She had to fix the sewers; it was not optional. As the cost of water and sewer increased and during the drought, water consumption and revenues dropped. The declining water revenues are causing rate increases to pay for the bonds.

The quality of life improvement bonds have also brought about some needed upgrades to neighborhoods and improved pedestrian safety. She has made progress with the homeless problem. Public safety is still a problem. Schools are not her issue, but test scores in Atl public schools have improved.

As far as business goes, the mayor has pretty favorable relations with the business community and they appear to have faith in her honesty and reasoning. You may feel different, but they seem rather comfortable. One of the reasons is that she has started the process of changing the culture of City Hall. I don’t hear them saying, “I’m sick of playing for the Mayor’s machine.” I think that is your perception, not theirs.

There are many reasons why businesses choose to locate in downtown, midtown or Buckhead. The ability to draw from a regional labor pool, access an international airport, proximity to business services, major universities and cultural amenities are key. Those economic conditions are unlikely to change and writing off Atlanta’s economic growth seems a bit premature.

Think about it, in Atlanta people are paying huge taxes and in return they get really bad high schools (so private schools have become a flourishing industry), shoddy trash pick-up, a bunch of pot hole promises, an underfunded police and fire department, large water bills, rampant crime and an administrative services bureaucracy that has surpassed India. I can’t think of a single thing that has improved under Shirley Franklin, when we get our water bills and property tax bills, the citizens of Atlanta will be yearning for the days of Bill Campbell.

A VAT is coming.

Count on it.