It’s been a busy year in Atlanta, and an even busier year for SaportaReport. Here are the issues our readers cared about most, and the stories that kept them coming back to Atlanta’s trusted source for civic journalism.
Over 577,000 users spent time on the SaportaReport site with longtime favorites like Stories of Atlanta, Kelly Jordan’s photos and Tom Baxter’s political commentary. But our readers also saw some new additions, like Atlanta Way 2.0 intern-turned-contributor Gabi Hart and the launch of our new music column, Common Chords.
But our readers stayed true to their top Atlanta issues: transit, urban development, city government and metro area politics.
Here’s a breakdown of SaportaReport’s top stories of 2025 by the issues:
TRANSIT
Atlanta had some major transit strides and stumbles this year. MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood’s sudden departure in July ushered in a new era for the transit agency under interim CEO Jonathan Hunt.
This year, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens also committed to Beltline rail – but not through an eastside streetcar extension. Instead, Dickens wants rail on the southside trail.
These are some of the top transit stories of 2025:
1. MARTA may be moving its headquarters from Lindbergh area
2. CEO Collie Greenwood leaves MARTA
3. Transit in Atlanta is at a crossroads
URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Despite a growing population and never-ending development, a bombshell revelation hit the city earlier this year: Metro Atlanta is dead last when it comes to economic mobility.
As the Beltline expands, Downtown is renovated and Mayor Andre Dickens keeps up his fight to make Atlanta the “best place to raise a child,” local leaders are working to reverse Atlanta’s poor economic mobility.
1. The end of the old Atlanta growth model
2. The Beltline is Atlanta’s Wild West. Who is going to tame it?
3. Metro Atlanta is dead last when it comes to economic mobility
CITY GOVERNMENT
Atlanta was all about elections in 2025. In between governing the city, facing off against federal government pressure and overseeing preparation for the FIFA World Cup in 2026, the city’s elected officials had to duke it out for their seats.
Mayor Andre Dickens easily secured a second term, while other races like City Council District 7 and District 11 went into runoff elections. SaportaReport’s most covered race, the Atlanta City Council President, went to longtime councilmember Marci Collier Overstreet.
1. Andre Dickens to ACP: City tax increase likely within the next few years
2. CCI’s Rohit Malhotra announces run for Atlanta City Council president
3. Insider or outsider? Atlanta City Council president voters have clear choice
METRO AREA POLITICS
The rest of Metro Atlanta and Georgia saw a competitive election season, too. Sandy Springs’ competitive mayoral race drew eyes and went into runoff, with incumbent Mayor Rusty Paul keeping his seat for a final term.
Georgia’s Public Service Commission was the only statewide race in 2025, and both Republican incumbents were unseated by Democrat challengers, marking the first statewide Democratic Party win since 2006.
1. Sandy Springs mayoral race draws multiple challengers
2. Mayoral races in north and south Fulton cities headed to a runoff
3. Two democrats unseat incumbent republicans in Georgia’s PSC race by large margin
BUSINESS & NONPROFIT
As always, SaportaReport kept watch of Atlanta’s booming business landscape with a particular eye on leadership shuffles at the region’s major nonprofits and family foundations.
1. New CEO of Blank Family Office has been named
2. Noah Glassman seeks to preserve and protect Amata – a beloved community
3. Another seamless transition underway at the Woodruff Foundation
SaportaReport has a dedicated team of writers and contributors who cover everything from entertainment to detailed development. Here are the year’s top stories, by contributor.
MARIA SAPORTA
1. MARTA may be moving its headquarters from Lindbergh area
2. New CEO of Blank Family Office has been named
3. Metro Atlanta is dead last when it comes to economic mobility
TOM BAXTER
1. For states, happy days may be over
2. The Hyundai raid: If only we knew how to do, you know, complex things
3. Kemp’s big win, Ossoff’s race and Mississippi’s typos
ADRIANNE MURCHISON
1. Sandy Springs mayoral race draws multiple challengers
2. Mayoral races in north and south Fulton cities headed to a runoff
3. Micro-home developer pushes back on unhappy residents
DELANEY TARR
1. The Beltline is Atlanta’s Wild West. Who is going to tame it?
2. Prince Hall Masonic Lodge to kick off $10 million renovation
3. Dickens teases summer start for Beltline rail planning stage
MARK LANNAMAN
1. FreeRent Atlanta Grant Prog. returns for third year, lending a helping hand to residents in troubling times
2. ‘City in a Forest’ lives up to its nickname as Atlanta experiences record pollen – but pollen may be the least of our concerns
3. Two democrats unseat incumbent republicans in Georgia’s PSC race by large margins
MEGAN ANDERSON
1. April in Atl. means festivals galore: Dogwood Fest, 420 Fest & Inman Park Fest all return
2. Applications open for the Fox Theatre’s All-Access Pass Program, providing students a behind-the-curtain look at entertainment jobs
3. Fox Theatre celebrates legacy and community with must-see events all Summer long
GRACE DONNELLY
1. CEO Collie Greenwood leaves MARTA
2. ARC awards 2025 Livable Centers Initiative grants, announces Community Development Assistance Program recipients
3. MARTA hears questions and concerns around bus network redesign
GABI HART
1. Behind the numbers: Atlanta leaders sound the alarm on hidden homelessness
2. Atlanta residents gather for mayor’s office townhall on future downtown development
3. After Home Park STR ban, Dozier pushes for enforcement first
THOUGHT LEADERS
1. Alumnus Leaves Entire $100M Estate to Georgia Tech
2. With the Legislative Session Complete, Struggling Georgia Parents Will Receive Some – If Not Enough – Support
3. SNAP Funding Cuts will Harm Georgia’s Youngest Children
GUEST COLUMNS
1. The end of the old Atlanta growth model
2. Buckhead’s next big idea: Transform Lindbergh into a destination
3. The untold saga of Ichawaynochaway Creek
STORIES OF ATLANTA
1. Atlanta Loses Its First Mayor
2. A Few Things Remain
3. How Atlanta Rewrote the Old Money Playbook
SEEN IN ATLANTA – KELLY JORDAN
Signs of the Times – various dates
Views on Bank of America Plaza – various dates
Pros at Con – Dragon Con – various times
COMMON CHORDS
1. Neil Young turns a bank-branded pavilion into church, skips the sermon (& the new album)
2. Ordinary Legends: The Replacements’ Let It Be
3. Neil Young’s ‘On the Beach’ still haunts the American Dream half a century later
ATLANTA WAY 2.0
