A series of audio recordings purportedly of Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed leaked on Sunday in which he peppered diatribes with profanity while referencing the Black vote, economic development and apathy toward Maxwell Gunter Air Force Base.
All three recordings appear to be heavily edited.
In a statement issued Monday night, Reed said the audio “features carefully selected sound bites of my voice” and was surreptitiously recorded three years ago.
The first recording, called “Montgomery AL’s First Black Mayor Doesn’t Care About Black Votes,” was posted Sunday to a YouTube account labeled “Montgomery Deserves Better.”
In the leaked audio, Reed purportedly says that support from white voters is more important for his political survival — and that “white money” is key to Montgomery’s economy.
“I can come smile. I don’t f—— got to do no goddamn work. I don’t have to do no work systemically and I’m gonna be fine. And guess what? I will always get 38 to 45 percent of the white vote. If I get 30 to 45 percent of the white vote, I don’t f—— have to damn get the Black vote I got this past election and I’ll f—— win,” the mayor allegedly says.
“You got [a] Black city? That’s great. You can have all Black everything, that’s great. You can have all Black everything, and guess what? You won’t have green nothing if the white money thinks that you aren’t looking after their s— they will take their s— to Prattville, they will take their s— to Pike Road and you won’t have s—,” Reed allegedly says.
In the second recording, the mayor purportedly appears to say he doesn’t care about Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery because he doesn’t “know nobody there.” The recording and the third snippet were obtained by 1819, which first reported on the story. The outlet did not say who provided them with the clips.
1819 News is a conservative news and opinion site that was once owned by the Alabama Policy Institute.
“I’m not gonna tear up a single f—— conversation with the governor or lieutenant governor about Maxwell Gunter [Air Force Base], because guess what? I don’t know nobody who works in Maxwell Gunter except for the people I have to meet as a mayor. I don’t know nobody there, so if that s— is so important to y’all, then y’all better do some shit that’s important to me.
In the third piece of audio, Reed allegedly appears to say that staffers or residents shouldn’t criticize his TV appearances because it fosters investment to Montgomery.
“So what I’m gonna tell Karen when I meet with them — don’t ever f—– tell me that I’m on f—– TV. Every time I’m on f—– TV I get somebody from New York and L.A., they call me about how they can invest in goddamn Montgomery,” the mayor purportedly says.
Reed allegedly goes on to say that “the descendants of Confederate soldiers” won’t invest in “systemic change” in Montgomery.
“You think motherf—— gonna invest in Montgomery? You think I expect the descendants of Confederate soldiers f—– invest beyond what’s good for them? They give you some charity, they’ll give you some charity. … they do something a little nice over at Valiant Cross, where I’m on the board. But will they really invest in systemic change? Hell f—– nah, they’re not gonna invest in it. So don’t ever mix up what I’m doing . … you haven’t seen a scientist as diabolical as me because no one has come into this with what I have.
“I got 45 years of being my dad’s son who was sitting in at 19..,” the mayor allegedly says before the audio is abruptly cut off.
In the statement issued Monday night, Reed did not name who was behind the alleged extortion attempt.
“There is an audio clip that features me speaking privately with a member of the Montgomery community. This clip has been heavily edited and features carefully selected sound bites of my voice. The conversation was recorded without my knowledge or consent by this community member almost three years ago,” the mayor said.
“The meeting with this community member was prompted by our concerns about civil unrest in the immediate aftermath of the death of George Floyd. During this meeting, it became abundantly clear to me that this individual sought personal financial gain during a time of crisis in our city, state, and country. You have my word that no one in my administration will ever give in to a shakedown or extortion,” Reed continued.
“The mission of our administration is to bring more opportunity to each and every resident while making sure that Montgomery’s success is their success,” he concluded. “As Mayor, I will continue working tirelessly for our citizens and not let distractions keep us from doing the business of the City.”
