Mayor Franklin passed over by Obama for key DC position...

[neil0311]

Originally Posted by atlantagreg30127

Well, give the guy a point. It looks like he's not in the habit of putting people in positions based on personal friendships or any other reason other than ability.

I have to admit that I'm pleasantly surprised by Obama's appointments thus far. I'm sure many hard core liberals aren't too happy though, given the mantra of change, and the fact that Clinton and Gates are not representative of the "pull out now" crowd that Obama aligned with during the primaries.

Shirley Franklin would have been an outsider to DC but what would she be qualified to do? Although I haven't been here the entire length of her term as Mayor, she seems to be a mediocre administrator. "Discovering" a $100 million deficit earlier in the year and recommending fire and police cuts as the primary means of balancing the budget don't add to her positives.

[OhioNative]

Originally Posted by bayarea-girl

Why do some many people dislike the Mayor Shirley Franklin? I haven't been here too long so just wondering.

She actually was relatively popular (heck, even Neal Boortz was complimentary of her!!) until the large property tax increase and as evidence started to emerge of poor financial management in the form of the budget crisis.

[Georgia]

Well good for him. I guess it is good and bad. Good for America and Bad for Atlanta since the City will be stuck with her until end of term. But then again maybe she will take another China or Africa tour on tax dollars, thus keeping Atlanta for further financial ruin. Oh yes, please take the currupt city council with you.

[VJP]

Not some many. So many. She has shown a great deal of ineptitude, broken promises, and cowardice. This is not to say she hasn't done some good things, but overall, she has succumbed to the power struggle and the hard task of picking your battles...she picked the wrong ones quite often. Pennington and the police force, which now see pay cuts really get under my skin. Yea, she didn't create the current budget deficit solely, and she wasnt the only party to the race-baiting radio spots, but as a leader, she had her golden years and in the face of adversity and market forces, coupled with a lack of fiscal restraint and control and influence over the council and the powers there, we are left with a nasty cesspool government-wise in Atlanta. But hey, we have homeless meters and a really cool toilet at the park.