After gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson finished second to Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in the May 19th GOP primary. losing by 5.8 percent, Jones challenged him to an Atlanta Press Club-hosted June 1st debate. Jackson said no. Knowing early voting runs from June 6th through June 12th, Jackson instead wanted a June 14th debate— after early voting and two days before the June 16th runoff. An objective observer would have to conclude that the billionaire healthcare CEO is worried about a televised contrast with the younger and far-better debater Jones. (Remember that Jackson stumbled during the previous debate when admitting he “didn’t know” about hiring illegal aliens at his mansion.) Not debating to better inform voters before early voting has Jackson SINKING…
Atlanta, Fulton Co. square off in tax fight
The City of Atlanta has long used tax allocation districts (TADs) as an economic development tool, leveraging property tax increases to pay for local infrastructure projects. But the Fulton County Commission has slammed on the brakes, voting 4-1 to reject a proposed 30-year extension of Atlanta’s TADs. That sets up a major budgetary clash, as the Fulton TADs would be expected to generate over a billion dollars over that period. Now the county will vote on TADs on a case by case basis, with stricter oversight and enforcement, leaving Atlanta’s money faucet DRIFTING…
