County jail system remains a focus for commissioners ► PAGE 4
M ay 2 9 , 2 0 2 5 | A p p e n M e d i a . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 4 , N o . 2 2
Sandy Springs repeals ordinance establishing personal buffer zone Officials cite conflict with First Amendment By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
A sweetgum tree, estimated at 100 years old, stands smothered in English ivy on Arlington Memorial Park property near Sandy Springs United Methodist Church.
Resident mounts effort to resuscitate sweetgum By HAYDEN SUMLIN | hayden@appenmedia.com SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Thanks to observant and active community members, a century-old Sweetgum tree covered in English ivy has a second chance at Arlington Memorial Park in Sandy Springs. While the tree isn’t out of the weeds yet, it has a fighting chance, thanks to a community-led effort. Karen Meinzen McEnerny, known during her years on the City Council championing tree advocacy, said she noticed a mature hardwood covered in ivy while driving along Mount Vernon Highway about a year ago.
See SWEETGUM, Page 12
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Sandy Springs City Council voted unanimously May 20 to repeal the state’s first and only 8-foot personal buffer ordinance, which critics claim placed limits on First Amendment freedoms. It is no longer disorderly conduct for a person to remain within 8 feet of someone who objects in Sandy Springs. It’s not clear what ultimately changed city leaders’ minds, but a staff memo referred to potential litigation. Cory Isaacson, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia, said her team worked with City Attorney Dan Lee and the Anti-Defamation League to recommend a repeal of the ordinance enacted during an April 1 public hearing. She said all parties listened to one another and cooperated. “I want to address briefly why this ordinance is dangerous in addition to it being unlawful,” Isaacson said. “Often times, restrictions on speech are done in the name of protecting vulnerable communities, and I believe that’s what the council’s intent was here … We’ve seen in our history and around the world that when government restricts
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
Sandy Springs City Attorney Dan Lee speaks on his recommendation to repeal an ordinance that created a disorderly conduct charge for anyone remaining within 8 feet of a person who objects. Lee told the City Council May 20 that the move would avoid possible litigation. speech, all of us become less free, and vulnerable communities are often the ones suffer the brunt.” The buffer ordinance was one of three the council passed at its April 1 meeting, but one stood out to ALCU. The city’s last-minute changes to the ADL’s model language for the ordinance removed a clause tying the buffer to a geographic point, specifically within 50 feet of a house of worship, educational institution or public rights of way. The ACLU notified city offi-
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cials in a letter hours before the April 1 meeting, citing its First Amendment concerns. City Councilwoman Melody Kelley said she had expressed concern about the broad nature of the model ordinance before the April 1 vote. In response, Lee changed the wording to extend the restriction everywhere in the city. Kelley and City Councilwoman Jody Reichel cast the only votes against the buffer ordinance.
See ORDINANCE, Page 12