Atlanta vs. Georgia
Walter C. Jones
March 1, 2008
In many respects, the city of Atlanta is like a boy who grew too fast for his age and drew taunts
from other kids. There's something about a big kid that brings out goading that could lead to a
fight – except for the gentle giant.
This year brings a double dose of jabs at Atlanta by people outside the metro area: the
legislature during winter and the campaign trail during the summer and
fall. Plenty of politicians will hurl insults at the capital city in hopes of attracting votes in
the far reaches of the state.
Whether motivated by jealousy or insecurity, leaders in many cities and rural areas across
Georgia are using Atlanta as a target in three major legislative debates this year. The fight over
water, transportation funding and education funding each revolve around geographic identity rather
than party or philosophical divisions.
On the other hand, Atlanta leaders are making overt gestures to get along with the rest of
the state, when control of two-thirds of the state's population and tax generation might tempt
others to be content to live without ‘em.
One person who's been trying to mend fences is Mayor Shirley Franklin. She's been active with
regional organizations such as the Atlanta Regional Commission and statewide groups like the
Georgia Municipal Association, following up on commitments she made as a candidate in the Augusta,
Athens and Savannah newspapers.
She recently laid out her reasons in a speech at the Atlanta Press Club. "We believe the
stronger Atlanta is, the stronger Georgia is. But we also believe Georgia and the towns and cities
of Georgia make us stronger. I've been so active at GMA [because] Maynard Jackson gave me four
pieces of advice. One of them was that I had to be active in the Georgia Municipal Association,
that I had no choice, that Atlanta was connected to the rest of the state. And the second one was
that I got to meet great people... And we have so much in common that it has been a resource for
Atlanta to grow and get better."
To illustrate her diplomatic acumen, Franklin shared her speaking date at the press club with
Fayetteville Mayor Ken Steele. This is a skill that helped Franklin win the cooperation of
Atlanta's business leaders, even though she originally wasn't their favorite candidate. It also
charmed Gov. Sonny Perdue into agreeing to a city/state partnership in its sewer refurbishment
project during a time when a south Georgia politician like him could have easily brushed her off.
Sam Williams, president of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, also recognized early in
his decade-long tenure that the city loses when it stirs enmity in others. Williams has championed
a transportation-funding proposal to let metro counties tax themselves a penny on every dollar of
sales. True, Atlanta would hog the money rather than spreading it across Georgia, but it also would
keep the state from having to cough up so much of the funds needed for untangling Atlanta traffic.
Williams is having a tougher time making the case for water, especially since Florida and
Alabama are on the side of "the other Georgia" in wanting to put the squeeze on North Georgia.
"There are some people who are trying to divide and conquer," Williams says. "That's not what
a lot of leaders I talk to are saying."
Indeed, most Atlanta civic leaders continue to keep a cool head, like the tallest boy in the
class who endures provocations from his cohorts. Size alone often invites attack, no matter if it's
undeserved or not.