Residents to lawmakers: No more cities
- 12/14/11
- Categorized in: DeKalb News
Some DeKalb residents told lawmakers the county cannot stand to have one more city.
“Let’s be careful with this,” said county resident James Wilson, about a movement to incorporate the Brookhaven community. “Because after a while East Lake is going to want a city, Kirkwood is going to want a city, [and] Panthersville is going to want a city. And then what’s going to be left for the county? You’re going to have a little four-block place here between these cities.”
Although residents discussed the proposed transportation tax and changing DeKalb’s form of government, among other subjects, the proposed cityhood of Brookhaven was one of the most-discussed topics during a town hall meeting with DeKalb’s legislative delegation to the state’s General Assembly.
John Steineken, a “50-year resident of DeKalb County by choice,” said the county needs less, not more, cities.
“It’s not going to do the county any good,” Steineken said. “It’s going to hurt it.”
It was because of that possibility that Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver (D-83) said she pre-filed House Bill 672 in November which would require a two-year minimum period before a community could vote to incorporate.
Proponents of the proposed city are using a study by the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute to support their cause. According to the study, the proposed city is financially feasible and would be more advantageous than remaining unincorporated.
But that study, paid for by the non-profit, non-partisan Citizens for North DeKalb, does not consider the costs to Chamblee, Dunwoody and unincorporated DeKalb, Oliver said.
Resident John Stabler, who lives near the proposed borders of the city, said a new city would be “a redundant government entity” with “more possibility for government intrusion” into the lives of residents.
“The people who propose a city are self-appointed, they weren’t elected, and the decisions they make about boundaries will affect people outside the boundaries who do not have a chance to vote on whether or not the boundaries are OK,” Stabler said.
Elena Parent (D-81), who is studying the incorporation practices of other states, said she has concerns with Georgia’s process.
“The current procedures seem wanting and they don’t take into account any of the neighboring communities and the welfare of the county,” Parent said.
Joel Alvarado, the county’s legislative director, said the incorporation movement is part of a trend occurring in the state’s larger counties. In 2008, Dunwoody was incorporated and in November a Gwinnett County community voted to form the city of Peachtree Corners.
“The issue of Brookhaven is not a uniquely DeKalb County issue,” Alvarado said. Georgians need to address a philosophical question: “What do we want it to look like in the future? Do we want a balkanized region where we have all these little communities all competing against one another? We have to ask ourselves what direction we are going as a state.”
Sen. Emmanuel Jones (D-10) had a simple opinion about the proposed Brookhaven: “I’m personally opposed to the formation of any more cities in DeKalb County.”
Anyone with any knowledge of DeKalb history knows what was in South DeKalb more than 50 years ago...next to nothing. So while North DeKalb was being built up and paying for all its own stuff: infrastructure, parks, police, etc, most of South DeKalb was busy harvesting crops and milking cows. AFTER North DeKalb was built up, the building boom in South DeKalb started. However, home values in South DeKalb have never been as high on average as North DeKalb, and that is especially true now. The property tax burden is incredibly lopsided with the areas north of Memorial Drive paying almost twice as much as those areas below it.
Isn't it special too that Crud feels the need to lecture me about being racist while it goes on a tirade about mean 'ol whitey. As if Crud would even consider voting for a non-black, non-Democrat from North DeKalb. The system is already rigged, Crud. You're at the steering wheel, so don't get angry and act surprised when the people you disdain jump off your ship as it's headed for economic disaster.
North DeKalb pays their taxes and recieve next to nothing for their efforts.
South DeKalb needs to get over its attitude that North DeKalb owes them.
Can anyone explain what north DeKalb citizens owes South Dekalb for the the last 20 years.
No doubt we could take the issue all the way back to the civil war in 1861, but that would bring up the issue that Republicans led the emancipation of Southern slavery while the Democrats opposed the idea. A very inconveinant fact for DeKalb Democrats.
Best regards,
KenC
Face it, if the county government doesn't work, take your ball and go home, and cry and moan.
And, can you tell me the last time a serious candidate from Dunwoody ran for a county commission seat or the CEO position? Can't remember? That's because not a damn person has even tried to represent North DeKalb. Commissioner Boyer lives in St. Mountain so technically she doesn't count.
You know its a sad day when rich folks whine and try to act like victims without getting off their hemroidal asses taking over the county and doing something about it.
Instead of devising ways to slow down or stop more areas from incoporating, DeKalb leaders should address the concerns of North DeKalb residents concerning property taxes, code enforcement, police protection, and economic development. Otherwise DeKalb leaders can look forward to further incoporation of North DeKalb.
And I got a kick out of the comments by DeKalb residents. Memo to James Wilson: East Lake and Kirkwood are already part of the city of Atlanta. Also, have you ever visited any of the following cities and their metro areas: Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis, Dallas, New York, Boston, and Miami? These are all major cities with urbanized suburbs that are almost all incorporated. The fact that so much of metro Atlanta is unincoporated is unusual when compared to major American metropolitan areas. Even if DeKalb leaders were competent (hahaha) it would be incredibly difficult to manage a county with a population greater than those of Wyoming, Vermont and North Dakota.
As for John Steineken, sir the county is already hurt and it has not done enough to keep the residents of Dunwoody and Brookhaven from wanting to leave. Why should the residents of Dunwoody and Brookhaven care about DeKalb leaders and Central and South DeKalb residents when it's clear those people don't care about Dunwoody and Brookhaven?
So let's see, John Stabler doesn't live within the current boundaries of Brookhaven, so he wouldn't face this supposedly redundant government entity that will intrude in his life, yet he doesn't want those that do live within the current boundaries to make their own decision. For someone who mouths words about limited government, he sure does display an odd attitude of not wanting people to be free to make their own decisions. Maybe Mr. Stabler would have been happy if the Patriots had just shut up and been loyal to the King?!
The problem is the Democratic majority of DeKalb has taken the Republican areas of DeKalb for granted for far too long. They are now reaping what they sowed. If Central and South DeKalb want their fair share of goodies then will have to start paying for it instead of having North DeKalb subsidize them. The only reason DeKalb leaders and residents want to stop incoporation is because they know it will be a disaster for Central and South DeKalb. DeKalb County is a sinking ship. The residents of Dunwoody and Brookhaven and probably Tucker and more areas to come are smart enough and have the means to adjust and create something sustainable.
DeKalb Police Officers on the payroll of "seedy and sketchy" bars and looking the other way as gambling, drugs, prostitution and overpouring abounds. What is up with the Leadership or lack therof in the DeKalb Office of Public Safety?
Wanna be safe in South DeKalb? Get a Gun, fence your property and install a bad bad dog.