TRANSPORTATION
MARTA employees lacking in support
I recently took MARTA from North Avenue to Peachtree Center. Trains southbound were overflowing with passengers. At the Peachtree Center station, the northbound exit from the MARTA platform was closed. Passengers were routed to exit on the south end of the platform. The escalators were out of order. One on the west side was initially operational. It failed as I waited with hundreds to exit. One, lonely MARTA technician was doing his best to repair the escalators, control the crowd and alert MARTA officials.
We can’t pass a referendum for much-needed transportation improvements. We can’t expect MARTA management to prepare for Labor Day activities by simply reading the AJC and planning for thousands traveling to Peachtree Center, the Georgia Dome, Turner Field and Decatur’s square.
Employees are caught in the middle without adequate funding or enlightened management, and lack support to perform their duties.
We can’t compromise on solutions. Instead, we argue over irrelevant ideology. Atlanta fancies itself a world-class city. Perception is seldom reality.
RICHARD B. GRIFFIN, ATLANTA
EMPLOYMENT
Middle class has benefited — elsewhere
I have some bad news for November voters: neither political party has a viable, realistic plan to significantly reduce unemployment. The reason is that a succession of administrations (Republican and Democratic) have traded away U.S. jobs in the interests of “free trade.”
The middle class has benefited — but unfortunately, it is the Indian and Chinese middle classes.
IAN SHAW, CUMMING
KUDOS TO AJC
Thanks for coverage about animals
Many people believe a society’s treatment of animals relates to its level of civilization. As one who shares that belief, I want to thank The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for the nearly daily coverage that you offer your readers (particularly in the Metro section). In an ever-more-competitive news arena, you have also kept sight of your many daily readers whose lives are enriched by companion animals. That makes you heroes in our eyes.
PATRICK CUCCARO, ATLANTA
ECONOMY
Are we better off than four years ago?
Were we better off four years ago? The question boggles my mind. I remember empty malls and restaurants, stores and plants closing, jobs hemorrhaging, banks and financial houses shutting down, Wall Street numbers plummeting, people losing their money and retirements, and health care costs skyrocketing.
Too many are still in trouble, but if we can get the obstructionists on the right to work for a better America (rather than making sure that President Barack Obama fails), the light at the end of the tunnel will become brighter.
JUDY BOST, SMYRNA
