ATLANTA – State Representative Viola Davis (D-Stone Mountain) recently filed a Title VI complaint against the current and proposed maps for the Atlanta Regional Commission’s (ARC) districts for citizen board members at-large. After initiating an equity assessment of the proposed map, Rep. Davis believes the current and proposed maps decrease, dilute and/or deny adequate representation for residents in the central and south DeKalb areas.
“The current and proposed ARC districts for the citizen board members at-large violate the rights of more than 1.3 million Georgians due to noncompliance to Title VI,” said Rep. Davis. “We take an oath to defend the rights of the people in our districts and Georgians across the state. As a veteran and legislator, I have a responsibility to ensure that people have equal rights to representation, funding and services, regardless of their color, race or national origin.”
After reviewing the proposed map, Rep. Davis decided to analyze these issues via the “T.H.E. Equity Assessment,” which examined the impact that transportation, health and education have on DeKalb County residents. She believes this equity assessment uncovered potential noncompliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Rep. Davis believes the current and proposed maps do not provide Georgians, particularly in DeKalb County, with equal access to representation, funding and services that are financed with local, state and federal tax dollars.
Rep. Davis’ complaint stems from the distribution of counties in the current and proposed ARC district maps. DeKalb County is divided into five districts, and Fulton County is divided into eight districts. The equity assessment claims that Fulton, DeKalb, Douglas and Henry counties, which are predominantly African American, Black and/or communities of color, demonstrate decreased numbers and dilution of representation. Rep. Davis’ findings also highlight that House districts in DeKalb, Douglas, Henry and Fulton counties could be critically impacted by these maps.
Rep. Davis is currently working with State Representatives Kim Schofield (D-Atlanta) and Sandra Scott (D-Rex) to prevent the creation of new maps that are not compliant with Title VI. These legislators also seek to prohibit ARC maps that may neglect to recognize a cause for possible disparities in representation, funding and services.
“When the systemic cycle of inequities, disparities and intentional diversion of funding and services has been robbing the people in communities of color for years, these long-standing ploys and diabolical practices will no longer remain hidden,” said Rep. Schofield. “Beyond just ‘following the money,’ eradicating historic racism and all forms of deceptive tactics must be the priority of every elected official who took an oath to serve and protect his or her people, cities, counties and the state. Let’s not turn a blind eye to what we have known for years but, instead, correct it for the good of all Georgians.”
In addition to filing a Title VI complaint, Reps. Davis, Schofield and Scott urge the ARC’s legislative caucus to redraw the proposed map to eliminate potential adverse and discriminatory effects. These legislators also seek to submit an Open Records request with the ARC to verify the data within Rep. Davis’ assessment and confirm if there have been any adverse effects with funding and services. These legislators also urge the caucus to conduct a full investigation to find the root cause of the equity assessment’s findings. Finally, these legislators propose that each county that may have been adversely affected by the current map should have the ability to form its own accountability oversight committee and ombudsman citizen advocacy task force, evaluate if the ARC maps may have caused harm in the last 10 to 20 years, as well as evaluate if the maps may cause harm in the future.
“After looking and getting an understanding of how the maps breakdown, I question the methodology of how the ARC has drawn these maps,” said Rep. Scott. “The ARC districts have changed a lot over the last 10 years, and the maps should reflect the change. We must ensure that our communities are not left behind when it comes to funding. We must follow the money because communities of color have been left behind.”
Rep. Davis also plans to initiate a separate equity analysis of transportation agencies that use the same methodology for state and federal funding as the ARC. She seeks to study multi-county districts for their adverse effects on metro Atlanta, particularly central and south DeKalb, as well as other counties, such as Fulton, Douglas and Henry. Rep. Davis has requested the assistance and oversight of the Federal Transit Administration Office of Civil Rights and its Title VI program coordinator. Rep. Davis plans to request protection from acts of intimidation and retaliation for state legislators who cooperate with the Title VI complaint and possible investigations.
Because Reps. Davis, Schofield and Scott’s House districts touch member county jurisdictions of the ARC, they are a part of a legislative caucus which determines the ARC board member at-large districts. These legislators plan to oppose any district maps that could dilute and/or remove representation from the Fulton, DeKalb, Douglas and Henry counties. These legislators are also evaluating other metro areas, such as southern Gwinnett.
The “T.H.E. Equity Assessment” was performed by citizen researchers associated with the “Unhappy Taxpayer and Voter” ministry, which Rep. Davis co-founded. For more than 20 years, she has worked with the ministry as a government watchdog for the DeKalb County and metro Atlanta communities.
Representative Viola Davis represents the citizens of District 87, which includes portions of DeKalb County. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2018 and currently serves on the Natural Resources & Environment, Insurance, Interstate Cooperation and Science and Technology committees.
Representative Kim Schofield represents the citizens of District 60, which includes portions of Clayton and Fulton counties. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2017 and currently serves on the Health & Human Services, Interstate Cooperation, Information and Audits and Small Business Development committees.
Representative Sandra Scott represents the citizens of District 76, which includes portions of Clayton and Henry counties. She was first elected to the House Representatives in 2010 and currently serves on the Defense & Veterans Affairs, Human Relations & Aging, Legislative & Congressional Reapportionment, Science and Technology and Special Rules committees.
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