Augusta has room for improvement

Augusta is a great city, and I think it is great for it to progress with projects for pleasure and beautification.

However, I believe there are a couple of projects that should be on a priority status to be done first:

- Railroad tracks near a hospital? Come on, Augusta! be progressive and re-route these in whatever way it takes. These should never be close to a hospital. I am sure that the patient in the ambulance, with lights and blaring siren -- waiting on a passing train with me for 10 to 15 minutes the other morning -- thinks this should be a priority.

- We need to prioritize money either to improve and enlarge the current jail, or build a larger and better one. Also, we need to increase the pay for police officers so we can keep them, or attract others to this area. Also, we need new laws, or new judges and lawyers, who have the guts to keep criminals in jail awhile instead of plea-bargaining, fining and releasing them back on the streets to repeat their crimes.

Joanie Williford