From: "Dorothy Smith" <yicim@worldnet.att.net>

To: "Roger S Kintzel" <rkintzel@ajc.com>,

"Cynthia Tucker" <cynthia@ajc.com>

Cc: "Tom Teepen" <teepencolumn@coxnews.com>,

"Jeff Dickerson" <jdickerson@ajc.com>

Subject: MARTA Sales Tax Revolt!

Date: Tue, 28 Mar 2000 15:38:02 -0500

Letter to the editor:

Thursday's DeKalb Section of the AJC (3/23/00) ran an article, which alleges that DeKalb citizens do not mind subsidizing public transportation for other metro areas where the MARTA one-cent sales tax is not imposed.

What utter dribble! What countywide survey yielded this result? This is a total mis-characterization of taxpayers' sentiment in DeKalb County. We strenuously object to the AJC's portrayal of county taxpayers in this matter; it in no way reflects reality.

As usual, the media shapes public opinion. Apparently, the local press is bent on making the world think we are stupid, because no one is objecting to the fact that we subsidize public services for others that we do not receive with our own tax dollars. Only DeKalb and Fulton County residents pay to support MARTA. In 1971, the majority of us voted yes to the referendum creating MARTA; poor folks need reliable public transportation.

Unfortunately, many of us are poor. The 1-cent sales tax was supposed to last twenty (20) years. Since then, without benefit of a referendum, the state legislature extended the length of time for imposition of this regressive tax. Its latest extension is to year 2047!

Our elected representatives are silent; some are even now trying to justify a MARTA fare increase. None have dealt with the unfairness of imposing the MARTA sales tax only on DeKalb and Fulton taxpayers, when plans for extending the public transportation service is for other areas. South DeKalb suffers the most in the process; it is time for a revolt against this injustice.

We need to send a message loud enough for the world to hear. We are not stupid! We strenuously object to paying the 1-cent MARTA sales tax. One way to demonstrate that displeasure is to buy less in DeKalb and Fulton Counties. We are asking everyone to restrict your Georgia purchases, especially in DeKalb and Fulton where this unfair tax is imposed. It is time we stopped accepting labels placed on us by the media. It is time we showed our elected officials and the international community that we object to being marginalized and refuse to subsidize other people's amenities to our own detriment. How ridiculous! It is downright un-American to accept taxation without benefit. Moreover, we do not appreciate the AJC's role in casting us as idiots in the process. This calls for a revolt to put down the unfair MARTA 1-cent sales tax! Paying this tax is tantamount to riding in the back of the bus. Or, worst yet, it amounts to paying to eat in a restaurant where the owner wants your money, but he does not want you on the premises! We reject this kind of disrespect and disservice from every quarter, including from the AJC!

Dot Smith

(404) 241-5942

Editor/Publisher The DISH