Cobb Citizens for Governmental
Transparency (CGT), a group of organizations representing a diverse cross
section of Cobb residents, will host the second in a series of Citizens’ Town
Hall meetings to give the residents of Cobb County a forum to express their
concerns regarding the proposed Atlanta Braves move to Cobb County, and agreed
to by the Cobb Board of Commissioners through a rushed November vote on a
Memorandum of Understanding with the Braves organization. The public financing
portion of the agreement is estimated to cost taxpayers over $500 million in
additional taxes over 30 years.
According to spokesperson
Sharon J. Hill: “The main purpose of the Town Hall meeting is to provide a
public forum for the people to speak and share their concerns, since the Cobb
BOC has not provided this opportunity, and we have been contacted by many in
the community, from all backgrounds, who feel that this whole process has been
unnecessarily rushed and secretive, with a continued lack of transparency,
accountability, and fiduciary responsibility.”
CGT “subject matter
representatives” will be on hand to discuss some of the issues and concerns,
including but not limited to: legal and
ethical issues pertaining to various aspects of the deal, as well as public
safety, transportation, public finance and taxation issues. Some of these
issues have been amplified by the concerns expressed by Cobb Police Officers
and other Public Safety officials regarding the current lack of adequate
funding for public safety and related essential services, further exacerbated
by the proposed Braves stadium. Also, details regarding an upcoming Cobb
Commission candidates' forum will be announced.
