JUSTICE
Tell also victim’s story behind man’s execution
Your article on the execution of Dennis McGuire (“26-minute death raises concerns,” News, Jan. 18) never once mentioned the crime for which he was being punished. Did the Associated Press reporters feel it was irrelevant that McGuire was convicted of kidnapping, rape and aggravated murder in the 1989 stabbing death of 22-year-old Joy Stewart, who was seven months pregnant?
Or did these facts not mesh with the anti-death-penalty agenda of the “news” article which included a photo of McGuire’s tearful children recounting their father’s lawful execution but no mention of the victim’s family? A balanced article would have given at least equal coverage to the crime and its impact on the victim’s family. The unfortunate fact that justice took nearly 25 years to achieve does not make the crime irrelevant.
BARRETT D. FLANSBURG, CANTON
BANKING
Georgia has a long, proud banking history
The article “Ga. Banks: Fines, frauds, failures” (Business, Jan. 26), with the subhead “Fugitive’s case latest in financial institutions’ long, murky history,” did little to inform your readers about the true history of Georgia’s banks and bankers. It’s unfortunate the few whose deeds were chronicled are portrayed as examples of an entire industry.
Georgia banks have a proud heritage of being the facilitators of commerce, as the trusted institutions where deposits are safe and loans are made to creditworthy individuals, families and businesses. To besmirch an industry with a sensational story about a relative few who have been in the headlines is simply wrong. The 60,000 Georgians working for the 262 banks doing business in our state contribute their time, leadership and financial resources making life better for people and communities throughout Georgia. Their positive contributions deserve to be recognized, too.
JOE BRANNEN, PRESIDENT/CEO, GEORGIA BANKERS ASSOCIATION, ATLANTA
KIDS AT RISK
System doesn’t focus on children’s welfare
Mr. Bookman’s Sunday column (“Privatizing can foster trouble,” Opinion, Jan. 26) questioning privatization of the state’s foster care system is inane. The problems of DFACS are legendary, but Mr. Bookman continues to favor a broken government system that has never been successful. All options for changes should be vetted first before the governor throws 500 more government workers at the problem. Privatization may or may not be the solution, but what is being done now by government is a failure. Politics aside, protecting the children should be the primary goal, and someone needs to get on with the process quickly.
CHRIS BORDERS, WOODSTOCK
CITIES AND RACE
I don’t know if race drives the politics of the all-white leadership of the newer cities in the north metro area (“New cities reignite debate about race,” News, Jan. 26), but I suspect these mayors and council members do not relate with the large numbers of low-income residents who are our neighbors.
Recently, I pointed out to Sandy Springs’ leaders that many in our community are living in crisis. According to a study posted last month by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University, half of renters are paying more than 30 percent of their incomes to keep a roof over their heads. Only a few of these leaders even bothered to respond. Of those who did, not one of them offered any suggestions for action. I have no doubt that the leaders of these mostly affluent communities are decent and honest people, but I do doubt their commitment to address the challenges of the working poor.
DON MCADAM, SANDY SPRINGS
