Comments on: State needs to stop plotting takeovers of MARTA and Hartsfield-Jackson airport http://saportareport.com/blog/2009/03/state-needs-to-quit-plotting-takeovers-of-marta-and-hartsfield-jackson-airport/ Maria Saporta is a longtime Atlanta business, civic and urban affairs journalist with a deep knowledge of our city, our region and state. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:17:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Roger Coley http://saportareport.com/blog/2009/03/state-needs-to-quit-plotting-takeovers-of-marta-and-hartsfield-jackson-airport/comment-page-1/#comment-160 Roger Coley Tue, 07 Apr 2009 13:52:33 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=457#comment-160 I've been living in Atlanta for almost 15 years now after moving from NYC. One of the things that attracted me to Atlanta was a transportation system that appeared to be growing. Marta had just completed the East Line, and the North Line was under construction to North Springs. The Olympics came, MARTA handled the job well, and I was optimistic. Plans for commuter rail and expansion of MARTA looked promising. A new multimodal terminal for rail and bus for downtown was ready to be built. Then the 2002 elections came and all plans eventually came to a standstill - even though the general public cried out for new transit solutions. It is a utter downright shame that state government continues to bicker and argue over who controls what when it comes down to transit in Georgia. By not coming to at least a compromise on transit funding, the good ole boys under the Dome continue to make us here in Georgia look like we are nothing but fools. It's like breaking a bone and instead of setting it, allowing the patient to continue to suffer in pain. State government knows exactly what to do, but they don't have the courage, and won't compromise because everyone has their own agenda. All that does is hurt the citizens of this once great state. When it comes to living here, I sometimes feel like I'm in a marriage where I love my wife, but I need to leave her because she is hurting me. Eventually, I will have no choice but to leave. Will the same thing happen to businesses and others affected by this situation? Probably. I’ve been living in Atlanta for almost 15 years now after moving from NYC. One of the things that attracted me to Atlanta was a transportation system that appeared to be growing. Marta had just completed the East Line, and the North Line was under construction to North Springs. The Olympics came, MARTA handled the job well, and I was optimistic. Plans for commuter rail and expansion of MARTA looked promising. A new multimodal terminal for rail and bus for downtown was ready to be built.

Then the 2002 elections came and all plans eventually came to a standstill – even though the general public cried out for new transit solutions.

It is a utter downright shame that state government continues to bicker and argue over who controls what when it comes down to transit in Georgia. By not coming to at least a compromise on transit funding, the good ole boys under the Dome continue to make us here in Georgia look like we are nothing but fools. It’s like breaking a bone and instead of setting it, allowing the patient to continue to suffer in pain.

State government knows exactly what to do, but they don’t have the courage, and won’t compromise because everyone has their own agenda. All that does is hurt the citizens of this once great state.

When it comes to living here, I sometimes feel like I’m in a marriage where I love my wife, but I need to leave her because she is hurting me. Eventually, I will have no choice but to leave.

Will the same thing happen to businesses and others affected by this situation? Probably.

]]> By: EB http://saportareport.com/blog/2009/03/state-needs-to-quit-plotting-takeovers-of-marta-and-hartsfield-jackson-airport/comment-page-1/#comment-139 EB Mon, 06 Apr 2009 22:29:37 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=457#comment-139 how did the state end up with any power over MARTA funding in the first place? They don't want to support it financially, but they want to control it. I don't speak French, but ... yeah, what that guy above said. how did the state end up with any power over MARTA funding in the first place? They don’t want to support it financially, but they want to control it. I don’t speak French, but … yeah, what that guy above said.

]]> By: Maria Saporta http://saportareport.com/blog/2009/03/state-needs-to-quit-plotting-takeovers-of-marta-and-hartsfield-jackson-airport/comment-page-1/#comment-120 Maria Saporta Wed, 01 Apr 2009 22:03:59 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=457#comment-120 Quinn, How fun, you're the first person to comment in French. And you provided a great historical perspective to boot. For those of you who don't know French, the translation is: "The more things change, the more they remain the same." Merci bien (if only I could learn how to type in all the right French punctuation). Maria Quinn,
How fun, you’re the first person to comment in French. And you provided a great historical perspective to boot.
For those of you who don’t know French, the translation is: “The more things change, the more they remain the same.”
Merci bien (if only I could learn how to type in all the right French punctuation).
Maria

]]> By: Quinn Hudson http://saportareport.com/blog/2009/03/state-needs-to-quit-plotting-takeovers-of-marta-and-hartsfield-jackson-airport/comment-page-1/#comment-118 Quinn Hudson Tue, 31 Mar 2009 22:09:30 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=457#comment-118 These attacks on the city of Atlanta remind of the times not long ago when the first bill to be introduced in the General Assembly each Session was to abolish the City of Atlanta. Many outback legislators would attack the capital city as a way of pandering to the folks back home. This was a lot easier than adequately funding equal education and access. Besides, once the bill was introduced, this left a plenty of time to enjoy the physical pleasures at the old Grady Hotel. Indeed this bash Atlanta approach was used by Ole Gene Talmadge to get elected several times to the governership with the campaign slogan, "I don't want any votes from cities that have trolleys." Of course, only the city of Atlanta had public transit. "Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose" Quinn These attacks on the city of Atlanta remind of the times not long ago when the first bill to be introduced in the General Assembly each Session was to abolish the City of Atlanta. Many outback legislators would attack the capital city as a way of pandering to the folks back home. This was a lot easier than adequately funding equal education and access. Besides, once the bill was introduced, this left a plenty of time to enjoy the physical pleasures at the old Grady Hotel. Indeed this bash Atlanta approach was used by Ole Gene Talmadge to get elected several times to the governership with the campaign slogan, “I don’t want any votes from cities that have trolleys.” Of course, only the city of Atlanta had public transit.

“Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose”

Quinn

]]> By: Maria Saporta http://saportareport.com/blog/2009/03/state-needs-to-quit-plotting-takeovers-of-marta-and-hartsfield-jackson-airport/comment-page-1/#comment-117 Maria Saporta Tue, 31 Mar 2009 18:46:00 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=457#comment-117 Well, my friends. If we all get "it," hope is not lost. We need to figure out how to make the leaders in our state better understand that it is in their best interest for Atlanta to prosper. Open to any and all ideas. In the meantime, please tell your friends about SaportaReport.com Well, my friends. If we all get “it,” hope is not lost. We need to figure out how to make the leaders in our state better understand that it is in their best interest for Atlanta to prosper. Open to any and all ideas. In the meantime, please tell your friends about SaportaReport.com

]]> By: Mechul http://saportareport.com/blog/2009/03/state-needs-to-quit-plotting-takeovers-of-marta-and-hartsfield-jackson-airport/comment-page-1/#comment-116 Mechul Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:23:16 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=457#comment-116 I actually listening to her talk as I type in my class at GSU. I am so lucky and this article was really good I actually listening to her talk as I type in my class at GSU. I am so lucky and this article was really good

]]> By: Alan Yorker http://saportareport.com/blog/2009/03/state-needs-to-quit-plotting-takeovers-of-marta-and-hartsfield-jackson-airport/comment-page-1/#comment-115 Alan Yorker Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:03:56 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=457#comment-115 As usual, Maria, you have the issue well in your sights and totally on target. Why this state doesn't "get it" always puzzles me, unless I get cynical and ascribe it all to greed for money and power, instead of us having leadership with vision and the people's true wellbeing in mind. How sad that this great State of Georgia, The Empire State of the South, should be demoted to second tier status due to our political and asphalt transportation gridlock! As usual, Maria, you have the issue well in your sights and totally on target. Why this state doesn’t “get it” always puzzles me, unless I get cynical and ascribe it all to greed for money and power, instead of us having leadership with vision and the people’s true wellbeing in mind. How sad that this great State of Georgia, The Empire State of the South, should be demoted to second tier status due to our political and asphalt transportation gridlock!

]]> By: Atlanta Blogs Today: ‘The city too busy to change’ | Fresh Loaf http://saportareport.com/blog/2009/03/state-needs-to-quit-plotting-takeovers-of-marta-and-hartsfield-jackson-airport/comment-page-1/#comment-114 Atlanta Blogs Today: ‘The city too busy to change’ | Fresh Loaf Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:25:08 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=457#comment-114 [...] Saporta says the state needs to stop plotting takeovers of MARTA and Jackson-Hartsfield International [...] [...] Saporta says the state needs to stop plotting takeovers of MARTA and Jackson-Hartsfield International [...]

]]> By: John McCay http://saportareport.com/blog/2009/03/state-needs-to-quit-plotting-takeovers-of-marta-and-hartsfield-jackson-airport/comment-page-1/#comment-112 John McCay Mon, 30 Mar 2009 13:58:34 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=457#comment-112 Maria, I have always been a huge fan of yours, but you really knocked this one out of the park! I may be time for MARTA to just thumb its nose at these fools. Ignore them, go their own way and sue if need be to unlock the dollars that are rightfully theirs to spend. Perhaps it's time to refuse to accept transfers from GRTA Express buses? It's probably time to get militant, and declare war on the State. Perhaps the national media spotlight might shame them, but I doubt it. I agree totally though - enough is enough! Maria,

I have always been a huge fan of yours, but you really knocked this one out of the park!

I may be time for MARTA to just thumb its nose at these fools. Ignore them, go their own way and sue if need be to unlock the dollars that are rightfully theirs to spend.

Perhaps it’s time to refuse to accept transfers from GRTA Express buses? It’s probably time to get militant, and declare war on the State. Perhaps the national media spotlight might shame them, but I doubt it.

I agree totally though – enough is enough!

]]> By: juanita driggs http://saportareport.com/blog/2009/03/state-needs-to-quit-plotting-takeovers-of-marta-and-hartsfield-jackson-airport/comment-page-1/#comment-111 juanita driggs Mon, 30 Mar 2009 13:25:29 +0000 http://saportareport.com/blog/?p=457#comment-111 I'm amending my political wish list. Gina Evans for governor; Maria Saporta, lieutenant governor. I’m amending my political wish list. Gina Evans for governor; Maria Saporta, lieutenant governor.

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