Cobb Citizens to Speak Out Tuesday Against Braves Stadium

The Citizens for Governmental Transparency group plans to hold a citizens town hall meeting Tuesday night in Marietta to discuss its continued opposition to Cobb County’s $300 million investment in a new Atlanta Braves stadium in the Cumberland area.

The meeting will take place from 7-9:30 p.m. at Turner Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, located at 480 S. Fairground Street.

This is the second in a series of town halls and the topics of discussion are expected to include taxes tied to the stadium financing, additional costs for public safety and transportation the stadium will result in, and potential lawsuits from the group and others.

The coalition, which includes a wide range of organizations, ranging from the Cobb Taxpayers Association to the East Cobb Democratic Alliance and includes the Cobb NAACP, among others, introduced itself in November not long after the team and county announced their plans to build a stadium in Cobb to be opened prior to the 2017 season.

Here's a portion of the group’s introduction letter to Cobb Commissioners: 

“Citizens for Governmental Transparency” is an ad hoc committee comprised of individuals and organizations representing various interests in Cobb County.

Additionally, we are residents and tax payers who believe that citizens should be appropriately informed and engaged when significant tax dollars are obligated or expended by our elected officials.

Although we include members who are both for and against the proposed Braves stadium deal, we are unified in our belief that Cobb citizens should be given time to review and publicly comment on any Braves stadium deal that will require the use of significant county tax dollars.

We request that Cobb Commissioners are transparent about all aspects of the proposed Braves stadium deal to include tax implications for citizens; anticipated community benefits; transportation plans for the proposed site; and benefits to developers and the Atlanta Braves franchise.

Cobb County government has enjoyed a reputation for making prudent and fiscally sound decisions. We trust that our Commissioners will uphold this tradition and not disappoint us by acting in haste and without the support of the citizens they swore to serve.

Sincerely, Citizens for Governmental Transparency 

The following groups were signatories to the letter: Cobb County SCLC; Cobb Taxpayers Association; Georgia Community Coalition; Cobb Immigrant Alliance; Partnership for Southern Equity; Madison Forum; Powder Springs Community Task Force; Cobb United for Change Coalition; Atlanta Tea Party Patriots; East Cobb Democratic Alliance; Cobb County NAACP.

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