Pennington to Atlantans: Quit complaining and everything will be fine
January 26, 2009 at 10:51 am by Andisheh Nouraee in NewsDid anyone else catch the AJC’s astonishing Q&A with Atlanta Police Chief Richard Pennington yesterday?
Mayor Franklin and Police Chief Richard Pennington at a 2007 public meeting to discuss crime.
If so, you would you know Pennington doesn’t think there’s a problem with crime in Atlanta. He thinks there’s a problem with the PERCEPTION of crime in Atlanta.
Q: What do you attribute [the public outcry] to?
A: These community groups work closely together. When they hear about one crime, they e-mail their neighbors and then you get a barrage of e-mails. I think they just respond to what they hear. And a lot of times, perception to them is reality.
Did you catch that Atlanta? Stop e-mailing your friends and neighbors about crime and everything will be fine. The murders of Adair Freeman and John Henderson can’t scare you if you don’t know about them.
Atlantans Together Against Crime and Cutbacks is rallying in Little Five Points from 5 to 7 p.m. tonight. The group was founded hours after Henderson was gunned down at the Standard.
I was planning to attend, but now that Pennington’s explained to me that the real problem is my attitude, I may just stay home and watch Ellen.
(Photo by Joeff Davis)
January 27th, 2009 at 10:04 am
What a couple of politicking motherf*ckers. Ask any cop and they will tell you that crime is absolutely out of control right now. My boyfriend got mugged at gunpoint 3 weeks ago. I couldn’t understand at that point why the cops were speaking badly about Franklin and the Atlanta government but things are certainly becoming clearer. When your leaders are not concerned with the very basic PUBLIC SAFETY there is something beyond wrong.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:37 am
stop complainging and things will be gine…. for Pennington because he won’t have to deal with the complaints.
Hey Genius! All these neighborhood watch groups EXIST because we have to do something to protect ourselves. It isn’t becasue we just love doing the City’s job. DUH!!
January 28th, 2009 at 10:05 am
Crime is not high in ATL? Wow! After hearing that 911 calls in atlanta are around 3000 calls per day, that doesnt mean crime is high, right?
January 28th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
No- 3000 calls per day isn’t because of high crime. That’s evidence of low crime. There are 4 million people here, and only 3000 are bothered enough to call 911?
If you are ever one of the overly sensitive 3000 who hasn’t yet learned how to appreciate the Strength of Our Diversity, then you need to take a personal inventory of your upringing and prejudices. Maybe what you fear isn’t to be feared at all, but needs affirmation as our glorious ubaniity jes keepn it real.
January 28th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Dear 9111111111111 help:
There are approximately 520,000 people in Atlanta. Not 4 million.