East Cobb Cityhood Idea Gets Thumbs Down From Patch Readers

COBB COUNTY, GA -- Patch readers are skeptical and mostly opposed to the idea of East Cobb becoming a city, with many readers echoing a common theme that the entire process is being clouded in secrecy. In the final days of the recent General Assembly, state Rep. Matt Dollar (R-Marietta) introduced a bill to incorporate what would become Cobb's largest city. The bill could come before a vote in the 2020 legislative session.

The Committee for Cityhood in East Cobb, Inc., has already hired a lobbyist, John Garst, and Phil Kent, a conservative Republican activist and CEO of Vinings-based InsiderAdvantage, a polling and publishing firm founded by Matt Towery. Kent is a regular panelist on Fox 5's "The Georgia Gang," and Towery was a campaign staffer during Newt Gingrich's early political career.

The LLC has also paid $36,000 for an East Cobb cityhood feasibility study.

Read more: East Cobb Cityhood Movement Hires Lobbyist: Report

When asked what East Cobb Patch readers thought about becoming a new city, here's what some readers had to say:

• "There's not been one real reason proffered for this action. So you can bet the motivation is to line the pockets of power seekers. I say NO!"
• "There has NOT been a lot of discussion about this issue and that is why I would be against his at the moment. It has appeared to be very secretive."
• "I've been keeping up with this and it is very much an elitist move. If they wanted to make a City of East Cobb and include what is now considered East Cobb, that may be different. If they were to take the boundaries out to 575, it would be a different story. Right now they only want Walton and Wheeler. They try to compare themselves to Milton and Sandy Springs, but we are very different. Cobb County has done a great job of managing and improving the county services. Milton and Sandy Springs had poor infrastructure from the get go."

• "What is broken that cityhood will fix? I agree - Cobb is not the same as Fulton."
• "No. We are not Fulton County. We have police, fire, water and a county that is well run. No need for another layer of government and taxes. They say no increase in taxes. I guess the mayor, aldermen, police, fire, city court and others are going to work for free. I guess the new city hall will be donated and maintenance will be free. Follow the money. Why is Bob Ott backing this?"
• "Just another way to get people over 60 to pay school taxes. (sorry)"

Still, some readers would like to learn more about the idea.

• "Not sure why it is needed, I would need to do more research...if it is something to move the community forward I would probably vote for it."

• "Would love to read some pros and cons about it."

• "Need much more information, reasons for doing this!"