It was not a big surprise, and reported widely elsewhere, so I hadn’t bothered writing about it here, but on October 20, the City Council put out a press release stating that they were all 100% against the Falcons stadium moving to the city.
This story has gotten fairly wide coverage for something that was just “in the early negotiation stage,” although the actual reaction has been somewhat muted. On today’s Georgia Gang, however, there were a couple of segments where the panelists said that the council members are making a big mistake and squandering an opportunity because of petty politics. Jeff Dickerson even made the Doraville City Council his losers of the week for putting out this press release! Of course, none of them would have to live within a mile of a monster football stadium. A clip of the show is below:
I wonder what Jeff’s attitude is regarding the neighborhoods near the Dome & Turner Field. If accurately representing the opinions of your constituency is petty politics, then I’m all for petty politics. (As far as this changing post-election, anyone who does that will be held accountable.)
We have enough vacant retail space in Metro Atlanta to fill 13 Malls of Georgia. We have 60 years supply of developed lots, known as PVC farms and a continued oversupply of homes. All of this has greatly harmed our economy and made Georgia the national leader in bank failures (many more to come, believe me). But business suck-up Jeff never met a real estate developer, subdivision, or shopping center he didn’t love.. He talks about replacing GM jobs. Yeah, with the type of development proposed, we are talking about minimum-wage jobs. This has been the whole problem along but the idiots in the media, General Assembly, and County Commissions (and national people, as well) just don’t get it.
Thanks council members for rejecting a proposal that has not been proposed
. We are glad you are so “political” that you would reject something that would be devastating to the city you live in. The Georgia Gang has not a clue.
Completely agree with Bryan. Having a long term vision for our city is not a bad or stupid thing. Imagine if, when Decatur was first proposing to rebuild its downtown, they’d accepted the first offer from a developer that came along and it happened to be a Falcons stadium. They wouldn’t have the vital community center they have today nor the jobs and increased property values that go along with that.
It’s this kind of shortsighted thinking by people like the “GA Gang” that got us all into the economic mess to begin with. All they can think about is lining somebody’s pockets today instead of being selective, regardless how much it diminishes quality of life.
And where in the world do they get off thinking a research facility wouldn’t be profitable? This is one of the few industries that is still very viable and growing. These guys are idiots.
Rest assured, my stance on this will not change after the election. Doraville does not need or want a Falcons Stadium!
There are so many possibilities for the GM Site. Let’s not sell out or sell ourselves short!
Bob Roche
“The most recent relocation idea floated — building a stadium at the site of the shuttered General Motors plant near I-285 — died last week when the Doraville City Council unanimously rejected a conceptual plan pushed by DeKalb County officials.”
http://www.ajc.com/news/officials-hire-firm-to-175595.html
Doraville Citizens: YOU have been heard loud and clear.
I’m glad Dekalb County listened to the citizens and Council of Doraville. This bodes well for a good, cooperative relationship going forward.
Now we can turn our attention to working with developers, the County, and all concerned to develop the GM site in a way that benefits everybody.
Thanks again,
Bob Roche