Macon

Top Issues

“If you call the police, they will tell you to wait. I thought they were supposed to come immediately, but they’re telling people to wait an hour. ‘I’ll be there momentarily. We’re busy right now.’”

– Female, Black, Young-Adult Resident of Macon

In Macon, residents identified a number of concerns, including homelessness, the cost of living, inequality, and a general lack of trust in their community. However, three issues seemed to be the dominant concerns: the lack of basic services, crime, and education.

Lack of Basic Services

Macon residents identified a number of structural problems; however, the most prominent issue involved the lack of basic services. Focus group participants spoke about the irregularity of trash and recycling collection, causing trash to overflow onto the sidewalks and streets. Similarly, residents talked about the lack of streetlights in low-income areas, resulting in folks feeling unsafe in their neighborhoods. These issues, coupled with a lack of communication from the local government regarding solutions, have led to growing inequality between neighborhoods and a lack of trust in both politicians and the government.

Crime

Similar to many communities nationwide, crime is a primary concern for residents. Participants are often concerned by the amount of theft and gun violence they’ve seen in their neighborhoods. However, in Macon, this issue has been exacerbated by the lack of police response. An overwhelming response revealed a lot of violence, including gang violence, was at the hands of teenagers in the community. Residents shared personal stories in which the police delayed or refused to respond — allowing the emergency to escalate and damaging trust between residents and law enforcement.

Lack School Funding

Macon residents, especially those under 35, identified underfunded schools as a major source of Macon’s problems. Some believe there is a lack of certified teachers, food safety concerns, and public schools seemingly struggle to provide quality education to the community—an issue that has only intensified since the pandemic. Despite efforts by parents to help by volunteering or working at schools, the fundamental issue of insufficient school funding remains unresolved.

Media

“You have these four or five [commissioners] and these four or five constantly arguing. They argue in public, and they argue on the news, and by the time it’s time to fix the problem – it’s too late.”

–Black, Male, Middle-Age Resident of Macon

Our panel discussions in Macon identified a number of concerns with social media and major news outlets, leaving residents concerned about the quality of their information sources. Still, three major information sources continued to emerge in discussions: social media, major TV news networks, and word of mouth in the community.

Social Media

Social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram are a key source of news and information for Macon’s young and older residents. This is particularly true for community news, which spreads more rapidly through social media compared to traditional news outlets. Despite the presence of misinformation on these platforms, many residents can tell the difference between what is true and what is false. Facebook remains the most effective means to connect with others and stay informed about local events in Macon.

TV News Outlets

Besides social media, Macon focus group participants mentioned relying on local news channels to stay current. Yet, residents seem frustrated by the lack of breaking and international news on their local stations. To fill this gap, some residents turn to major sources like NPR and the BBC to help fill in the gaps in their local news coverage.

Word of Mouth

While some folks in Macon mentioned using social media and major news networks to keep up to date, the majority seemed to rely on conversations with family, friends, and community members, such as pastors, for the bulk of their information. Focus group participants mentioned how they were wary of the presence of misinformation on social media and the bias of national news networks, leaving conversation and word of mouth one of the most trusted ways to stay up to date.

"A lot of people’s places are overlooked when it comes to people coming in and out of the community. People have trash bins, but not everyone’s gets dumped. A lot of things get overlooked. And even if you say something, nothing is going to change.”

–Black, Female, Young-Adult Resident of Macon

“Instead of more cameras, there should be more streetlights in our streets. It doesn’t make any sense.”

– Black, Female, Young-Adult Resident of Macon

“If you call the police, they will tell you to wait. I thought they were supposed to come immediately, but they telling people to wait an hour. ‘I’ll be there momentarily. We’re busy right now.'”

–Black, Female, Young-Adult Resident of Macon

"Some people just adapt to what they’re around.”

– Black, Female, Young-Adult Resident of Macon

“It makes a difference if you vote within your community as well as the big elections.”

–Black, Female, Young-Adult Resident of Macon

“I didn’t want to vote, even when I was old enough. My grandmother pushed me to vote. I don’t see the point of voting. Regardless of if you vote, they only look at certain numbers.”

– Black, Female, Young-Adult Resident of Macon