ETHICS
Response to “Ethics agency scorned, swamped,” News, Dec. 22
Commissioner Heath Garrett’s comments on the current condition of the ethics commission and ethics legislation are the best thing I have heard on the subject in years. Perhaps there is hope: hope for a real, effective ethics commission/staff and effective ethics-in-government legislation.
After all, Commissioner Garrett has the credentials that should make the majority of the Legislature listen, even if they do not want ethics legislation or enforcement. Now, if only Commissioner Garrett could spell out the importance of a stated prohibition of a conflict of interest, or hold up the city of Atlanta’s ordinance as a model, we might get somewhere.
ALIDA C. SILVERMAN, ATLANTA
ELECTIONS
Fulton must win back
confidence of voters
It was not surprising to read in “Voting problems called chronic” (Metro, Dec. 22) that there are numerous problems in the Fulton County Registration and Elections Department.
Many thanks to former poll worker and manager Leroy Gall, who stated that “this has been going on ever since I got here,” and, “The same problems exist in every election.” The Democratic Party needs to get its head out of the sand and admit that there are chronic problems in our election process — from the top to the bottom.
Over the past century, there have probably been many close elections all over the country that have been decided by illegal votes and/or illegal counting of votes. Until the American voter can have complete satisfaction that voters are voting legally, their votes are being counted correctly, and the elections are not rigged, we need to question all voting results.
J.A. JERNIGAN, ATLANTA
FINANCE
Mobile banking may
succeed credit cards
Thanks for a great article (“Mobile phone banking in a growth spurt,” Business, Dec. 22) about mobile banking. Folks are rapidly discovering the convenience of banking by text and mobile, while learning to balance banking mostly online with when they need to convene face to face with their banker.
A lot of consumers waded into the mobile banking space making deposits, but soon embraced broad functionality — from deposits, balance inquiry and transfers to bill pay. Security has not proven to be the issue some feared, and is constantly evolving.
Look for functionality to hold steady. The main change in the future of mobile banking will be the ability to make a payment at a merchant, rather than using a credit/debit card or cash.
Even then, human capital remains crucial. If you are looking to benefit from a total banking relationship, don’t forget to build an alliance with a real, live banker.
BRIAN MCGUIRE, VICE PRESIDENT, ELECTRONIC BANKING AND TREASURY MANAGEMENT SERVICES, PRIVATE BANK OF BUCKHEAD
BASEBALL
Atlanta bobbled the ball
in Braves stadium talks
Regarding “How Atlanta lost Braves to suburbs” (News, Dec. 22), Mayor Reed’s handling of the renewal of the Braves contract was a real fiasco. His leadership displayed a total lack of political and business acumen.
Reed’s claim that the Braves blindsided the city just doesn’t float. The AJC’s article bears that out. It appears the city took the Braves for granted and didn’t believe they would ever move to the suburbs. It is called negotiation — not surrender — and the city didn’t get it.
The city now has a big hole to fill, and the prospects aren’t good. Reed’s administration missed the boat. We will see an empty lot for a long time.
JOE PARSONS, BUFORD
