Neighborhoods isolated by cityhood
The new city of LaVista Hills has mutated from last year’s “Frankendog” monster into a voracious ape dismembering the traditional area of Tucker and dividing and isolating the decades-old established neighborhoods of Victoria Estates and Mason Mill. Those neighborhoods most negatively affected by this proposal, of course, have no voice in the new city’s approval. Vladimir Putin must be envious.
PETER C. SEDERBERG, ATLANTA
Who’s behind push for campus guns?
I hope the AJC will prominently publish the names of all the legislators responsible for this last-minute, sneaky, underhanded move to take the decision-making power on “Campus Carry” away from schools ( “Campus carry could be back,” Metro, March 25). NRA contributions to their campaigns should be noted.
I was already thoroughly disgusted about the lack of courage in crafting a transportation bill that could move Georgia into the 21st century, and legislators have wasted countless hours on a religious liberty bill that is only worthy of bigots. But this move to push guns on people who have clearly said “No” is off the charts. I am beyond embarrassed that we are represented by such shortsighted people whose only thought is, “How can we stir up passions enough to keep our jobs?”
ELAINE ELAM, MARIETTA
It’s wrong to use religion as weapon
During my second tour in Afghanistan, I realized that in addition to defending the U.S. from terrorists, we were fighting to protect local citizens from being subjected to the religious tyranny of the Taliban and al-Qaida. I’ve thought about my service as an Airborne Infantry Ranger while following the debate over Sen. Josh McKoon’s “religious freedom” bill. Being one of the many LGBT soldiers serving at Fort Benning was one of the proudest experiences of my life. I did not risk my life on the battlefield to protect the rights or freedom of any one religion or political viewpoint, but to protect the freedom of all Americans. Freedom cannot be something we ration to those we like or agree with and deny to those we dislike. And religion, whether Islam in Afghanistan or Christianity in Georgia, should never be used as a weapon of repression.
ROBIN BIRO, ATLANTA
No more cuts to federal benefits
As a member of the American Federation of Government Employees, I work hard for my pay and retirement. You have probably heard that government retirement is on the chopping block; but what you may not know is how much we have already sacrificed in the name of deficit reduction.
Workers like myself and my colleagues have already given $159 billion for deficit reduction. Some politicians in Congress have proposed a new federal budget that digs even further into our retirement security, our health insurance and our pay. The proposal will nearly octuple the amount I pay for my retirement plan without increasing my benefits by a cent. This represents a permanent pay cut, or three weeks of lost pay every year for the rest of my career.
Government workers like me have sacrificed enough. Not only have we paid more than our fair share in our economy, but more than 40 percent of federal employees are veterans. We cannot continue to treat our federal employees like an ATM. It’s time for politicians to stop scapegoating public servants and focus on delivering quality services to the American people.
AUGUSTIN MARTINEZ, STOCKBRIDGE
