Peach Tree Times

ATLANTA – Common Cause Georgia released a financial report titled “The Atlanta Way: Examining Pay-to-Play,” detailing the amounts corporate donors spend to influence Atlanta politics. The report highlights the funds spent by wealthy special interests to promote unpopular legislative policies, such as Atlanta’s $110 million "Cop City" project for a police training facility.

The report reveals that contractors who made sizable donations received larger payouts in city contracts.

“This report is an expansive look at what we’ve seen happening in Georgia for decades,” said Keshia Morris Desir, justice and democracy manager at Common Cause. “Moving forward, we want to see people-funded elections in Georgia that lead to people-supported policies, not big-money donors influencing policy based on who can pay top dollar. We hope this research moves council members to put people first, not profit.”

Aunna Dennis, executive director of Common Cause Georgia, stated, “The pay-to-play process is not new in Georgia; it’s clear that donors have too much power in politics, despite the public outcry against harmful projects like Cop City. With all of these council members up for re-election in 2025, they should not be swayed and influenced by special interest donors. Georgians deserve to know the truth about who’s funding their elected officials.”

Last year, Common Cause Georgia conducted a similar report on financial contributions to former councilmember Joyce Sheperd. It revealed that Sheperd's 2021 campaign received more than 50% of her donations over $250 from real estate and construction companies totaling over $40,000. Sheperd then introduced legislation to lease land for the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, which faced significant opposition from many Atlanta residents.

A copy of the full 2024 report is available online.