Mr. Reed goes to Buckhead — Update
January 28, 2010 at 11:14 am by Scott Henry in News
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.
Who are we talking about? Well, I spotted cookie magnate Michael Coles, Shepherd Spinal Center founder Alana Shepherd, condo and hotel developer Jim Borders and many other big wheels and muckety-mucks. Also there for the free lunch were nearly every City Council member and about half the Fulton County Commission.
Speaking of which, Fulton Commission Chairman John Eaves spoke only briefly, but he used his time to deliver a little homily about cooperation and teamwork, saying nothing tangible whatsoever — much less addressing the relationship between county government and the business sector.
I hate to say this, because Eaves is a nice, well-meaning guy, but I have yet to see anything to suggest that he isn’t completely out of his depth overseeing a county that’s literally in an existential crisis. Milton, anyone?
UPDATE: I’ve been reminded that the Coalition membership is not composed mostly of developers anymore, but represents a more diverse spectrum of business interests, races and religions. I’m even told it may include a couple of Democrats!
January 28th, 2010 at 11:37 am
Didn’t someone else say “Read my lips, no new taxes?”
January 28th, 2010 at 12:21 pm
Spelling correction: It’s ‘Reed my lips.’ And it was uttered during a campaign, not after it.
My Kaution Kuotient on Kasim just rose. Unless he can slash pension expense very deeply he won’t be able to run the city without increasing millage as assessments fall.
Perhaps it depends how you define tax increase, to allude to another in a series of great American leaders. (Sigh) A mill increase to offset assessment decrease could be argued to be no tax increase at all. Revenues would stay flat, as they have for the past 8 years.