Local citizens should decide mass transit issues

Local

citizens should decide mass transit issues

On June 24, the

Coweta Republicans held a forum for the 28th Senate

District race. Incumbent State Senator Rick Price and

challengers Mitch Seabaugh, Dan Lakly and Charlie Harper

spoke. During the question and answer portion, it was

asked if the citizens should be allowed to decide whether

to bring public transportation to Fayette, Coweta and

Spalding counties through a voter referendum,

specifically a GRTA-mandated intercity commuter rail

linking our rural communities to MARTA.

The incumbent, Sen. Rick

Price, responded that keeping these decisions local was a

priority, and that the county commissioners should make

the decision on county transportation. The question in

his mind seemed not to be if, but which form of public

transportation our county will receive. "The intent

is to use bus systems because you have flexibility with

bus systems. My intent is to allow that funding to come

to local government and let the local elected officials

decide the routes if in fact they want the local bus

system." In conclusion, he conceded that a voter

referendum on major issues was a possibility.

Mitch Seabaugh responded

next. "We have officials that we have elected as our

county commission. They should have that opportunity to

make the decision of what we want to do with our land in

each county. We should not have an organization that

would usurp their authority in doing that. So the county

commission should be held accountable to the electorate,

the electorate should have the opportunity to make their

voices known of what they want in their county and what

they don't want in their county. Government which governs

closest to the people is best."

Dan Lakly said, "That

issue is far too important to put in the hands of just a

few. That initiative must be put on a ballot for a

referendum. We like our lifestyle in Coweta, Fayette and

Spalding counties. It's quiet. It's pristine. We don't

have high density. As far as buses, my God in heaven, if

they jammed it down my throat I would take a rail line

twice in the morning and twice at night. But dear God,

don't bring me buses! The good sheriff of this county is

here and he knows exactly what happens when you bring

that kind of accessibility to a community such as ours.

I'd put it in the hands of the people."

Charlie Harper said,

"People should have the opportunity as a referendum

to determine if we're going to accept mass transit into

our community. Most people chose to live here, they chose

to live here because we've got great communities in the

28th District. We've got great schools because we control

them locally, and are building our community through

local land use planning. MARTA has already driven a lot

of people out of certain areas. So if you want MARTA then

you ought to be able to vote on it. I don't think the

majority of the people in this district want a system

similar to that. And as for Senator Price's comments that

he fought against GRTA the whole time, his own literature

touts his support for GRTA legislation calling for an

Atlanta-Griffin-Macon rail line. You should

choose the type community you live in."

History shows that in 1971

a sales tax referendum was held in all five counties

involved in MARTA planning: Fulton, Dekalb, Cobb,

Gwinnett and Clayton. The question is what has changed so

much in 30 years that now a governor appointee has the

power to mandate intercity rail leaving the citizens no

choice. This is our tax money being used without regard

for our rights. Or more plainly, taxation without

representation.

The commuter rail corridor

will be a magnet for high-density commercial and

residential development as MARTA's train corridor has

proven to be in Atlanta, Fulton and DeKalb counties. GRTA

is a newly formed governor-mandated authority with the

power to bring enormous change regardless of local

opinion. Forcing urban development into rural counties is

the true driving force behind GRTA's mandate for mass

transit.

The Atlanta area has

extraordinary resources to continue and expand its

remarkable history of progress. How this happens should

depend on the vision and energy of its citizens and not

the desire of governor-appointed real estate developers.

J. R. Kemp

Peachtree City