Descendants of enslaved people living on a Georgia island are watching anxiously as county commissioners consider doubling the size of homes allowed in their tiny community.
“People are already selling off land because they don’t want to pay high taxes,” said JR Grovner, who was born and raised on Sapelo Island and gives guided tours there for visitors. “Older people aren’t going to be able to afford higher taxes.”
Hogg Hummock’s population has been shrinking in recent decades, and some families have sold their land to outsiders who built vacation homes. In 2012, dozens of Hogg Hummock residents and landowners appealed tax increases caused by soaring property values. County officials rolled back most of them.The current county ordinance limits homes in Hogg Hummock to 1,400 square feet of heated and air-conditioned space.
“I’ve had numerous people reach out to me with the argument that 1,400 square feet is not large enough,” Commission Chairman David Stevens said. The proposed zoning changes also would have erased language that recognizes Hogg Hummock as a unique and historic place with an indigenous population worthy of special protection. But Stevens told commissioners they would have a vote Tuesday to restore that wording.federal lawsuit
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Illinois' Underground Railroad: Sites, descendants, historyThe Chicago Tribune Underground Railroad series begins Sunday, putting spotlight on Illinois journeys of freedom seekers.
Read more »
Illinois' Underground Railroad: The stories of descendantsDescendants of six freedom seekers with ties to the Illinois Underground Railroad share their connections to American history.
Read more »
California voters oppose cash reparations for slavery descendants by 2 to 1: PollCalifornia voters oppose making cash payments to Black descendants of slavery by a two-to-one margin, a daunting finding for the Democrat-controlled Legislature as it prepares to take up the state reparations task force’s landmark recommendations.
Read more »
‘Some bad stuff happened’: UAB’s defensive deficiency overshadows offensive prowessUAB's defense gashed in 49-35 loss to Georgia Southern.
Read more »
Is defending Donald Trump a career breaker for Georgia Republicans?Former Georgia Senator Kelly Loeffler is standing by Donald Trump after a unsealed court document revealed a special grand jury recommended indicting her along with two other U.S. Senators in the Georgia election interference case. However, Fulton County DA Fani Willis did not charge the Republican lawmakers in her RICO case. An MSNBC political panel joined American Voices with Alicia Menendez to discuss how Georgia voters have repeatedly rejected election deniers in statewide races.
Read more »