GOP revives Buckhead cityhood talks
Cityhood movement faces uncertain future
Republican state lawmakers have once again introduced legislation that would allow residents of the northern Atlanta neighborhood of Buckhead to weigh in on breaking away from Atlanta to form their own city.
The bill, Senate Bill 114, would allow Buckhead residents to vote on cityhood as early as November 2024. City officials would also receive a hefty salary: the Mayor of “Buckhead City” would earn $225,000 per year. That’s more than Gov. Brian Kemp’s $175,000 yearly salary.
Buckhead cityhood has long been a hot topic among residents in the upscale neighborhood. Supporters have argued that the split is necessary due to rising crime rates, a decline in city services and other issues that they believe Atlanta leaders have failed to address.
Bill White, the controversial CEO of the cityhood movement, said that he was “elated” to see that the bills have been reintroduced. “We'll continue to talk and educate legislators about the progress the city has made, but also about the dire consequences not just impacting Buckhead and Atlanta, but the entire State of Georgia,” he said.
But opponents have pointed out that the bill’s Republican sponsors do not represent Buckhead. In fact, none of them are from the city of Atlanta. State Sen. Josh McLaurin (D-Atlanta), an attorney who represents part of Buckhead, invoked Atlanta rapper and social media sensation Omeretta the Great to call out the bill’s sponsors.
“Just chill and repeat after me: Cataula is not Atlanta; Forsyth, not Atlanta; Tyrone is not Atlanta; Effingham is not Atlanta; Newnan is not Atlanta; Chattooga is not Atlanta. We’re happy with our Atlanta,” McLaurin quipped.
State Sen. Jason Esteves (D-Atlanta), a former Atlanta school board chairman who also represents part of Buckhead, says that the bill does not address what will happen to the area’s public schools. He also says that it will create an expensive layer of “bureaucracy,” because city leaders would be some of the highest-paid elected officials in the state.
The movement will be met with greater uncertainty than last year. Former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan opposed the movement and went as far as to send the bill to a Democratic-led Senate committee. The late former House Speaker David Ralston said at the time that he was not interested in bringing the bill to the floor.
But the General Assembly is now under new leadership. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones was vocally supportive of the movement as a State Senator but has expressed hesitance since becoming LG. House Speaker Jon Burns has said that he would like to give city and state officials more time to try and reduce crime rates before he allows lawmakers to weigh in.
It's funny to me how the left is always talking about "democracy" - though they grossly misuse the word more often than not - then, when that same "democracy" could lead to a result they dislike, they are quick to oppose allows the masses to vote. The argument that only those representing Buckhead or the city of Atlanta get a say is very hollow. As the main economic engine of not just the state but much of the Southeastern United States, Atlanta impacts every corner of the state. Yes, there are some issues that are local, but there are many that are not and that which everyone in the state gets a voice. Furthermore, since so much of the state budget flows to things in Atlanta, that only supports that those beyond its borders get a say thorugh the General Assembly. Finally, even if the previous points were not true, any bill requires the votes of representatives and senators from outside any area that is affected. Given how so many areas seem to want higher income areas to fund their areas, I saw let Buckead determine their destiny as part of the formal City of Atlanta. Even more so, I think north Fulton should decide whether they want to still be tied to the City of Altanta via the Fulton County government, but that is a different issue.