Qulity of life getting better and better
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5/1/2009
Sandy Springs, after over 20 years of perseverence, became a city in December of 2005. We used to be considered an unincorporated area of metro Atlanta. Since the income of the residents of this area was - and continues to be - nearly twice the average of Atlanta (therefore, so was the tax revenue collected from us), the Atlanta City Council would redistribute our tax money to the "less advantaged" inner city and south Atlanta residents as well as the woefully mismanaged and perenially money-losing Grady Hospital.
The Atlanta City Council invested none of the tax revenues collected from this community back into it. The result was ignored landlord violations that resulted in run-down, slum-like apartments occupied by illegal Mexicans; drug trafficking; no investment in infrastructure in this area of the city for years; and a non-existent police presence.
That all changed once we - with a nearly unanimous vote - became a city. We have our own police and fire departments. The streets are safer for both motorists and pedestrians. The City of Sandy Springs has clearly invested in the city's infrastructure and continues to do so by widening roads, installing sidewalks and roadside lights, improving green spaces, and traffic flow.
The new government of Sandy Springs has done a fantastic job of improving many aspects of the city. Because the city is investing in itself, so are commercial property owners. Several have performed major renovations on older properties, beautifying their neighborhoods and bringing in new businesses.
Sandy Springs, located in Fulton County, has been so successful, it inspired an unincorporated area of Dekalb County, Dunwoody, to vote for and win cityhood in 2008. That, though, is another story.
Nosmo King | Sandy Springs, GA