracks or tunnels that NOBODY wants running through their backyard… whether they be ITP or OTP. They had proposed running a new MARTA line from Lindbergh to Decatur a while back that would actually have an Emory University train station – but no one wanted tracks running through their backyard. So despite the countless people who “want more rail”, show them a map and they go NIMBY on you. Unless we find a TBM on sale, MARTA is a pipe dream except to the west where your neighbor is a sewage treatment plant.
Sonny Lied!
January 28th, 2010
3:42 pm
The problem with having rail in Atlanta is that it never developed as a “pedestrian” environment. Atlanta got going (again) with the advent of the motor vehicle. By that time, cities like London, NYC, and even Boston were already established as powerhouse-type cities with a focus on moving residents around without the aid of cars.
For Atlanta to get more and efficient rail service (Sorry, MARTA) it’s going to have to be a regional project…..but that would mean having enough jobs here so people who live in Macon, Columbus, Chattanooga, etc. would commute here for work. Once you have people coming over hundred miles to work here (with fast-rail, of course), then you have to figure out how to move them about the City. That motivation could be enough to light a fire under the arses of State leaders, especially if their constituents are commuting here for work. Just study the history and development of NY/NJ PATH. The blueprint is already there
Joe Biden
January 28th, 2010
3:43 pm
It is all Bush’s fault (my boss Odumbo told me so)
iRow
January 28th, 2010
3:44 pm
Mayor Reed is to be commended for extending an olive branch to an undeserving legislature. I trust he will stay on message, and deliver the funds that we need to continue Atlanta’s transformation into a progressive, urbane and worldly city.
Just get us what we want, Mr Mayor. We want parks, we want trees on our streets, we want walkable neighborhoods, we want streetcars, and we want mass transit. We don’t want any more roads here, and we don’t want our taxes to fund any more hick highways in the hinterlands. Let them pay for their own asphalt.
Stay on message, Kasim Reed.
White Boy
January 28th, 2010
3:48 pm
Sonny Lied! Nice to see that you are doing your spell check in “MS WORD” before posting! Great Work Kid! Also, great uses of acronyms. You make us all proud!
Sonny Lied!
January 28th, 2010
3:51 pm
I’m sorry…..did I just hear a mouse fart?
…….strange……
White Boy
January 28th, 2010
3:55 pm
Clean your trailer and you won’t have mice! or better yet “CYTAYWHM” since that is what make you feel smart.
Sonny Lied!
January 28th, 2010
4:01 pm
Awesome grammar, dude. Definite APS graduate there, folks! Keep em’ coming, Short-Round. I got one more hour to play.
Try Me
January 28th, 2010
4:01 pm
Any chance of cooperation between the suburbs and the city would evaporate as people read the ignorant hatred on this blog. Why in the world would someone from south GA want to help the people who think in racist stereotypes.
mc
January 28th, 2010
4:13 pm
If I could sell my condo and move to madrid with a trust fund – i would be out of this ghetto city! UWS – NYC or SF anyday anytime!
Mayor Reed keeps rivals and haters close at hand | Fresh Loaf
January 28th, 2010
4:15 pm
[...] in his address to the House this morning, as the AJC’s Jim Galloway reports, Reed told the assemblage of mostly rural lawmakers: “I want you to know you have a capital [...]
Aaron Burr V. Mexico
January 28th, 2010
4:15 pm
All a matter of perspective there mc since some of consider the ‘ghetto’ to be the knuckle dragging Republican areas outside the perimeter.
White Boy
January 28th, 2010
4:15 pm
Try Me…I agree with you. I just love people like Sonny Lied! out in the open in which to have fun. I notice that Sonny Lied! likes to make people think he is more intelligent that he really is. Maybe someone told him he was at some point in life and he ran with it. But, if a blog is going to get off track, I just love having fun with the self-entitled smart folks like my man. As mentioned, TRY ME I couldn’t agree with you more.
Dwight
January 28th, 2010
4:18 pm
I admire Kasim for going to the Legislature and saying let’s all get along. That is what most of us want and should demand.
Now, with that said, Atlanta has to grow up. When the effort to throw contracts to “friends” is ongoing, there are city requirements that run up the costs and nothing is managed effectively, don’t ask the rest of us for bail out. It would be like throwing good money after bad. The City of Atlanta can’t get monthly water bills correct.
As for MARTA, they don’t run a good bus or train service. Remember the deal they tried to pull on Cobb and Gwinett of vote to join MARTA and we won’t spend money in your county for 5 or more years, solidified opposition against MARTA.
To fix the traffic problem in the Metro area will require taking MARTA, Cobb Transit, Gwinette Transit, Clayton Transit and other transit services and rolling them into a new agency that is not required to keep the MARTA Union contracts or any existing employees (not against MARTA union or employees, must have a fresh start) that is controlled by a Board with representatives from all counties. Then you will get Metro and State money into a transit program (Houston, TX did this several years ago to solve the same issues).
