SNOWSTORM
Why did traffic snarl
go only one direction?
The picture on page B-8 in Sunday’s “Weathering the Storm” section (Metro, Feb. 2) speaks volumes about the root causes of evacuation problems in the metro region. It shows I-75 cluttered with cars northbound, but nary a car on the southbound lanes. The storm only serves as a dramatic example of the day-to-day “commuter toll” and moronic investment in more highway lanes that empty during the day.
Live-where-you-work issues are the dark side of a 60-year “Growth Manifesto” that remains a handout to real estate and bond finance interests. Hopefully, the referendum defeat of the contortionist T-SPLOST, which was partially aimed at getting exurban workers out of their driveways, is a signal that we can’t continue to feed the monster.
TOM DOOLITTLE, ATLANTA
Try issuing warnings
before calamities hit
The public has little ability to review our politicians’ (or government entities’) promises to fix or improve on calamities that have occurred in the past. But The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has continuously patted itself on the back for being our watchdog. I, for one, have been impressed with the many items you have uncovered the 3 1/2 years I’ve lived in Georgia.
But where was the AJC after the last snow debacle until this snow debacle? Why hadn’t the AJC pointed out the issues that it now has conveniently uncovered after the fact? I think going forward we need the paper to monitor the issues noted this past week and bring them to our attention before, not after, the fact.
DON ROACH, ACWORTH
Don’t be silly, no one
was really in danger
I have to say that when looking up the word “silly,” the entire staff at the AJC pops up as the No. 1 definition. Sunday’s paper was filled with stories of Atlantans who were “desperate for food, water and shelter” after spending just a few hours outdoors. Since when did going without food for a day cause anybody any harm? Looking around, I suspect that would do Atlanta a very big favor.
But “desperate”? Come on. There is not a single location anywhere in the entire Atlanta area where a convenience store, drug store, grocery store or home improvement store is not within a mile of any home or road. Kids in danger? No way. They were taken care of just fine with no apparent mass casualties.
The only ones who were in danger are the politicians, including our Atlanta mayor, who once again took to the street with his caravan of armor plated, bomb-resistant, radiation-proof SUVs, and drove illegally in the emergency lanes to attend a Weather Channel love fest. Much good that did. And of course our governor, who can make a decision to hug Scarlett but can’t take action when action is really needed. Add to that the head of Georgia FEMA, and we’ve got the three stooges of Georgia.
WILLIAM PARKER, MARIETTA
