Opinion Talk

By Arlene Yurchesyn

October 15, 2007 10:33 AM | Link to this

The growing drug problems and addictions in the Alpharetta and the surrounding suburbs of Atlanta. It is really bad.

By Arlene Yurchesyn

October 15, 2007 10:34 AM | Link to this

The growing drug problems and addictions in the Alpharetta and the surrounding suburbs of Atlanta. It is really bad.

By Atlanta Pearl Girl

October 15, 2007 10:35 AM | Link to this

I would like to see solutions to Homeless issues in Atlanta. I would like to see Corporations & private sector take this into their fold and come up with a creative solution. It doesn’t seem that Gov’t can tackle it effectively. Maybe if a corporation would take about 100 homeless women & kids, or men and concentrate on those…then on to the next 100, etc.

Same with crime. Let’s get this under control.

Atlanta Pearl Girl

By Sam

October 15, 2007 10:39 AM | Link to this

The AJC should investigate how MARTA’s Breeze gate system came into being. The system moves extremely slowly, it does not work as promised, and, if you are a daily user of MARTA, you will see at least one broken gate every single day. Moreover, the fare-jumping that the new Breeze gates were supposed to prevent continues, though I will admit that it may be somewhat lessened. (However, those aforementioned broken gates seem always to break in the “open” position.) The system is not at all self explanatory; station attendees continue to have to explain every step of the way to visitors AND residents. Frequently the payment machines decide not to accept credit cards, or debit cards, or cash, or whatever on a given day. Many times, when you get on a bus and tap your card, the system doesn’t even register your presence.

At any rate, the point is that there are older versions of gates in other cities that seem work much better and faster than our new ones. I want to know how, why, when, and by whom the Breeze technology was chosen. I suspect a boondoggle.

By Drew

October 15, 2007 10:43 AM | Link to this

A common theme lately: Watering problems in the Atlanta area. Confront businesses, homeowners, and apartment/condo complexes that water landscaping. I saw a apartment complex on Dunwoody Place in north Sandy Springs with a 30 foot geyser of water spraying directly into the street. No exaggeration. Sounds inefficient, huh? Why don’t they fix it or stop watering altogether?!

By Bust the corruption!

October 15, 2007 10:50 AM | Link to this

Police/government corruption and “revenue generating” in some smaller towns (e.g., Stone Mountain), where officers lie about supposed traffic infractions and basically steal people’s money through bogus tickets, while doing nothing about actual crimes that occur (because solving crimes carries no financial boon). The courtroom process is a complete sham and just another arm of the theft ring.

By Carnivore 69

October 15, 2007 10:59 AM | Link to this

Don’t investigate anything. Let the authorities investigate things. The media’s job is to report and to entertain, not to investigate. The AJC is not a watchdog for the public. When the media investigates things, the inevitable bias comes to the forefront and the pot gets stirred for no reason.

By Blog This

October 15, 2007 11:12 AM | Link to this

How about the incestuous business practices of the Cobb Galleria and its current and past board members and Cobb County commissioners.

Or

The downfall of the AJC. The AJC should hire back many of it’s recently fired reporters and actually report local news instead of just reprinting wire stories.

By ageofpaper

October 15, 2007 11:37 AM | Link to this

Before its to late look into why our state is jumping into the selling of highways and toll roads, and why in the heck are they not building commuter trains to the burbs. What are the politicals getting exactly to just make the traffic worse. Do they own the land where the future highways will be built? How much are they getting in contributions from the highway builders, etc Carnivore 69 must be high, letting them investigate themselves, ha ha, he so funny is carnivor really sonny?

By outraged

October 15, 2007 11:48 AM | Link to this

Investigate the Atlanta Police Department and how its lack resources and qualified, competent officers has led to an increase in crime. I personally have experienced theft where I knew who did, had proof of who did it and presented that to the police only to be ignored. The same person has committed numerous identity thefts with the same situation- clear-cut evidence, and he is still roaming free with no chrages brought against him.

