For the past two years, an effort to create a new city in northern DeKalb County has failed to gain traction.
Now, the people behind the Vista Grove Initiative are ramping back up ahead of the 2020 legislative session that begins Jan. 13. They say an increase in visibility will be the key to their campaign’s success next year.
“You may have noticed increased activity around Vista Grove, and we intend to keep the momentum high leading into the 2020 Legislative Session and beyond,” the group wrote in an email to supporters. “We need your help to spread the word, show up at town halls and events surrounding cityhood, and communicate with our legislators.”
Vista Grove would include a wide portion of unincorporated DeKalb south of Brookhaven and Chamblee and north of Decatur. It would become DeKalb’s 13th city.
New cities must be authorized by the Georgia General Assembly. In addition, voters living within the new city’s boundaries must approve the change.
Read more | Here's how state legislation impacted DeKalb's cities this year
The Vista Grove Initiative is hosting a 5K Run & Walk and a Community Festival on Sept. 21 to raise funds.
Backers are also planning to show up in large numbers to a town hall meeting with DeKalb legislators on Sept. 25. The support of lawmakers whose districts fall within Vista Grove’s proposed boundaries is considered a crucial element to getting a bill approved in 2020.
The town hall will be held from 7-8:30 p.m. at Henderson Middle School, 2830 Henderson Mill Road in Atlanta.
This event is free and open to the public. Opponents of cityhood initiatives are also expected to attend and lobby lawmakers to decline to authorize Vista Grove.
Also | Stonecrest Mayor Lary has a new job: Lobbying for another DeKalb city
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