Name:	CRD -	Reply
Subject:	Trump, the Jedi Master
Date:	5/4/2022 9:57:55 AM

Just when the Dems think they have Trump boxed in and will no longer be a factor that they have to contend with, he comes back even STRONGER as witnessed by the 22 Trump endorsed candidates who won yesterday in Ohio and Indiana.  Waiting to see if Kemp starts to grovel for Trump's endorsement for the GA gov race if he makes it out of the primary. 

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Trump, the Jedi Master
Date:	5/4/2022 10:12:59 AM

This is where I hope he stays......kingmaker instead of trying to be king.  I saw another article that he went 55-0 when you count Indiana.  He has had some losses in other races and I suspect he will lose in the GA Gov primary race.  Kemp has done a masterful job of feeding red meat to the GOP base on several fronts, concealed carry, election law overhaul, suspension of state gas taxes, etc.  I am no huge fan of either him or Perdue and will choose based on who I believe has the best chance to beat Abrams.  As of right now that appears to be Kemp but there is still time.

Meanwhile, here is East Cobb all the talk is about cityhood.  No signs are more numerous than yes as of right now.  I've looked closely at the fasibility study and it is not compelling.  Can't figure out how East Cobb having its own fire chief and police chief and having to buy the city govt building means taxes will not go up.  I keep looking at what has transpired in Sandy Springs and do not want that for East Cobb.  Most people I talk to are happy with the services provided by the County.  If that changes all bets are off.  What I do not like is the proponent's organization is shadowy and of course the allegation is it is funded by developers.  The no group seems more grassroots.  Hard one for me as I am a big fan of subsidiarity.

Name:	blmeanie -	Reply
Subject:	Trump, the Jedi Master
Date:	5/5/2022 6:38:53 AM

Would you elaborate on Sandy Springs, I haven't heard much of the negatives you imply.  I live in Buckhead and am dealing with the vote to separate issue here as well and was considering Sandy Springs as an escape someday to get out of city of Atlanta taxes.

Name:	CRD -	Reply
Subject:	Trump, the Jedi Master
Date:	5/5/2022 10:05:58 AM

MM, compare and contrast what Cobb County citizens aim to achieve by breaking away versus what Buckhead citizens aim to achieve by breaking away from the disaster which is Fulton County.

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Trump, the Jedi Master
Date:	5/5/2022 10:24:56 AM

Sure.  And to say from the outset, Buckhead is in a different place than Sandy Springs and if I were in Buckhead I would be all for cityhood.  Several observations from close friends that live and work in Sandy Springs.  The original team that led the effort was all for more effective government.  They were supposed to rehab an old Target store for their city hall. Instead later leaders tore down the Target and built a palace.  One of the complaints was about how awful it was to deal with Fulton County and the the spectre of being annexed by the city of Atlanta.  But from what I've been told the city of Sandy Springs is even worse.  There was also concern about high density housing being built in Sandy Springs (same issue as East Cobb).  I only suggest you drive through there to see what is happening.  There is a ton of high density housing being built.  Developers (aka big donors to elected city officials) make far more profit from high density development.  Low density developers (i.e., McMansion developers) that I know say they would rather deal with Fulton County or the city of Atlanta rather than Sandy Springs.  So the worry about Fulton Cty and/or the city of Atlanta changing the demographics of Sandy Springs with high density housing is happening in spades in the city once they placed developer friendly in positions of power.

In essence, while the intentions of the originators of cityhood were noble, once they were out of power and replaced many of the issues they thought would be resolved have actually gotten worse.  I can't comment on taxes but let's say we know based on the city govt palace they built that they are spending money like drunken sailors.  That is one of the stated concerns in East Cobb.  We are in unincorporated Cobb and the services and taxes from the county are fine so far.  But once they get ahold of $23M a year in tax revenue will they go down the path of Sandy Springs? Like I said, I am all for subsidiarity but do worry about trying to fix something in East Cobb that isn't broken.  Of course that was the case with GOP control of Cobb (something neither Buckhead nor Sandy Springs ever had).  With the high density housing in SE Cobb (primarily Smyrna) the Democrats now control county government so things could change for the worse.  But right now the case is not compelling to many people.  Buckhead not so much.

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Trump, the Jedi Master
Date:	5/5/2022 10:30:21 AM

Totally agree which is what I indicated in my response above.  Much different situation than East Cobb, but as I pointed out that could change here given the change in demographics in SE Cobb which is now overwhelming the votes of the less densely populated and generally more conservative areas of the county.  But I do believe the city of Sandy Springs is a cautionary tale as to what can happen and the potential unintended consequences.  The city of Buckhead will be ultra wealthy in terms of tax revenue.  Do you happen to know if they plan to take on the schools or leave them with Fulton?  East Cobb will leave the schools with Cobb County.  So we will have city taxes and county school taxes.  The opponents are claiming Cobb Cty will raise taxes to cover the loss but I don't get that argument as all we will have is the school taxes which they will still be getting.