Criminals know the APD does nothing to investigate these cases, and it only leads to creating more brazen criminals who continually escalate their crimes. Find out why the APD has allowed this situation to happen and how many people have been ignored when victims of theft, auto theft, home invasions and identity theft, where their cases have been ignored.

By slim

October 15, 2007 11:51 AM | Link to this

How about terrorism support and funding connections regarding metro Atlanta mosques?

By stan

October 15, 2007 12:01 PM | Link to this

To carnivore 69: Don’t investigate anything? Let the authorities investigate things? Yeah, let’s allow the politicians and corporations police themselves. My laugh for the day! Is 69 your IQ?

By alohavampire

October 15, 2007 12:13 PM | Link to this

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE …. The water situation in this area is the story!!!

I would like to know EXACTLY how and what Gov. Perdue, The Army Corps of Engineers and the Feds are planning to do.

As far as I’m concerned I could care less about Mike Vick, Paris Hilton, Britney Spears or OJ Simpson.

WE ARE ALMOST OUT OF WATER YA’ALL … WE BETTER COME UP WITH AN ANSWER A.S.A.P.!!!!!!!!!

By hereinhenry

October 15, 2007 12:14 PM | Link to this

A teenage boy was killed last week in a collision with a police officer in Locust Grove. Rumors are FLYING about a cover-up, and there are a lot of things about the accident that look suspiscious.

By ageofpaper

October 15, 2007 12:22 PM | Link to this

up north they built a toll road and it twisted and turned like a snake, come to find out all the politicians and buddies bought all the land before ‘they’ decided where to put it. Then sold the land to the state for the road. Is this not sonnys
Specialty? They had a guy named Mike Royko reported the sleezy deals and he was great at it, they need one like him down here

By LBP

October 15, 2007 12:28 PM | Link to this

Please investigate (and promote) Intown housing, restaurants, retail, new Boys & Girls Club being developed in Historic College Park, zip 30337, next to the Airport, that is slow to succeed. Taxpayer dollars, joint venture went into “Princeton Village” by College Park MARTA train and Woodward Academy private school. Intown development is one way to decrease gas consumption, traffic jams, air pollution, decrease sprawl, provide affordable housing and nearby jobs, promote historical preservation. Please Help!

By DCG

October 15, 2007 12:43 PM | Link to this

How about actually looking at what happens to the waste water? Since much of our water use is in households, it should be being reclaimed by waste water treatment facilities and put back into circulation. Where is that water going?

By sclinton

October 15, 2007 12:43 PM | Link to this

I would like the AJC to investigate the murders of my Cousins. Toyal Jackson who was a college student at West Georgia who was aducted from the Carrollton GA years ago and Micky Billingslea who was murder off Glenn Wood this summer in Dekalb walking home from work minding his own business. Both murders have been unsolved. What are the Police and detectives doing? NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By TC

October 15, 2007 1:03 PM | Link to this

North Georgia’s water crisis situation and who is taking action to address it and who is ignoring it. Do some historical research and look back 15 to 20 years to the study that was done that said Metro Atlanta could run out of potable water by 2010, under NORMAL annual precipitation! Everyone was aware that droughts would happen but failed to act so they could push their pet projects instead. This drought will pass as well and this should be considered a shot across the bow to take action. Do a story on what it would have cost then to build the additional reservoir capacity and what we are facing now to accomplish the same. I’ve seen stories occasionally on providing future water resources for Atlanta but the geral popoulation wasn’t concerned then. Now that people are concerned, write a story on it and do a pro/con, cost/benefit analysis of what our options are. 1. Build another Lanier type reservior (didn’t AJC recently do a story on how Lanier is expiring quicker than it’s projected useful life? What’s the solution to that?), 2. Desalination plants in coastal Georgia, 3. Options of Savannah or Tennessee river usage agreeements, 4. Other options.

Another segment should focus on what would be the consequences of shutting down or limiting building permits? Interview experts as to what the job losses would be, what would be the effect of corporations moving or focusing their growth in other regions? Effect on the State tax rolls? Future property values?

