When talking taxes, the discourse can get heated. It can get loud. It can get complicated. And when you mix in regional transportation and transit, that discussion in metro Atlanta becomes even more intense.
But that’s as it should be. All of these are complex issues that deserve the public’s thoughtful, measured consideration.
So, whether you support the 2012 regional transportation sales tax referendum or oppose it, please don’t make the mistake of assuming your neighbors think the same way you do. Cobb County is not homogeneous, and the range of views expressed at the Sept. 20 meeting — and all the public comments gathered since the beginning of the TSPLOST conversation — reflects that. When an elected official dismisses citizens’ views out of hand, he does his constituents a great disservice (“Some feel T-SPLOST forum was ‘staged’ event,” Sept. 21 MDJ).
As was mentioned in the article, the Civic League for Regional Atlanta is providing moderators for the Atlanta Regional Roundtable’s 12 public meetings, which conclude on Sept. 29. The Civic League is independent, nonpartisan and nonprofit. Our organization engages metro Atlantans in the plans, policies and issues shaping the region. We educate and inform, we provide neutral forums for decision-making, and we share the feedback we hear from citizens with regional policymakers.
Let me be clear: The Civic League neither supports nor opposes this referendum, and if it were the intent of meeting organizers to persuade attendees to support the referendum, we would not be involved in this process.
After the region’s final project list is announced on Oct. 15, metro Atlanta voters will have at least nine months to debate whether funding those projects with a penny sales tax is a suitable answer to our transportation woes.
The Civic League is committed to providing a neutral forum for citizens to continue to learn and exchange ideas.
We appreciate the civility with which nearly all who have attended these meetings to date have asked questions, shared opinions and listened to those of others, and we look forward to continuing the conversation with residents of all 10 counties.
Ellen Mayer
Managing Director
Civic League for Regional Atlanta
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I hope that "LookClosely" clued you in, because you either have no clue or you are just being condescending to the people who object to this so called plan to relieve congestion.
Your letter was a waste of space in the MDJ.
Respectfully yours,
Cobb Voter
I don't think the allegations regarding the recent TSPLOST forum in Cobb County were directed at the Civic League.
The issue had to do with the format of the meeting which is obviously organized and orchestrated by ARC.
They (ARC) are hardly unbiased when it comes to the TSPLOST. They are heavily invested in seeing that it be successful and seem to be intentionally manipulate these supposed "public forum" in Cobb County into pro TSPLOST propoganda event.
For purposes of giving you some insight into the local attitude and animosity regarding this "staged" event consider this:
The Chairman of the ARC is also the Chairman of the Cumberland CID. In that latter role he unabashedly represents the interests large developers and major property owners in the Cumberland area.
If the TSPLOST passes and the light rail project from the Arts Center to Cumberland is funded then the Cumberland CID will be the primary benficiary to the tune of almost $1 billion.
It just so happens that the Cumberland CID contributed funding to the "educational" efforts related to the TSPLOST in the amount of several hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Anyone who can objectively look at this specific situation can clearly see what appears to be an obvious conflict of interest. At the very least it gives the the perception of a conflict of interest.
Add to that the well known, well documented and unseemly realationship between the Cobb Chamber, the Cumberland CID and our current Commission Chairman and you can understand why the citizens of Cobb County are suspicious.
Again, our concerns locally are not with the Civic League, but with the honesty and veracity of some of our more influential political and business leaders and whether they are representing the best interests of Cobb County.