STRAIGHT DOPE

I wanted to correct a few errors that were included in your "City Dope" column, published November 26. It is clear that your columnist has very little understanding of the process that is involved in funding transportation projects, so I will attempt to make it as simple as possible:

First, the projects that were announced were included in the Fiscal Year 2004 Transportation/Treasury Appropriations bill. While it is true that I sit on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, my committee can only authorize funding for projects. Any specific projects included in an appropriations bill must be put there by the Appropriations Committee, which received more than 4,000 project requests from Members of Congress.

Second, my office invited local officials to submit projects to be included in the reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, known as TEA-21. This is a six-year transportation plan that expired in September of this year, but has since been extended until March of 2004. The extension was passed in order to allow us to complete work on a new six-year bill. All of the projects that you mentioned, including Rails to Trails and the trolley system, have been submitted to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for inclusion in this legislation. While you can never guarantee a project's inclusion, Rails to Trails is far from dead.

Finally, the federal government only funds a percentage of the total cost of transportation projects. Because of this, my office must work closely with state and local governments to determine the projects that are most needed. The Park and Ride lot was a part of a much larger transit plan, and the funds for Georgia 316 will begin the planning process for creating a much better, and safer, route into Athens.

I will continue to work with all of our local and state officials to provide federal assistance on projects that will benefit the Twelfth District of Georgia. I hope that in the future, you will also work to have better information regarding transportation issues. My office is always available to provide this, if you ever wish to contact us.

Max Burns, Member of Congress
Washington

A COP'S VIEW

I wanted to write in and voice my opinion on something that's been on my mind this week. I'm a local law enforcement officer for the ACCPD and am a little disturbed at the negative attitude I've recently seen from the young folks downtown, especially at football games. I'm not that old (under 30) and I'm not unfamiliar with the different bars, restaurants, and clubs, so I'm not seeing this problem from a foreign perspective.

I was assigned to work downtown after the Georgia/Auburn game and my main duty was to enforce the local open container ordinance which I'm sure most readers are familiar with. I think we all have a good idea about the three branches of government and how all that works. The people who enforce the laws are not the ones who make them. Therefore getting upset, name calling and generally being pissy towards an officer is not a constructive way to deal with receiving a citation. If you don't think a law or ordinance is fair, then form a group with like-minded people and write your local commissioner or congressperson! Don't take it out on the people who have made a career of serving and protecting this community.

I don't want to go into all the details of how people made attempts to insult me and my profession on Saturday night. Before we are ever sworn in we're told that police work can be thankless many days and that you have to have a thick skin. We were told by senior officers that if you are the type of person who takes this abuse to heart and reacts with anger then you should consider another line of work.

I'm hoping that what I saw Saturday was a result of alcohol mixed with mob mentality and that this is not how the majority of people feel on a daily basis. We don't wade through shattered glass, vomit, and urine at 2 a.m. to reach people in distress for shits and giggles. Please, just remember two things when you encounter the police. 1) We respect the rights of everyone and we expect a little respect in return. 2) We're not politicians, we're police officers: in other words, don't shoot the messenger.

Katy Freund
Athens

DON'T FORGET

Last year I had the experience of being a bell ringer for the Salvation Army. Well, because of my job, this year I'm not able to do it as much, as I did last year. But, I will be doing it some this year, so I can feel like I have helped out a needy family in our community. Please, I ask you all in the Athens area, whenever you see a bell ringer for the Salvation Army, please let's not forget the needy in our area.

All the change you put in that red kettle goes to help out the needy. I can tell you that for a fact. I was there to help ring the bell, and I saw how the money goes to help out the needy, who cannot afford a Christmas. With that spare change, you can help, too, whenever you see that red kettle.

For the Salvation Army, Merry Christmas to you all.

Ray Studdard
Athens

THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES

I was expecting to read a whiny article on why Athens hasn't excelled at everything artistic when I read Patrick Franklin's article, "A Music Town with a Film Problem." What a pleasure to stroll though Athens' cinema past. As a kid, my brother Tom used to baby-sit me by taking me to the Classic Triple, where he was the skinny, too cool ticket taker. I would spend my afternoons watching films my parents would never have allowed me to see, bothering the manager Carl, or playing Asteroids with Roosevelt. I held my first hand at the Beechwood Cinema, acted like a teenage ass at Alps when it seemed everyone in town showed up for the opening of Purple Rain, and memorized every word of Weird Science at the Palace. I gorged myself on Sbarro pizza, stood in awe of the risqué gag gifts at Spencer's and then somehow enjoyed all 194 minutes of Reds at the Georgia Square Mall theatre. And, with coffee in hand, cheesy scarf around my neck, tried my best to pick up an 'artsy' chick at le Femme Nikita playing at the Tate. I had forgotten a lot of those great, and embarrassing memories. A film festival revived in Athens, with the dedicated artists that live there, seems entirely possible. Best of luck.

Philip Herold
Atlanta