People are paying attention now, ready to pressure their representatives. They just need to be well informed as to what the options are now that we are facing tough issues.

Follow up stories could be done on what the State legislature is doing to solve the crisis and who is pushing off the problem further to be the future resident’s problems.

By Disgruntled

October 15, 2007 1:18 PM | Link to this

How about investigating the H-1B Visa program that has put so many American workers on unemployment. Look into how American Law Firms are holding seminars teaching companies “How not to hire American workers” that was exposed by news correspondent Lou Dobbs of 20/20. Just take a look at this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fx—jNQYNgA

Then read up on the H-1B Visa Program: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H1B_visa

By Capt

October 15, 2007 1:32 PM | Link to this

Investigate how the Dacula City Council runs the small town as their little kingdom.

By Disgruntled

October 15, 2007 1:37 PM | Link to this

Sorry, the ajc reformatted the link to youtube for the video. There should be and two dashes after the Fx in the link, somehow it put them all together. You can just go to http://www.youtube.com

Once you’re on youtube type “Lou Dobbs H-1B visa Law Firms” in the search box.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fx—jNQYNgA

By Dave the First

October 15, 2007 1:47 PM | Link to this

Investigate how companies get around labor rules by hiring mostly contract employees.

Then investigate how many middle class contractors like myself cannot get health insurance. Even if I am willing to pay out of pocket I get denied because of high blood pressure. No one will cover me… and I am only 35 with no serious medical history.

By sprinkles

October 15, 2007 1:56 PM | Link to this

Please investigate why so many of our traffic signs are blocked by trees, shrubs and flowers. It is dangerous enough driving w/ so many people talking on cell phones, putting on make-up etc. Let’s find a way to keep our signs visible to everyone and keep our people safe!

By jml

October 15, 2007 2:21 PM | Link to this

Take a look a small town county commissioners (newton) that allow certain individuals to walk into a bid project with 3 envelopes and all have different bids. It’s big time in this county!

By BPJ

October 15, 2007 2:27 PM | Link to this

2 items:

By Jamie

October 15, 2007 2:30 PM | Link to this

The Army Corp of Engineers!

I heard a story on WSB Channel 2 last night about a lake in Carroll County that was drained (in two - three days) by the army corp of engineers.

The people that lived on the lake said no water was left at all and many dead & dying fish were left behind or washed down stream.

It is called Stiles lake and they would follow up on any new information.

The people in the story indicated that they would be contacting the EPA & State Game & Wildlife folks. They said that the lake water had been used before when water was needed but never drained dry in such a way that the surrounding environment was compromised.

By Duke

October 15, 2007 2:32 PM | Link to this

Investigate the global warming hoax. Find out why a newspaper like the Atlanta Constitution cannot uncover such an outrageous fraud. It is not possible that the reporters and editors could be that dumb. It has to be conscious, deliberate complicity in fraud.

By Taxpayer Parent

October 15, 2007 2:37 PM | Link to this

I hesitate to add my own suggestion since it is certainly not earth-shaking. However, I’d like to see the AJC investigate sports booster clubs. What goes on with these groups that are separate entities from the schools whose clubs they support? The recent “Cheergate” scandal at Lakeside High School in DeKalb is a good example of a questionable booster club. DeKalb Commissioner Elaine Boyer founded a booster club to support her daughters’ cheerleading squads and then solicited a $20,000 donation from the Sembler Corporation, which wants to build a development in the area. Boyer will, of course, be expected to vote on zoning measures and other business related to Sembler. What do cheerleaders need with $20,000? What has happened to this money? What was it spent on, or has it been spent? When money is solicited and collected in the name of children at a particular school, then all actions pertaining to that club and its solicitations should be open to the parents and the public. Look into this, AJC!

