Dear Chairman Lee,
I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed move of the Braves to a new location in Cobb County. We already have traffic issues that have not been sufficiently dealt with and this would exacerbate the problem. Furthermore, I am very concerned with the news reports that state the Braves would only be responsible for 55% of the cost of the new stadium. Where is the remaining 45% coming from? I am opposed to any use of tax payer money for this stadium. There is a perfectly good stadium in Atlanta and that is where the Braves belong, period.
The proposal I saw on the news about an addition to I75 of a two lane "pay to ride" also is of great concern to me. I am opposed to such an addition and the use of tax payer funds for such a construction project.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Shirley Forslund
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Dear Tim,
I am a citizen of Cobb county living in Austell. I am 100 % against any of my tax dollars going towards a new Braves stadium. I would love an opportunity to voice my opinion either by a vote or in person at a town meeting. Before now, I believed a decision of this magnitude would have been open to full disclosure followed by a referendum and then a vote. How foolish and uninformed I am.
I am quite sure that you would not have publicly announced this allocation of funds if there wasn't a legal way for you to do so. The fact that Cobb County leadership has the power to spend several hundred million dollars of county tax payer money without any input or say from the tax payers on face value should be illegal. It is contradictory to the premise of representative government.
On a personal level, I believe the best argument against the way this decision was made is to invoke the golden rule. For arguments sake, the premise of my point is this. You, being a Cobb county citizen, have no fore knowledge of any large disbursement of county funds. Then one day, out of the blue, you are told via the media that several hundred million dollars of tax payer money was going to be spent on a project that you are totally against. Wouldn't your reaction be shock, followed by anger?
Thanks very much for the opportunity to share my opinion.
Sincerely,
John Miller
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Tim, Bob and Joanne
As a longtime resident of Cobb County who not only lives here but works in Cobb, worships in Cobb and volunteers my time in Cobb, I wanted to give you my congratulations and support of the Braves stadium project.
I believe this is a very positive move for the future of our entire County.
Tom Morin
Scoutmaster, Troop 1776, Atlanta Area Council
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I have been a resident of Cobb County for 25 years and keep up with local politics and events. How is it that Cobb County taxpayers will be footing a part of the bill for the new Braves stadium and no one has heard about it? Don’t we as taxpayers get a say-so? I think you will find many of your constitutes DO NOT agree with footing the bill, not to mention the traffic and crime issue that comes along with a stadium!
I am sure you are excited about the tax base it will bring – but those of us who actually live and work business hours in the nearby vicinity do not agree with the change of quality of life.
I have lived [in Smyrna] for over 19 years, and recently bought 1 mile down the road ... largely because I enjoy my chosen suburban lifestyle!
Don’t fall prey to the almighty dollar!
Marie Smith,
Director of Transaction Management, The Shopping Center Grou, LLC
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Mr. Lee,
I moved here twelve years ago. I chose Cobb County because of their excellent school system. I have watched education dollars continue to dwindle. Class sizes have increased, teachers take furlough days and funding decreases for everyday supplies are all commonplace. I'm just curious, if there is no money for education why would Cobb even consider the astronomical amount that it will cost to have the Braves in Cobb? I really think it sends the wrong message.
Kathryn Hinkson
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Greetings Chairman Lee,
As a Cobb County resident, taxpayer, and parent of children in Cobb County Schools, who also happens to be a Atlanta Braves baseball fan I wish to make my position very clear:
Given the number of county government functions which have been underfunded for the last five years it is appalling that any consideration is being given to the subsidy of a sports team or their stadium. There should be absolutely no subsidy of a Braves Stadium in Cobb county of any kind, whether through tax breaks, tax increases, new ad valorem taxes, hotel taxes, or new taxes of any kind. If the Braves organization wishes to buy their own property, build their own stadium, and assist the county with new roads for traffic management, that is fine but the County should pay for none of these things. We have other, important things to spend money on.
Thank you for your service,
Andrew Grimmke
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Tim
Just a quick note to say congratulations on bringing the Braves to Cobb County. I'm really looking forward to taking my six year old son to the games in our own backyard of Cobb County.
Please let us know if Brooks Chadwick can help you in terms of sponsorship or in any other way.
Keep up the great work you do in leading our county forward.
Have a great week.
Todd Thrasher,
Managing Partner, Brooks Chadwick Capital
