In Atlanta’s Buckhead Neighborhood, Rising Crime Fuels Move to Secede ATLANTA—An increase in violent crime has spurred a movement in Atlanta’s wealthiest and whitest neighborhood, Buckhead, to push harder to secede and create a new city with its own police force. The idea, which has been gaining momentum over the past year, is raising alarm among Atlanta officials worried about a loss of population and tax revenue. The Republican-majority state legislature, which just opened its 2022 session, is taking up proposed legislation this month for a referendum on Buckhead cityhood. Politicians in largely Democratic Atlanta oppose the idea. ______________________________ Interesting. It will be interesting to see if this becomes a trend with the rising crime rates in cities across the country.
I remember living in Puerto Rico and asking the question about why there were some walled communities there - complete with gates and guards - inside areas of town that surrounded them in total squalor. Was a weird place to build a pretty neighborhood with parks and stuff. My boss at the time told me that the government had this brilliant idea to relocate the poor into these areas where the rich lived, because they believed it would inspire the poor to break out and work hard to improve their situations. Or something. Then, because the government didn't provide any real police support, the rich decided to spend their money walling in their neighborhoods and hiring private security. So, this is what they have.
I love that Idea and if it goes through, we will see many others following suit. This will separate the responsible people from irresponsible people.
Even if they don't secede, they could use the threat as leverage to have more police stationed in the area, etc.
Rape in Atlanta soared by 236% and murder by 43% in 2022 compared to the same time last year after a woke city mayor and pandemic lockdowns sent crime soaring While some city officials laid the blame at woke former Mayor Lance Bottoms, who announced she wasn't running for office again in 2022, for not doing enough to tackle crime. Meanwhile, Bottom tried to blame local Republicans for lax gun lows and lifting the pandemic lockdown. In January 2021, City Council President Felicia Moore announced she would be running to unseat the then-mayor on the grounds that 'crime that is out of control in every neighborhood.' 'And you must do more to reduce the bloodshed here,' she told her, according to New York Magazine. Former City Council President Howard Shook made similar comments in December 2020 following the shooting of a seven-year-old girl. 'I don't want to hear the word 'uptick.' Stop minimizing our concerns by telling us that 'crime is up everywhere',' he said in a statement.
https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-ne...hanged-since-then/FEZOTN3G7NFCDFAMAI5BBBTVYY/ This year, the day the council voted on the budget, there were less than two hours of comments from the public. The council passed the budget unanimously, and rather than withholding funding from police, the city increased the department’s budget by 7% to over $230 million, a $15 million increase that represented the biggest boost awarded to any department.
Actually the issue with Buckhead trying to secede from Atlanta has been going on for quite a while -- and is about more than just rising crime. The Buckhead area believes they have been paying a lot in taxes to Atlanta and getting very little in return in services. Whether it be road repair, waste pick-up, fire & EMS, or police services. Atlanta collects all the tax money and spends it somewhere else. Looking at the tax collection information for Buckhead and where Atlanta spent the money -- as the AJC did -- the Buckhead area has a valid complaint. They are getting pennies back on their tax dollar. The recent peaks in crime only serve to add to the momentum and demands of the Buckhead residents that they secede from Atlanta and establish their own city. Buckhead is considered the wealthiest Atlanta area.