By M. Vick

October 15, 2007 2:38 PM | Link to this

The AJC should investigate the waste of taxpayer money and the secret deaths of animals at Yerkes Primate Center at Emory. The Center gets fined for abuses, and researchers die but the Center keeps getting funded and raved about. Why is the work at Yerkes more secret than the CDC? Why are Yerkes’ records not open to the public even though all their finding comes from the taxpayers? Why are the researchers against maintaining a database of research so they don’t duplicate painful and lethal research that’s already been done. Emory is such a good school. Why do they allow the terrors of Yerkes to continue?

By shane

October 15, 2007 2:54 PM | Link to this

Police corruption and incompetence in Atlanta and surrounding areas.

Or, maybe how Sonny Perdue and Shirley Franklin are making this whole state look like it’s run by fools; rampant police incompetence and corruption without anyone being held accountable, severe drought, broken infrastructure (sewer, roads with potholes that you literally will destroy a tire and rim in, etc), worsening sorely under-funded transit system, worsening traffic (in the top ten), corrupt road-builders buying out politicians to build MORE roads, worsening air pollution (we’re in the top ten and we have one of the highest rates of asthma in the country), worsening crime (we’re in the top ten again for violent crimes as well as theft etc.).

This city (more than the state really) is so f*******.

By James

October 15, 2007 3:23 PM | Link to this

I would second the suggestion from Sam that the AJC look into the acquisition and implementation of MATA’s Breeze system.

I compliment MARTA for the publicity, for the planning of the staged implementation, and for the increased presence of personnel in stations during critical moments in the transition to the Breeze system. I fault MARTA in two areas:

1) MARTA’s educational efforts on the Breeze card do not match the complexity of the card. The Breeze card is very sophisticated with its ability to store multiple kinds of value and rules for the order of their use and their expiration. Given that, after months of publicity, some patrons missed the opportunity to get a free Breeze card and now don’t know how much one costs, I don’t think MARTA has even begun to find a way to educate patrons on the full use of the Breeze card. I, myself, have only heard rumors, including the rumor, while standing in a line at the 5 Points Ride Store, that some folks have put a two-week pass on their card, then before the two weeks was up but at a time when they had the money to do so, put another two weeks on their card only to lose a week because the clock starting ticking on the second two-week pass at the time it was added. If this is true, it’s grossly unfair to the people who, in Atlanta, use and depend on MARTA most: those of limited economic means and education. I also heard rumors while waiting in line (another good reason to keep those lines short and moving) of cards malfunctioning, of value disappearing from cards. These may be rumors without basis, but they’re still capable of damaging the image of the new Breeze system. The AJC could team up with MARTA and present, as a public service, a complete guide to the Breeze card, including all the complex rules, or the AJC could find that, in fact, no one really knows how the things work or what the rules are.

2) I’m frankly disappointed with the new equipment associated with Breeze. The new fare gates are slow and have already begun to break down barely a year after their installation. These issues combined with the need to retro-fit the brand-new gates, at considerable additional cost, with fare-jumping prevention hardware suggests that these gates were not a good choice. The other day, I watched a MARTA policeman demonstrate to a gate attendant how to trick the luggage gate into opening without the use of any fare card at all; I’ve seen regular riders use the same technique on the luggage gate at 5 Points station while station attendants and MARTA policemen all stood around talking to one another. And the gates are so slow that I’ve seen, on more than one occasion, two patrons pass through on a single tap of a Breeze card. What was wrong with the kind of gates they have in Washington, DC, which has the same rolling stock that we do? Those gates are fast, and I’ve never seen one out of order. They’re also less unsightly than our new ones are. Our new ones are ugly and destined to get junkier looking as they age, increasingly cloudy plexi-glass covered with an increasing number random stickers, official and unofficial, and graffiti. And those cantankerous ticket machines … what about those? We’ve had ATM technology for three decades now. Wachovia or Bank of America would never stand for technology performance such as what I’ve experienced with the automatic ticket machines at the East Point MARTA station.

