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Atlanta's Weekly E-Magazine
Nov 23rd - Nov 30th, 2001
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New York was tested again!
Good News from the Front.
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Our thanks to gotlaughs.com for sharing this classic with the WORLD.
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Thanksgiving is a unique American holiday when relatives and friends get together to express their gratitude for all the good things and blessings they have enjoyed throughout their lives. There are only two countries which celebrate Thanksgiving as a national holiday. The United States and Canada.
First and foremost we express our thanks for being the proud citizens of one of the greatest and most civilized nations on this earth.
PROUD TO BE IN AMERICAN
It is with deep gratitude that we express our thanks to all of our service men and women, including those overseas, who fight and defend not only the freedom of our country, but the very principles which this great nation stands for.
We also express our thanks to all the scientists of our nation, whose combined efforts and dedication have provided our armed forces with the most sophisticated weapons to fight the enemy. The precision missiles in this war in Afghanistan is a good example. We are thankful for their diligent discoveries in the field of medicine, securing our citizens with the highest level of good health over other continents in this world.
Finally, we are the only nation which has placed a man on the moon and continues to explore the universe.
Our hats are off to all the scientists.
Another group of professionals who deserve equal recognition and have earned our utmost gratitude is our educators. These are the men and women dedicated to teach and form the character in the early stages of
our youth. They do it generation after generation providing our communities with well-rounded individuals
who can exercise sound judgement during their lives, thanks to their teachers.
Finally, we express our deep sentiments and support to all the families who lost their loved ones in the September 11th disaster. They are our new heroes of the 21st century. They will always be remembered.
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Editor's Corner
MAYOR-ELECT FRANKLIN FACES TOUGH DECISIONS
Now that the election, the recount and the hoopla is over, mayor-elect Shirley Franklin has a few precious weeks left to lay down her strategy and get ready to take over as the new mayor of Atlanta on January 1, 2002. She is faced with a number of problems which will require innovative and creative solutions. She will need to be fair, but firm and tough in her decisions.
To begin with, she will be faced with a budget shortfall. Through mismanagement and wrongful appropriations the current government has depleted all the cash reserves and there is a multi-million dollar shortfall. To make things even worse, as a result of the September 11th disaster, the city is now spending close to \$700,000 every week, over and above the budgeted amount for police and security overtime shifts. As if this wasn't bad enough, revenues from sales taxes are down. This is a double-wham. Less money coming in, more money going out.
In addition, there is the multi-billion dollar sewage improvement project which needs to be financed with government loans at reasonable rates. Thank God interest rates are down and Atlanta is enjoying a AA bond rating. However, if the budget issue is not addressed satisfactorily, Standard and Poor's may lower Atlanta's bond rating in which case loans will be obtained at substantially higher interest rates, adding an extra layer of expense into the budget. This happened several years ago to Miami when its bond rating was reduced to junk status.
There are two fundamental solutions to the problem. Either increase the revenue by raising real estate taxes, thus balancing the budget, or cut the fat by reducing expenses which will have the same effect. Elevating taxes will create an uproar by the citizens, some of whom have just managed paying the second installment of higher taxes, this past October 15th, as a result of higher evaluations. Others have defaulted and are still in arrears in their 2001 real estate taxes. You cannot squeeze blood out of a stone. As to cutting the fact, there are several options. The first one that comes into mind is the total number of people employed by the city government. Similar cities like Atlanta have their governments employing 3,200 to 3,500 people. Atlanta employs roughly 8,000. Certainly there is room for improvement. According to Robb Pitts there is a great number of unqualified people employed by the city because they are highly connected with politicians.
It is not going to be easy. Ms. Franklin's decisions are not going to be pleasing or popular. We wish her wisdom and sound judgement in her decision making process.
James C. Stathis
Associate Editor
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