MARTA debate in Coweta/Fayette (Atlanta, Columbus: apartments, house, schools)

[arjay57]

All four candidates running for the state house seat in Coweta and Fayette are making it known that they are opposed to MARTA (if MARTA ever decides to come their way).

It sounds like they just flat don't want mass transit.

That being the case, why should it be forced on them?

The Jolt: MARTA becomes the punching bag in a bellwether House race

[toll_booth]

Originally Posted by arjay57

All four candidates running for the state house seat in Coweta and Fayette are making it known that they are opposed to MARTA (if MARTA ever decides to come their way).

It sounds like they just flat don't want mass transit.

That being the case, why should it be forced on them?

The Jolt: MARTA becomes the punching bag in a bellwether House race

Why are they making this an issue? MARTA has already made it clear that they're not going to come begging to other counties. They recently expanded to Clayton, the Gwinnett referendum would have been closer if it had been put on a regular election day, and there are plenty of transit expansion options within the three-county network.

[citidata18]

Originally Posted by toll_booth

Why are they making this an issue?

See the demographic makeup of both counties.

You can't run a succeasful campaign if you don't play to people's (sometimes irrational) emotions.

In any event, whether folks like it or not, Newnan is already serviced by the ATL express bus, commuter rail to Newnan will eventually happen (either as a stop between Atlanta and Columbus, or as the terminus), and Newnan will eventually require some form of local bus service as it continues to trend towards a higher density residential suburb and major employment/health care/retail hub, just like what's being launched in Douglasville.

[Atlanta Scientist]

Where are these places and why do we care if Marta goes there or not?

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by arjay57

That being the case, why should it be forced on them?

The Jolt: MARTA becomes the punching bag in a bellwether House race

Nobody's forcing it on them, these candidates are a bunch of quasi-racist morons.

[Mgyeldell]

Originally Posted by Gulch

Nobody's forcing it on them, these candidates are a bunch of quasi-racist morons.

Exactly, these Quasi-Racist politicians are the worst. They feed on the lowest common denominator with the public and use that for their campaigns. The point of the article that I am getting is Atlanta is coming and we want to scare you that Atlanta is coming, so we will use historical racism, that we can mask as something else to instill fear into the populace.

Sorry to those politicians in Coweta and Fayette but Atlanta is there and it will keep coming.

[citidata18]

Originally Posted by Mgyeldell

Exactly, these Quasi-Racist politicians are the worst. They feed on the lowest common denominator with the public and use that for their campaigns. The point of the article that I am getting is Atlanta is coming and we want to scare you that Atlanta is coming, so we will use historical racism, that we can mask as something else to instill fear into the populace.

Sorry to those politicians in Coweta and Fayette but Atlanta is there and it will keep coming.

These politicians are only pandering to their base.

Coweta and Fayette kind of get it from multiple ends.

Many of these folks are white flighters from the Southsde of Atlanta who fled to Clayton County and South Fulton in the 70s/80s and then fled to Coweta/Fayette counties in the 90s/2000s. They're afraid of anything (apartments, transit, "affordable housing," etc.) they think will attract more people of a certain demographic into *their* community.

Then on top of that, you have the long time residents of Coweta and Fayette who still wish they were still in the country like when they grew up 40-50 years ago and want to bring those days back.

They're able to get away with their resistance to change because the growth, at least so far, isn't nearly as robust as it is north of the city (where the people there either just grudgingly adapt or give up and move into the mountains).

But it's a losing fight they're waging. They both have good/excellent schools and they're in close proximity to Hartsfield-Jackson. Coweta in particular has a major interstate highway that goes through it and is still quite affordable. The only thing that is keeping these areas from really exploding is the lack of good-paying jobs in reasonable commuting distance (which may be starting to change).

[bellhead]

Originally Posted by citidata18

These politicians are only pandering to their base.


But it's a losing fight they're waging. They both have good/excellent schools and they're in close proximity to Hartsfield-Jackson. Coweta in particular has a major interstate highway that goes through it and is still quite affordable. The only thing that is keeping these areas from really exploding is the lack of good-paying jobs in reasonable commuting distance (which may be starting to change).

Once the northern suburbs are completely built out, which is within 10 years, this will be the next logical direction Atlanta will expand. The airport will also drive this.

[arjay57]

I guess Coweta and Fayette are just trying to head things off before they reach the point of no return.

[MattCW]

Originally Posted by Atlanta Scientist

Where are these places and why do we care if Marta goes there or not?

Because we're a region of communities, not a random collection of isolated enclaves.