Expansion is expected to offer more convenience options to travelers, boost job creation, and increase CLEAR’s annual economic impact in the Atlanta metro area

ATLANTA, Dec. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CLEAR (NYSE: YOU), the secure identity company, today announced the expansion of its identity verification technology to the international terminal at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).

With this expansion, CLEAR’s expedited security lanes are now available at the international terminal. The expansion is expected to create 30 new jobs, bringing CLEAR’s local employment total to more than 135 jobs at ATL, and increase the company’s projected annual economic impact in the Atlanta metro area to over $14 million. CLEAR lanes will continue to operate in the domestic terminal.

“We’re excited to expand CLEAR’s presence at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, bringing a streamlined travel experience to Atlanta’s travelers,” said CLEAR CEO Caryn Seidman Becker. “With our new lanes in the international terminal, our Ambassadors are ready to offer a faster, more predictable, and secure journey for Atlanta passengers as travel continues to grow.”

CLEAR first launched at ATL’s domestic terminal in February 2017, becoming the 20th airport location to have the identity verification service. Today, CLEAR’s expedited identity verification lanes are available at 58 airports across the country.

Members use CLEAR’s network of dedicated lanes to seamlessly and securely verify their identity with their eyes or fingerprint, replacing the need to take out their wallet and driver’s license. After verification, a CLEAR Ambassador escorts Members through the dedicated lane and directly to TSA physical security, saving them time waiting in line at the security checkpoint.

CLEAR Plus – an opt-in membership that provides access to CLEAR’s expedited identity verification lanes – costs less than $17 a month billed annually, with preferred pricing available for Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines and American Express Members. Newly enrolling active military, veterans, and government officials are also eligible for discounted memberships, and additional family Members can be added to an existing CLEAR Plus account for $119 per adult per year.

About CLEAR (NYSE: YOU)
CLEAR’s mission is to create frictionless experiences. With over 27 million Members and a growing network of partners across the world, CLEAR’s identity platform is transforming the way people live, work, and travel. Whether you are traveling, at the stadium, or on your phone, CLEAR connects you to the things that make you, you – making everyday experiences easier, more secure, and friction-free. CLEAR is committed to privacy done right. Members are always in control of their own information, and we never sell Member data. For more information, visit clearme.com.

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ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – On Tuesday, the City of Atlanta opened its newest housing complex for those chronically homeless.

The 23-unit apartment building along Bonaventure Avenue NE in the Virginia-Highland neighborhood of Atlanta is geared toward those sleeping on the street or under bridges to find immediate shelter.

“This is quick-delivery rapid housing of quality, and we’re trying to (open for tenants) by Christmas because it’s so cold outside,” said Mayor Andre Dickens, after a ribbon-cutting ceremony with city housing leaders.

The complex is the latest in a push by the Dickens Administration to secure 500 units of housing by the end of 2025 for those experiencing homelessness.

Dickens also has a goal of building or preserving 20,000 units of affordable housing by 2030.

On Tuesday, he confirmed the city is over the halfway mark in this goal.

“I’m a goal-oriented person, and I use partnerships well. We’re going to get to our 20,000 units,” Dickens said on Tuesday.

He charged other regional leaders to help the city in this effort.

“We actually end up housing people that are not always from the city. So we want to make sure that regionally, across north Georgia, that you all do as we are doing,” said Dickens.

On Tuesday, DeKalb County announced a $13 million investment to reduce homelessness and prevent evictions.

“People are desperate, inflation is making it extremely difficulty for working people to keep food on the table or to pay their rent,” said DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond.

The $13 million will be divided between nine different nonprofit organizations serving DeKalb County.

The participating nonprofit agencies and their services are listed below:

Assistance for rent, utilities, housing instability, unsafe, unhealthy living conditions:

• New Life Community Ministries, $2.8 million
• Urban League of Greater Atlanta, $2.8 million
• Latin American Association, $2.3 million
• New American Pathways, $1 million
• Jewish Family Career Services of Atlanta, $1 million
• Africa’s Children Fund, $1 million
• Society of St. Vincent de Paul, $1 million

Housing stability services (legal services related to evictions):

• Atlanta Legal Aid Society, $600,000
• DeKalb Pro Bono, $200,000

To apply, residents can contact the DeKalb Integrated Community Care Initiative hotline at 404-371-NEED (6333) for program guidance.

“Thirteen million is a big number, but really, if you compare it to the challenge we face, it’s relatively small. But we’re just happy, actually blessed, to be able to stand in the gap not just on this very cold day, but on cold days that will be coming throughout this winter,” said Thurmond.

Atlanta housing leaders said they plan on opening three additional rapid housing complexes in the city by the end of 2024.

“When you see these ribbon cuttings of the 23, 35, 65 [units], they add up,” said Dickens.

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ATLANTA – Voters across Georgia will be back at their polling places on Tuesday to decide a number of runoff races.

Many candidates for county and city offices around the state failed to get enough votes required to win the Nov. 5 general election outright.

In total, nearly 20 races are on Tuesday’s ballot across the Peach State. 

One of the races is to fill the vacancy left open by former Atlanta City Councilwoman Keisha Waites, who stepped down earlier this year.

After November’s election, the field was narrowed to two candidates; Nicole Jones, a former administrator for Atlanta Public Schools who now owns a small business, and Eshe Collins, a civil rights attorney serving on the Atlanta Board of Education.

SEE MORE: Candidates for Atlanta city council meet face-to-face ahead of runoff

“I’m running to put neighborhoods first,” Jones said at a forum in Buckhead last month.

“For me, [it’s] continuing to fight for a city that’s for us, for all of us,” Collins said.

In the last election, Jones received about 40% of the vote. Collins received around 25%.

Both candidates said they would take a different approach to the role than Waites did.

“I will be way more present, I think, [than someone who] never stepped down,” Jones said. “And then I want to ensure that the council is an independent body.”

“One thing that I’ve heard from the community a lot is [the need for] someone that is actually present and engaged,” Collins said.

Registered voters, including those who did not vote for this seat in the general election, are eligible to vote in the race.

Polling hours for the runoff are from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday in the City of Atlanta and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the rest of the state. You can find your precinct on the Secretary of State’s My Voter Page.

To vote in-person, you will need to bring a valid ID such as a driver’s license or passport.