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The Main Case Made
After reading Barry Henderson’s [Sept. 9] article regarding the relocation of KAT’s downtown transit point to Main Street, I had no choice but to respond to provide a more accurate assessment of the issues related to this matter.
First, the concerns of the Building Security Committee at the Baker Federal Courthouse were treated with seriousness and considered as part of this decision. In fact, representatives from the mayor’s office, KAT, the Public Building Authority (PBA) and the Knoxville Police Department met directly with the Building Security Committee and responded to each individual issue they raised. However, it should be noted that the great majority of their issues were not related to the safety and security of the courthouse, but rather their concerns were related to increased pedestrian activity, traffic, noise and other similar issues. It is a fact that that KAT’s move to Main Street will actually improve safety by removing on-street parking along Main Street where now any type of vehicle containing any type of material may park. With our move, there will only be KAT buses and trolleys in this area that are operated by professionally trained bus drivers who receive extensive safety and security training. Additionally, KAT will have full-time supervisors on site who will assist in promoting safety, ensuring the efficient movement of buses and acting as customer service ambassadors. As such, KAT is actually enhancing the safety and security infrastructure in this area rather than detracting from it.
Secondly, the article stated that the reservations of ordinary government workers went unheeded as well as the protestations of a number of KAT riders themselves. I would point out that KAT has not received a single such complaint from a city worker and to this date there has been only one passenger complaint, that being the one made by Mr. Smith cited in your article. I wish to emphasize, no passenger, save Mr. Smith, has complained to KAT about this move. No bus drivers have mentioned complaints, and logs of KAT telephone information staff indicate no complaints on the move.
Finally, the recommendation in the article that the transit point be relocated to either the Civic Coliseum or Central Street shows a complete lack of understanding regarding the importance of transit to the life of downtown. Case after case has shown that pushing a transit center out of the core of downtown will do immeasurable damage to the transit system and cause ridership losses. You do not build all of your parking for downtown outside of the core of downtown, and you certainly do not put your main transit center outside of the core either. Regarding the Central Street site, this site was rejected immediately due to a complete lack of accessibility. This accessibility issue can only be addressed as part of the comprehensive development plan for the new transit center to be located on State Street.
I hope this letter clarifies and corrects much of the misinformation that has been publicized of late regarding this issue. KAT is dedicated to making the transit center work on Main Street in a safe and efficient manner, and I pledge that we will be open to any input regarding our operations on Main Street.
Mark E. Hairr, general manager
Knoxville Area Transit
Here’s a ‘Context’
Although I was pleased to see Metro Pulse tackling a national/international issue in its Sept. 9 editorial (“A Gathering Storm”), the piece kept reminding the reader that Americans must “understand events in context” while failing to provide any.
The terrorism practiced by al-Qaeda and its colleagues (Hezbollah, etc.) are a direct response to long-term American policies in the region, which can be summed up best as “Middle Eastern interference” (although militant Arabs would not use such a benign term).
U.S. military presence in the holy lands of Saudi Arabia (which many Muslims, both militant and peaceful, view as an outrage) coupled with the United States’ heavy support of the aggressive Israeli regime (which regularly uses American-supplied weaponry to oppress the Palestinian population)—both these things are the raison d’etre of al-Qaeda and its offshoots.
The American state has, since the fall of the Soviet Union just over a decade ago, been intent on taking advantage of its lone superpower status by keeping the rest of the world at bay and, where possible, under its thumb.
It’s no secret to anyone who has been paying attention that the main reason the U.S. is so interested in the Middle East region is for its immense oil reserves. How else to explain, then, U.S. apathy for widespread starvation in North Korea and Africa and widespread AIDS infection across Africa, areas where thousands of people are dying every day? Are those areas not the ones that could benefit the most from “freedom?” But American leaders see it vital to gain another foothold in the Middle East, to set up a puppet government in Iraq that is grudgingly allied with Israel in carrying out U.S. wishes in the region.
To Osama bin Laden and his cohorts, the American invasion of Iraq only confirms their view of the United States as a brute, intent on maintaining world domination at any costs.
I would invite anyone reading this letter to take five minutes out of your day and try to put yourself in the shoes of your average Middle Eastern Arab, who is utterly at the mercy of every American whim— particularly the poor Palestinian people, who have no legitimate government, no lands, and barely any identity, while their oppressors are supported by the world’s most powerful country.
When you are kept in abject poverty while your friends and family are regularly subjected to harassment, humiliation, and even death, what options are left to you?
Only American empathy can truly win the “war on terror.” We’ve tried the other route, and two wars later, do you honestly feel safe?
Dane Baker
Knoxville
Rathole in Iraq
In this election, we should talk about the mess in Iraq. What we live with today is 1,000 U.S. soldiers dead for a pointless adventure that has alienated our allies and stirred up a hornet’s nest of Muslim rage.
Yes, we deposed a dictator, but one that posed no immediate threat to us. Saddam was a Hitler, but a Hitler with no tanks, and in getting rid of him we turned Iraq into a recruiting office for Al Qaeda.
Now we have 150,000 troops pinned down in Iraq. Large parts of the country are ceded to the insurgents. Terrorism increases sickenly worldwide. We’re pouring billions of dollars into this rathole, billions that we sorely need to shore up a sagging economy at home.
President Bush says this is the “right war.” John Kerry says its wrong, wrong, wrong. Kerry may be this year’s Dukakis, but the president is a dangerously incompetent fungus.
John Yates
Knoxville
In Praise of MetroFest
I wanted to take the time to express our appreciation to Metro Pulse for the courtesy and professionalism extended to The Loved Ones at MetroFest on Sept. 11.
Over the past four decades, we have performed at hundreds of such events, and the organization and execution at MetroFest stands at the top. Benny Smith and his crew were just superb. If I so much as glanced at a piece of equipment, someone was there to help out. So, whatever Benny and crew are being paid, double it. We never saw anyone work so hard.
Kudos also to the sound crew. The mix was great out front, and the monitors were so good, they made me forget the lyrics. (That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.)
Thanks to Jack Rentfro for his vision, and to Metro Pulse and the great people of Knoxville for giving us a day we won’t ever forget. Our respects to all the performers, especially to RB Morris who did a great set under tough conditions. You folks make us proud to be musicians.
Terry Johnson
Kingsport
September 16, 2004 • Vol. 14, No. 38
© 2004 Metro Pulse
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