As a former resident of Atlanta, I was hardly shocked that the city has officially acknowledged underreporting crime to boost its ultimately successful effort to woo the 1996 Olympics. Anyone who has lived there can bear witness that the archetype of the “New South” and Mecca for the black middle class goes to extremes to keep its progressive image well burnished. Even when it isn’t pitching the Olympics.
Atlanta may be “too busy to hate,” but it has never been too busy to self promote. To paraphrase Benjamin Disraeli, there are lies, damn lies and Atlanta crime statistics.