Mayor Kasim Reed to Torpy: You’re all wet

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed at the airport this week. BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM

Credit: Bob Andres

Credit: Bob Andres

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed at the airport this week. BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM

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.