ATLANTA — They call themselves the "Committee for a United Atlanta." While this new group says they recognize the problems with crime in Atlanta, they don’t believe breaking away is part of the solution.
United Atlanta argues it would be a lengthy and complicated process for Buckhead to create its own city.
With a mayoral race coming up, on top of city council and school board races, they believe real change could happen most quickly by just voting in a new leaders.
Attorney Linda Klein, who is heading up United Atlanta, says even if the two bills filed to create a Buckhead city were to advance, legal battles could follow, tying it up for years.
“A new city would have to have its own set of bureaucrats, elected officials a mayor, a city council, a city hall, a court system, a courthouse, tax collectors, zoning, parks, police, fire. It's very complicated. And then there’s the matter of water and sewer,” Klein said.
On the other hand, the Buckhead city committee – which wants to separate – says the formation of cities like Brookhaven and Sandy Springs show it can be done. They want Buckhead citizens to decide for themselves through a referendum.