METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSIT and the issues of EQUITY






MARTA SALES TAX APPEALED TO GA SUPREME COURT Dec 28, 2022

MARTA SUES TAXPAYER FOR LEGAL FEES FOR EXERCISING HIS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO PETITION HIS GOVERNMENT
Williams v. MARTA 2021CV352647

CITIZEN LAWSUIT AGAINST MARTA FOR ILLEGALLY EXTENDING RTCAA CONTRACT AND SALES TAX LEVY
Williams v. MARTA A22A1216
Georgia Court of Appeals

MARTA Sales Tax Extension without a Referendum is illegal.


MARTA knew in 2015 that the DeKalb and Fulton counties' one percent sales tax was supposed to end on August 31, 2021.

MARTA to make an $8 billion pitch to change the face of Atlanta ( By Jim Galloway, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
July 11, 2015 )

"The only problem is that the penny sales tax granted to counties comes with a five-year sunset. That’s no good for larger, long-term bonding projects, whether involving rail or roads. Nor would a five-year sunset convince the distributors of federal dollars that the Atlanta transit expansion had long-term, local financial support."


Law firms representing MARTA making money from the bond refinancing have a conflict of interest in extending the MARTA RTCAA contract beyond August 31, 2021, without a voter referendum

This is why I am seeking to enjoin illegal sales tax levy extension actions regarding the collection and spending of taxpayer funds beyond the authorized RTCAA contract expiration date consented to by voters in 1971.  Lawsuit pending in the Georgia Court of Appeals A22A1216

MARTA SEEKS TO LIMIT FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS
FREEDOM AND JUSTICE V. INTIMIDATIONS AND THREATS -
EDWARD E. WILLIAMS V. MARTA, ET AL., NO. 2021CV352647

Connecting the Dots

MARTA’s Five Points station to get major face-lift
https://www.ajc.com/live-updates/politics/martas-five-points-station-to-get-major-facelift/AV7QHKDYRREVHESD676SBDVDOM/

MARTA to make an $8 billion pitch to change the face of Atlanta
https://www.wsbradio.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/marta-make-billion-pitch-change-the-face-atlanta/VJBPdvfhXhRlWUxC3S4kkO/

MARTA to make an $8 billion pitch to change the face of Atlanta
https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/marta-make-billion-pitch-change-the-face-atlanta/B6V7VnPMEyxIYkvOEc7VlL/

MARTA scores $4.5 million savings by refinancing bonds
https://www.ajc.com/news/local/marta-scores-million-savings-refinancing-bonds/3EGwEcmhbuqlWHGgWZFLlO/

Of the most recent bond refinancing, he said, the authority moved away from the Moody’s rating agency because it has become more skeptical of MARTA bonds — the authority has about $1.8 billion in bond debt — and has dropped its rating to Aa3. Standard and Poor’s rates MARTA as AA+, and Fitch rates it as AA-.

MARTA SAVES MILLIONS DURING BOND REFUNDING
https://saportareport.com/marta-saves-millions-bond-refunding/thought-leader/saportareport/

Board chair: To make MARTA bigger, we need new public investment
https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2018/02/04/board-chair-to-make-marta-bigger-we-need-new.html

Robbie Ashe's opinion piece about the future of the MARTA Board was featured in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on January 13, 2014.
https://www.ajc.com/news/news/opinion/marta-board-on-the-future/ncmcr/

MARTA BOARD APPROVES BOND REFINANCING TO SAVE AUTHORITY $32 MILLION - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 16, 2020
https://itsmarta.com/marta-board-approves-bond-refinancing.aspx

How Atlanta Plans to Leverage Sales Tax for Transit Transformation
https://www.bondbuyer.com/news/how-atlanta-plans-to-leverage-sales-tax-for-transit-transformation

MINUTES MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OPERATIONS & SAFETY COMMITTEE METROPOLITAN ATLANTA RAPID TRANSIT AUTHORITY.
https://docplayer.net/92645654-Minutes-meeting-of-the-board-of-directors-operations-safety-committee-metropolitan-atlanta-rapid-transit-authority.html

Metro Atlanta also wants ‘More MARTA’ – as transit gains favor
https://saportareport.com/metro-atlanta-also-wants-more-marta-as-transit-gains-favor/columnists/mariasmetro/maria_saporta/
It has been encouraging to have Gov. Nathan Deal recognize the state has a role in transit, but so far it’s been limited to one-time bond funding and to the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority’s Xpress buses that offer commuter services for suburban counties.






Public Interest Notice -  There is a court hearing in the case of

Williams v. MARTA et al., October 22, 2020, at 9:30 am
Access hearing via Zoom:

Judge Shukura Millender’s live-stream page.


MARTA Plans To Restore Bus Services After One Year substandard performance Mass Transit April 22, 2021


On the TV program Interviews and Perspectives - Host Mr. Ron Shakir on People TV Channel 23 with Guests Dr. Ed Williams, and Mr. Jerry Jackson, Discuss Public Transportation, Voting, Public Hearings, and MARTA aired on Nov 9, 2020


The MARTA board is scheduled to vote on extending the MARTA CEO contract on Thursday, November 12, 2020 board meeting.