Breeze has made it hard to argue that MARTA was “smarta.” It may be of no use to “cry over spilt milk,” but Lord, I wish we had done better. Someone needs to look into the process by which this inferior equipment was acquired, at the need for maintenance, and to whether MARTA is doing a good job of holding the feet of equipment suppliers to the fire on any warranty and performance issues.

By muffin

October 15, 2007 3:33 PM | Link to this

the reckless spending of our local governments whether it be at county level or in the school systems. i have several friends that work in these sectors and the stories i hear about money being wasted is disgusting. i’m sick and tired of my taxes paying for government employees to stay in fancy hotels at conferences while kids have crappy materials in class. it’s totally out of control.

By Fourth Floor Recluse

October 15, 2007 3:39 PM | Link to this

Investigate the Feds at 61 Forsyth Street: Put a covert film crew out front from say 11 am to 3pm to film the federal workers returning from downtown shopping trips with bags of goodies, drunk feds staggering back to work after noon time drinking binges, and sneaking into work late, and sneaking out of work early. Do the same at CDC.

By Master of Flatulence

October 15, 2007 4:02 PM | Link to this

Do one of those Census-based profiles on who the typical Atlantan is, for the entertainment of those of us who are lifers. My bet is it’s going to be a 36-year-old woman who moved here two years ago from the Northeast, Midwest or Northwest and who thinks everyone who was here before she arrived is stupid.

By Dominican Republic

October 15, 2007 4:05 PM | Link to this

Document the corruption of Sonny Puredoo and get his lyin’ rear end thrown in the slammer where he belongs.

By atl

October 15, 2007 4:58 PM | Link to this

Investiage the army corp of engineerers for the obvious reasons already stated.

OR

Investigate how and why police officers are allowed to write tickets like “visually estimated speeding”

By no longer a subscriber for good reason

October 15, 2007 9:06 PM | Link to this

How about investigating what happened to good, old-fashioned journalism, where you didn’t have to stoop so low as to ask your readers what you should investigate, but hit the streets and cover your beats, like they used to do back in the good old days, before the AJC went to hell in a hand basket.

Of course, that would require some of your lazy reporters to work, so I can see how you’d rather have the readers tell you what rock to look under for your next story.

What an embarrassment.

By Aquagirl

October 16, 2007 7:58 AM | Link to this

The connection between local government and developers. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out our worst problems (traffic, and now water) are related to growth. Whatever developers want, they get. Rezoning and tax breaks are freely available. The AJC has been here through it all. Where was the reporting? That combines the two institutions that are supposed to be the focus of your coverage.

Y’all are too busy with multiple sports blogs. the local metro pages have a couple of stories, then more blather about HS sports, especially football. It takes two seconds to find out what Lakeside’s jocks are doing, but just try finding out what happened at the last County Commission meeting…Speaking of which, why is Taxpayer Parent the only one talking about why a Commissioner is getting $20,000 from Sembler? If you’re so thrilled to cover every move of HS sports, why aren’t you covering such topics as this?

And please, if you’re so determined to investigate, please knock off the yellow journalism. There are too many “investigative” pieces that are obviously slanted and the product of one-sided lazy reporting. Someone fighting with a HOA about the color of their house isn’t a news item. Not when the 3rd 200-unit apartment complex is being built on the same two-lane road.

By Charles

October 23, 2007 7:34 AM | Link to this

The Hillary-Chinatown Fundraising Scandal

(but, it won’t even be mentioned since it doesn’t fit the agenda of the Left Wing politics of the AJC)