If Atlanta and MARTA clean up their act, become efficient and manage the revenue for the benefit of Atlanta (and Georgia), then the state will probably be willing to help. There are estimated to be 540,000 people in Atlanta and 9,300,000 people live in Georgia outside Atlanta. Many people living outside Atlanta think giving our money to Atlanta would be like giving an Alcoholic another bottle of Whiskey. You just have to convince 45% or more of Georgians living outside Atlanta to help.
Jim
January 28th, 2010
4:31 pm
I THINK WE ELECTED THE WRONG BLACK GUY PRESIDENT…
DannyX
January 28th, 2010
4:35 pm
Thats the problem. Atlanta learned from the best Dwight. The state of Georgia good ol boy system is notorious for just about everything you just pinned on Atlanta. Part of the reason Atlanta is in this mess is because both sides go home bragging about how they really let the other side have it, at the same time stuffing their own pockets.
The DOT is a mess and the City of Atlanta is a mess. The state and city governments are both to blame. Cut off your nose despite your face is no way to run a government.
Criticizing Reed here is nonsense. Our elected officials need to start working together. Both sides need to get their act together.
Sonny Lied!
January 28th, 2010
4:46 pm
White Boy:
I think Try Me was talking about you…….you know….racist stereotypes (thinking I live in a trailer and all). Maybe YOU aren’t as smart as YOU think.
Try Me:
Sorry if I misread you.
DannyX
January 28th, 2010
4:47 pm
Why does the State of Georgia go out of its way for Delta Airlines but do nothing for marta? The State goes out of their way to help Delta with huge tax cuts. MARTA gets nothing from the State. Nothing but constant conflict. Cobb and Gwinnett systems DO get lots of State funding.
You say MARTA has been poorly managed and doesn’t deserve help? What a gross double standard.
Delta Airlines lost over a billion dollars last year and is near the bottom in customer satisfaction. They just emerged from bankruptcy. They changed management due to prior incompetence. There have been illegal drug arrests at their operation facilities. 2 of their pilots were busy playing video games and wandered the skies. A terrorist was able to board one of their jets. They are having major labor strife.
What kind of vendetta does the state have against MARTA, by comparison MARTA has been much better managed lately. It would be very easy to demonize Delta the same way.
Sonny Lied!
January 28th, 2010
4:53 pm
The State under funds the City anyway, why not MARTA to boot? Atlanta, compared to other major US cities, gets half of what NYC or LA get from their State leaders in tax funds. Not exactly clear on the percentages but it’s something like NYC gets 10% of state revenues, while Atlanta gets 3%. If the state raises those payments to even 5%, you would start to see a change.
But Dwight is right. Us ignant rednecks in south Bumblef**k won’t give anymore money to a gov’t we see as corrupt. If Atlanta gov’t can clean up it’s unethical act, the burbs might be open to handing over more money.
White Boy
January 28th, 2010
4:57 pm
I purposely made the typos and/or the comments to hear from you on more time. And to correct you, he was talking about us! I can see that you are blind as well! Dude you are too easy!
White Boy
January 28th, 2010
4:58 pm
“Not exactly clear on the percentages but it’s something like NYC gets 10% of state revenues, while Atlanta gets 3%. If the state raises those payments to even 5%, you would start to see a change.”
You are so funny!
Georgian in the Bluegrass
January 28th, 2010
5:00 pm
As a person born and raised in a western suburb of Atlanta (but had to move to KY for employment opportunities), I am saddened by the state of the city and its relationship with the rest of the state. It is completely understandable to me how most people outside of Atlanta City Limits do not trust previous mayors and the populace in general. While I enjoy all of the new developments and different cultural influences, a lot of the changes have been made in spite of and with animosity towards the areas outside ACL. I imagine most of the comments calling non-Atlantans white-trash, trailer park losers are either transplants or are so wrapped up in creating fundamental change of the city (and state as a whole). A lot of people from outside Atlanta love the charisma of the south (and not the negative events of the past – before you go there). There are a lot features of the south east that are admirable and worthy of having pride in.
With all of that said, I understand the initial hesitance of the legislature to another appeal by an Atlanta mayor for more money, resources, etc. I like the thrust of what Mayor Reed said to the legislature, and more needs to be made to heal the divide made between the city and the rest of the state. Otherwise, my old home state will turn into what I currently see in Kentucky – Louisville, and everywhere else. Both sides actively thwart each other’s attempts to make advances in developing transportation, education, etc., etc. In the end, they hold each other back and in the end, everyone suffers…
shirley
January 28th, 2010
5:02 pm
Great news for Atlanta! Reed has the experience and relationships under the Gold Dome that will make a BIG difference for MARTA, Atlanta and the region.
