Moores Mill plan would fight blight
I am puzzled any city leaders would not be able to see past petty politics and personal animosities regarding funding for the extension of Moores Mill Road, which is crucial to the redevelopment of a blighted property (“Plans for long-awaited grocery store held up over road funding,” News, May 12).
The surrounding neighborhoods are flourishing and diverse, with residents committed to making this area continue to grow. But this blighted property, on a gateway into Atlanta from Cobb County, must be transformed for such growth to continue. The estimated property tax revenue the Moores Mill Shopping Center Re-Development Project would generate for Atlanta, even using conservative numbers, shows the project should pay for itself within one year with the ability to recoup funds through property tax values alone.
With an estimated annual property tax revenue of between $720,687 and $1,027,562, this should be a no-brainer.
KARYN HUDSON, ATLANTA
Stop letting China dictate trade law
I did a double-take when it I read, “’Firewall’ shields Chinese firms” (Business, May 7). Chinese firms claim their secrecy and banking laws exempt them from turning over evidence and responding to U.S. court documents. In putting forth that claim, China is denying U.S. businesses their day in court.
It’s time Congress establishes trade policy that tells the Chinese they will respond to U.S. court documents, or we will shut down their U.S. operations and fine them. America must tell China and all other countries the terms of trade with us instead of our taking dictation from them, the World Trade Organization and the countries under the proposed Pacific/Atlantic trade treaties, which President Obama is pushing for fast-track approval.
In any trade agreement, Congress must write in safeguards to protect America from unfair trade and judicial practices of foreign countries.
BILL SMITH, STOCKBRIDGE
Update tracks for higher train speeds
It appears a cause of the horrible Amtrak accident was excess speed. The track bed has been in use for more than 70 years and was not designed to handle fast trains. The segment where the recent accident occurred was the site of a worse disaster in 1943. Today, speed can be automatically controlled when proper equipment is used. High-speed trains require a rail bed designed to handle them, as in Europe.
Amtrak is running high speed trains between Philadelphia and New York and elsewhere on track beds built for lower speeds. Track beds must be completely rebuilt to modern specifications. We have spent nearly a trillion federal dollars over the last six years supposedly on infrastructure in America. Where has that money gone? Certainly not to fix this deadly route.
EDWARD A. WATKINS, LILBURN
