Atlanta City Council Approves Controversial Police, Fire Training Facility

September 8th, 2021

A sign in protest of the so-called “Cop City” at the entrance of Intrenchment Creek Trailhead.

Updated on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

Atlanta City Council voted 10-4 Wednesday to approve legislation authorizing a lease with the Atlanta Police Foundation for a $90-million public safety training facility in southeast Atlanta.

The vote comes after months of delays, community protest and more than 17 hours of public comment.

In the face of an outpouring of public dissent, Atlanta City Council votes to approve leasing 84 acres of forested land to build a public safety training center for police and fire depts, known as “cop city” by critics. @wabenews pic.twitter.com/llWxo3UEn3

— Lisa Hagen (@TwitrHagen) September 9, 2021

Atlanta City Councilmembers Natalyn Archibong and Matt Westmoreland spoke with WABE’s Rose Scott about their individual positions about the new training center.

Protesters were arrested outside of Archibong’s home Wednesday evening. During a press conference Thursday, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms called the city council members who voted yes on the lease “courageous,” and condemned the protesters.

“It’s not ever a pretty process. It wasn’t a pretty process when we built the Mercedez Benz Stadium. It wasn’t a pretty process when we developed Turner Field. I don’t expect this to be any different,” Bottoms said.