Welcome

A lot has happened since the last newsletter. The runoff election is underway, MSPLOST is making it to the November ballot, the Lower Roswell construction project was greenlit, the District 2 map lawsuit has given us more proof of life, and I’ve rejoined Commissioner Jerica Richardson’s Community Cabinet as the Cabinet Lead.

I want to start with my request to all of you to get out and vote for the District 2 Commissioner runoff. Please do your own research on the two candidates - Jaha Howard and Taniesha Whorton - and vote for the person you think will best represent this incredibly diverse district. Advance voting continues today and tomorrow in three locations in Cobb. Election day is next Tuesday at your assigned precinct. Visit KevinForCobb.com/election for details on when and where to vote.

Finally, I deeply appreciate all of the feedback I’ve received for this newsletter. Please reach out to me if you have any suggestions or if you have any topic or organization you would like highlighted here. We have a lot of good happenings in our community, a lot of important issues that need to be covered, and so many people are doing the work to make this a better place for everyone. Let’s be advocates for each other and share these stories.

What’s Happening in the District 

The Cobb NAACP Juneteenth Weekend Celebration

The Cobb County Branch of the NAACP is hosting its 21st Annual Juneteenth Weekend Celebration from June 14 to June 16, 2024, at Glover Park in Marietta Square. This festival will include a variety of food, merchandise, informational vendors, a health fair, and live entertainment, providing a vibrant and educational experience for attendees of all ages.

This weekend-long event is designed to honor the history and significance of Juneteenth, commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. The festival is free and open to the public, making it an excellent opportunity for community members to come together and celebrate freedom, culture, and history.

Smyrna is Fabulous

Kevin For Cobb is a very proud sponsor for the 2024 Smyrna is Fabulous! This year’s event is set to be an exciting celebration of LGBTQ+ pride and community in Smyrna, Georgia. Taking place on June 21-22, the festivities will kick off with a Pride Kickoff Party featuring performances by Kitty Love Antoinette, Destiny Brooks, and Mona Lott. The main event on June 22 will be held at the Smyrna Market Village and includes a vibrant festival with food, fun, and fellowship. Attendees can expect a variety of vendors, live entertainment, and numerous activities designed to foster a sense of community and inclusion.

Smyrna is Fabulous organizes this annual event, a group dedicated to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ residents and their allies. The organization emphasizes respect, integrity, and community impact, and Pride Weekend is a key part of its efforts to build partnerships and celebrate diversity. Volunteers play a crucial role in making the event a success, with opportunities to assist in various capacities such as operations, hospitality, and event logistics.

Also, I will be there supporting my wife and daughter’s business, Crayonfetti! They are very happy to be returning this year, and I’m excited to spend our day together as a family with such a wonderful and vibrant community.

The Big Story 

Yes, MSPLOST has been The Big Story a few times in a row. But this week, the Cobb County Board of Commissioners made the historic vote to include this in November’s ballot. All of Cobb County’s registered voters will have the opportunity to vote for this monumental advancement in Cobb’s mobility. I’ve made my point of view clear about the importance of this initiative, so I’ll just share some resources below for you to do your own research.

I also want to give a plug for the A Better Cobb organization for building a diverse coalition of advocates who, in their words, is “…a movement trying to make Cobb County better. What makes Cobb better? More transit. More bike lanes. More walkability. Less cars. Better land use. Our goals are to educate, encourage, and engage.” I’ve been incredibly impressed with this group’s tireless engagement and was honored to join them at this week’s BOC meeting for Public Comment in support of giving voters a chance to decide on MSPLOST.

We showed up! And early!

BOC Meeting Recap 

The other major vote that took place that will impact District 2 was the approval to move forward with the “Lower Roswell Road 2011 SPLOST project." According to Cobb DOT, “This project will provide safety and operational improvements through a combination of intersection improvements, raised medians, and a multi-use trail.  A raised median along Lower Roswell Road between Johnson Ferry and Davidson Road will reduce left turn conflicts and therefore reduce the number of angular crashes.”

See my write-up in February’s The Big Story on this project, which includes a link to the Cobb DOT site for more details.

Beyond MSPLOST and Lower Roswell…

The meeting began with a presentation of a proclamation designating June 15, 2024, as Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Following this, there was a public hearing to complete the service and fare equity analysis for the proposed CobbLinc Microtransit Pilot Project in South Cobb County (unrelated to MSPLOST). This project aims to improve local transit options and ensure equitable access for all residents.

The consent agenda includes several important items for approval. The Board reviewed contracts and grant acceptances related to various judicial and public services. This included contracts with the Georgia Department of Human Services to provide child support services and multiple grant awards from the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council to support mental health, veterans, drug treatment, and juvenile court programs. Additionally, in included agreements related to water system management, public safety enhancements, and community development initiatives.

The regular agenda addressed significant transportation and public services projects that we discussed above. Key items include contracts for roadway improvements on Lower Roswell Road, the approval of a Mobility Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax to fund specific transit projects, and the construction of a new sanitary sewer system at Big Shanty Park under the 2022 PARKS SPLOST Program.

Important Dates

June 10th - 14th: District 2 Runoff Advance Voting
June 18th: District 2 Runoff Election Day

June 18th: Planning Commission Zoning Hearing

June 18th: Board of Elections & Registration Meeting

June 24th: Board of Elections & Registration Meeting

June 25th: Board of Elections and Registration Meeting