The Atlanta Braves are leaving the city of Atlanta. According to reports by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Atlanta Braves will build a new stadium in the suburban community, Cobb County.
The move appears to be a slap in the face to Atlanta residents and many in the black community. Turner Field, the Braves current home, is located in the predominately black Summer Hill community. The stadium provided jobs to local residents and businesses in the surrounding area.
On the other hand, Cobb County is 66 percent white with a median household income of $65,000 per year according to the U.S. census. Furthermore, MARTA, Atlanta’s public transportation system, does not travel to Cobb County mostly due to racist politics that has prevented expansion in that area. And Cobb County doesn’t have the infrastructure to handle so much traffic in one concentrated area.
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed says that it would have costs taxpayers too much money to keep the Braves in the city. However, Mayor Reed recently signed off on a $1.2 billion stadium for the Atlanta Falcons that will partially be paid for through a hotel tax.
Fans have showed their outrage on Twitter. Read responses below:
ATL Mayor Kasim Reed says he wouldn’t commit taxpayer $ to keep Braves in downtown. So… now he’s a fiscal conservative? Huh.
— KC Covington (@FriedBasballATL) November 11, 2013
The Braves are leaving Turner Field and building a new stadium in Cobb county in 2017? sorry, no.
— Kathleen Mitrano (@ayooitskathy) November 11, 2013
I must admit that I am a bit salty over the Braves planned move to Cobb County. Will they be the Cobb County Braves now?
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) November 11, 2013
