Marietta Square still off-limits to US Debt Clock
City Manager says balanced budget leader is "out in left field!"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 25, 1995
Contact: Phil Smith (404) 584-0008

FULTON/COBB CO. LINE-- The US Debt Clock will not stop. In an unusual, ongoing battle to bring the Concord Coalition's National Debt Clock to the Northwest suburbs of Atlanta, the group today will be awaiting final word at the Cobb County border on US Highway 41. Last week, Marietta city officials denied a permit for the group to show the scoreboard type sign in Glover Park (Marietta Square) due to an application dispute, marking the first time the group had ever been refused... anywhere in the country.

The dispute continued this week, when after being turned away, the anti-debt group suggested that Marietta officials did not want to discuss the severe problems associated with the US debt. City Manager Bill Buckner responded in yesterday's Marietta Daily Journal, calling the comments "absolutely ludicrous and outrageous." He went on to say that the group's state leader "must be out in left field somewhere."

"A whole lot of federal spending occurs in that town and county, and I can understand why the debt is not their favorite topic" said Phil Smith, State Director for the Georgia Concord Coalition. "However, most of the spending there is on defense related items which are necessary and significantly different than other budget items. We'd like to talk about it, but we are not allowed in Marietta Square."

By contrast, Athens/Clarke County officials welcomed the display and waived a permit fee. "I got permission to run the debt clock on the steps of the capitol with just one phone call" said Smith. "Many towns have a 10 or 20 day pre-clearance requirement that - when needed - has always been waived. I thought Marietta would have been the last place to impose such bureaucratic red tape."

Smith spoke with staffers in the offices of various Cobb County officials late yesterday, in hopes of finding an unregulated location somewhere in the area. "We have phoned the Chairman of the County Commission to ask for his help, as well as State Senator Steve Thompson" said Smith. "We will be awaiting their call at the Cobb County line today at 11:00 AM."