Readers write, Oct. 6

AIR TRAVEL

Response to “Challenges to green airport” Business, Sept. 29

It’s nice that the management of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is trying to implement symbolic programs to be more eco-friendly. It would be nicer if they would do the one obvious thing that would really make a difference.

Virtually 100 percent of the people parking in the airport’s parking deck must walk through an endless line of private cars, taxis and vans carrying passengers to and from the terminals. This produces a constant, 16-hour-a-day traffic jam of cars that are creeping forward, stopping every few seconds for pedestrians, and spewing untold tons of exhaust. This is amid a cacophony of police whistles and the occasional pedestrian injury.

A couple of pedestrian bridges would solve the problem. The airport has spent millions of dollars digging up roads to install subterranean luggage screening facilities. How easy it would have been to include pedestrian bridges or tunnels in that project. Even now, building a way to separate pedestrians from vehicular traffic would solve a huge inconvenience.

STEPHEN D. LEONARD, SANDY SPRINGS

HEALTH CARE

Filthy conditions aren’t limited to one hospital

I read the recent article by Mea Watkins regarding her experience at Northside Hospital, and felt horror and recognition (“Patient to staff: ‘PLEASE wash your hands … Please’”(Metro, Sept. 29).

I remember visiting my husband there about 20 years ago. I arrived after I left work to find him in a dirty bed and unwashed, unshaven and unfed. He was recovering from surgery and couldn’t lift his arms. How shocking, to learn that nothing has changed. Thankfully, my husband recovered.

My heart goes out to Ms. Watkins, who will have to live with the results of the conditions at Northside Hospital for the rest of her life. Unfortunately, filthy conditions are to be found at other Atlanta hospitals as well. My last stay at one of them lasted for three extremely unpleasant days. My bed was never changed. I was not allowed to take a shower, even though there was a shower right in the room.

The AJC’s expose of Atlanta’s public school system resulted in positive changes. I implore you: Do an expose of Atlanta-area hospitals! You owe it to Ms. Watkins.

MURIEL AUGUST, ATLANTA

FULTON COUNTY

Thanks for uncovering alleged tax lien favor

Once again, I applaud the AJC for its ongoing campaign against government corruption.

Your reporting on Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed getting special tax lien treatment from Fulton County Tax Commissioner Arthur Ferdinand is not surprising (“Reed dodges lien on late tax,” News, Sept. 29). As you have reported, besides lining his own pockets from tax lien sales, Ferdinand and his office provided cover for himself and Reed by falsifying facts.

Fulton County must be proud to have such upstanding individuals running their government; after all, they keep voting for them.

ROBERT SAUNDERS, MARIETTA

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Applaud Obama for reaching out to Iran

Regarding “U.S., Iran leaders talk” (News, Sept. 28), I applaud President Obama for picking up the phone to talk to Iran’s new president, and for discussing the importance of U.S.-Iran cooperation to resolve global conflicts.