Firefighters protest citizen group, mayor gets caught in middle

By Eric Stirgus

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

An estimated 200 Atlanta firefighters on Tuesday waved protest signs and yelled "Stop, thief!" outside a Buckhead restaurant at members of an organization that sued the city last week, claiming it illegally approved pension increases for city employees in 2001 and 2005 that taxpayers cannot afford.

Mayor Kasim Reed got caught in the firefighters' verbal crossfire. Some firefighters booed as the mayor arrived at the group's luncheon, where he was the guest speaker.

"From the looks of things outside, I better enjoy these standing ovations while I can," Reed joked to the group, the Fulton County Taxpayers Foundation, at the beginning of his speech. "These days are getting tougher and tougher."

Fire Rescue union leader Lt. Jim Daws said his members' anger wasn't directed at Reed, although they wished the mayor had talked to them after the luncheon. Daws and other firefighters believe the foundation's lawsuit could reduce pension benefits for city workers and discourage some firefighters from working for Atlanta.

The firefighters argue they're underpaid. The average city worker makes $47,000 a year and can earn up to 80 percent of their pay upon retirement. Firefighters must work at least 27 years to be eligible for maximum pension benefits. Those benefits can be penalized if the worker retires before turning 55, Daws said.

"This group wants to take away the last thing we have, which is our pensions," Daws said.

Daws said the firefighters protesting were off-duty.

Foundation president John Sherman said he was "shocked" by the protest. Sherman and others say they don't want to hurt city workers, but believe city leaders made "bad decisions" that led to the pension increases. Firefighters and some foundation members argued about the lawsuit as the attendees drove away from the luncheon.

"(The firefighters) are so comfortably pensioned that it would not be unreasonable to negotiate with the city," Sherman said.

Adding to the drama was a head-on collision in front of the restaurant, 103 West, before the luncheon. Several firefighters quickly rushed to aid both drivers.

"That's what we're here for," some firefighters said as they helped.

Neither driver was seriously injured.

Atlanta's annual pension spending has more than tripled in the past decade, to this fiscal year's estimate of $125 million. The city spends about 20 percent of its general fund budget on pensions. Reed, who took office in January, has created a panel to offer pension reforms.

The mayor declined to discuss the lawsuit's merits Tuesday. Acting City Attorney Roger Bhandari has said the lawsuit is without merit and Atlanta plans to vigorously fight it in court.

The foundation has been among the sharpest critics of City Hall, and Reed sought their support Tuesday. Reed said the city is facing a potential budget shortfall of at least $40 million and has vowed not to raise property taxes. The mayor wants to hire more police officers and spend more money on capital improvements. Reed spoke of plans to "eliminate" some things from city government, but declined to discuss specifics afterward.

"The mantra of our administration is we are going to do a small number of things very well," he said.

Reed will likely unveil his proposed budget at the end of April.