Leinberger told the Cumberland Area Community Improvement District board last week that “MARTA really stands for ‘Moving African Americans Rapidly Through Atlanta.’ You’ve racialized it. The white suburban neighborhoods and places have completely ignored the economic development potential that MARTA could have been and will be in the future.”
He also said “Ultimately, real estate developers are building for middle-class and upper-class folks.”
He also said “the goal of having a rail system is not for traffic relief, but for economic development.” He also said “You do not build it to move people.”
Wow. Where do I start?
I ride MARTA, and I’m white. Lots of white people ride MARTA. Atlanta has not racialized MARTA. The only person in this discussion who has racialized MARTA is the paid consultant who does not live in Georgia, but who apparently will be paid to propagandize against the taxpayers who want fiscal responsibility.
And listen closely, Atlantans. Leinberger says that
* Rail transit is not about moving people.
* Rail transit is not about reducing traffic congestion on our roads.
* Rail transit is entirely about economic development.
Even the Atlanta Regional Commission has admitted that the TSPLOST projects list will do little to reduce commute times. It will not reduce traffic congestion on our roads. Using TSPLOST proponents’ numbers, the optimistic projection is that on average, you might save about one minute each way. And this is based on some extremely dubious assumptions.
The purpose of the TSPLOST is to extract billions of dollars from taxpayers to incentivize development “for middle class and upper class folks” so that rich, predominantly white developers and consultants can become richer.
One of Leinberger’s most bizarre and reprehensible comments was his accusation that white suburban neighborhoods ignored the development potential that MARTA could have provided.
Putting aside his false and reprehensible attempts to manufacture an alleged issue about “white suburban neighborhoods”;
* Suburban neighborhoods do not facilitate any kind of development anywhere. We aren’t developers. We are neighborhoods.
* Leinberger made the claim himself, that developers “are building for middle class and upper class folks.” Developers made the decisions of whether they wanted to develop near some MARTA stations. And developers made the decisions not to develop near other MARTA stations. Any attempt to distort that into an accusation of racism against suburban neighborhoods is just outright false and reprehensible.
In 2004, the State of Georgia produced the Regional Transit Action Plan. The RTAP would have implemented an affordable regional transit network that could have provided outstanding connectivity throughout the region. The RTAP would have provided superior transit service, serving far more people, and far more destinations, at a tiny fraction of the cost of the ultra-expensive boondoggles that are on the TSPLOST projects list.
The RTAP was rejected by rich, powerful special interests because the only thing it would have done was to move people affordably and efficiently. The RTAP did not provide rich powerful special interests an opportunity to turn taxpayer dollars into their profits. The RTAP was unacceptable to the rich powerful special interests because it was a cost-effective, good deal for taxpayers.
If the TSPLOST is approved, it will consume all available transit dollars. Therefore, the TSPLOST will actually doom any hope for future expanded transit service for south Cobb.
Why should taxpayers cough up billions of dollars for transit whose only purpose is to incentivize new development targeted for “middle class and upper class folks” in north Cobb and in the City of Atlanta? And the only real beneficiaries of the TSPLOST are the rich and powerful special interests who will profit from these ultra-expensive boondoggles.
Light rail has nothing to do with moving people. Light rail is about making powerful, rich people richer.
I see that the Cumberland CID is proposing to pay Leinberger $190,000 to do a study regarding urbanization. The CID usually prefers to “leverage” its money by getting other governmental agencies to pay part of the cost. I guess the CID can spend its money however it wants. Cobb County should not contribute any tax dollars toward a study tainted by last week’s race-baiting.
Ron Sifen of Vinings is president of the Cobb County Civic Coalition. His views do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCCC.
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I remember decades ago during the "White flight" from Fulton and DeKalb counties, the new suburbanites thumbed their noses up at MARTA when it tried to extend services to the suburban communities...They didn't want MARTA expanding out to them bringing "criminals and other undesirables" out to their new abodes.
Now they are clogged with traffic gridlock and pollution and wants DeKalb and Fulton Countians to fork over 2 cents to their 1 cent for projects that mainly benefits them. South DeKalb has needed a MARTA rail line for decades and not one cent is devoted to that idea. I have not heard one politician serioulsy discuss the need for it. Look at where the proposed T-Splost MARTA projects and road projects are proposed! And you think we are going to fork over an extra penny to support that! Enought of this political correctness and deception.
Let's take a frank and honest look at how the region got into this mess and collectively and honestly come up with ideas that address the problems for all citizens with emphasis on what is needed most, and not what will benefit a select few in a few select areas. Go back to the drawing boards politicos! If you want our votes and support, then next time, seriously include our communities and our needs when you sit down to consider taxing us to address the region's problems.