By william in alabama

October 24, 2007 2:52 AM | Link to this

It is a known fact that people should be saving for their future, but somehow life seems to be always getting in the way. There are today many millions of Americans being exploited both financially and by the system of courts intended to bring justice by following such rules and regulations as prescribed by law. The question of deregulating or regulating is the serious matter facing the people of the United States.
There have been many complaints about insurance companies not living up to their contract with policies holder, particularly in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The insurance companies because of wind and flood damage claims are denying many of these complaints are being denied by the insurance companies because of wind damages claims, or claims that damage were caused by floodwaters. This lets the insurance companies off the hook completely. These insurance companies want to maximize returns to shareholders, and the common folks are left out in the cold. These insurance companies are simply robbing people and the authorities who are suppose to regulate them just aren’t doing their job that they were placed there to do.
Why aren’t the insurance companies regulated? Insurance Commissioners are appointed and generally come from the insurance industry. This is like the fox in charge of over-seeing the hen house. What other industry generates so much profit, rapes the public, legislates a monopoly and is purported “regulated at the state level”. Has anyone ever wondered who lobbied for mandatory auto insurance? And why do consumers have to pay for their investment losses? Today the insurance industry is nothing short of a legalized con game. Some of these politicians of this current U.S. Congress, mostly Republicans say that insurance regulation is not the answer, that insurance companies are in business to make money, and are not like government entities that can spend more money than is coming in. To these folks I say shame on you for putting profit ahead of life. That is exactly what is wrong with insurance companies, they had rather someone die rather than pay a claim that they are required to pay. These corrupt insurance companies will lie, cheat, and deny the claim even at the cost of someone’s life if they think the claim will eat into their profit margin, this is so outrageous and down right un-American. Each state government in the United States has an Insurance Department that independently regulates insurance companies. Most Americans have to resort to the filing of a law suit before the insurance company will even consider paying a legitimate claim, and just one person in these Republican controlled courts up against a battery of lawyers, experts witnesses and other liars for hire bought by these corrupt insurance companies the poor consumer does not stand a snowball chance in hell of getting the due redress required by the claim. Each State Department of Insurance whose responsibility is to regulate insurance companies practices within their State, to make sure insurers are financially solvent and stay within the State’s laws and are supposed to protect citizens from bad faith insurers and when insurers break the law they are getting away with it. How are these bad insurance companies getting away with this? Bad faith insurers who claim to the State Insurance Department that they were investigating the facts in the matter when in many of the cases they are not doing it routinely Generally, there is no time limitation attached to the insurers alleged investigation, especially when it comes to matter of fact or factual matters. These bad-faith insurers use tactics of stalling, distorting the truth, use of deception and diversion tactics, and the one that is their main tactic is deny, deny, and deny. In legal terms these actions are collectively referred to as “ Unfair and Deceptive Claim Settlement Practices”. Some of the things these bad-faith insurers will not tell a potential insurance customers that they are “paying too much”, “ forget your driving record”, “ we are going to destroy your credit rating”, we’re pocketing your deductible”, “we can dump you on a whim”, “we’ll stiff you if your car is totaled and even if it isn’t”, “you need a lawyer”, “our body shop works for us not you”, “ we make money by sitting on your claims”, and lastly “we own your State Insurance Commission”. Its just more of the same corporate crime and corruption that’s anti-consumer and anti-American. These corrupt insurance companies and the individuals who operate and control them, right along with these corrupt State Insurance Commissioners seem to have no conscience and make excuses and always blame the messengers, and refuse to enforce the breaches of contract. The State Insurance Commissioner once they get into office they are immediately bought off and controlled by the huge amount of money available to the insurance companies. There must be justice served upon these corrupt and criminally wrongful corruptions by these Insurance Companies, and the State Commissioners who stand by and do nothing as many Americans are losing their lives and property while these thugs are living the good life. This government is failing miserable in the regulating the insurance industry as well as most all the other industries though out the country. A lot of the problems in all the industries of the U.S. is that of deregulation back in the era of Ronald Reagan the Republican Party made as its agenda to deregulate the industries of this country, and since that time things have spiraled out of control. The elite rich and powerful individuals, corporations, and others have formed an oligarchy form of government that is headed up by the Republican Party and the current Bush administration. Americans must become aware of this fact and make the necessary changes to rid our government of this fascist despotism. William in Alabama

By Nancy mauro

October 24, 2007 6:52 AM | Link to this

How much money would the state of GA save for “Peachtree’ for children if all illegals were not included? How much water would Atlanta save if we exported the illegals.