Consider lane size in planning roundabouts
Our southwest Atlanta community had a roundabout that directed traffic running off several of our common streets — Reynolds and Boat Rock roads; Camp Creek Parkway to West Park and Campbelton Road to Abercorn Drive. With numerous community complaints to our representives, our roundabout was finally restored to the four-way stop. Issues we addressed were major problems of, and for, safety. For example, it was built as a narrow, one lane road. Emergency vehicles would have found it very difficult getting through quickly to some subdivisions even if there were no traffic. I observed a moving van stall, stuck as it turned in the circle’s narrow single lane. It required towing. Simple fender-bender car accidents held up everyone. Consumer time and gas savings for Sandy Springs roundabouts may exist when lane size and number are part of the planning equation.
JACKIE FOSTER-RICE, ATLANTA
Carson tax plan benefits wealthy
Politicians love to tinker with the tax structure to make it more favorable to special interests and wealthy benefactors. (“Change tax to take less money,” Atlanta Forward, Oct. 14). The latest gambit, House Bill 445, is named “MTHPA,” the acronym for State Rep. John Carson’s “More Take Home Pay Act.” It’s actually the “MTHPBYPMFAEYPA,” short for “More Take Home Pay But You’ll Pay More For Almost Everything You Purchase Act.” Trickle-down ideology has been thoroughly discredited and a prime example, Kansas, was even cited by Carson. Now, he is boldly proposing an increase in regressive consumption taxes in case income tax cuts don’t work here, either. Carson has good reason to believe Georgia voters are clueless enough about the tax structure to fall for his tax “shell game.” I hope he’s wrong.
BIRNEY A. MONTCALM, WINSTON
Where are facts in Harris case?
On average, 38 children die in cars yearly from heat-related deaths after being trapped inside motor vehicles. Apparently, the main evidence of motive that the Cobb district attorney presented in the case against Justin Ross Harris is an interpretation of a sex-tape conversation with a woman. A woman who hated being married with kids and the defendant Harris responding “…but we both need escapes.” There are a lot of meanings to “escapes” besides linking it to murder. This case should not be tried in Cobb County or by a childless judge. Where are the facts for a cold calculated murder? Even the best of parents or caregivers can unknowingly leave a sleeping baby in a car; the end result can be injury or death. The Cobb detective and district attorney’s position reflects that of the Jihadists who demand strict adherence to their twisted and self-righteous ideology. In Cobb, watch what you say because, in their own mind, they know what you mean. Where are the facts?
W.J. WILSON, MARIETTA
