Bloglanta

Part of the reason that Atlanta has grown so substantially and drawn such a tourist and convention business is that we have had two airlines hubbing here. Two airlines has meant lowfares to Atlanta and allowed many more people to travel here. Now, however, Delta Airlines is in trouble.

Of course they’ve been in trouble since the Pan-Am merge 13 years ago, but the costs associated with that merge now threaten to take the airline under. That would be bad for you and me, bad for the State of Georgia, and for the city of Atlanta.

The reason they’re not profitable is the cost structure, and the biggest problem with the Delta cost structure is the Pilots. They won’t accept a less lucrative deal even if it means driving Delta into bankruptcy. The airline says it needs one billion dollars in concessions, which means it likely really needs about $800 million. This is a key part of its ‘tranformation‘ or restructuring.

The State’s Municipal Mothers and Fathers need to keep pressure on Delta to make other streamlining efforts and to improve customer service and they need to put pressure on the Pilots to realize that the pay structures of American and Southwest and what’s coming.

What’s the best way to do this? Honestly, I think Gate Futures. The city can sell gate futures so that if Delta begins to break apart, airlines have already committed to fill those gates. It would be a way to get Jet Blue, American, Continental, and America West all to take another glance at Atlanta, and raise some money for the city!

If we don’t find a way to keep Delta afloat and no other airline comes in, we risk becoming Charlotte … without the banking jobs to keep us going.

Atlanta 2030 has been released and reshaped to include … more roads. ARRRGGGG!!!!

Okay, so they’re supporting the beltline and maybe some limited commuter rail, but what we’re really talking about here are more expressways, more road widening and the loss of more trees, no money to expand or better fund MARTA!

It’s also going to cost a fortune. How then to finance this? Perhaps the time has come for more toll roads. If we the people are going to be dedicated to the notion that cars are the only way to get around, then we should at least pay the costs to really do the job right.

Where should the toll plazas go? I suggest inbound tolls only. I’d put one just south of Barrett Parkway on I-75, one just East of the 317 Exit on I-85, on the Rockdale-Dekalb Line and Douglas-Cobb Line on I-20. Lastly, I’d put one on 75 Northbound on the Henry-Clayton line.

Since 50 cents seems to be the going rate for tolls in Georgia, I’d lock ‘em in at that rate. This would mean about $100 per solo driving commuter. That’s not an awful hardship but it will help enormously and make the people who benefit from the service of the highway pay for them. We’ll also garner a lot of revenue from those looking to drive through Georgia on their way to and from Florida.

I would not charge the HOV lanes. They get a free pass. People who ride together are already working to reduce congestion and improve air quality. Ride Share programs might get a real jump-start with this proposal.

How would the money be used? I suggest that half the money go to HOV construction and highway safety improvements. The other half should go to supporting mass transit efforts.

People who love their cars can put their money where their tank is. Those who are already making efforts to reduce congestion will see benefits, and no one is overly burdened.

Dekalb County is in trouble. People are beginning to compare it to Bill Campbell’s Atlanta. Not good.

A lot of these problems swirl around County CEO Vernon Jones. In full disclosure, I voted for him, but now I am very concerned.

While it’s possible that some of Mr. Jones’ trouble has resulted from his political competitors making the most of his follies, his follies had to be there for his competitors to use.

Among his troubles? Use of county employees to service his personal needs, the resignation of Dekalb’s police chief with the caveat from his wife that it was at the CEOs request, the County Attorney was found dead of a gun shot wound, one of Mr. Jones’ Staff Chiefs is charged with false imprisonment of a 19 year girl. Then there is a charge that Mr. Jones did not think many of the department’s management was ‘dark enough’ and when supervisors in the parks and recreation department stood their ground to hold on to qualified people, they were fired.

Mr. Jones has acknowledged making some mistakes. The key question is whether he is a leader who is willing to come fully clean about his mistakes and work to run a cleaner, more transparent ship or whether he will learn to cover his tracks better leading to another federal indictment 5 years from now?

As much as it pains me to say this, Governor Perdue and Attorney General Baker need to impanel citizens lead by a special prosecutor to examine misconduct in the Dekalb County Government. This panel needs subpoena power and the authority to turn their findings over to the public and to Mr. Baker who can get grand jury indictments if wrong doing is found. Further, Mr. Jones needs to make sure his detractors are on this panel. Jackie Scott needs to be on it. Jean Williams needs to be on it. Cynthia Tucker needs to be on it.

If Mr. Jones is guilty, indict him. If his management practices are lousy and need adjustment, make clear recommendations that have to be followed. If he is getting shafted by opponents, they too need to be called out.

In the mean time, Mr. Jones needs to focus on making Dekalb County life better. Dekalb is developing some of the most affluent African American communities in the nation. Mr. Jones needs to work with developers and builders so that these communities get the services and businesses they want without the gridlock that plagues the northside.

The schools need fixing. Every year great teachers leave the Dekalb county schools because they feel no backup from the Jones administration.

Lastly, Jones needs to show that he is a bold political thinker. Work with companies, cities, and the county to create an affordable first rate educare system that lets single mothers work more and when he feels pressure on his back it will only be because people are patting him on it.