Public funding for arena renovation is appalling
I was very disappointed to learn that Mayor Reed supports the idea of committing up to $150 million in public funding to renovate Philips Arena in an effort to keep the Hawks downtown (“Public tab to renovate Philips could be $150M,” News, Feb. 2). With all of the pressing needs in Atlanta, the idea of spending millions so billionaires have an even nicer place for their millionaires to play ball is appalling. This is another example of misplaced priorities and a government being out of touch with its citizens. If the Hawks want to leave, let them go; the vast majority of residents won’t notice and Atlanta will still be a great city. I’m glad Mayor Reed says he plans to conduct a poll on the renovation. When he does so, taxpayers need to let their voices be heard.
DONNIE COKER, ATLANTA
Title IX has university women’s backs
State Rep. Earl Ehrhart, R-Powder Springs, is concerned about “due process” for students accused of sexual assault. As a lawyer, I am pretty certain Georgia Tech gives students all the process the Constitution requires. Ehrhart’s solution to his imagined due process problem: mandate police reporting of all campus sexual assaults, regardless of what the victim wants, and strip universities of authority to regulate the conduct of their students. (Title IX requires universities to investigate all complaints of sexual violence even if police are also investigating). Ehrhart argues we have mandated reporting for child abuse, and therefore, we should have mandated reporting for campus sexual assault. Ehrhart is saying that women are essentially children and cannot be trusted to decide whether to call the police. Thankfully, Ehrhart will not win his war on university women. Why not? Because Tech women are much stronger and smarter than he, and Title IX has their backs.
CAROL NAPIER, ATLANTA
