First, I’d like to start with a public apology to Anne Torres, a likable lady who has the unenviable job as Mayor Kasim Reed’s communications director. I have made her job more difficult than it already is and for that, I’m sorry.
The mayor has taken exception to a column I wrote this week about an odd press conference he held Monday. His conference was to address the firings of two department heads and veered into a meandering discussion of his governmental philosophy, slights he has endured and dirty bathrooms at the airport.
I noted he has had four chiefs of the airport and watershed during his six-plus years. He says I'm wrong. Read his response if you want, but I'll save you five minutes: He says its three. I say four, including the two long running department heads he inherited.
Per the mayor (or Ms. Torres): “Mr. Torpy insists on mischaracterizing my leadership style, the reality is that I have not made any critical personnel decisions without consulting key members of my leadership team and major business and civic leaders.
“The Atlanta City Council received a full briefing on these matters, and the council represents Atlantans in a far more substantive way than Torpy could ever claim.”
I didn’t think I’d say this, but the mayor is right. The council does represent Atlanta more than I do. I am unelectable in Atlanta. I live in DeKalb County.
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