"Atlanta 'Cop City' Activists Face Hurdles in Collecting 70K Signatures for Referendum"

Activists in Atlanta are collecting signatures for a referendum to cancel the city's lease of a proposed police and firefighter training center known as "Cop City." They need 58,203 signatures by mid-August to qualify for the November ballot, but they set a higher goal of 70,000 knowing some will be disqualified. The deadline was extended to late September, but significant hurdles remain. The training center has faced opposition from environmentalists and anti-police protesters who fear it will lead to greater militarization of the police and exacerbate environmental damage. Supporters argue that the facility will replace outdated facilities and boost police morale. The signature drive is the most ambitious in terms of numbers ever launched in a Georgia city, but legal challenges and construction progress pose challenges to its success.