E Pluribus Unum
A month or so ago, I posted my vision of development in Atlanta via a video clip of an old Robin Williams comedy routine.
I fantasize that it would be great if we could push all of Atlanta’s city neighborhoods together and make one good city.
In the 1980s, Williams joked about how men, during intercourse, were always pushing women’s breasts together “to make one good one.” (See the jump for the video clip).
I was reminded of this metaphor last night at a mayoral forum that was held at the Park Tavern.
My beat here is urban development, smart growth and livable neighborhoods, not politics, so I have avoided writing much about Atlanta’s mayoral race.
But whoever becomes mayor will be making decisions that affect urban development and smart growth so it’s appropriate to spend some time here on the blog discussing the race.
Last night, during the panel discussion, which was sponsored by the Atlanta Jaycees, I came to some initial conclusions.
We have five candidates, each with something to share.
Lisa Borders: Very prepared; very professional; her no-nonsense demeanor is such that I know she would not embarrass me were she to become mayor.
Mary Norwood: Clearly passionate, hard-working, willing to make some tough criticisms and probably willing to work hard to change some of what’s wrong with Atlanta (I liked Ernie Suggs’ piece on her in the AJC).
Kasim Reed: Crucial connections and experience with the state legislature — something this ugly stepchild of a city could use as it attempts in vain to negotiate with the state.
Glenn Thomas: Down-to-earth, full of enthusiasm. I could easily imagine having a cup of coffee with Mr. Thomas.
And last but not least, Jesse Spikes, who is refreshing, competent, accomplished and rightly indignant over the state of the city and the people who should accept blame for allowing Atlanta to reach these depths of desperation.
So back to the Robin Williams routine.
Can’t we just take these positive characteristics and push them together to make one good mayoral candidate?
I’m just not sure if any one of the five alone is capable of fixing the city.
Each candidate said some interesting things.
Thomas, for example, was the only one to mention streetcars, bike lanes and pocket parks downtown multiple times. Indeed he astutely pointed out that while the region added more than one million residents in recent years, Atlanta only added 100,000. Yes, Mr. Thomas — only is right. We could do so much better.
Spikes, an attorney, wisely said sales tax revenue and other sources of income for the city will return. The real question, he said, alluding to fiscal mismanagement, is what will the city do with the income?
Borders, currently city council president, mentioned the amount of money the state fails to collect in sales tax revenue, saying attention needs to be paid not only to new sources of income for the city, but also existing sources that are not fully exploited. I found her impressive because her remarks were always anchored by facts and information, not bluster.
Councilwoman Norwood opened the evening, saying nothing else in the city matters if Atlanta is not safe.
And State Sen. Reed said he is tired of reading about corporate relocations to Alpharetta, instead of some city neighborhood. Amen!
So I ask you, which candidate is the closest to being the complete package? Because, I just don’t know. If I had to vote today, I would……hmmm……
Here’s a link to the Robin Williams routine (the “payoff” comes at 1 min, 20 sec into the routine. Worth your time, I promise!).
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Comments
One Comment on E Pluribus Unum
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Matt J. Duffy on
Wed, 26th Aug 2009 5:30 pm
Good points. Type of commentary missing from the daily paper.
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