It is time to once again address regionalism, TSPLOST and what is happening with elected officials.
If you remember, in 2010 I shared a lot of Plan 2010, Plan 2040, Concept 3, the Regional Transportation Authority, the Regional Transportation Committee, the annexation and development proposal and more. Every warning has been proven true.
When the Regional Transportation Roundtable mayor was to be selected, I was chosen because Mayor Steele knew this would be an incredible hot potato. I was actually expected to take direction for my actions from behind the scenes.
At the very first meeting of the RTR those who would be doing the promotion of the TSPLOST had already been chosen. We were told our job was to vote for and promote the TSPLOST back home. But not a single discussion or vote had yet to take place.
When I didn’t do as directed, pro-ARC council members and mayors pushed to remove me. They didn’t want any naysayers on the RTR. Neither did some other officials from other areas.
So, I was removed and later censured for not keeping quiet. I just kept talking to elected [officials] in other cities, the public and elsewhere. Nor have I stopped talking as I was not elected to be a puppet for anyone else or to be silent.
Since then Chairman Smith and Mayor Steele have been removed from office. Chairman Frady is under a lot of pressure and is up for reelection this year.
When it came time to select a new ARC mayoral representative a behind the scenes recruiting effort took place to keep me off as they knew I would fight to change the ARC and stand up for Fayette over regionalism. They won by one vote and unless something happens, he is there for four years.
Why are they so supportive of the ARC and their plans? Some are developer related, into real estate, pro transit or beholden to special interests. Some just plain do not get it.
Why regionalism? The issue really isn’t about the region, but Atlanta. There is this mindset Atlanta is the region and all have to center on it. A false notion.
Look at transit issues. They want outer counties to commute to Atlanta to work and those within Atlanta to be able to go to outer counties to work. High paying jobs in Atlanta and service and retail jobs elsewhere.
That means Atlanta is in a win-win situation at the expense of the rest of us. Tax and other monies located in Atlanta and those commuting out bring back their money to Atlanta.
One big problem is it won’t work. Every wonder why it is called Plan 2040? Because the kick-off plan is for 30 years, not 10. It is also seen as once done it can never be undone or end.
How about a different approach that does not require billions and billions for a rail system with buses that will never succeed? This has not succeeded in any other city and is a massive tax burden on the whole state.
Instead of Atlanta being The Hub, how about multiple hubs? Jobs where people live. Let each county and community establish its own standards, be it high density urban like Atlanta or non-urban, like Fayette and Peachtree City?
You cannot tell me with companies like NCR, Panasonic, Cooper Lighting, etc., located here it will not work while maintaining green space, safety and a high quality of life. That is a non-argument.
Really, our traffic issues are mainly traffic commuting through, not to. Look how much Coweta traffic alone comes in and goes to Atlanta via [Ga. Highway] 74.
Get the jobs here with the associated incomes and you cannot tell me that will not relieve tax burdens, allowing more people to buy here and fill or retail space.
The key to success is setting our limits and not repeating the build, build, build mistakes of other areas. Keep low density, green and the rest that makes us a successful community and county.
But what about Atlanta? Explore and see all the areas of vacant buildings, etc. Redevelop them to parks, homes and what makes a person want to live there. Bring those areas back to life and people who like urban areas will live and work in Atlanta.
How many thousands of cars will that remove from the road each day? Think about it!
As for the argument that the poor in Atlanta need rail to get where the jobs are, that is an excuse. Do what I just said and stores, shops and other opportunities will be there where they can find work closer to home.
Fact is the TSPLOST will not and cannot work. It has already been admitted that even if they built nothing but rail for 30 years it would only scratch the surface of what was needed to serve everywhere.
There just isn’t enough money coming in via the tax. Not to mention as technology and other things change what you build today will not serve tomorrow. Nor will it escape needs for maintenance and replacement.
That brings us to the move to kill HB 277. I agree with that wholeheartedly.
The inflexible single region approach is a failure and will drag us down. For economic development, in example, Fayette has more in common with counties south of us than it does with Fulton or Gwinnett. There is a common desire to bring in jobs but keeping rural and small town natures, not urban living. For other concerns we may prosper more partnering with other counties.
It is appropriate to briefly touch on the issue of leaving the ARC for Three Rivers. I have talked to some officials and they would welcome us. There is a growing support for this potential move. In talking to legislators from various areas of the state, many do not understand why we are in the ARC as we do not really fit. It is an option still, if the TSPLOST fails. With all the efforts to resist forcing change in the ARC it could still happen.
I know that none of this is easy because in my job I see those more interested in their next election over what needs to be done all the time. As well it is quite obvious to me if you don’t have people who are willing to fight in office and take lumps we are never going to move forward and actually get something positive for the future.
People, not geography, make communities. Voluntary regionalism is good. Mandated is neither home rule nor the freedom our Constitution was written to guarantee.
We have to get out of the box. We need new thinking and new approaches. We need people in office that will challenge the status quo, not try to prosper or making political careers by becoming part of the system.
You, the voters, have a lot of responsibility to make good decisions this year between two elections and the TSPLOST referendum for another one cent tax. Those that want to argue this benefits us do not seem to understand that when renewed for another 10 years and then another, we will have zero projects, so we would be a total donor county to the transit projects.
Even if it does not pass the funding and authorization for the Regional Transportation Committee will some day. Then we are stuck with a penny forever with nothing for Fayette.
A lot to think about, folks.
Don Haddix, mayor
Peachtree City, Ga.
