Georgia

Georgia legislature endorses controversial police training center known as ‘Cop City’

Published

6 months ago

December 7, 2023

Georgia legislature endorses controversial police training center known as ‘Cop City’

GA lawmakers vote to support so-call ‘Cop City’

The Georgia House has voted to back the building of the controversial Atlanta police and fire training center opponents have dubbed “cop city.” Critics of that resolution say it’s a local issue, not for the state legislature, and accuse Republicans of trying to further divide Democrats.

ATLANTA – The Georgia House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted to back the building of the controversial Atlanta police and fire training center opponents have dubbed “Cop City.”

The 144-5 vote came during the special session on Wednesday, days after the senate approved the resolution 48-5.

On the floor, one Republican presented it as an ultimatum.

“You either support public safety officers, and law enforcement, and law and order, or you don’t,” said state Rep. Will Wade, R-Dawsonville, “Voting yes says you do, voting nay is you don’t.”

The non-binding resolution also condemned the acts of vandalism and destruction people in the Stop Cop City movement have been accused of.

The Georgia House voted by an overwhelming bipartisan majority to support the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center on Dec. 6, 2023. (FOX 5)

But some of the Democrats who were holdouts argued there were legitimate concerns about the project and the city’s resistance to a petition to put the project on the ballot.

“Do not dismiss those concerns by conflating us with extremist violent protesters,” said state Rep. Saira Draper, D-DeKalb County, who represents the constituents who would have the facility in their backyards.

She accused state Republicans of trying to meddle in local politics to split Democrats.

“This is a thinly veiled attempt to sew division and frame us for something we are not. I will not fall for that,” Draper said. “I will not cede the issue of public safety to the majority party.”

An aerial view of the future Atlanta Public Safety Training Center in DeKalb County. (FOX 5)

State Republicans, including Gov. Brian Kemp, have praised democrats in Atlanta’s city leadership for pushing the project forward despite the far-left opposition. Before Wednesday’s vote, Atlanta’s Mayor Andre Dickens, a Democrat, received rare praise on the house floor from a Republican lawmaker.

“Dickens wants to change some things in Atlanta, and I think he’s doing a great job,” said state Rep. J. Collins, R-Villa Rica. “Getting behind this project is very important.”

The resolution is symbolic and non-binding, meaning it won’t move the needle on the project in either direction from a legal perspective.

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Georgia

How Georgia aims to become the Silicon Valley of the South

Published

5 hours ago

May 28, 2024

Press Room

How Georgia aims to become the Silicon Valley of the South

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Semiconductor production is booming across the nation, including right here in Georgia.

Semiconductors power nearly every piece of technology you interact with throughout the day.

Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock recently announced $75 million in funding to strengthen semiconductor production in the state.

It’s part of legislation dedicated to rebuilding America’s place as a global manufacturer.

“This is going to be part of the industry of the future,” said Heather Boushey, chief economist for President Joe Biden’s Invest in America Cabinet.

That future is already here. Most Americans do not need to understand the science behind semiconductors. They just know they power everything from phones to computers to the ability to read this story.

“From smartphones to automobiles to washing machines, chips are all around us,” Warnock told a crowd gathered at Absolics in Covington on Friday.

The gathering included city and county leaders, Warnock and Ossoff, and Korean business partners from Absolics parent company SKC.

“We have allowed strategic, advanced manufacturing to whither in this country,” Ossoff said, which is why the $75 million infusion, part of the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act, is a big deal.

More than a thousand people will be biking into Thomson on Friday for Bicycle Across Georgia.

In 1990, the United States produced 37% of all semiconductors. Now, it’s at 10%, a fraction of what economic rival China produces.

“In 2021, when inflation spiked, we now know that one-third of that was because of semiconductor shortages,” Boushey said.

Remember when cars were impossible to find during the pandemic? It was because of a semiconductor chip shortage.

“That puts the American economy and our national security at risk,” Boushey said.

Over $50 billion has been dedicated to reigniting the semiconductor industry and its supply chain.

Ossoff and Warnock see Georgia as a crucial player.

“It’s good to see Georgians not only help to decide the direction of our nation’s future but to be doing the work to make it possible,” Warnock said.

And as the chip industry continues to boom, Georgia has its eye on becoming the “Silicon Valley of the South.”

“All of this is the product of sound economic and national security policy,” Ossoff said.

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Georgia

In Georgia, an Animal Shelter Worries It's Become a 'Foreign Agent'

Published

12 hours ago

May 28, 2024

Press Room

In Georgia, an Animal Shelter Worries It's Become a 'Foreign Agent'

By Felix Light TBILISI (Reuters) – For more than a decade, Sara Kemecsei’s animal shelter has cared for the stray dogs of the Georgian capital. By soliciting small donations of $5 or $10 apiece, mostly from abroad, she offers shelter and finds new homes for some of an estimated 500,000 neglected …

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