DEKALB CITIES
Slow down and learn
from others’ mistakes
I was not surprised to read (“Slowdown in new cities sought,” Metro, Jan. 7) that several recently created cities are experiencing similar problems to the ones their supporters were running away from — namely, increasing taxes and ethical challenges. I recall voters being told that a new city could do all sorts of wonderful things that their county government was not doing in the name of a vague, undefined promise of “more local control.”
The old adage of “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” was never more appropriate. I can only speculate as to the real reasons behind the push to carve out new cities from existing county government, but there is nothing wrong with slowing down for several years. By doing so, the newest cities can be closely watched to see what problems and challenges arise as they grow and develop.
Learning from their experiences will help any newly proposed city to be better prepared, and voters will have more information before agreeing to become residents of a new city.
MIKE HAREMSKI, Tucker
JUSTICE
Jail time deserved for
man who slapped baby
It is incidental whether Joe Rickey Hundley (“Baby slapper gets jail time,” Metro, Jan. 7) is a racist or not. If he did use a slur while striking a toddler, his doing so is, or should be, irrelevant to any punishment he has received. The action was just as wrong no matter what he did or did not say. Hundley has received a just penalty.
CINDY CLARK, Atlanta
WINTER
Cold-weather tip: Play
video games – really?
Your writers’ first suggestions for dealing with kids home from school (“It’s freezing: What you need to know,” News, Jan. 6) is to play video games.
Seriously? You would think that a company whose purpose is to provide current news in written form would suggest reading as a first resort, not a secondary “quieter” suggestion. Parents (and kids) don’t need more video or TV. Why not create a single-page insert just for kids? You could add word games, puzzles and current news and weather facts.
ABIGAIL BRIDGEMAN, Powder Springs
Inclement cold can’t
stop paper’s delivery
Please compliment the carrier(s) who brought our newspapers Tuesday morning in 8-degree weather. Anyone who can get up around 4 a.m., crank his or her vehicle to go to work, and deliver newspapers in this cold weather deserves our thanks and admiration.
CALVIN HUDSON, Fayetteville
