Moderator Karen Greer, Mayor Bottoms, and CIM Advocate Team.
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms held a community forum to hear from residents due to opposition to The Gulch $5 Billion redevelopment plan proposed by California developer CIM. The Mayor came in, took her seat and left after the Forum. While she read an opening statement and answered a couple of the audience questions (that were read by the moderator), she was never seen engaging with residents. No pictures. No handshakes. Nothing.
The plan which the City Council refused to vote on, until they have more time to review the 600 page document recently delivered to their homes, has residents furious.
Discussing 600 page Gulch Proposal with another opponent at Mayor’s forum.
Most residents were not allowed in the forum because City employees and a group of folks in green t-shirts, supporters of the CIM proposed Gulch deal, took up most of the seats. How is that really a forum for residents? The overflow room was filled with residents upset they could not get in.
One of many ATL police officers after forum as GA Stand Up Exec. Dir., Deborah Scott, shares her opposing view with reporter.
In opening rules, outlined by moderator Karen Greer, attendees were told we would be removed by police officers, stationed around the room, if we got out of line (paraphrase). I have attended many controversial forums/town halls, all across the country. Never have I heard those words. Despite that, there were a few times when folks yelled in disagreement to what was being said.
Why are residents furious? Well, after so many other “good deals” and promises that include:
– The original Braves Stadium & Turner Field
– Friendship Baptist Church & Mt. Vernon Baptist Church buyouts
– Falcons Stadium, Mercedes Benz (MB) Stadium & their $23 million bridge across Northside Drive
Karl Barnes (white jacket) ATL native and GA Tech alum among few residents who got into the Mayor’s Gulch Forum.
Each of these deals were also “good deals” for the community and now we are all on the hook for cost overruns (the original MB bridge cost was $10 million. Several months later, the cost rose to $23 million with $1million in lights.).
Each time, residents are on the hook despite their elected officials assuring them, ‘it is good for Atlanta because it will bring jobs’. Well, from what most reports and articles reveal, the minimum wage, temporary stadium jobs are what residents can verify. No one can verify any substantial contractor or management jobs for residents. However, residents continue to be displaced and given empty promises.
With a severe shortage of affordable housing units in Atlanta, each “good deal” drives out current residents while paving the way for new residents in homes priced out of reach for most. Being the number one U.S. city for income inequality, there are only two places for most ATL residents to move:
1) further from the city with no or limited access to public transportation
2) under an I-20 bridge with other homeless people
If a portion of our tax dollars could be used, as many advocates have asked, for:
– programs to repair/update homes of current residents,
– a program to “grandfather” current residents’ from tax increases.
– more affordable housing units than Invest Atlanta and the BeltLine can currently deliver.
That would give thousands of residents access to reasonable and affordable housing units.
Alvin Kendall, local attorney, gives the project overview as the Mayor Bottoms looks on.
Alvin Kendal, City of Atlanta liaison for the CIM Project gives a complicated presentation without a power point. More on Kendall and his conflict of interest on this project from the AJC at: https://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt–politics/watchdogs-question-rec-authority-leader-hiring-for-gulch-legal-work/QOvTwH6RnByIyAzlXvfRfL/
Much of the information he gave failed to give the whole story of the 30 year tax consequences to residents, Atlanta Public Schools (APS) and Fulton County Commissioners. Three entities, ATL City Council, APS and Fulton County have to approve the plan for it to materialize.
Joe Beasley at podium at last week’s four hour long City Council Work Session attended by only half of the Council.
You see, I also attended last week’s City Council Work Session with “CIM Armani suit-wearing lawyers”, as former Senator Vincent Fort describes them. Above, Internationist human rights activist, Joe Beasley, speaks against The Gulch Project.
If programs and legislation can be passed to benefit big corporations and stadium owners, why not for residents so they will not be driven out of their homes? Is that too much to ask for while these corporate folks get to use “our” hard earned tax dollars? Residents can make a change when they VOTE in EVERY ELECTION.
Why is it that planners and people, including most of our elected officials, usually go into neighborhoods and tell them “what is best for them” and “how” their communities should look? Even when Town halls are held, case in point, as with planning for MLKing Jr. Blvd, the neighborhood clearly objected to putting in medians. This both limited left lane turning for cars and fire trucks. Hmmm.
As WAOK Radio Host Derrick Boazman shared, ‘this Mayor’s Forum was not genuine and she is not standing up for the best interest of residents who elected her’. Despite having a hand full of questions, Greer only read about 10-12. Most of them were not answered. Real audience members were frustrated and began to shout out in frustration causing commotion. Meanwhile the mayor sat with an unchanged expression. And, to top it all off, most of us were shocked when the forum seemed to abruptly end. Most of the time was not used to answer questions, but to give Gulch proposal rhetoric about how good this deal is for Atlanta. If it is that good, tell the truth, answer all questions, and stop rushing.
Registering & educating voters at GA State MARTA Station. Back of t-shirt reads, “Register to Vote”.
So how do Atlanta residents and residents across the nation get control of their neighborhoods and protect them from predatory developers?
Glad you asked. The short answer is to unite to vote out those who do not favor the residents who elected them. And, to vet and fund candidates. Do not wait to see who runs.
On Tuesday, November 6, residents can take their power back by not just voting. Everyone also needs to educate themselves on the 20 plus items on Georgia ballots (use Google, discuss with friends), BEFORE Election Day, so you can vote down the entire ballot with confidence while encouraging friends and family to do the same. Print a sample ballot from: www.mvp.sos.ga.gov
In the meantime, those who are in office may be able to be recalled when they do not represent their voters. In the words of Sean King, contributor to the Tom Joyner Morning Show and Black America Web, “When we organize, we win!.”
Lots of people hanging around after Mayor’s Gulch Forum. Sign reads “Red Light The Gulch”.
So, it is obvious that Atlanta residents did not get their questions answered at the Mayor’s Forum. So no transparency.
Who do you believe about The Gulch Plan? The Armani suit-wearing attorneys who represent CIM, a firm with no Blacks on their executive team (according to their website http://www.cim.com)? Who benefits? You decide. You can make sure your voice is heard:
1) Organize a protest big or small.
2) Contact Mayor Bottoms at (404) 330-3100 or email from this link:
https://www.atlantaga.gov/government
3) Contact EVERY City Council Member, not just yours. Keep in mind, three are at-large or citywide : Bond, Dickens, and Westmoreland. If you do not know the name of your council member, ask when you call (404) 330-6030 or check this link for their individual contact info:
http://citycouncil.atlantaga.gov
(1. Also see my earlier blog on The Gulch.
2. Please let me know if you see errors. Another sets of eyes is always good!)
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