The MARTA board has the time to vote on extending the CEO contract to 2026 but it does not have time to hold a public hearing and to vote to determine bus routes and schedules as the MARTA Act requires. The priorities of the MARTA board is not on the public but on the CEO.

Why the MARTA CEO contract should not be extended beyond 2023 (full document)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WDpHWCToFG9fhmdl4rd3Y0z8dVpDWSoC/view?usp=sharing


MARTA CEO to get three-year contract extension AJC Nov 13, 2020



MARTA’S OPEN RESTROOMS MOSTLY ON NORTH LINES Atlanta Progressive News

GA: MARTA's COVID-19 bus plan goes to court (Mass Transit) Oct. 23, 2020
https://www.masstransitmag.com/bus/news/21159673/ga-martas-covid19-bus-plan-goes-to-court


Judge hears arguments in Georgia activist's lawsuit against MARTA (The Neighbor)  Oct 22, 2020


Protestors want MARTA to restore bus service AJC Oct 15, 2020

Activist continues to call on MARTA to resume metro Atlanta routes suspended months ago for COVID-19  The Center Square Georgia Trenda Daily Oct 15. 2020
https://www.thecentersquare.com/georgia/activist-continues-to-call-on-marta-to-resume-metro-atlanta-routes-suspended-months-ago-for/article_be4a7282-0e43-11eb-a938-fb62083503bd.html

Man says he was kicked off MARTA bus after paying fare
https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/atlanta/man-says-he-was-kicked-off-marta-bus-after-paying-fare/845485354/


Letter to MARTA Board October 8, 2020 Failure of Leadership and Oversight
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1W58NS6O07SURoaEhj4-8mEXkJ0uTRNse/view
Injunction filed against MARTA unlawful elimination of 70 bus routes without a hearing or board vote June 26, 2020
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XvKVuwG1V7qYqKvC42Z0oHxgpJrAAR_y/view

Riders push for MARTA to reinstate all bus routes
https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/riders-push-for-marta-to-reinstate-all-bus-routes


MARTA violates MARTA Act and Open Meetings Act June 12, 2020 Press Release
https://drive.google.com/file/d/12x1vFFlTSIfV1gJNqoU4pVrhNR2FdIuG/view

 MARTA's reduced routes may impact voter turnout ADW May 26, 2020
https://atlantadailyworld.com/2020/05/26/martas-reduced-routes-may-impact-voter-turnout/

MARTA's reduced routes may impact voter turnout  OCG May 22, 2020


MARTA cuts services without a vote or public Input ADW April 20, 2020
https://atlantadailyworld.com/2020/04/20/marta-cuts-services-without-vote-or-public-input/

 MARTA's REDUCED ROUTES MAY IMPACT VOTER TURNOUT
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gUozpqaaLvLKn-GUUTeX-yaKDTKJPM1F/view?usp=sharing
RESPONSE TO MARTA VIOLATION OF MARTA Act and  Open Meetings Act

MARTA VIOLATES MARTA Act and  Open Meetings Act
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TWIhb1FR9Sr-nB6ZGEgwXynCRtxUHytl/view?usp=sharing

 MARTA INEQUITIES: REDUCTION IN SERVICES - MINORITIES COMMUNITIES HIT HARDEST
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1U-tMwVkRDJVF7ioIy0F9mNyn0EXStUIV/view?usp=sharing

MARTA Bad Deal: Contract Extension and Amendment
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zRA5fCOmjkcLSKzYGgggpFnRB45HCexE/view?usp=sharing 

MARTA has violated the Georgia Constitution
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qwHoHzjiryG-ZFonqkX_vAj0fhLnWWUR/view?usp=sharing

MARTA has violated our rights in simple terms
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OMAt3GZiGXSUQoXN_BRb0vmpp7IWJOl3/view?usp=sharing
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MARTA Referendum and Rail Service in South DeKalb
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QTR2qV_q1mU2w-9BACSy3KXmnj5iiucw/view?usp=sharing

MARTA Case on Appeal to Supreme Court
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ow4rM4_ak4ay5EII_d1NFYv7dH4rshnz/view?usp=sharing

What We Want?
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nySaIk_LI5zMaLyy-KUb6DBM3-oqZ79j/view?usp=sharing

MARTA Information Residents should know
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dinxK8m35WklJtW9xLUPvz5kNbbm06lc/view?usp=sharing

Citizen Lawsuit Against MARTA
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p8-rPf5Azd2r4xAKCdkJR6MuROyR01Hy/view?usp=sharing

MARTA Act adopted in 1965 p 2243 (original version)

MARTA Act \2018  (current version)

MARTA Contract and Exhibits
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1f4bsIMDcaKulE8ughtzcQpC4ggf-bmOb/view

Community Groups want say on MARTA Projects
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1D0fp3JMQrQLcvkCsIa2SXQZAdhpl3kdH/view?usp=sharing

DeKalb Legislators Resolute in their Support for Rail in South DeKalb County
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1b2Wg1hV83j5LiV4BeAyBDxhDvKNZvwkr/view?usp=sharing


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Ed Williams. Ed.D. Chair
Concerned Citizens For Effective Government
Facebook.com/groups/ccegov
(678) 304-7736
email: truthcrushtheearth@gmail.com
Twitter.com truthcrushthee2



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