Atlanta Dem Mayor Andre Dickens sparks outrage as he tells constituent to shut up in bizarre social media spat

Atlanta’s Democratic mayor Andre Dickens has sparked outrage for telling a constituent to “shut up” in a bizarre response to being pressed on his policies.Dickens, the city’s 61st mayor, lashed out at voter Jonathan Brimer, who responded to a video the politician shared last Friday by calling on him to expand the city’s transportation network.“Nothing like seeing folks outside, enjoying each other and enjoying this city,” Dickens said about his meet-up with the “Nature Girlz” group — a black sisterhood organization created during the COVID-19 pandemic.“Have some fun by restoring Peachtree St’s pedestrian-centric design in downtown and by delivering what we voted for with extra sales taxes for MARTA [Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority]  by getting Beltline rail done,” an unimpressed Brimer, the co-owner of a boutique sunglass company, said.“Shut up and respect our legacy black women residents that made this city that you get to enjoy freely,” Dickens clapped back.Brimer, who lives in Atlanta’s Grant Park neighborhood, retaliated to Dickens’ stinging reply by unleashing a furious tirade about his leadership.“Wow, a mayor telling a constituent to shut up for asking him to uphold voter mandates,” Brimer said.

“Stay classy Andre.” “I live on the south side and appreciate my neighbors thank you very much,” he said, before taking the mayor to task.“What I don’t appreciate is your lack of leadership, lack of transparency, lack of responding to criticism publicly and your tendency to dismiss legitimate criticism instead of answering it.“Respect for Atlanta’s residents should include respecting constituents who challenge you.Telling one to ‘shut up’ is not leadership.” Brimer admitted he was “surprised” Dickens had replied to his message.“The fact that it was aggressive by public servant standards added a little extra surprise, I suppose,” he told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Tuesday.Dicken...