For decades Buckhead neighborhood, one of the wealthiest neighborhoods
in Atlanta, Georgia, was considered to be one of the safest communities in the
United States. However, that is not the case nowadays in this luxurious
neighborhood.
For the last couple of months –maybe even more- Atlanta in general and
Buckhead, in particular, had been facing a dramatic crimes crisis. Some say
that the crisis has been a result of the global pandemic and the civil unrest
after the tragic killing of George Floyd last summer.
Atlanta, the most populated city in the south of the United States,
had witnessed 54 homicide crimes and more than 250 shootings so far this year.
Whereas back in 2020, the city had witnessed more than 150 killing crimes, in
addition to a number of rape, assault, and vehicle hijacking crimes.
This crisis was a big difficulty for Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, the
mayor of Atlanta, who announced back in May of this year that she would not be
running for a second term.
Although the Atlanta mayor was liked by the people for her good
leadership during the beginning of the protests that demanding racial justice
last year. Her relationship with Atlanta police officers was on the rocks after
she had immediately demanded firing the police officer who had shot and killed
an African American man at Wendy’s restaurant parking lot last June.
Life in Buckhead Under This Crisis
More than 85,000 residents in the affluent neighborhood, with a
high-end shopping mall, luxury condominium towers, and a tree-lined street with
some of the fanciest mansions in the city.
Civilians in this neighborhood are not feeling safe in their own
houses, many people had witnessed their vehicles being stolen in broad
daylight. People had, also, either witnessed or heard shooting near their
homes.
The crime rate had skyrocketed in the city after the unfortunate kill
of George Floyd last year, which had also increased the lack of safety feeling
of the Buckhead neighborhood’s residents.
Residents and business owners in the Buckhead neighborhood, who
identify themselves as the Buckhead Exploratory Committee, think that the
solution to this dramatic rise in crimes rate is if Buckhead became its own
independent municipality.
Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms had stated in a public announcement that
due to the circumstances the whole world is going through, it is not possible
that the crimes would stop if Buckhead became its own district.
She had also added that even a wall was built around the city, that
will not stop the crimes.
Crimes in the Neighborhood
So far this year, the Buckhead Neighborhood had witnessed 40 percent
increase in homicide crimes, a 39 percent in burglaries, and 64 percent in
vehicle thefts.
One of the horrific crimes during this spike happened in December of
last year, in which a 7 years old girl was shot by a stray bullet while she was
shopping for Christmas with her family.
On the 15th of May, a 71 years old man and another two bystanders were
shot and injured during a fight had started in the parking lot of a store in
Buckhead.
Two days after this accident, on the 17th of May, a man was
shot and killed in a bathroom in one of Buckhead nightclubs, even with an
off-duty officer being there.
In late May this year, a homeless man assaulted and tried to rape a
teacher in broad daylight while she was entering her house in a residential
complex in the Buckhead neighborhood.
Residents are not really satisfied with the police and the
government's efforts in trying to keep their neighborhood safe.
There is a common saying going through the neighborhood stating that
if you see a policeman in the street, you should stop and offer him directions
because he is probably lost.
People are joining the Buckhead Exploratory Committee from the left
and from the right. These people are saying that their demand for the Buckhead
neighborhood becoming its own municipality is like a finalized divorce.
Another Point of View
Another group of people from the neighborhood had been formed with
opposite demands than the Buckhead Exploratory Committee.
Although this group does agree that something needs to be done in
order to solve this crisis and stop these crimes, they do not agree with the
need for Buckhead to be separated from the rest of Atlanta, Georgia.
Mainly because it will be hard to do so, it will need so much effort
and so much money for it to become independent.
Buckhead will need to establish new schools, also they may need more
infrastructural development to form a new and independent district, moreover,
they might need to find a new water resource for Buckhead.
In addition to all this, the loss of Buckhead tax money will make it
difficult for the rest of Atlanta to fund many things, including hiring more
police officers to improve the safety system in the city.
However, both parties want the same thing, for Buckhead to be back to
its old glory as one of the safest neighborhoods in Atlanta, and when they
gather their efforts to fight crimes themselves, the residents would feel safe
living there.
Written by- Leen Alrababah
Edited by – Adrija Saha
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