“We congratulate Atlanta Mayor-elect Andre Dickens and we look forward to working with him to ensure a smooth transition for Buckhead City as we make our future sister cities safe and prosperous,” says Buckhead Cityhood Committee CEO Bill White. “Buckhead City voters support law and order and want an efficient responsive government free from the corrupt, bloated bureaucracy of Atlanta.”
The proposed separation of the Buckhead business section of Atlanta is just one of many problems the mayor-elect faces when he takes office in January. However, an “optimistic” Committee for a United Atlanta Co-Chair Edward Lindsey says, “I believe the election of Andre Dickens as the next mayor of Atlanta will bring a positive boost to keep Atlanta united.”
The Dickens election, though, won’t stop the legislative cityhood train that has left the station. The 2022 Georgia General Assembly will entertain pre-filed legislation that would grant cityhood to the area and, if passed and signed by the governor, would then require a vote of the affected Buckhead populace in November 2022.
“When the last day of voting for the mayor of Atlanta was primarily focused on which candidate was going to be the stronger supporter of strip clubs, it was clear to the families and businesses of Buckhead that our priorities of public safety, education, infrastructure, and zoning are no longer aligned with those in Atlanta’s City Hall,” was the message White emailed yesterday to InsiderAdvantage. “Voter turnout in Buckhead was at an all-time low which tells us one thing, resoundingly; Buckhead is ready to and will vote YES for our independence on Nov 8, 2022.”
Lindsay countered with this email message to InsiderAdvantage: “Andre will bring fresh, energetic leadership to the city and has a plan that tackles the rise in violent crime. He has already begun to meet Buckhead business and neighborhood leaders to hear their concerns and ideas about public safety and better city services. Mayor-elect Dickens has already reached out to Governor Kemp and state legislative leaders to discuss his public safety plan and the consequences of a de-annexation.”
