More on Sandtown's Annexation by Atlanta Information is key to making the best choices

The Federal government recently announced that funding for future highway expansion will have to come from local dollars.  Gasoline prices are expected to continue to climb well above the $3.10/ gallon threshold by the end of this year.  Who can provide adequate municipal services continues to influence the city incorporation efforts in North Fulton and annexation efforts in South Fulton.  Whether you agree or disagree, one thing is clear, the metro-Atlanta region will not be the same.  As many residents choose to take a wait and see attitude, their ability to influence the final outcome moves further and further away.  There is enough blame to go around; the sad part is few of our leaders have publicly accepted any responsibility.  We applaud those leaders who have sought rational and practical solutions and continue to explore answers to residents' concerns.  The decision for Sandtown is not an easy one.  Partly because of many unknowns. For many who have decided to be annexed, it was based on a gut feeling and more of what we see in the leadership from Atlanta.  The fact that recently it was announced that the city of Atlanta had more than 9,000 people move back into the city, ahead of Fulton, Dekalb and Cobb Counties, is encouraging.  Apparently, there are others beside the residents of Sandtown, who see the same optimism, hope and fiscal restraint needed to sustain services.  For other residents, it was the fact that up until June, 2006, only one option was discussed and information from our political leadership did not address other options such as remaining unincorporated or annexation.  What we can tell you is that the push to say no to annexation is coming basically from the South Fulton Concerned Citizens.  We encourage everyone to visit their website and understand their mission.  Their focus has been to solely prevent any movement on annexation until the referendum vote on June 7, 2007.  And we agree that is an option.  The fine print that is missing from their message, is that if the referendum prevails, your personal communities' choice has been snatched away by others who you have little in common with, other than  living in unincorporated South Fulton County.  Education was the initial issue driving the push along with the need for parks, recreation facilities, and municipal services, such as fire, police and water.  Even the Fulton County School Board is considering delaying the rebuild of Westlake for the third time in six years.  There are some who strongly believed that this time construction on a new Westlake would be built, but for the annexation effort by the Sandtown Community Association.  If you are familiar with our organization's work, accomplishments and purpose, you will see that no one beyond our organization and the Westlake PTSA has worked harder for the last 6 1/2 years to get the school rebuilt.  Once again, it is the SFCC and our political leaders who want to discredit our efforts and make us the scapegoat for an issue that clearly could have been resolved, if the slogan, Fulton County, where children come first really had a significance to children in South Fulton.  I want to caution those who have sat on the sidelines and continue to not get involved.  A people that does not know their history or acts as if they have forgotten it, are bound to repeat it.  And in these times, where information is critical to making the best choices, if you rely on others to lead you to your decisions, then you might end up repeating history! John A. Davis  - President Sandtown Community Association More on Sandtown's Annexation by Atlanta