That's pretty much what Kasim Reed said to the Meria Carstarphan when speaking after his State of the City lecture. In reaction to Carstarphan's call for the City to sign a quit-claim deed so that APS can sell a school that has been abandoned for close to forty years. Reed is holding the property ransom in hopes of forcing APS to drop their demand that Reed and his administration keep their commitment to pay APS millions of dollars pilfered to fund the Beltline. He trots out some hearsay about the former APS Superintendent somehow linking the deeds to the City's belittling (non) commitment. Surely he sang his own praises during his speech, but his actions describe a city that is a moral and financial derelict.
Reed verbally bitch-slapped Carstarphan with "I thought that one, she's new, she's inexperienced in this city and doesn't know what she's talking about." Superficially true. She ain't from round here, which was one of her key qualities--she had no history with the dysfunction that is the A-T-L. And keep in mind that Hall with the full support of City and business community was a total train wreck. As for inexperienced in this city this is really code word for "not part of the black power structure--in fact, not black at all." And that is probably what it really comes down to. Reed sees himself sitting atop that black power structure to which Carstarphan has not genuflected. Perhaps more importantly she is not black and there again Reed is also correct because if she doesn't understand the importance of being black in Atlanta she really doesn't know what she's talking about.
The Mayor continued with "I'm not the first mayor not to turn over the deeds," and it is now certain he is not going to be the first no matter what the cost to the schoolchildren of Atlanta. Perhaps he sees this as just another opportunity to perpetrate a black-on-black crime that no one will take notice of.
Reed verbally bitch-slapped Carstarphan with "I thought that one, she's new, she's inexperienced in this city and doesn't know what she's talking about." Superficially true. She ain't from round here, which was one of her key qualities--she had no history with the dysfunction that is the A-T-L. And keep in mind that Hall with the full support of City and business community was a total train wreck. As for inexperienced in this city this is really code word for "not part of the black power structure--in fact, not black at all." And that is probably what it really comes down to. Reed sees himself sitting atop that black power structure to which Carstarphan has not genuflected. Perhaps more importantly she is not black and there again Reed is also correct because if she doesn't understand the importance of being black in Atlanta she really doesn't know what she's talking about.
The Mayor continued with "I'm not the first mayor not to turn over the deeds," and it is now certain he is not going to be the first no matter what the cost to the schoolchildren of Atlanta. Perhaps he sees this as just another opportunity to perpetrate a black-on-black crime that no one will take notice of.
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