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Health & Fitness

As Metro Atlanta's Gridlock Worsens

An East Cobb resident is discouraged by political opposition from some Cobb leaders about the upcoming TSPLOST referendum.

Cobb Department of Transportation Director Faye DiMassimo gave an excellent presentation on transportation in Cobb County at the Sierra Club meeting Thursday night at Life College. Among other items, the implications of the T-SPLOST were reviewed. (I first wrote about this topic on East Cobb Patch earlier this week.)

I’ve heard critical comments from Commissioner Bob Ott and read that Rep. Ed Setzler has reservations. I am going to  Tuesday night to hear what Judson Hill, Jo Ann Birrell, and other elected officials have to say about the T-SPLOST.

There is one person that I wish could make the meeting. She (or possibly he) is the head of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce. Since I don’t expect her attendance, I have taken some liberties in writing a letter based on what I think she would say if Mr. Ott and Mr. Setzler were there.

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Dear Mr. Ott and Mr. Setzler,

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I would like to acknowledge Charlotte’s indebtedness to Atlanta and the whole state of Georgia. It wasn’t that long ago that going South meant going into a third world economy. There few good jobs, terrible public education, and non-existent transportation.

The only good restaurants were in New Orleans and Miami. We weren’t even standing still. Our deplorable race relations in the South pushed us further and further back toward the middle ages.

Thank you, Atlanta, for showing the rest of the South that progress was possible. You invested in public education, transportation, and improved race relations. Moderate leadership and wise investments were followed by good jobs and amenities coming to Atlanta.

Granted, you didn’t jump into the deep end of the pool of progress. In fact, you barely got your toes wet. Education in Georgia only improved a little. Progress in transportation made a good first step, then stopped. You didn’t even honor Dr. King when he won the Nobel Prize.

Thanks to Atlanta’s example, Charlotte learned that progress was possible. With our continuing investment in education, transportation, and better race relations, we knew that one day Charlotte would catch and surpass Atlanta’s achievements. What we in Charlotte and other progressive Southern cities (Arlington, VA, Miami, FL, Nashville TN, Dallas, TX) did not expect was to see Atlanta put progress in neutral, and for the last ten years, throw it into reverse and step on the gas.

Georgia cut funding to education when the economy was booming and when it was sick. Georgia refuses to increase its tiny gas tax to maintain its decaying roads or provide state funding for its mass transit systems. Racial intolerance returned in Georgia’s HB 87, anti-immigrant law and re-districting plan. 

In Charlotte, we felt that we would have passed Atlanta eventually but thanks for the help. Now, companies go to Atlanta to have lunch at the Varsity, see the gridlock, litter, and interstate signs. A bribe is offered (tax reduction/exemption) to move to Georgia. Then they get out of town as quickly as possible and go visit places that are truly business friendly, like Charlotte.

We at the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce thank Atlanta for its moderate progressive leadership of so long ago. You were once a shining example to the rest of the South and the nation. In Charlotte, we have a strong Republican Party and Tea Party. They are not, however, frantically suicidal.

Come visit us. We have good places to eat, fine recreational facilities, stores to shop at, a world class transportation system, a fine quality of life, and a booming economy.

Don’t be bashful. You’ll be working here sooner or later anyway.

Thanks,

 

Charlotte Chamber of Commerce

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