Since the 1970s, a group of concerned business leaders in south Cobb have been gathering regularly to map out a vision for our little neck of the woods that we call home.
We’ve been through a lot over these four decades, even electing one of us as governor of this great state.
The one defining belief that has carried us through the years is that our mission had to be bigger than just our community. The old saying goes that a rising tide floats all boats, and we always believed that a growing, prosperous county and region meant positive things would happen in south Cobb.
That is why I am so enthusiastic about the July Regional Transportation Referendum. Our region has been hit harder than most with the recent economic downturn, and it will take a Herculean effort to turn it around. I can’t think of a better way to spur a rebound than investing in our transportation system.
The numbers are there for us to see: more than 200,000 jobs will be supported, and I believe many more will move to Georgia when they see we are finally addressing our notorious traffic congestion. I hope you will join me in supporting the Regional Transportation Referendum on July 31. Our region’s economy is depending on your support.
Wayne Dodd
President
South Cobb Business Association
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This transportation referendum will never succeed unless people change their habits. Sure, some additional public transportation systems/routes will help take cars off the road. But if everybody expects others to be the one to make that change, nobody will end up using those services and congestion will still be an issue.
And just a biased standpoint, but who was the smart one not to provide MARTA rail service to Turner Field? That just goes to show that the idea of a transportation referendum is great, but if they don't plan it out very well then it will never benefit the community and their interests.
No wonder all yhe progress, business & growth is on the other side, Dekalb, Fulton, Gwinnett & the
I-85 corridor.
Cobb is stuck in the '70's
Don't we?
The project list is truly a regional solution for the residents of the area. The jobs and economic boosts will be an added benefit.
That the problem with the TIA project list.
Your perspective is pretty narrow and selfish, but at least you are honest enough admit it.
Just the point that many have been making about the TIA boondoggle and why they are upset.
Many of the projects, probably most of the projects, on the TIA project list are locally focused projects, not part of a regional transportation solution as was originally intended.
The TIA was not meant to be a bail out for county transportation departments and county elected officials who have been negligent of an area's needs for the last several decades.
Yeah, those are really going to help our county congestion problems.
The 15% of discretionary funding being distributed to the local goverments from of the TIA slush fund is just that, discretionary.
There is no published project list for that money as you insinuated.
The local governments can do as they please with that money as long as it is related to transportation of some sort or another.
It was a payoff in hopes that the local elected officials would put their support behind the TIA.
@TIC if you are interested in seeing the list that IS published, you can find it on the County DOT website.
But
Does the entire South Cobb Business Association approve of you using your position as their President to insinuate their strong and unanimous support this issue?
"supported" , what does that mean?
"and I believe many more will move to Georgia when they see we are finally addressing our notorious traffic congestion"
Which in turn will start the problem all over again.The world is full of pseudo economists whose only solution to increased profit is through increased population. There is only so much concrete you can lay and only so many miles of track in a given area before you have irreparable congestion.
The creative wordsmithing used in the MAVEN propaganda campaign is beyond disingenous.
I guess misleading voters without really lying to them is admired in some circles.
As for me I find it disgusting.
Do you really believe the BS that MAVEN is spreading around about the positive impacts of the TIA?
Don't be naive.
Their only intention is to create a $7 billion slush fund.
If the TIA project list made any sense at all maybe the TIA would be worth supporting,
but
as the TIA project list is currently conceived it is a poorly thought out, unconnected, uncoordinated collection of local pet transportation projects that have no impact on our regional transportation problems.
If any pro-TIA group is interested in what transportation improvements are needed in Cobb County, then select a committee of advisors who have lived in Cobb County a variety of years and who are not connected to the political world, Cobb Chamber or high up on a corporate ladder. THEN, you will get an unbiased and needed opinion.
"Vice Chairman of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce" Aka: the group who wants to saddle Cobb with a 10 year tax with no legitimate benefit to the residents.
Your claim to have elected a Governor, grossly ignores the fact that Cobb reject Roy Barnes 3 times!
No, you do not speak for South Cobb. It sounds like you speak for the Cobb Chamber of Commerce.
Finally, 200,000 jobs! Are you sure you are not a wanna-be stand up comedian?
Your kind of mindless pandering (TIA is a jobs program?) is why so. Cobb looks like a third world country. No thoughtful leadership.