Overall safety is real issue for downtown
Regarding “Downtown Atlanta getting $10 million — plus facelift” (ajc.com, April 5), I don’t think that downtown Atlanta needs decorative planters, pedestrian crosswalks and an expanded Hooters to improve its perceived “dirtiness.” What about addressing the real issues — such as the panhandlers and loiterers in downtown? What about targeting criminals who threaten the safety of visitors?
I’m not dismissing the positive impact decorative changes will have on downtown, but overall safety is the real issue. What about adding more police officers on foot patrol? What about adding surveillance cameras in and around the Five Points MARTA station? How about we try to address some of the real issues with downtown — rather than making superficial changes?
Michael Manning, Atlanta
Santorum cartoon was right on target
I laughed out loud at Mike Luckovich’s cartoon of Rick Santorum in the April 6 newspaper (Opinion). Many times I have disagreed with Luckovich’s political cartoons, but in his assessment of the former senator he was dead on.
K.L. Ledford, Atlanta
Cheating is a symptom — not the disease
Before the AJC congratulates itself again for exposing cheating by Atlanta city school teachers, I hope they will recognize that the cheating is a symptom — not the disease. The real problem is the insistence that somehow, as if by magic or brutal insistence, our educational problems will be solved by imposing the one-size-fits-all solution and punishing those who cannot guarantee desired outcomes for their disparate student bodies.
Tom Walker, Roswell
Coach’s incident none of Bradley’s business
Regarding “Petrino incident a test for Hogs” (Sports, April 7), I disagree with columnist Mark Bradley that the marital fidelity or infidelity of a football coach is any reflection on the school that employs him. A man’s shortcomings are a reflection of him alone. Petrino’s alleged infidelity should not be a subject for discussion by anyone other than the coach and his wife.
Gerson Paull, Atlanta
An ethics panel isn’t needed on this issue
Regarding “Gifts continue to rain on lawmakers” (ajc.com, April 9), you don’t need an ethics panel to look at the ethics of this issue. There is one standing principle in industry regarding the acceptance of gifts: You will not accept gifts in exchange for any services.
Have we lost sight of the fact that our legislative body in Georgia is made up of citizens just like you and me? Those of us who work in industry have to sign codes of conduct. Make our legislative body sign a code of conduct dictated by the citizens and then hold them accountable.
Jim Weck, Big Canoe
