Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens' official Instagram account told a constituent to "shut up" after the resident questioned the administration's progress on voter-approved transit initiatives. The exchange has drawn criticism, and the mayor's office has declined to comment on the matter.
The interaction began when Jonathan Brimer, an Atlanta resident, commented on an Instagram post by Mayor Dickens about a local outdoor group. Brimer pressed the mayor on transportation priorities, specifically referencing the restoration of Peachtree Street's pedestrian-centric design and the completion of the Beltline rail, funded by a voter-approved sales tax.
"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 by getting Beltline rail done," Brimer wrote. In response, Dickens' account replied, "Shut up and respect our legacy Black women residents that made this city that you get to enjoy freely."
Brimer expressed surprise at the mayor's response, stating that he did not expect the mayor to tell a constituent to "shut up" for raising policy concerns. He clarified that his comment was directed at the administration's transportation decisions, not at the group featured in the mayor's post. Brimer indicated that this exchange diminished his support for Dickens' leadership.
The Peachtree Street project involves a planned $4.85 million downtown safety initiative, including a protected bicycle lane, narrower vehicle lanes, and safer crossings, with construction slated to begin in 2027. The Beltline criticism refers to the More MARTA program, where work on the Streetcar East Extension has been paused as city and transit officials reassess project priorities.
Brimer stated his concern extends to a lack of clear, coordinated vision for improving public transportation and connectivity throughout Atlanta among the mayor's administration, MARTA, and Atlanta Beltline.
In separate comments, Mayor Dickens also voiced criticism of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) after Atlanta was removed from consideration to host the 2028 Democratic National Convention. Dickens accused DNC Chairman Ken Martin of disregarding Atlanta, the South, and the party's Black base, stating, "They are abandoning Atlanta, abandoning the South and, once again, abandoning Black voters."
The DNC narrowed its potential convention sites to Boston, Denver, and Philadelphia, citing strong applications that considered arena size, hotel capacity, fundraising ability, local partnerships, and alignment with Democratic values. A final host city is expected to be selected later this year.