For Rep. Tom Taylor and Dunwoody, H.B. 520 Is All About the Schools

The "Smart City" concept has gone quite a bit off track.  Just read the press release from the proposed city of Lavista Hills below, according to  Reporter's Newspaper:

State lawmakers on March 2 introduced legislation to create a new DeKalb County cities called LaVista Hills and Tucker.  

Reps. Tom Taylor (R-Dunwoody) and Scott Holcomb (D-DeKalb) introduced H.B. 520, which calls for a vote in November on whether to create the city, according to a statement by LaVista Hills Yes.  

If the legislation is approved by the General Assembly, residents of the proposed city would vote on the proposed city. 

Taylor, in an email, said legislation also was introduced to create a city of Tucker.  

“The city of LaVista Hills will benefit all of DeKalb County,” said Mary Kay Woodworth, LaVista Hills YES co-chair and former Lakeside YES chairperson.  “A smarter, well managed government is good for everyone in LaVista Hills, and a successful city will help all of DeKalb County.”

So, is THIS the map for Lavista Hills?  Or, could it be the one that Interim CEO Lee May used in his presentation recently to a group considering whether or not they should vote to be annexed into the City of Atlanta?  (See below)

 You can view the notices posted in The Champion here.  One particularly interesting portion of that article took place between the reporter and Rep. Karla Drenner:

State Rep. Karla Drenner, D-Avondale Estates, said “It’s really not surprising” that Taylor will introduce the LaVista Hills bill. 

“I did talk to him last week and he said he hadn’t decided yet, but he was getting a lot of pressure,” Drenner said. 

Pressure from who? 

“People up in that area,” Drenner said. “People from the northern part of the county.”
Why would people in the northern part of DeKalb County care about LaVista Hills cityhood? 

“I don’t know,” Drenner said. “I have no idea.” 

Dr. Drenner wondered why Dunwoody wanted more cities in the county?  Maybe she didn't have any idea... but we do.  Dunwoody wants everyone to just believe for a moment that you have a chance to be just like them.  If you can get a city then you can get your own school system, too.  Nevermind that you can't afford it.  They just want you to believe it could happen.  Just as long as it takes for you to vote "yes" when you see that amendment on your ballot.

Nevermind that Dunwoody is just trying to prove that they are as worthy as their neighbor, Sandy Springs, the home to many of the nation's wealthiest people.   So, they are spending and spending and building and building and traffic just gets worse and worse.   Now they need a place to offload the traffic and build more "affordable" housing for the workers.

 Maybe they should focus more on their OWN area and less on everyone else?

 Tucker has existed with known borders since the 1800's, but suddenly our small town is in line to become one of the largest cities in the county ?

Where is our representation?  Why are we paying taxes right now when we have to defend our own borders, educate our own children and quarrel with our own neighbors?  Is this something that is only happening to DeKalb County?  If so, why?  What did we do as a county to cause this turmoil?  What did Tucker do to make our legislators suddenly want to divide and conquer us?

 Why are we  having to do the jobs right now that the politicians are paid to do - draw maps, calculate services and taxes, distribute the services fairly and stand up for our rights?

Where are the civic associations, historians, long time residents, business leaders?   Why aren't there more people standing up for themselves and saying "enough is enough?"   Are we all going to stick together  and vote NO, regardless of what map we find ourselves in?  Or will we vote for self-preservation above all else?

If you haven't decided, yet, about what you are going to do,  get involved soon and read up on this subject.   Save Tucker! has always had one goal: to Save Tucker!  It's the community where we live and the people that we love and we don't want to see it changes, just because someone in Dunwoody wants to expand their business or needs a place for their low wage workers to live.

You don't fight government corruption with MORE government.  You fight it with better people, more voters and encouraging others to do the RIGHT thing!

Don't move away when your neighbors need you most!!  Stick it out at least long enough to help us vote NO!  Tell your neighbors and friends.  Get the word out the old fashioned way or it won't get out at all!  A vote could potentially show up on your ballot in May or November.  In the meantime, contact your legislators to let them know that you are not happy with the way people outside our area are deciding our fate and expecting us to pay for their bad decisions!

Any cityhood legislation has to be introduced in one chamber of the legislature by March 13, known as Crossover Day. In addition to LaVista Hills and Tucker, there are cityhood movements in South DeKalb for Greenhaven and Stonecrest.