About Buckhead reporter. (Sandy Springs, GA) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 2, 2020)
SEPTEMBER 2020 • VOL. 14 — NO. 1 reporternewspapers.net Buckhead Reporter EDUCATION GUIDE FALL 2020 VIRTUAL SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS ► Q&As WITH LOCAL SUPERINTENDENTS WORTH KNOWING Theater groups aim to stage pandemic comebacks P18 AROUND TOWN Georgia spreads its wings pm COMMENTARY Basic needs of teachers and students must be met P16 The Buckhead Reporter is mail delivered to homes on selected carrier routes in ZIPs 30305,30327 and 30342 For information: delivery@reporternewspapers.net SI# uuxied VO ‘eojuoiAi aivd e6eisod sn SSMU03 aislysyd y3i/\ioisno ivisod connection PHIL MOSIER The Confluence Bridge is lowered into place over Peachtree Creek near 1-85 on Aug. 21. The bridge connects the PATH400 multiuse trail with South Fork Conservancy trails. See story and more photos, p. 11. ► Mystery group proposes cityhood, annexation; Mayor’s Office criticizes it BYJOHNRUCH johnruch@reiportemewspapers.net A mysterious group called the Buck- head Exploratory Committee is preparing to study possible cityhood for the neighbor hood or annexation into the cities of Sandy Springs or Brookhaven -- an idea the May or’s Office says “clearly loses sight of the need for inclusion and equity.” In an unsigned email, the committee de clined to identify its members or answer questions, including about its claim to have behind-the-scenes support from some local elected officials, which several of them have denied. However, the committee has post ed a privately organized webinar about the idea on YouTube, where a moderator named Jack Montgomery outlined the concept and answered some audience questions. In the video, Montgomery said the or- See MYSTERY on page 20 Gun court, permit checks are among crime-figming ideas BYJOHNRUCH johnruch@reporternewspapers.net A specialty “gun court,” a firearms buy back program and an investigation of per mits for late-night businesses are among the tactics authorities are considering as Buckhead deals with its share of a citywide spike in shootings and other crime, from street racing to water-selling. But a crime-fighting challenge, especial ly on the shootings, is figuring out whether a common factor is driving the spike as an ecdotes and rumors fly freely. Meanwhile, the police force is by all accounts stressed and dwindling both citywide and in Buck- head’s Zone 2 precinct. “Zone 2 --1 hate putting this out there,” said Atlanta City Councilmember How ard Shook, who represents much of north and central Buckhead, voicing frustration. “Zone 2 on a typical shift has all of 14 peo ple on patrol for a zone the size of Rhode Is land.” Hiring off-duty officers to patrol in po lice vehicles is an increasingly popular tac tic. City Councilmember J.P. Matzigkeit in August hired an officer to watch Peachtree Road for street races, expressing his frustra tion. The Buckhead Community Improve ment District has a specially branded patrol car driven around the central business area See GUN on page 21