Thanks for your dogged efforts. Thanks for keeping the thieves scurrying.
aka
Money Aimed @ Ridiculous Transportation Alternatives
Out of curiosity, which "special interest" do you reference? My family? My wonderful Mableton community? My home for the past two decades - Cobb County? How about CrimeStoppers of Atlanta? Or the National Rifle Association? Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta? Perhaps my church? Possibly the Georgia Tech alumni association? Might you be referencing MUST Ministries or St. Vincent de Paul?
Yes. I am the representation of "special interest". My greatest investment was my first home in Cobb County. Thanks in part to the Cobb SPLOST my property value doubled. I have lost 40% in my current home. My friends and neighbors are losing their jobs and their homes. I take "special interest" in the well-being of my community.
I support TSPLOST and the Cobb transportation SPLOST (1994, 2000, 2005, 2011). I have no problem with people who don't support this referendum. Reasonable people can disagree. However, I would like to know the details of YOUR plan...the projects....the financing....the politics. It's pretty simple.......publish your plan. You may find that you need the support of my "special interest" should the current referendum fail.
First of all, I was surprised at his statements that rail has nothing to do with moving people and that it is entirely about economic development. I had previously dismissed it when Sifen said this, because I figured Sifen was just making some claim to support his view. Leinberger convinced me that Sifen's issues are valid.
I was totally disgusted at Leinberger's tirade about white suburban neighborhoods. I live in a suburban neighborhood. The couple next door is black. Our kids play together. My neighborhood had nothing to do with any decisions any developers made to develop or not develop near any MARTA stations.
And Gov. Deal wouldn't have caved on the Ga 400 tolls without political pressure from voters. If Sifen helped to accomplish that, he gets a big thank you from me.
How about you fully disclosing how much money the special interest company you are associated with will make off of these boondoggle projects?
Interesting article. This thing is just not going to work--In Georgia--in 2012--and after all these years.
Back to the drawing board.
Mr. Leinburger gave some great examples of "private-public-partnerships" where the private sector pays for transit to spur economic growth (like Tysons Corner in the DC area). Please note the emphasis he puts on private financing for these projects.
He also presents data which indicates the "walkable urban" neighborhoods are demanding a significant price premium and backed that up with the fact that Decatur, Grant Park, and Virginia Highlands are the only areas that have seen an increase in real estate value in Atlanta. Is it safe to say that you support the 29% decline in real estate value across the Atlanta metro over the past decade? And the 3% loss of jobs?
However, you did see Mr. Leinberger at the Georgia Public Broadcasting debate where he made similar comments. You were also passing out propaganda to the attendees which stated that the citizens cannot trust Governor Deal because he lied to us about the Georgia 400 toll. How do you feel now that GA 400 toll is going away? Do you trust Governor Deal now? He did what you asked of him? What a great day when an elected official keeps a campaign promise!! This is proof that citizen oversight is an effective means of transparency and accountability!!
BTW, do you have sort of delivery schedule for the driverless cars that Mr. Brown referenced in the debate?
It is easy to be a critic.....please publish your plan....your project list....your financing plan....your plan to get the counties to approve.....your plan to get the legislature to approve....
I have dealt directly with Mr. Sifen many times in the past.
Can he be irritating? Absolutely!!
Can he be obstinate? You Betcha!!
Is he easy to dislike? Without a doubt!!
Can he be maddeningly persistent and insistent? If you only knew!!
However regardless of those minor personality flaws, he is very informed, very accurate with his facts, very smart and I can guarantee you he has no one writing his columns or opinions for him.
He may not always be right, but his viewpoints make sense most of the time and they are undoubtably HIS opinions.
Unlike Tim Lee who couldn't put two sentences together that made sense unless the Chamber wrote them for him.
However, may I buy you a thesaurus ?
"Light rail has nothing to do with moving people. Light rail is about making powerful, rich people richer."
I agree. IF you plan to go shopping, trains, busses or light rail, is NOT what you want to use. How can you drag bags of stuff with you? You will take your car.
And if you were to use light rail to get to work, where would you park your car? Leinberger will pick you up.
"Rail transit is entirely about economic development." We don't need any more economic development. We can't handle what we have now.
Wow on that comment, just wow.
Yes Really!
How can you say we need no economic development? What a ridiculous comment. What is the unemployment rate? 9.5%. I vote NO on this referendum, because it is too small in scope. It does not include a regional rail line (LIRR/Metro-North) to support the outer counties.
And to the other comments made here, I have been on MARTA and I was one of three white people on the train. I can see why on the surface many people might get the impression that the resistance to the expansion of MARTA to the outer, whiter counties can be construed, correctly or not as being racist. I sense that there is a bit of racism involved.
I would like to know who Ron will be supporting for Chairman.