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before today’s city council meeting, let’s take a look at the proposed expansion of private policing in Buckhead, Atlanta’s wealthiest neighborhood. The “Buckhead Security Plan” is proposed in part by the three council members below:
let’s start with an uncontested fact: there have been more homicides this year in Atlanta and across the US (hardly surprising given...everything) and any increase in violence is BAD. Dispense with the idea that I or others in opposition don’t care about violence right now.
In fact, it’s because I care about violence that I oppose this weird, quasi-privatized police force expansion. It started in bad faith -- with the idea that (despite decades of research and reality showing otherwise) increased police presence drives down violence. It doesn't!
When politicians are responding to increases in violence/ harm, notice that they aren't asked to defend or use data to support their solutions, as long as they are carceral. No one asks for empirical proof that their proposal works, as long as it involves more police & more cages
Part of the plan is entitled “Deterrence and Enforcement.” It contains gems like “offering special rewards for crimes committed in Buckhead, funded by the Buckhead community.” This is a great way to get bad tips from people who need cash! https://bit.ly/2JJ5ksB
The plan clearly seeks to protect capital in ATL's wealthiest neighborhood: “funding & establishing a supplementary multi-car dedicated security patrol utilizing off-duty sworn officers... the supplementary patrol will be for exclusive use within Buckhead commercial corridors.”
Seems like the most important part of their longterm goals are making sure wealthy Buckhead residents who donated get to see some people tossed in cages as a result: “providing feedback to funders to demonstrate the return on investment.” (so important that they said it twice)
The 3 city councilmembers supporting this proposal have also agreed to donate $125k from their offices. Here's Councilmember Matzigkeit: "Securing Buckhead’s commercial corridor is integral to the quality of life for all Atlanta residents." Protecting capital, not people.
People who have been organizing in Atlanta for a long time see similarities to when Midtown did the same thing with a privatized police force (Midtown Blue.) The result? Community trauma deep enough that it helped usher in the creation of a pre-arrest diversion program
I hope the councilmembers involved in this proposal will be open to hearing -- really listening to -- the concerns of the community. I encourage folks who are interested in seeing where this goes to tune into today's meeting, where it will be discussed https://citycouncil.atlantaga.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/5248/165
I made it through this thread without any real dunks, so I can't help myself here. This is an actual item on their list of near-term objectives. THE PROBLEM WITH POLICING IS NOT THAT OFFICERS DON'T GET ENOUGH GIFT CARDS.
