Atlanta resident speaks out after mayor tells him to ‘shut up’ over transit concerns

Atlanta Democratic Mayor Andre Dickens drew criticism Thursday after telling constituent Jonathan Brimer to "shut up" when Brimer pressed the mayor on voter-approved transit and pedestrian-safety commitments.

The exchange began after Dickens posted a video on his Instagram last Friday showing his visit with Nature Gurlz, an Atlanta group that encourages Black women to spend time outdoors.

Brimer responded to the post by pressing the mayor on transportation priorities .

"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 said.

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"Shut up and respect our legacy Black women residents that made this city that you get to enjoy freely," Dickens replied.

In a statement provided to Fox News Digital on Thursday, Brimer said he was surprised Dickens responded and even more surprised by the nature of the reply.

"I wasn’t expecting him to agree with me, but I also wasn’t expecting the mayor to tell a constituent to ‘shut up’ for raising a policy concern," Brimer said.

Fox News Digital asked Dickens' office on Thursday whether the mayor personally posted the response, whether he stood by it and whether he planned to apologize. The office declined to comment.

"Not weighing in on that at all," a spokesperson for the mayor’s office told Fox News Digital.

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Brimer said his comment was aimed at the administration’s transportation decisions, not the women Dickens highlighted.

"My comment wasn’t directed at them. It was directed at the mayor and at specific transportation and planning decisions his administration has made," he said. "I think this exchange confirmed for me that I’m no longer particularly supportive of Mayor Dickens’ leadership."

Brimer said he lived on the city's south side and respected his neighbors but objected to the mayor's treatment of a constituent.

The Peachtree Street request referred to a planned $4.85 million downtown safety project that called for a protected bicycle lane, narrower vehicle lanes and safer crossings. Construction was scheduled to begin in 2027 and be completed in 2029.

Brimer’s Beltline criticism involved the More MARTA program, which Atlanta voters funded through a half-penny sales tax in 2016. Work on the proposed Streetcar East Extension was paused at 30% design in 2025 while city and transit officials reconsidered which projects to prioritize.

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Brimer said his concern extended beyond one project to the cooperation among the Dickens administration, MARTA and Atlanta Beltline.

"My concern is not just with one project. It is with the overall lack of a clear, coordinated vision for improving public transportation and connectivity throughout Atlanta," he said.

On Thursday, Dickens also directed sharp criticism at his own party in a letter to the DNC obtained by Fox News Digital after Atlanta was eliminated 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.

"They are abandoning Atlanta, abandoning the South, and once again abandoning Black voters," Dickens said.

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The DNC narrowed its potential convention sites to Boston, Denver and Philadelphia Thursday but did not explain why Atlanta and Chicago were removed. A final host city was expected to be selected later this year.

The organization said that all five cities submitted strong applications and that the party considered arena size, hotel capacity, fundraising ability, partnerships with local leaders and alignment with Democratic values. Martin praised the three remaining cities in a statement provided to Fox News Digital on Thursday.

"The 2028 Democratic National Convention will be an inspiring celebration of our party’s future nominee, and a critical step on Democrats’ path towards retaking the White House. Boston, Denver, and Philadelphia all presented incredibly strong bids to host the convention," Martin said.

"We look forward to continuing to work with them as the DNC makes a final selection in the coming months," the statement added.

Fox News Digital reached out to Beltline but did not immediately receive a response.

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