Atlanta City Council Passes Controversial Plan to Build $90 Million Public Safety Training Center, Despite Community Opposition

The Atlanta City Council voted 11-4 in favor of a controversial plan to build a massive public safety training center, dubbed “Cop City” by opponents, early Tuesday morning. The legislation would allocate $30 million from the 2023 uncommitted general fund budget toward the $90-million, 85-acre facility.

The vote follows a highly anticipated City Council meeting on Monday, during which community members and organizers voiced their disapproval of the facility. Protesters worry the proposed campus could negatively impact the environment and be used by police to “practice urban warfare.”

The facility is intended to be used by police, firefighters and emergency responders to train. It will include a firing range, driving track, and classrooms. Supporters of the facility argue that it will help improve public safety and provide a safe place for training.

The Atlanta Public Safety Training Center is the latest in a series of public safety projects the city has undertaken in recent years. The city has invested in body cameras for police officers, improved police training, and launched a task force to review police practices.

The City Council’s vote is a major victory for supporters of the facility, but the project is not yet a done deal. The legislation must still be approved by the mayor and the Atlanta City Council must still approve the 2023 budget. Opponents of the facility have vowed to continue to fight the project.