ONE CABBIE'S VIEW OF WHAT CITY NEEDS

In response to your Dec. 26 editorial praising Mayor Bart Peterson:

I am incredibly proud to live in Indianapolis, but driving for Yellow Cab,
I see the good, the bad and the ugly. I am confident our mayor is making an
honest effort to be a good leader, but I question if he is properly
addressing the real issues: crime, drugs, race relations and poverty. I
have failed to see improvement in any of those.

Shouldn't our city be more concerned about the drug dealers peddling their
wares on inner-city street corners in broad daylight than whether the
Indianapolis Colts need a new stadium? Is the price of living in a big city
having to be subjected to the possibility of being robbed or beaten up,
having your car stolen or the windows busted out, not being able to safely
walk at night or any number of other adverse situations?

Can a mayor who lives in an upper-middle-class neighborhood in Washington
Township really be in touch with the issues that face the rest of us?

Would Peterson feel safe at night walking down any street in Brightwood or
Haughville? We as cab drivers must sometimes drive in the less fortunate
neighborhoods after dark. Our mayor needs to be more concerned with the
social issues of Indianapolis than whether it was a good idea to buy the
water company.

Walk the neighborhoods, good and bad, listen and observe everyday concerns
of the residents of Indianapolis. If you do, Mr. Mayor, you stand an
excellent chance of improving the quality of life in this city.

John Lane, Indianapolis