Remarks by Bridget Thorne
112 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 5 of 5
- Play at 2:45:28
“Yeah, I just want to speak to the process because this is, because I've certainly gotten bombarded with it for months now, and I even heard about ballot images being replaced in 2024, 12,000 of them. and the questions that were arising and the bubbling that was arising. So I think the concern is that we just have to be transparent as possible, contact all entities. When those ballots come in, yeah, we're physically counting them, we're cutting the seal that the manager sealed them at the precinct, we're cutting that seal, we have to make sure that we are transparent and that that cage like…”
Board of Commissioners · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 2:46:38
“It was when I went down for a presidential primary just to observe and we weren't allowed, but yet a temp worker was there outside the ballot cage protecting it and the temp workers had access, but a board or registrations member did not have access to it. So there is the concern that ballots could be altered or switched, so that's why we just need ultimate transparency. Love to see the new cage area that we're gonna have to even broadcast that, that look, we're taking these extra steps to make sure that the ballot, which is your receipt, is secured and it can't be altered or tampered with by…”
Board of Commissioners · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 2:47:56
“Yeah, I think I have had my staff attend those and it's very, very elementary, the details of tabulation and counting and logic and accuracy testing. If you wanna go into detail on that, that would be great. But I would love to even attend your poll manager training classes if that's at all possible.”
Board of Commissioners · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 3:00:13
“Yeah, I am a little disappointed in my district. Actually, all of North Fulton, we're kind of received the least amount of money, although District Five, you're right in there with us as well. But my awardees, it went down 35% this year in the amount that we got. As always, District Four, Atlanta, They have the biggest amount. They had over a million dollars awarded to them. What is Atlanta's arts budget? Because I know they fund these entities as well.”
Board of Commissioners · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 3:00:58
“Over two million. So in Fulton County, in the city of Atlanta, we have 76 entities that get both that we're funding. Fulton County taxpayers are funding. And a lot of these organizations have annual budgets of over a million dollars and their executives are paid hundreds of thousands of dollars. So from a taxpayer perspective, I would like to grow the arts. I would like to expand the arts. I would like to give to organizations that perhaps could use that little boost.”
Board of Commissioners · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 3:01:33
“Yes, more grassroots. I would like to see more events up in North Fulton County. A lot of our arts members up there are even unaware that we have grants provided down here. And the cities have very, very small budgets, or no budget, really, for the arts in other parts of the county. And it just seems like we are focusing so much on Atlanta. In the future, I would just like to see us grow a little bit more in South Fulton, District Five, District One, District Two, those areas. that we don't seem to be allocating hardly any money towards it with such a big pot that we have. I also had some…”
Board of Commissioners · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 3:04:41
“Yeah, because art is such a subjective thing that it'd be great if it was more transparent on the review panel. How are they reviewing these applications? If there could be an element of how much government funding outside sources they got the previous year, because you want community buy-in. You don't want to fund a government fund. basically program that 50% or more of their funds are coming from applying from a grant on a federal level, applying at the state level, applying at us, our level, and the city level. So if we could have some type of element that the community is behind this…”
Board of Commissioners · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 3:06:48
“And as you know, someone you're very familiar with who's on the board had his music festival got declined due to an immigration form or something, a lack of providing that. Is that something new to the process, or is that something that's been there for a while?”
Board of Commissioners · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 3:07:34
“Okay, I'd appreciate that, and if you could keep me in the loop on that, I'm sure I will be in the loop no matter what, but if you can keep me on the loop specifically what you and your department wants to do, and I'll see how I can fill in as well.”
Board of Commissioners · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 3:52:45
“Yes, I can tell you that 4700 has been really, really nice to see, well done, the work that's all been done there. I enjoy having my office there. I enjoy interacting and watching it as it's blossoming and coming on board. Latrina, I just wanna thank you for all you've done. I know in the community, in the mental health space, they are so well respected. not only in Fulton County, but in Forsyth County. Like they wish they had what we have. And our investment in behavioral health is outstanding. So I really kudos to your leadership. And I wanted to kind of give a shout out to Representative…”
Board of Commissioners · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 4:02:11
“So do we need a similar agreement with all the cities in North Fulton or just Alpharetta?”
Board of Commissioners · Jul 15, 2026
- Play at 4:45:57
“Okay, then I'll go ahead and speak then to that. I just didn't want to hold up a vote and you guys telling me you're not talking on the poll. Like it's been reiterated many times by everybody on this board, I am not opposed to TADS. They are great economic development tools. And I've seen them work. And I've seen some great things, some great projects. Sadly, I've been in Atlanta for 40 years and have seen some of the transformation. You know, going to Georgia Tech and watching the west side develop. And it was pretty much not developed at all. Actually, one of my classmates bought a…”
Board of Commissioners · Jul 15, 2026