Atlanta - the White mecca, or hype? (Douglas, Clayton: section 8, homes)

[straighttalker75]

What a bunch of statistics, er I mean hype! Look of Atlanta changes | ajc.com

[ZGACK]

Did you have a point to make?

[Scott Summers]

I thought the thread's title was a little funny. I think that's neat for Atlanta to become more balanced. After living in NE TN for six years I really don't care, the article was good too.

[atlantagreg30127]

Interesting article. Other variations of it have been published over the last few months.

Humans have very short life spans. On averge what - 72 years? Demographic changes take place over the course of decades, so we "forget" these things. Cities that are historically white will over time, become majority black or majority hispanic cities. For example, who would ever have thought in the 1960s that Miami would have more Spanish speaking residents than English speaking residents one day?

Atlanta was a "white city" until the 70s, then it became a majority black and black-governed city, where it has remained. Now, more people are moving here who are white, brown, tan, yellow, and every variation and nationality in-between, so the city is again, changing. Twenty years from now it will be a very different place. Fifty years later, it will be different from that. We just don't see these changes as well because they take place over such a long period in our short lifespans.

[masonbarge]

Greg, I haven't studied the speed of change of city demographics, but here's a point. Atlanta is rather close, in terms of people voting, to equal black/white. The current wisdom is that it will take a comparatively small shift in racial demographics to potentially elect a white mayor and then a primarily white city council.

Personally, I predict that if Mary Norwood or some other white candidate gets close to winning in two years (but doesn't get elected), we are going to see a monumental effort by the city government to stop the percentage of black voters from decreasing.

I'd expect nearly zero upscale development permits and a lot of city-sponsored section 8 housing. It will be interesting to see.

[rvbrad]

Originally Posted by masonbarge

Greg, I haven't studied the speed of change of city demographics, but here's a point. Atlanta is rather close, in terms of people voting, to equal black/white. The current wisdom is that it will take a comparatively small shift in racial demographics to potentially elect a white mayor and then a primarily white city council.

Personally, I predict that if Mary Norwood or some other white candidate gets close to winning in two years (but doesn't get elected), we are going to see a monumental effort by the city government to stop the percentage of black voters from decreasing.

I'd expect nearly zero upscale development permits and a lot of city-sponsored section 8 housing. It will be interesting to see.

You've hit the nail on the head. A colleague and myself were discussing this recently. Unless the city government transforms with the population, Atlanta may see some true stagnation in development.

Conspiracy theory, on the other hand, may conclude that perhaps urban sprawl of minorities in metro Atlanta will cause a recapture of the city after some other communities in the suburban area have become majority black. Clayton, Fulton, Rockdale, and Dekalb are minority run. It wouldn't take much for Cobb, Douglas, and Henry to be as well. Sure - Fulton may become white again, but likely at the expense of the adjacent counties.

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by masonbarge

Personally, I predict that if Mary Norwood or some other white candidate gets close to winning in two years (but doesn't get elected), we are going to see a monumental effort by the city government to stop the percentage of black voters from decreasing.

I'd expect nearly zero upscale development permits and a lot of city-sponsored section 8 housing. It will be interesting to see.

You're underestimating the power of one emotion - greed.

Upscale developments bring money. Tax money. Tax money that can be abused and skimmed off the top into pockets. Without that money, less can be hidden and skimmed, and there are fewer cars and trips and luxuries for those doing the skimming. Section 8 doesn't bring money - it usually just increases crime, and devaluation of homes and neighborhoods, hence, less tax money collected.

If there is some sort of conspiracy going on, most likely the general attitude is, "Milk it for what it's worth, then move on. Let all the other folks move back into the city and "reclaim it" (so to speak), and we'll make Charlotte our next Atlanta"... etc.

[Georgia]

One thing you must take into account. The press states that the white population of Atlanta has increased to 30%. 136,200/519,000.

With the increase stated, one will need to find the true figure of hispanic residents, as they are also tabulated seperate, however, also included as white. This will probably reduce this number by a couple percent.

According to the 2006 Census estimates, in that year the State of Georgia grew by 236,000 people total. Of this, 139,000 were in the Atlanta metro area. In 2006, the total white population of Georgia decreased by 7,100.
In other words, 100%+ of the population net growth in Georgia was non-white.

This demographic shift is not just Georgia but nationwide with the fastest growth in the hispanic community. The census places a 2012 -2015 timeline estimate which Georgia will join the current majority/minority states of California, Texas, New Mexico, and Hawaii.

[straighttalker75]

I'm astonished at the amount of misinformation Georgia has set forth in her post. First comes the 30% figure, which is incorrect and about 10 years old. The whole point of the article, in fact, was how its much higher than 30% now. Next up is Georgia's confusion over classification of Hispanics in the census figures, again demonstrating knowledge of approximately 10 years ago. Not sure what's happening but I would like to be the first to welcome her to the 21st century!

[straighttalker75]

Originally Posted by ZGACK

Did you have a point to make?

Since when does one need a point to post here? If that's the criteria then we are all in trouble.