Group calls off petition drive over public financing of new Atlanta Falcons stadium

ATLANTA – The organizer of a petition that sought to block public financing for a new Atlanta Falcons stadium says the effort has failed to gather enough signatures.

William Perry of Common Cause Georgia said Thursday the group knew it was a longshot to gather 35,000 signatures in 60 days to qualify for the November ballot, but it was worth the effort.

Perry says the effort failed because of a lack of time and resources, and not from a lack of people who wanted the issue on the ballot.

State and city officials have signed off on the $1 billion stadium project that includes an estimated $200 million in public bonds.

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed has said the stadium is an important project to create jobs and revitalize downtown neighborhoods.