Georgia Senate pushes bill create breakaway city out of Atlanta neighborhood over crime concerns

Georgia lawmakers have advanced a bill to create a new "Buckhead City" out of an Atlanta neighborhood seeking to separate from the metropolis over crime and spending concerns.

The State and Local Government Operations Committee advanced the measure on a 4-3 vote on Monday, according to the Washington Examiner. It will now head to the full Senate for a vote.

Buckhead is situated in the north of Atlanta and the uptown neighborhood seeks to combat rising crime facing Atlanta by administering its own police force, Rough Draft Atlanta reported.

Democrats have contended that the proposed split would be disadvantageous for the area. Georgia Democratic State Sen. Jason Esteves, whose constituency includes Buckhead, opposed the measure, saying "[w]hat is happening today is my constituents are being forced to eat a half-baked pie," per the Examiner.

Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, meanwhile, backed the plan in a Monday tweet, saying "A vote against Buckhead city is a vote FOR crime. A vote for Buckhead city is a vote FOR freedom."

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.