IMMIGRATION
Seeking a solution for those here unlawfully
State Rep. Edward Lindsey’s recent letter to the editor (“Don’t offer citizenship to those here illegally,” Readers write, Opinion, June 10) argues that the current proposal for immigration reform amounts to that hated word: amnesty.
As a country, we have basically three choices: a) send all undocumented people back to where they came from; b) keep them living in the shadows, without driver’s licenses, paying taxes, etc. or c) secure the borders and give those already here a legal status, with a reasonable path to citizenship — exactly the proposal currently in the Senate.
Since Lindsey seems opposed to option “c,” I wonder if he would choose “a” or “b”? Because he is a candidate for Congress, we need to pay special attention to his answer.
KRISTA BREWER, ATLANTA
ENVIRONMENT
Congress should fund Hooch conservation
Many people in cities as large as ours don’t have pristine wilderness like the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, where they can enjoy time in nature. Right now, though, a lot of the land around the river is being threatened with development.
Parks such as these have benefited from the support of the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The fund has helped parks such as the Chattahoochee expand and stay well-funded. However, Congress has diverted a large amount of LWCF money away from conservation. Many of our green spaces are in danger of being developed.
The National Parks Service estimates that the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area has almost as many visitors each year as Yellowstone National Park. So why shouldn’t the area receive funding to keep it green? Our Georgia senators could become heroes both to the environment and to Atlanta residents by urging full funding via the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
CAROLINE JAMES, ATLANTA
MIDEAST UNREST
Worse than Benghazi: Death toll of two wars
No one can deny that the deaths of four Americans in Benghazi was a tragedy.
But shouldn’t we also be enraged by the misinformation and lies that led us into two wars? The two conflicts cost at least 10,000 American lives and injured thousands more — and killed thousands of Afghans and Iraqis. Surely, this also deserves the rage of both citizens and politicians.
SYLVIA KREBS, DOUGLASVILLE
CIVIL FORFEITURE
Update law to rein in government seizures
Regarding “DA spent funds on galas, meals” (News, June 9), I wish I were surprised that Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard misspent funds received via forfeitures. However, it seems completely logical that money gained without due process was spent without accountability.
Georgia needs to change forfeiture rules to protect people from the greed of government agencies.
MARIE BEARD, ALPHARETTA
