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Class Wars in Georgia
A common occurrence in Georgia over the last few years is occurring again in Stockbridge, a suburb south of Atlanta. The city of Chattahoochee Hills, in south western Fulton County was created from Fulton County in order to control taxes locally.
The controversy over a proposal to create a city of Eagle’s Landing from existing Stockbridge territory intensified Monday after the Georgia General Assembly moved up a vote on the measure.
The legislature is expected to hold a Senate vote Tuesday on a bill that would allow Eagle’s Landing, a collection of several well-heeled neighborhoods and a golf course in Henry County, to break away from Stockbridge and form a city.
“They are paying the taxes, but they are not getting the services they need,” said Consiglio, who lives in unincorporated Henry, but would be in the city of Eagle’s Landing if cityhood is approved. “We have no libraries, no public parks, no community centers or senior centers. We have nothing. They are taking our money, but we don’t get the services.”
Race also is playing a role in the division. The city of Stockbridge and its leadership is majority black while many of the backers of the new city are white.
Consiglio, who is white, also rejected accusations that race is playing a role in the desire to break away. The majority of the city’s residents — around 47 percent — would be black, while white people would make up 39 percent of the population. About 8 percent of the city would be Asian and about 6 percent Hispanic.
A common occurrence in Georgia over the last few years is occurring again in Stockbridge, a suburb south of Atlanta. The city of Chattahoochee Hills, in south western Fulton County was created from Fulton County in order to control taxes locally.
The controversy over a proposal to create a city of Eagle’s Landing from existing Stockbridge territory intensified Monday after the Georgia General Assembly moved up a vote on the measure.
The legislature is expected to hold a Senate vote Tuesday on a bill that would allow Eagle’s Landing, a collection of several well-heeled neighborhoods and a golf course in Henry County, to break away from Stockbridge and form a city.
“They are paying the taxes, but they are not getting the services they need,” said Consiglio, who lives in unincorporated Henry, but would be in the city of Eagle’s Landing if cityhood is approved. “We have no libraries, no public parks, no community centers or senior centers. We have nothing. They are taking our money, but we don’t get the services.”
Race also is playing a role in the division. The city of Stockbridge and its leadership is majority black while many of the backers of the new city are white.
Consiglio, who is white, also rejected accusations that race is playing a role in the desire to break away. The majority of the city’s residents — around 47 percent — would be black, while white people would make up 39 percent of the population. About 8 percent of the city would be Asian and about 6 percent Hispanic.
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