The debate over a pending referendum that will slice off nearly half of Stockbridge to help create a wealthier—and whiter—city of Eagle’s Landing generated plenty of heat earlier this year at the Capitol, where the General Assembly green-lighted the proposal and Gov. Nathan Deal signed it into law.

It’s also generated litigation, and a federal lawsuit claims the move was motivated largely by racism. The legislation was introduced a few months after Stockbridge’s first black mayor and city council members were elected in November 2017. Eagle’s Landing proponents have made clear they seek a city with a more affluent “demographic” than that of Stockbridge.