Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens ignited controversy after responding to a constituent's public comment on social media by telling them to "shut up." The exchange occurred when Jonathan Brimer, a local business owner, urged Dickens to expand the city's transportation network and complete projects like the Beltline rail.
Dickens had posted a video of himself with a group called "Nature Girlz," a Black sisterhood organization. Brimer responded by suggesting the mayor focus on "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."
In a direct reply, Dickens wrote, "Shut up and respect our legacy black women residents that made this city that you get to enjoy freely." Brimer, who lives in the Grant Park neighborhood, expressed surprise at the mayor's aggressive response, stating that it was not indicative of good leadership.
"Wow, a mayor telling a constituent to shut up for asking him to uphold voter mandates," Brimer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Stay classy Andre."
Brimer further criticized Dickens for a "lack of leadership, lack of transparency, and your tendency to dismiss legitimate criticism instead of answering it." He added that respecting residents should include engaging with those who challenge the mayor.
Social media users also voiced disappointment, with some calling Dickens' response "truly embarrassing." They urged the mayor to listen to residents and invest in transit projects.
The constituent's concerns partly involved the Beltline project, a regeneration program aimed at connecting 45 neighborhoods via 22 miles of rail loops, with an estimated completion by 2030 and a cost of $4.8 billion. Dickens also supports MARTA's first Bus Rapid Transit line, a five-mile project linking downtown Atlanta and the Beltline, which is currently under construction.
Dickens, who won re-election last November and whose term ends in January 2030, has not issued a formal apology for his remark. Atlanta mayors are limited to two consecutive four-year terms.