Mr. Reed goes to Buckhead - Update

Mayor Reed tells the Buckhead Coalition that he won’t raise property taxes

Mayor Kasim Reed gave the keynote address at the annual meeting of the Buckhead Coalition yesterday, treating the assembled captains of industry (OK, actually mostly developers) to the nine most beautiful words in the English language:

“I will not raise taxes in my first term.”

Added Reed: “You have my word.” Talk about telling people what they want to hear.

You may recall that the Buckhead Coalition, an ultra-exclusive cabal of local CEOs, did not view Reed as their favored pick for mayor. Oh, they gave him some money, as they did Lisa Borders. But they gave twice as much to Mary Norwood, who lives up there and moves in the same circles.

So it must have been music to their ears to hear the new mayor acknowledge the substantial property taxes and business fees they pay and to have him say, and I quote: “I do not view Buckhead as a bank for the city of Atlanta.”

Keep in mind that Reed isn’t stumping for votes anymore. I don’t remember hearing him speak quite so definitively about taxes on the campaign trail as he did yesterday at 103 West. But then, the Coalition luncheon is a once-a-year opportunity to speak to a good chunk of the city’s top businessmen (and a few women) all gathered in one room at the same time.