Comments on: Mayoral candidates need to quit criticizing Franklin and begin offering hope for Atlanta http://saportareport.com/blog/2009/10/mayoral-candidates-need-to-quit-criticizing-and-begin-offering-hope/ Maria Saporta is a longtime Atlanta business, civic and urban affairs journalist with a deep knowledge of our city, our region and state. Tue, 22 May 2012 04:51:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Mark http://saportareport.com/blog/2009/10/mayoral-candidates-need-to-quit-criticizing-and-begin-offering-hope/comment-page-1/#comment-2223 Mark Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:36:36 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=2137#comment-2223 While Shirley Franklin certainly brought some dignity back to the office and performed very well compared to Bill Campbell, that is setting the bar pretty low. She inherited a city in a financial crisis and is leaving the city in a far bigger one. While some of that certainly can be blamed on the overall economic crisis, many decisions made when the city seemed to have money will haunt us for years. Undertaking the sewer project based on the promise of federal or state money and especially the decisions made about increasing pensions for police, fore and city workers. Those decisions were made either because the finance dept was in such bad shape that they could not tell the Mayor what they really meant to the city long term or she was aware and ignored those consequences. While Shirley Franklin certainly brought some dignity back to the office and performed very well compared to Bill Campbell, that is setting the bar pretty low.

She inherited a city in a financial crisis and is leaving the city in a far bigger one. While some of that certainly can be blamed on the overall economic crisis, many decisions made when the city seemed to have money will haunt us for years. Undertaking the sewer project based on the promise of federal or state money and especially the decisions made about increasing pensions for police, fore and city workers.

Those decisions were made either because the finance dept was in such bad shape that they could not tell the Mayor what they really meant to the city long term or she was aware and ignored those consequences.

]]> By: Dan http://saportareport.com/blog/2009/10/mayoral-candidates-need-to-quit-criticizing-and-begin-offering-hope/comment-page-1/#comment-2215 Dan Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:31:33 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=2137#comment-2215 The Mayor's great failing is the Finance Department. She had 8 years to fix it and didn't. Was that by design? She and her commissioners are the only ones who know where the money is and how to access it. That is no way to run a city but that is how Atlanta is being run. The Mayor’s great failing is the Finance Department.

She had 8 years to fix it and didn’t. Was that by design?

She and her commissioners are the only ones who know where the money is and how to access it.

That is no way to run a city but that is how Atlanta is being run.

]]> By: David C http://saportareport.com/blog/2009/10/mayoral-candidates-need-to-quit-criticizing-and-begin-offering-hope/comment-page-1/#comment-2214 David C Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:04:06 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=2137#comment-2214 So the strategy that worked to get Obama elected isn't okay to follow here in Atlanta for the mayoral election? Come on now. It's definitely time for a change in Atlanta. The failed policies of the Franklin administration and those of admistrations past should be front and center in this discussion. What is missing are viable solutions to these issues rather than more of the same from people who have contributed to the current problems. Until one of the candidates proposes scrapping the city pension plan and replacing it with social security and a 401k, or privatizing Hartsfield Airport, or having a real budget with real revenue and expense projections, we should all vote for None of the Above. Anyone who supports spending a single dollar on a hair-brained streetcar should be excluded from the discussion immediately. Same goes for the Beltline project. Until we fix our current problems, undertaking any new grandiose, high dollar initiatives should be on indefinite hold. So the strategy that worked to get Obama elected isn’t okay to follow here in Atlanta for the mayoral election? Come on now. It’s definitely time for a change in Atlanta. The failed policies of the Franklin administration and those of admistrations past should be front and center in this discussion. What is missing are viable solutions to these issues rather than more of the same from people who have contributed to the current problems. Until one of the candidates proposes scrapping the city pension plan and replacing it with social security and a 401k, or privatizing Hartsfield Airport, or having a real budget with real revenue and expense projections, we should all vote for None of the Above. Anyone who supports spending a single dollar on a hair-brained streetcar should be excluded from the discussion immediately. Same goes for the Beltline project. Until we fix our current problems, undertaking any new grandiose, high dollar initiatives should be on indefinite hold.

]]> By: Let's Be Honest Maria http://saportareport.com/blog/2009/10/mayoral-candidates-need-to-quit-criticizing-and-begin-offering-hope/comment-page-1/#comment-2204 Let's Be Honest Maria Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:07:23 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=2137#comment-2204 Maria, I have always enjoyed your columns and our many candid discussions but let's be honest about the 4-pillars award. Borders supporters giving the Mayor an award for what in return.....building her up so that her endorsement can help elect the next Mayor....and we know who she will not endorse as she made that clear many, many years ago. As to the facts, our City faces a crisis because of complete and total financial mismanagement compounded by the economic climate. If you read the City's financial reports you will find that our General Government net worth has gone down over $400 million since 2002. This mostly shows up in unrestricted net assets with a net balance of -320 million. So what makes up the negative balance (to you and me this is our checking account)? How was this financed without approvals and authorizations? The next Mayor will certainly find out. I personally believe that governments represent a monopoly and just like AIG and so many others (or Enron) people should be held accountable regardless of whether it is criminal or not. To simply ignore it and bestow awards for political purposes - perpetuates it into the future and makes it acceptable for the next and next Administration(s). An example should be made. Mayor Franklin continues to way into the campaign with tax paid employees which I believe is wrong. As long as that continues, expect even more facts about the Administration to be revealed. Angry Taxpayer Maria,

I have always enjoyed your columns and our many candid discussions but let’s be honest about the 4-pillars award. Borders supporters giving the Mayor an award for what in return…..building her up so that her endorsement can help elect the next Mayor….and we know who she will not endorse as she made that clear many, many years ago.

As to the facts, our City faces a crisis because of complete and total financial mismanagement compounded by the economic climate. If you read the City’s financial reports you will find that our General Government net worth has gone down over $400 million since 2002. This mostly shows up in unrestricted net assets with a net balance of -320 million. So what makes up the negative balance (to you and me this is our checking account)? How was this financed without approvals and authorizations? The next Mayor will certainly find out.

I personally believe that governments represent a monopoly and just like AIG and so many others (or Enron) people should be held accountable regardless of whether it is criminal or not. To simply ignore it and bestow awards for political purposes – perpetuates it into the future and makes it acceptable for the next and next Administration(s). An example should be made.

Mayor Franklin continues to way into the campaign with tax paid employees which I believe is wrong. As long as that continues, expect even more facts about the Administration to be revealed.

Angry Taxpayer

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