Metropolitan Atlanta could feasibly survive on its own if it were to secede from the state of Georgia, writes Otis White. But as he explains, Atlanta would be much better off as part of the state than as its own, if only there were more cooperation.
"Could Atlanta survive as a state? Sure. If it were just Fulton and DeKalb counties, the state of Atlanta would have 1.6 million people, larger than 15 states. Expand to the core five counties (adding on Cobb, Gwinnett and Clayton), and it would have 3.3 million people, bigger than 21 states. With the remaining counties on the Atlanta Regional Commission, you'd have a nicely compact state of 3.9 million residents that would rank No. 25 in population."
"So, yes, we could make it on our own."
"But if we could secede, should we? No. Georgia is better off with Atlanta, and Atlanta is better off with Georgia. Our problem isn't a lack of mutual benefit; it's an absence of ideas and understanding."
FULL STORY: Before we secede, let's try to get along

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Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

HSR Reaches Key Settlement in Northern California City
The state’s high-speed rail authority reached an agreement with Millbrae, a key city on the train’s proposed route to San Francisco.

Washington State Legislature Passes Parking Reform Bill
A bill that would limit parking requirements for new developments is headed to the governor’s desk.

Missouri Law Would Ban Protections for Housing Voucher Users
A state law seeks to overturn source-of-income discrimination bans passed by several Missouri cities.
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