Cobb Business Alliance to kick off pro-transit tax campaign

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A consortium of local business interests called the Cobb Business Alliance will begin a campaign in favor of the proposed Cobb transit tax next week.Cobb Business Alliance to kick off pro-transit tax campaign

The kickoff event takes place on Wednesday, Sept. 18, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Glover Park Brewery (65 Atlanta St.), near the Marietta Square.

The event will feature “elected officials, community leaders, transit advocates and voters sharing more about the MSPLOST referendum and how it will decrease congestion, invest in transit, and move Cobb County forward,” according to a release.

The proposed 30-year, one-percent sales tax, if passed by Cobb voters in November, would collect $11 billion and fund a significant expansion of existing bus and transit services and build various transfer facilities.

Among the projects that would be funded with the transit tax is the construction of a bus transfer station in the Roswell-Johnson Ferry Road area and the restoration of two bus routes through East Cobb that were eliminated during recession budget cuts.

The Cobb Business Alliance includes a number of local companies, including Kimley-Horn, the Atlanta consulting firm that’s being paid $287,000 by Cobb government to conduct a public outreach drive ahead of the referendum.

That effort includes a series of open houses that also take place next Wednesday at various library branches.

Other members of the Alliance include the Council for Quality Growth, Georgia Power, Croy Engineering, CKL Engineers and CWM Contracting Co.

To RSVP for the Cobb Alliance event, click here. You can read more about the group by clicking here.

Transit tax opponents will have a campaign kickoff in East Cobb on Saturday. The Cobb Taxpayer Association will hold a town hall meeting from 12-2 p.m. at Grace Resurrection Methodist Church (1200 Indian Hills Parkway).

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5 thoughts on “Cobb Business Alliance to kick off pro-transit tax campaign”

  1. > These people are interested in only one thing… lining their pockets with the taxpayers money.

    Yep, well, not just 1 thing. They can have multiple reasons, but the primary is the chance at getting govt business for their companies. Nothing wrong with it. That’s our system. I expect people to try to line their pockets with govt (our) money

    Also nothing wrong when we vote this tax down.

    I’m disappointed that Cobb taxes are funding $280+K for “awareness”. THAT should not have happened. Awareness about existing routes and schedules would be better.

  2. Not exactly a robust sample of Cobb businesses. It seems more like a lobbying effort for folks that want a county contract. After all, if the County Council gets the 11 BILLION they are after there will be a lot of money for these contractors to feed on for 30 years.

  3. Interesting that the Cobb Business Alliance is composed completely of companies that would benefit financially from the M-SPLOST, from new bus lanes, transit centers, especially light rail if it is approved down the road, etc.

    According to this article, the members are:
    – Kimley-Horn (consulting firm is being paid to promote the M-SPLOST)
    – Council for Quality Growth (according to its website, it “advocates for those who work at the intersection of public policy and private investment, including developers, contractors, engineers, architects, planners, law firms, and banks”.
    – Georgia Power (energy company that would provide her electricity to those transportation centers or to a light rail)
    – Croy Engineering (engineering company focused on mobility)
    – CKL Engineers (construction management firm focused on mass transit centers)
    – CWM Contracting Co. (contractor specializing roadway construction)

    These people are interested in only one thing… lining their pockets with the taxpayers money.

    Wake up people!💵

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