The Job Creators Network Defends Small Businesses from MLB’s Harmful Actions
Alfredo Ortiz, JCN President and CEO, released the following statement:
“MLB’s decision to punish these Atlanta small businesses and residents who bear no responsibility for their state’s political action was wrong — no matter what one judge says. The Job Creators Network will continue fighting tirelessly to make it right.
In the meantime, we have decided to withdraw our lawsuit against Major League Baseball. But I’m here today to promise Atlanta-area small businesses that we will continue to find ways to remedy the injustice inflicted upon them. While we are withdrawing our case from federal court here in New York, we will continue to evaluate our legal options and other out of court opportunities. We will have more information to announce in the coming days.”
History of the Case:
Major League Baseball catered to activist lies about Georgia’s voting law and in an act of virtue signaling callously retaliated by moving the All-Star Game from Atlanta to Denver. This move deprived local small businesses, which are the backbone of Atlanta’s communities, over $100 million in lost revenues at a time when they needed it most.
On May 31, 2021, the Job Creators Network filed a lawsuit to hold the MLB accountable for this reckless decision. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, demanded the immediate return of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game to Atlanta or that defendants pay millions in damages to local and state small businesses – many of which were minority-owned and still recovering from Covid-19 losses.
Following an initial hearing of JCN’s lawsuit in federal court against Major League Baseball, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, the MLB Players Association, and Executive Director Tony Clark, JCN held a press conference regarding its next steps. Alfredo Ortiz, JCN President and CEO, announced that the case is being withdrawn given that the court did not recognize the group’s standing. But JCN pledged to continue to fight for local small businesses to hold MLB accountable for its actions.