Comments on: Morning Metro: Callaway Sale Delayed, Atlanta Streetcar Moves Forward, and the End of Neighborhood Schools?

By: macarolina

macarolina — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 19:50:34 +0000

I was very disappointed the Atlanta City Council went political on the prioritization of which street car lines to open first. The much better economic use option to me was the Peachtree Street line connecting Downtown to Midtown, which is still in the cards (hopefully) for the next expansion. The Downtown Loop shown in the above article will be used by Georgia State students and tourists, but I’m not sure who else. Is there anything in the works re a dedicated funding stream from GA State so all students and faculty/staff could ride for “free” via their ID cards? if so, then this downtown loop makes a little more sense. I also hope there is a marketing campaign to convensions to get them to buy their attendees day passes or the like…

By: smith

smith — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 16:36:27 +0000

Where did those industries go? 2nd and 3rd world countries Why? Less stringent pollution laws

By: Pierce

Pierce — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 16:08:34 +0000

While I don’t claim to know the details behind these decisions, I would offer up an alternative explanation than racism for these events – money, power and access.

1) Poor and black neighborhoods did not have money, power or access to decision makers.
2) Poor neighborhoods have cheaper land, making it more affordable for government to build there via imminent domain.
3) Nobody wants a highway to cut their neighborhoods in half, politicians don’t want to piss off those with power, and getting these projects done through imminent domain is easier in areas with cheaper land values and a less organized opposition.

I’m not arguing it is right or fair – it is a disservice to the constituents in these areas that their needs were not considered or accomodated. And racist power structures at these points in time are the reason these neighborhoods lacked access and influence.

The reason I raise this distinction is to consider where we are now:
We live in a metro area where portions of the black community have more money, power and access. In fact, in Atlanta and Dekalb, Black leaders have most of the power. So how are they making decisions that will benefit one group and harm another? Is it driven by racism? Or self-interested service of money, power and access?

Human nature and human failings are the same, irrespective of skin color. An engaged and observent electorate supported by credible press are required to protect against abuses of power and bad decisions.

By: Winnona Mom

Winnona Mom — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 15:05:40 +0000

I would also credit the collapse of the iron production and heavy industry in the 70′s and 80′s for the cleaner air. When manufacturing went away, so did the air pollution.

By: DEM

DEM — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 14:48:02 +0000

If you build it, they will come.

By: Jane

Jane — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 10:36:43 +0000

Who do “they” envision will use these street cars and how will these expenditures be recouped?

By: RobP

RobP — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 02:40:15 +0000

Mass transit and highway issues have always been fraught with racism. I-75/85 was cut through the Black Business district in order to break up that power center for African Americans, I-20 cut through West End and AUC for much of the same reasons. Both decided by the Georgia white power structure in state government. In New Orleans, the route of I-10 was decided in much the same way. To a large extent I-95 was routed through Boston neighborhoods to impact the poor and disenfranchised. Boston later realized the mistake and spent $5Billion + to try and reconnect those neighborhoods with the infamous and corruption soaked “Big Dig”.

By: smith

smith — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 02:36:52 +0000

Here’s an interesting tidbit – 50 years ago Chattanooga had air quality like those pictures we saw of Beijing a few weeks back. Without those pesky environmental regulations I don’t think we’d be talking about what a great place it is.