Comments on: Mayor owes apology to police union leader

By: Sara

Sara — Tue, 05 May 2009 21:58:20 +0000

I moved to Atlanta in 2005 so I have only been around for the second half of Franklin’s reign, but I cannot imagine that her 2001-2005 were so good that they outweigh the disaster of the last 4 years. Maybe she seemed like a great mayor when she came in because she replaced years of incompetence and a criminally corrupt predecessor, but she has absolutely fallen down on the job in her second term. I, for one, will not be sad to see her go.

By: S. Dekalb Voter

S. Dekalb Voter — Tue, 05 May 2009 01:23:37 +0000

Franklin favorables are 70%, not Norwood silly. Mary Norwood is a joke. I would never vote for a Buckhead Republican for Mayor of Atlanta. We would be the laughingstock of US cities.

I agree with the last comment. Good journalists would get the council members who are running for mayor on record now. How about that Andy? Can you even get an interview with those folks?

By: cityzen

cityzen — Tue, 05 May 2009 01:18:14 +0000

Hats off for a good piece of journalism that reminds us what the Mayor was asserting a while back and contrasts it with what she says now. We need more of that to keep these pols honest.

Second, how about going after the candidates? Mary Norwood sent out a piece a few weeks ago targeting 2200 cops, yet here she is refusing to support the Mayor’s tax increase. Since she also won’t say where she would save money, she is even more full of it than the Mayor. And it would be amazing if the other candidates were any better. What is Lisa Borders’s position exactly on the tax increase, specific spending cuts, the furloughs and police numbers (or on anything else)?

When is any candidate going to promise to get pension and retiree health expenses under control – and not just push them off to another day? The latest ruse, spreading the cost over 30 years, is like the pols did with the sewers. Those retiree costs jumped when council handed out greatly improved benefits in 2001 and 2005. They are eating us alive and leave precious little over for city services.

By: Franklin for Retirement

Franklin for Retirement — Tue, 05 May 2009 01:04:36 +0000

SDV: What is your point? You say the majority of Atlantans like Shirley. You say Mary Norwood has 70% favorables. You then diss the mayoral candidates, including Mary Norwood. If you are saying favorable ratings = poor mayor, I agree with you. Because Shirley Franklin was favorably looked upon, even though she has done everything poorly.

By: atlpaddy

atlpaddy — Tue, 05 May 2009 00:36:11 +0000

Wait a minute, Shirley Franklin is still mayor of Atlanta?

By: S. Dekalb Voter

S. Dekalb Voter — Mon, 04 May 2009 23:40:00 +0000

The city may have a huge budget deficit, but so does every major city/state/country.

It’s incorrect to compare this budget deficit to the one she inherited from Campbell. His was accrued during one of the biggest economic booms in history. Hers happened during the second biggest recession ever.

You people are the minority. The majority of Atlantans like Shirley. Check Mary Norwood’s latest poll where she had a favorability over 70%. However, I understand the role of the dissenter.

We’ll all miss her when she’s gone. Look at this new cast of mayoral candidates. Good luck with them.

By: Franklin for Retirement

Franklin for Retirement — Mon, 04 May 2009 21:16:27 +0000

Shirley Franklin came into office saddled with a budget deficit and with the public having no confidence in City Hall. After eight years as mayor, Shirley Franklin will leave her successor with a huge budget deficit and with people having no confidence in the City. Shirley is probably better than Bill Campbell in that she is not a convicted felon, but that is not saying a whole lot. Shirley has been an enormous disappointment and has little to show for her eight years as mayor other than the ability to build very active public relations department.

By: wesleywhatwhat

wesleywhatwhat — Mon, 04 May 2009 20:09:41 +0000

mayor franklin HAS been the most CL-friendly mayor of atlanta since bill campbell…

By: S. Dekalb Voter

S. Dekalb Voter — Mon, 04 May 2009 18:02:09 +0000

Andy, you’ll miss Mayor Franklin when she leaves office. She’s been the most CL-friendly mayor this town has ever had. Just wait until you get to deal with the next mayor and you’ll be begging for her back :-)