Almost a decade since Sandy Springs set the incorporation template, six cities in Fulton, DeKalb and Gwinnett counties have been created. Today, 44 of the 46 elected officials in those cities are white, the lone exception being a Hispanic councilman in Johns Creek who steps down next week. One seat is vacant. Almost no one involved with the incorporations would say race is a factor in the cities’ creation. But the stark results give new ammunition to opponents’ claims that the cities were a plan to erect new racial barriers and siphon revenue from areas that have a limited tax base for public services. Those left behind in unincorporated Fulton and DeKalb have seen taxes rise as county governments struggle to keep up services. And city governments lacking diversity have been accused of trampling minorities’ rights in their quests to demolish apartments.
Posted on: Mon, 27 Jan 2014 13:02:35 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015