BAR HOURS
Sleep tight and thank the Atlanta City Council
Atlanta City Council has acted emphatically to ensure our quality of life during our sleeping hours. When Atlantans go to bed now, we should all add a prayer of thanks for our council members voting against bar hours being extended to 4 a.m.
When I served as president of that body, I witnessed the frequent pressures under which these public servants had to operate. Too often, however, they adjourned after long and tiring deliberations — hearing little thanks for the strength and courage they exercised.
As president of the Buckhead Coalition, I wish to express our sincere appreciation, which I believe will be the sentiment from all segments of Atlanta.
Sam Massell, president, Buckhead Coalition Inc.
PEACHTREE
Road race volunteers deserve gratitude
As a resident of Atlanta, I ran the Peachtree Road Race for many years. We left the area in 2003, but I returned this year for the race. I just wanted to thank the city of Atlanta and the Atlanta Track Club for the tremendous effort and resources they put into this event.
A runner in front of me collapsed on the course and suddenly, volunteers emerged from all points. A medical team was on the way in seconds. For all of those in charge of planning and volunteering, here’s a huge thank you. You make this event splendid.
Jeanne Crowley, Saltillo, Miss.
EDUCATION
For victimized students, no way to undo damage
What a travesty. Atlanta Public Schools have totally destroyed any credence in the educational system in Atlanta.
The children have been misled; the taxpayers, virtually robbed; and the local, state and U.S. government, bamboozled. Worse (of course) is the fact that all of those children who were incorrectly promoted have no way of going back at this time to make up for whatever deficiencies they possessed in the past. The damage is incomprehensible.
Whatever form of justice is meted out to those teachers and administrators will never be enough to undo the damage.
Fred Hahn, Roswell
EDUCATION
Scandal’s ripple effect will spread far, wide
It isn’t just schoolchildren who will suffer as a result of the Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal. This disgrace will impact children first, and then begin to ripple.
Nobody would group all white mothers with Casey Anthony. But a lot of people will look at the cheating scandal as black criminal behavior, even though it is unfair to lump all black people into the same category.
The scandal will also reflect badly on Atlanta as a whole. Businesses and individuals will reconsider moving here. A resulting decline in business and property values will affect both our city and state.
When any action stokes the fires of racism, everybody gets burned.
Margaret Curtis, Atlanta
