Mayor Franklin Answers Critics in Exclusive Newsmakers Journal Interview

"You have to play the cards you are dealt and that's what I do. I didn't go into public office for accolades," - Mayor Shirley Franklin

Unlike at any other time during her internationally celebrated two-term tenure as Atlanta's first female mayor and self-described "sewer Mayor", Shirley Franklin has been brutally buffeted by a chorus of critics because of Atlanta's bitter budget crisis during the past several months. The $140 million budget shortfall resulted in massive layoffs of key city workers and an ongoing bruising battle with the Atlanta City Council over who is to blame for the problem and the piercing pain it has engendered.

You've seen Mayor Franklin confront angry West End residents over the closing of a legendary fire station in recent TV news stories, but you haven't heard her speak out like what follows in this rare and revealing interview with this reporter for the Newsmakers Journal.

The exclusive interview took place following a recent political party for Congressman John Lewis at the handsome and historic home of Atlanta native Jake Henderson, whose family owned the nation's first black-owned international travel agency [Henderson Travel] and who now resides in the first black-owned home in Southwest Atlanta on Peyton Road.

ME/ Seemingly the honeymoon and flattering headlines you've enjoyed or earned for your Mayoral expertise have now become bittersweet because of the criticism now aimed at you because it's alleged you have badly bungled the city budget.

SF/ I am most upset about Atlanta's recession. Atlanta is suffering because every single month our revenues are decreasing and largely not because of anything we are doing, but rather because there is a national recession. So, largely what's happening between me and the City Council over Atlanta's [budget] and our revenue forecast is really pre-determined about what is going on nationally.

ME/ The perception is that you came into office laying off people and blaming the previous Bill Campbell administration for the budget crunch you inherited and that now you are leaving office doing the same thing and why shouldn't you be blamed? Does that perception bother you?

SF/ To a certain extent in politics perception is reality. The advantage I have is that I am not running for [elective] office again. So I can be literally frank and candid. We did not anticipate the recession; we did not anticipate it would be as long and exacting. We have seen double digit reductions in our revenue.

People forget what it was like when we came into office. People forget there were $20 million in [water/sewer pollution] fines. They forget that the City didn't know how many police cars it had. They forget that when I was running for office no one would say or admit how many police officers were on the beat. No one would tell them what the crime rate was. Now I tell them daily. People have a short memory. Having said that I've enjoyed my work in the City. It's challenging. I came in at the end of a recession. The recession was in 2001 and [former Georgia Speaker of House] Tom Murphy told me don't believe these folks who say it's not true. Now here I am in 2008 seeing one of the deepest recessions that we've had since the Depression. So you have to play the cards that you're dealt and that's what I do. I didn't go into public office for accolades.

ME/ Yet, you are taking a fair amount of grief that is likely to impact the next Mayoral race.

SF/ I've also taken a fair amount of encouragement from people. Are the sewers fixed? Has the City fallen from number one, two or three in violent crimes to number 27, 28 or 29? I had someone say the other day that the morale was bad in the police department and we couldn't solve crimes and we couldn't fill police positions anyway. That's completely unfounded. We went from 1425 to almost 1800 [police officers] at the same time we were losing police officers to normal attrition at 78 percent.

ME/ So why the harsh criticism?

SF/ This is the City Council running for re-election. I expect them to hold me accountable.

ME/ Are they running on your back; on your record? Is this a political war?

SF/ I've worked collaboratively with the Council. That's been my reputation. There is nothing that we have accomplished in the administration that we have not had Council support. It's impossible; it's check and balances. The bottom line is its give and take.

ME/ But with Council President Lisa Borders, Councilwoman Mary Norwood and Councilman Caesar Mitchell running for your job; they've painted you as the scapegoat for this City budget controversy.

SF/ I was as surprised as anyone else that for a million dollar house they were not willing to raise property taxes $162 a year. But I am not surprised that they were willing to exercise their authority. There are some [City Councilmember's] who do not believe that we ought to have recreational services; that we ought to have a full police force. There are some who say "enough is enough we don't want to spend anymore money."

ME/ In your most riveting press release I've seen since your election, you called the Council's budget decision the "worst political decision you've seen in 20 years in public service."

SF/ I said it was "among the worst decisions that I've seen." There is no great City in the world where there were not public and private investment in people, in infrastructure, in safety, in education, it doesn't exist. From the beginning of time where people thrived there were cities where people willing to stand up and make tough decisions. And that means you have to have public investments and private investments. And, the philanthropic community has been real generous in the City of Atlanta.

ME/ Are you saying that because of this budget crunch and the cuts in police and fire we're no longer a great city?

SF/ I say we've lost a lot. We were on a fast track. Let's talk about police officers. Bill Campbell is the first person as mayor who came forward and said the City needed 2,000 police officers. I brought in some experts who said you need a minimum of 2,000. We've never been this close. We were within 200 officers of having 2,000. Against great odds we've raised the pay, we've increased the training, increased the equipment and at the same time the entire region is also pulling on the same candidates that we are. We've moved from 1425 officers to nearly 1800 officers and then the City Council says "I don't want to invest anymore." I was willing to invest so that we can continue to grow the police force. That goal was set 15 years ago by another Mayor who could see into the future that Atlanta was becoming a 24-hour city and we needed a fugitive squad and we needed a narcotics squad.

My Dad used to say that most people drown in sight of land. In other words you have to be careful that you can go the distance; when you see land give yourself that next push. That's what I was hoping for but it's not going to happen on my watch.

ME/ Aren't you upset with the City Council who have sought to blame you for this budget debacle?

SF/ It's the give and take of politics. I don't get to decide everything. I didn't wake up Queen for a Day. I don't rule. This is a democracy. They believe that they are representing the best interests of the City. I happen to disagree with them.

ME/ You've made almost $80 million in cuts and laid off 500 employees so far. That must have been agonizing for you.

SF/ It's tough. But you have to change the way you're operating. The saddest thing about this is the impact on the employees and their families who have done nothing wrong and it's in the midst of a recession.