Atlanta Mayor thinks he's too good to sit in traffic (lawyer, school)

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by cqholt

Are we more upset because it's someone with Reed's personality or because it's a mayor of a major city? Does de Blasio, Rahm Emanuel, etc. sit in traffic?

It rubs folks the wrong way in other cities, too.

CWB Chicago: DIDN'T GET THE MEMO: Mayor's Motorcade Continues To Blow Red Lights, Speed Near Parks (Video)

Lesson for de Blasio as His S.U.V. Breaks Rules of the Road

I also remember seeing Hillary Clinton's motorcade blowing through Buckhead several years ago on her way to a speaking engagement. Must have been half a dozen vehicles tearing along with lights and sirens, plus a motorcycle escort. Everybody else had to get out of the way.

The thing that gets people's goat is that politicians need to remember to put their britches on one leg at a time, just like everybody else.

Sure, it is rude and embarrassing to be late. And yes, it is annoying to be stuck in traffic. But lots of folks are busy and have important schedules to keep.

[AnsleyPark]

I think it is important to know when our elected officials receive special treatment that the rest of us do not receive. While Mayor Reed's "emergency vehicle" stuff may not rise to the level of Secretary Clinton's email scandal or Mr. Trump's sexual behavior, it is nonetheless important to keep all elected officials and politicians in check. What may seem like insignificant "slow news day" behavior can easily devolve into much more widespread and significant abuses of power. Keeping the slope from getting too slippery is a good thing for our media to do.

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by MattCW

Or perhaps that's what this headline should say:
ATLANTA MAYOR INVESTIGATION: Is Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed breaking the law by using blue lights and sirens? | WSB-TV

The mayor of most cities is NOT a first responder, especially a large city like Atlanta. Maybe in some tiny little town the mayor is also the police chief, or a firefighter, but that's not remotely the case here. There is no reason whatsoever the mayor ever needs to get to places in an emergency. Short of a city-wide calamity (think September 11th or above), the only time the mayor of Atlanta should be blasting through intersections under the protection of blue lights is when there's an imminent threat to them, or when in handcuffs headed to jail (I personally prefer this latter one). Given that this is a state law, and the state law enforcement has said it's illegal, maybe they'll get him and his cronies; the GSP isn't under the thumb of the Atlanta administration.

For what exactly?

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by flyonpa

Maybe he should leave a few minutes earlier to be there on time, Everyone else in there limo seem to be able to.

I'm willing to bet the CEO of Coke is just as busy as the Mayor. But he can get there on time without lights and sirens.

You and I both know that such a thing is not always possible for someone in that position.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

You and I both know that such a thing is not always possible for someone in that position.

Schedules can be demanding but what about strategies like not overbooking, calling ahead, or leaving early? Is getting to a presidential debate watching party an event that calls for blue lights and sirens?

What about a parent racing to pick their kid up at daycare? Or a doctor who's doing complex heart surgery at 7 am? A judge who's got a courtroom full of people waiting on her at 9 am? An airline pilot and crew scheduled to fly a 767 to London at 1:25 pm?

I know politicians are busy but the rest of us poor slobs have to figure out a way to make things work.

[tikigod311]

This comes across as petty, but I think it is important to call out politicians for getting unnecessary special privileges. It's a healthy practice for a democracy, let them know we are watching and remind them that they are just one of us. I'm glad they are calling him out.

[Mossberg]

There are many times when I feel that police escorts with blue lights are abused, but the mayor using them isn't one of those times in my opinion.

Hell, I watched a multiple police vehicle caravan with blue lights deliver the f'n home plate from Turner Field to Suntrust Park as a symbolic gesture, but no one complained about that.

[tikigod311]

Originally Posted by Mossberg

Hell, I watched a multiple police vehicle caravan with blue lights to deliver the f'n home plate from Turner Field to Suntrust Park as a symbolic gesture, but no one complained about that.

Ugh, I hope APD didn't participate in that.

[red92s]

Originally Posted by tikigod311

Ugh, I hope APD didn't participate in that.

It was predominantly GSP I think.

[tikigod311]

Good, it would be a bit disgusting for APD to help the "Atlanta" Braves move out of Atlanta.