Comments by Metro Atlanta Chamber officials through the years, as reported in the AJC:
Carol Tome, 2012 chamber chair, in the introduction to the group’s Forward Atlanta five-year strategic plan:
Yet, despite the great prosperity, our region has lagged behind our peer metros in job growth. Research indicates we are not positioned well for a fast recovery.
To regain our place as a leading metro, we must play off of our core assets while evolving to be more globally competitive. The engines of this transformation will be a dynamic workforce, vibrant new business ecosystems, global connectivity, business-friendly environment and 21st-century infrastructure.
Our region’s leadership, now more than ever, must come together and agree on the agenda and actions. It is time for us to “Be Bold!”
From a March 2007 AJC editorial on Grady Hospital's financial crisis: If the hospital's decades-old mission of providing charity care is to survive, state and local political leaders will need to be convinced the hospital is being run efficiently. And Atlanta's business leaders may have a better shot at doing that than the Fulton-DeKalb Hospital authority, which over the years has been seen as too secretive.
In much the same way the chamber was correct over the last few years to tackle the metro area’s significant transportation problems, its decision to become part of a workable solution for Grady is also welcome news.
From the special investigators’ report on Atlanta Public Schools CRCT cheating:
Dr. [Beverly] Hall had the support of community leaders after becoming superintendent.
In many ways, the community was duped by Dr. Hall. While the district had rampant cheating, many community leaders were unaware of the misconduct in the district.
Many of Dr. Hall’s supporters defended her and the district. The possibility of a negative reflection on the Atlanta “brand” caused some to protect Dr. Hall and attack the messengers. Image was more important than the truth.
From a letter to the editor by Williams May 12:
The articles and editorials in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution have asked questions about the motivation of the Metro Atlanta Chamber, and me specifically, during the early days of the Atlanta Public Schools crisis. First, I want to thank the AJC, our law enforcement and others who have worked tirelessly to bring these issues to full light.
Second, as the leader of the Metro Atlanta Chamber (MAC), and with the backing of our executive committee, we pushed for a comprehensive and well-organized investigation by the Blue Ribbon Commission (BRC). Ultimately, the BRC referred more than 100 individuals to APS for further investigation.
However, in hindsight, and given the extent of cheating which further investigations revealed, I wish I had been more involved and asked more questions along the way. I regret not doing so.
