Supporters and opponents of the creation of Buckhead City traded jabs about the motives behind the push to leave Atlanta. Supporters say the streets of Buckhead have become a playground for lawless behavior, while opponents claim Buckhead's true motivations are race-based and argue stripping Atlanta of the tax revenue generated by Buckhead would bring Georgia's largest city to its knees.
State Sen. Brandon Beach, a Republican from Alpharetta, and 12 of his GOP colleagues, none of whom represent Buckhead, have been the driving legislative force behind the city separation.
Beach, a 60-year-old staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump, started his testimony following a six-minute video montage of crimes committed in Buckhead over the past 18 months, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.