04-14-17 Sandy Spring Reporter

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APRIL 14 - 27, 2017 • VOL. 11 — NO. 8

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► MARTA’s CEO speaks on response to I-85 disaster PAGE 5 ► ‘The good, the bad and the ugly’ of 2017 legislative session PAGE 14

Picking up at Powers Island

SPECIAL SECTION | P22-26

6th District hopefuls square off in debate BY DYANA BAGBY dyanabagby@reporternewspapers.net

Volunteer Sharon Lemire cleans up a bank of the Chattachoochee River along Powers Island during the “Sweep the Hooch” event April 8. Organized by Chattachoochee Riverkeeper, the cleanup drew hundreds of volunteers to pick up trash on 70 miles of the river, from Gainesville to Newnan. At Powers Ferry, more than 40 volunteers filled several trash bags, though they couldn’t wade into the water as planned due to high bacteria levels.

EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATOR Passing on her culinary passion Page 27

PHIL MOSIER

OUT & ABOUT Get grounded with I believe [President Earth Day events

Trump] is strong enough to force Congress to break through this nonsense and get something done. DAVID PERDUE U. S. Senator

See PERDUE, page 21.

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As the days tick down to the April 18 special election to fill the open 6th Congressional District seat, each of the 18 candidates in the large field are trying furiously to separate themselves from the pack. The latest public opportunity was at the April 9 candidate forum hosted by the Dunwoody Homeowners Association and Dunwoody Crier at Dunwoody High School. Voters are already early voting in the election to fill the seat that had been held by Republican Tom Price, who resigned this year to become U.S. secretary of Health and Human Services. The entire field of candidates attended the forum — 11 Republicans, five Democrats and two Independents — filling the stage in the high school auditorium. But only three questions could be asked during the two-hour forum. That wasn’t enough to help at least two undecided voters. “There are way too many candidates… especially for the short amount of time [of the forum],” said Christopher WhitSee 6TH on page 20

As rents rise, a working-class ‘exodus’ begins BY JOHN RUCH johnruch@reporternewspapers.net

Ayanna Souffrant moved to Sandy Springs 10 years ago for reasons many people do: to live in a safe community with good jobs and schools. Employed at the Perimeter Mall Chick-fil-A to support her two children, she’s one of the service workers who keep Perimeter Center in business. She’s also one of the many lower-income residents being priced out by skyrocketing rents and a lack of affordable housing programs. “I’m on my way out of Sandy Springs,” See AS on page 19


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