Let's run down the damage from the article:
- Clayton County's "C-TRAN" service is $1 Million in the hole.
- The County Board voted a few months ago to terminate the bus service in 2010
- Clayton County's Board Failed To Take Up A Resolution To Extend Their Struggling Transit Service
- As a result they Missed Out On $2.7 Million in Federal Funding
- Because of their inaction they may now have to pay the Federal Government $2.1 Million
Now let's "personalize" what you have read above.
Clayton County is to the south of Atlanta. A few years ago it became a "majority Black" county. In addition to the natural migration into the county, the closure of housing projects in the City of Atlanta triggered an increasing number of moderately income, working class people to move into the county.
The C-TRAN bus service was the vital link between Clayton County and the Airport MARTA train station. From this point people could go to their jobs at the airport or continue on to their jobs throughout the metro Atlanta area.
Recall that Tavis Smiley's "Covenant With Black America" told of the critical importance of public transportation to Black people. There are few other examples of this being the case than in Clayton County Georgia.
The bus service, while rather sparse in its coverage of the county ran along the major thoroughfares in Clayton County (Riverdale Rd, GA Hwy 85 and Tara Blvd). The fact that these buses were packed every day attests to the vital importance for workers and students.
I was actually stunned when the Clayton County Board of Commissioners decided to pull the plug on the bus service because of a $1M operating shortfall. Thousands of their citizens were cut off from their residences in Clayton and where they need to go each day.
The Political Realities of Clayton County
Executive Summary: Clayton County = 100% DEMOCRAT and thus there will not be a steady stream of protests over this matter.
When Clayton County's population tipped a few years ago and it became the second "majority Black" county in Metro Atlanta there was ample jubilation. The activists and political operatives knew that this favorable population balance would favor them politically. In Clayton, however, the "Good Ole Boy Network" was not a cast of "White Republicans" clinging on to power. Despite the claims of the Nixon-era "Southern Strategy" these were "White Democrats" who attempted to gerrymander the areas that were concentrated with African-Americans so that they might retain their seats on the county board.
The "Black Establishment" took over the county about 8 years ago. "White Flight" to Fayette, Coweta and Henry cemented their power.
Since that time the "Black Democrats" have splintered into "Democrat on Democrat" factions. This is the case in so many other cities which have total Democratic rule.
Now take all that you have read above with regard to the political situation in which thousands of middle class and lower-middle class Black students and workers are severed from their jobs and schools where the REPUBLICAN controlled County Board's missteps (intentional or unintentional) was the cause.
Can we all agree that we'd see the protesters who gathered outside of the "Cracker Barrel" when the White man assaulted the Black woman would be assembled in front of the county government building to protest against the board. The NAACP, Rainbow/PUSH, National Action Network, 10/10 and the "Concerned Black Clergy" would be fighting over each other for camera time.
Sadly - "There will be no protests" once this story breaks.
The "Black Establishment" does not fiercely protest against their other arm.
This causes too much dissension amongst these "permanent friends".
I will keep an eye on this story.
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