DannyX
January 28th, 2010
5:13 pm
The burbs? You guys are doing so good right now? Living here in Decatur its not so bad getting around. You have a traffic nightmare. How do you think you are going to get out of that mess? You all have painted yourselves into a corner.. This traffic mess is a ‘burb problem.
Gwinnett County has been getting the bad press lately. To go along with your unbearable traffic you have had horrible management from your county leaders. Lots of bad decision making involving the connected. Judge Oxendine come to mind. Receiving 33 million with special help from the legislature, money meant to go to poor school districts was a coup for the county never mentioned by the Tea Party noisemakers. How about that stadium deal! Cobb county is no better, they just allowed one of their utilities to be stolen in a great day light robbery.
Explain how the burbs are going to get out of their jam.
Charlie Horse
January 28th, 2010
5:13 pm
White boy…leave Sonny Lied! alone and let him feel, as smart as, he wants to feel. We all see his true nature and he’s not fooling anyone with his passive aggressive approach. I know that you are having fun, but let him feel like a big boy here. It is probably the chance he gets.
New Transplant
January 28th, 2010
6:18 pm
I got to the bottom and completely forgot about what I was reading. Something about White Boys and Sonny Lieds in trailer homes. FML for reading all of these comments.
Lip service or not, Reed is talking pretty big. I hope he sticks to it, otherwise, I’ll be voting in another Mayor in a few years.
And props to Galloway, bringing me all of this transit news. This is what I crave! My no. 1 issue for Governor this year is transit, in the city and throughout the state.
cmitchell
January 28th, 2010
9:49 pm
I do not see how anyone can say Marta wastes money. Go to the FTA website and see how marta compares to other big cities. I know I was surprised. Marta according to the FTA does a great job. Do not believe everything you hear check it and find out for yourself.
check it out yourself! Marta is facing 30% cuts in service and lay off of over a 1000 people. This state is dead in the water if that happens. What happens in atlanta does affect the whole state’s economy.
atlantaguy
January 28th, 2010
10:12 pm
He speaks well and sounds like there’s a brain floating around inside his skull. If he stands by his words, he might not be the “Bill Campbell Junior” that many thought he would turn out to be. He’ll have to prove his worth, though. As history showed, Hitler was also known for his wonderful speeches, too. There’s more to a good leader than being able to woo an audience. So Mr. Reed – prove yourself.
Daedalus
January 29th, 2010
9:43 am
The state legislature is not going to anything about transit — all they want to do is siphon off metro Atlanta tax dollars for four-lane roads in south Georgia and the mountains.
I know the GOP true believers will continue to deny it — but a GSU study showed that metro Atlanta counties subsidize the rest of the state — not the other way around.
MARTA gets good marks from the feds for its fiscal policies; GDOT is a disaster. But the facts don’t matter.
If you live outside 285, enjoy your car, because you will continue to sit in traffic.
InTown Lib is On Crack
January 31st, 2010
11:33 am
Shirley Franklin “modernized the city’s accounting system”? With what? An abacus? Do you even know how friggin’ out of balance the books became under her and her gal-pal, the former CFO? And as for all your garbage about the Beltline (which most Atlantans are sick of hearing about) and the Peachtree Redundancy Trolley–clearly you ain’t from around here or you would know that damn trolley exactly mimics the route of the existing #10 MARTA bus. We don’t need it. It’s just going to be one more thing to waste money and screw up Peachtree Street. So much money was wasted under Shirley. Did you know that the vast majority of TAD housing units are condos?! CONDOS. The worst thing to happen to the housing market since Sherman’s fire. Did you know that about half of them are unoccupied and have been that way for years?
Okayyyyy
February 1st, 2010
2:07 am
I agree we need to support our new mayor yes he is a smooth talker, handsome and all hopefully he can work with his buddies at the dome and we can all get a ride on marta! hopefuly he will get married oh thats not up for discussion hopefully he can get some federal monies to get atlanta moving lets just wish him well i am scared to think otherwise!
John
February 10th, 2010
7:13 pm
all you lefty wingnuts don’t understand that no one with a brain wants georgia to be like new york, or atlanta to be like nyc. If you like it up there, with crushing state welfare costs, sky-high labor costs that drive away small business, and taxes so high that businesses are RUNNING away as fast as possible, please go there. I guess that those “hopers” and “changers” still haven’t realized that utopia and reality cannot coexist. Those of us who don’t go into a reverie when we hear liberal ideals would prefer slower, more stable growth that won’t explode like the situations in NY and CA.
Bubba
February 11th, 2010
11:19 am
Fact is Marta is getting ready to severely cut employees and not the one’s at the top. The Top echelon could at least take a large PAYCUT that would save needed operator and maintenance jobs. And are they offering early retirement to get rid of some of the old (dead) weight collecting top wages and sleeping on the job? “We will never offer that” stated Beverly Scott.
Once again the man on the bottom is a pawn to power brokers.
SO much for stimulus.