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 Friday showing his visit with Nature Gurlz, an Atlanta group that encourages Black women to spend time outdoors.

"Have some fun by restoring Peachtree Sts 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 on Thursday, Brimer said he was surprised Dickens responded and even more surprised by the nature of the reply.

"I wasnt expecting him to agree with me, but I also wasnt expecting the mayor to tell a constituent to shut up for raising a policy concern," Brimer said.

Fox News Digital asked Dickens' office 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 mayors office told Fox News Digital.

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

"My comment wasnt 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 Im 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.

Brimers 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 overal