State, city must take action on infrastructure
In response to (“Sunday Issue: Infrastructure,” Editorial, May 21), unlike New York City, Boston, Washington and Chicago, Atlanta has low density. Americans like their space and will sacrifice to gain it. Commuter rail does not fit. Effective mass transit would cost billions and take 20 years to complete. Instead of continued talk, the state and city need to take action. Twenty-first century communications make things possible that could not have been done until recently. Move selected departments and agencies of state governments to the suburbs or to another city; agriculture to Macon, for example. Business does it, so why not government? Quit talking. Build the Northern Arc. Construct an “inner Northern Arc.” Synchronize traffic lights. Consider a “Southern Arc.” Reroute I-75 to bypass The Connector. Improve intersections. Action will take political will and cost money. Inaction will cost more.
EDWARD WATKINS, LILBURN
Column has selective approach to facts
Kyle Wingfield’s column (“Ossoff’s attack on Handel, women’s health rings hollow,” Opinion, May 18), in which he poses as someone who knows a lot about women’s healthcare, is dangerous and irresponsible.
First he states that Planned Parenthood doesn’t provide legitimate care because “PP does not provide mammograms.” My OB-GYN always sends me somewhere else for my mammograms, just as they do at Planned Parenthood. Perhaps Wingfield can write that dental offices are not legitimate unless they have endodontists on-site, so I don’t have to go elsewhere for a root canal from now on.
Then Wingfield cites the recommendations of the American Cancer Society and even Planned Parenthood itself, that patients should not rely solely on manual breast exams for cancer detection. He goes on to de-legitimize the benefits of manual exams with a narrow and selective approach to the facts. This entire argument is harmful, if not deadly, to anyone who believes it. I suggest an immediate retraction.
CAROLINE STOVER, ATLANTA
Tebow a natural fit for new Braves
Due to the unfortunate injury to Freddie Freeman, the Braves inaugural season at Suntrust Park may be in jeopardy. Attendance has suffered, and wins have been limited. While the coaching squad may not be able to save the season, the marketing team can. The Braves should trade with the Mets for Tim Tebow. He is a natural athlete and has played every position in baseball; he can swing a bat; he will draw a few walks (on water); he will fill up seats; he’s a role model for kids, and his view of the world aligns perfectly with the new home of the Braves — Cobb County. He is certainly no replacement for Freeman, but he will replace empty seats with fans praying for miracles like the Braves reaching the playoffs.
SCOTT BUTLER, ATLANTA
Fossil fuels have unaccounted financial costs
The letter (“Coal, natural gas more economical,” Readers Write, May 16), ignores the human impact of climate change and cherry-picks financial data to present an incomplete cost comparison between electrical generation from fossil fuels and from solar power. If we include the whole world — as does our climate — solar power is already competitive in 30 countries and its cost for power generation is anticipated to drop to half that of fossil fuel within a decade or two, rapidly recovering developmental costs that are included in the letter-writer’s figures.
Continuing to count only dollars and not misery, there’s refugee care after flooding by storm tides or torrential rain, emergency room fees for obscure tropical diseases, forest and property damage from wildfires, drought-induced high food prices and funeral expenses after heat waves.
HUGH W. LOWREY, AUSTELL
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