Restaurant Row guides foodies along Roswell Road ► PAGE 4
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MARTA begins plans to integrate service with express lanes
See LANES, Page 12
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Sandy Springs Police push sign ordinance to fight crypto scams
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — MARTA is in the midst of studying how to integrate its transit into the elevated express lanes planned for the northern arc of I-285. About a dozen Central Perimeter residents gathered at the Hampton Inn in Sandy Springs Dec. 5 to offer ideas on how transit can capitalize on GDOT’s investment by enhancing regional connectivity and providing access. MARTA is focusing on some way to implement bus rapid transit on the I-285 Express Lanes. MARTA General Manager and CEO Collie Greenwood said the study is a pivotal step to address the region’s growing need for expanded and reliable transportation services. “By tapping into the funded Express Lanes infrastructure investments already planned for I-285, we have an opportunity to provide efficient transit solutions that benefit residents and commuters alike,” she said. By 2050, MARTA officials say the study area population is expected to grow 42 percent, with a similar jump in job growth over the same period. Traffic congestion has long been and continues to plague Metro Atlanta.
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Police Chief Kenneth DeSimone holds up a “Fraud Alert” sign, which will be placed above cryptocurrency ATMs throughout Sandy Springs after the City Council approved an ordinance change Dec. 3. The initiative seeks to combat the trend of scammers targeting residents.
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Sandy Springs City Council approved a measure Dec. 3 requiring cryptocurrency ATMs around the city to display signage alerting patrons to possible fraud. Automated teller machines, or ATMs, distributing cryptocurrencies can be found anywhere in Metro Atlanta from gas stations to grocery stores. Cryptocurrency is a type of digital money secured via encryption technology, called a blockchain, which makes the transactions unalterable. In 2024, the most popular digital currencies were bitcoin, ethereum and tether. Bitcoin ATMs, or BTMs, connect to a digital wallet instead of a bank account where transactions are processed. Most blockchains have public ledgers, meaning all transactions are recorded and visible to others. The problem for law enforcement arises when attempting to identify the owner of a crypto wallet, which is nearly impossible for those engaging in fraud and covering their tracks. The trends in Sandy Springs are concerning. As of Dec. 2, the Police Department has received 603 reports of fraudulent incidents this year, and 267 of them have been related to BTMs. Nationwide, individuals aged 60 and older were three times more likely to report falling victim to fraud related to the use of BTMs over the first half of 2024, according to staff’s memo.
See FRAUD, Page 12
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