Atlanta Metropolitics: A Regional Agenda for Community and Stability

Abstract

The purpose of "Atlanta Metropolitics" is to further the processes of metropolitan reform in the areas of regional land use planning, regional equity, and regional structural reform. Through its analysis of the progressive and detrimental effects of metropolitan polarization on people and communities, it is designed to provide more evidence regarding the necessity of reform for the traditional advocates of land use, housing, fiscal and governmental reform. These groups are generally environmentalists, good government advocates, academics - particularly economists - and that part of the business community engaged and concerned about the future stability of the region in which they operate. This report is also designed to bring into the debate new and decisively important participants: elected officials and constituency groups representing communities with high social and infrastructure needs and few property tax-base resources. It is for these communities that the dangers of regional polarization are the most apparent and fundamental. It is these communities that can bring significant new political power to the issue. It was these communities who, in Minnesota, created the regional majority to enact major reform.

It is also the purpose of this report to educate people who care about urban poverty issues about regional sprawl and transportation issues, and to educate everyone who is interested in equity and sustainability in the Atlanta region about how these issues are invariably connected. Across the nation, social-equity groups representing the poor living in older communities and environmental groups wishing to protect land and water from development pressure are beginning to coalesce around a regional agenda. Increasingly, these groups sense a common connection to their individual struggles against the growing waves of chaos that overwhelm their efforts. As they develop a common language and agenda, the potential for broad-based, regional action increases.

Keywords: Atlanta, metropolitan, land use, planning structural reform, polarization, governmental reform, regional equity, infrastructure, sprawl, transportation

JEL Classification: E61, E62, H20, H71, H73, I22, J10, O10, O20, R10