YOUR OPINION: What does Atlanta need right now?

[Mister Tibbs]

More music venues along the lines of Eddie's Attic - especially on the south side.

[Clayton white guy]

No, it was not a joke. I and many others would LOVE to have a Southern Gospel radio station. It is the missing component in our radio mix. When you go into the Carolinas all the major cites have one or two, but here we have only a couple that are too low frequency to be heard in most places intown. Some may ask if the Contemporary stations are not the same thing, to which I answer, "No, they are fine, but have a different genre of music." True, many Southern Gospel artists do cross over to the many Black Gospel stations in the area, but there is not a station dedicated specifically to these artists such as The Gaithers, The Perrys, The Rochesters, and The McKamey's. With so many stations catering to so many (or in this case few) genres, a Southern Gospel would certainly be commercially successful. When I go to singings throughout the Metro they are really packed out, standing room only many places, and there is truly a pent-up demand.

[glovenyc]

Originally Posted by DONNIEANDDONNA417

all the transplants to go home

*yawn*

[glovenyc]

Originally Posted by ATLJR

You mean the city and not the metro area?

The city, I think a few reasonable things that would go a long way would be the removal of the owners of the Pine Street Shelter, the removal of the Section 8 on Boulevard, stricter enforcement on panhandling laws coupled with a serious dedication to treating mental health among the homeless and petty criminals (San Antonio is an easy model to mimic: San Antonio Police Have Radical Approach To Mental Illness: Treat It | Kaiser Health News) These are all highly doable things that would cost little in short and long term. The removal of Pine Street and Bedford Pine would allow neighborhoods to integrate that currently feel separated. The latter would benefit the homeless population, reduce stress on the police force to better focus their time, and with the removal of aggressive panhandling, provide a more attractive city that would be more appealing to tourist, locals, and potential residents alike.

In regards to more costly, but what I believe to be high rewarding ventures, I would say the completion of the Beltline along with transit with it's own right of way, an east / west line (or maybe 2) again with it's own right of way, either light or heavy rail in the Clifton Corridor that has it's own right away, and if not light rail on the entirety of Peachtree St. up to Buckhead of Brookhaven, at the very least, something starting near the Arts Center and taking you along the stretch of Peachtree that has a lot to offer, but little in the way of transit (buses not withstanding).

Other random things - Atlanta needs more police to continue to make the city feel safer, maybe new policies to better integrate the current force into their communities. The redevelopment of south Downtown, the redevelopment of Turner Field, and a complete rehaul of the Gulch which is such a waste of space.

^^^ exactly what you said and...a rail extension to at Cumberland Mall area, but preferably all the way up to Kennesaw

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by DONNIEANDDONNA417

all the transplants to go home

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by Clayton white guy

No, it was not a joke. I and many others would LOVE to have a Southern Gospel radio station. It is the missing component in our radio mix. When you go into the Carolinas all the major cites have one or two, but here we have only a couple that are too low frequency to be heard in most places intown. Some may ask if the Contemporary stations are not the same thing, to which I answer, "No, they are fine, but have a different genre of music." True, many Southern Gospel artists do cross over to the many Black Gospel stations in the area, but there is not a station dedicated specifically to these artists such as The Gaithers, The Perrys, The Rochesters, and The McKamey's. With so many stations catering to so many (or in this case few) genres, a Southern Gospel would certainly be commercially successful. When I go to singings throughout the Metro they are really packed out, standing room only many places, and there is truly a pent-up demand.

Could not agree more, CWG. That so-called "contemporary" stuff is flat terrible. Bring on the Gaithers, the Statesmen, the Lefevres and the true classics.