READERS WRITE, JAN. 4

Pass carbon fee, dividend

I just got back from Las Cruces, New Mexico, having Christmas with my grandchildren where a rare snow fell on the desert town the day after Christmas. Meanwhile, the “Goliath” snowstorm front caused horrific tornadoes in Texas, Alabama, Georgia and North Carolina; in York, England, raging floods ruin Christmas; and Atlanta experiences record temperatures and rainfall. Unusual occurrences but predicted by El Nino. As a citizen concerned about the long-term effects of adding extra layers of blankets to our atmosphere, I can’t help but think El Nino’s strength this year is derived from the oceans’ rising temperatures caused by billions of people relying on dirty fuels. It’s time to get tough on ourselves. Stop the addiction. Pass a carbon fee and dividend, which will transition our economy into a new era of clean power, new jobs and create a cleaner more-balanced world for our grandchildren.

BOB JAMES, ATLANTA

Park not suitable for enhancement

Atlanta Memorial Park flooded once again on Dec. 24, covering its entirety and playground with polluted water from Peachtree Creek and with sewage, requiring the city to seal off all entrances with yellow warning tape, which was still in place as of Dec. 29. Lime was put down in an attempt to mitigate the risk of bacterial infection for anyone entering the park or playground.

I have numerous photographs not only of the current flood, but also of many others over the years; these show the park and playground under polluted water, sewage gushing out of sanitary man holes, a tree fallen into Peachtree Creek due to erosion and the nature trail closed because of pollution. It is clear that Atlanta Memorial Park is not a suitable candidate for enhancement of any kind, especially that requested by the Atlanta Memorial Park Conservancy. It will be madness for the Department of Parks and the Department of Watershed Management to even consider the Conservancy’s proposals that are currently under review. Polluted floodplain areas such as Atlanta Memorial Park are not suitable for the addition of trails of any sort, nor for stream bank modification, nor for any of the Conservancy’s other planned projects in the park.

The citizens of Atlanta have a right to expect their elected officials to protect and preserve the natural resources of our city. We hope they will do so.