ECONOMY
Jobless data should be viewed regionally
“City’s job woes deeper than region’s” (ajc.com, April 11) is divisive and attempts to undermine the city of Atlanta.
The city is the primary economic driver not only for the metropolitan region, but the state of Georgia. Unemployment rates are based on where people live, not where they work. Atlanta’s population increases by 62 percent during the day because thousands of our suburban neighbors commute to jobs within the city limits.
The city and the region, both of which suffered staggering job losses, are rebounding. Major new intown developments such as Ponce City Market are underway. The city’s economic development authority, Invest Atlanta, has successfully worked to create thousands of jobs with a range of skill and pay levels.
The reality is that urban, suburban and exurban areas are economically integrated and rise and fall together. Strong cities are the building blocks of strong regions which, in turn, are essential for a globally competitive America. The city has collaborated with our regional and state partners to attract businesses and create jobs, from recruiting companies, growing our entrepreneurial and start-up ecosystem, and working to deepen the Port of Savannah.
KASIM REED, MAYOR, CITY OF ATLANTA
TERRORISM
Obvious reasons why others hate America
We do not need an international conference to understand why many nations and organizations such as al-Qaida hate us (“We have to learn why so many hate us,” Readers Write, Opinion, April 22).
The reasons are clear: They hate us because we have individual and religious freedom, a representative government, a capitalist economy, relative prosperity, a system of secular law, tolerance and equal constitutional rights for women. In short, we are Americans. That’s why.
EDWARD A. WATKINS, LILBURN
ENVIRONMENT
Smart development is compatible with nature
One of the most important things we in metro Atlanta can do for the environment, and for our own peace of mind, is to change the whole way we look at things. Most of us assume that if we are around trees and leaves, we are living environmentally friendly. The truth is, if we are living around a lot of greenery, we had to be a part of cutting down and digging up that greenery in order to make our place there.
There is a development movement afoot known as New Urbanism. It is a style of development where we work near where we live and shop, so that our use of the automobile is drastically reduced. It is also developing in a way that communities are walkable — with storefront windows along tree-lined sidewalks. Living in such a way allows more for community development, and saves more room for Mother Nature.
WILL LANCE, ATLANTA
