On October 1st, 2009, MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority) changed the name of their subway routes to match that of the current industry standard. The METRO system in Washington D.C. for example, has utilized a series of colors to help tourists and foreign dignitaries and visitors more easily distinguish the various destinations and to ease any potential confusion. It was with this project plan that there would be no concern when MARTA decided to name one of it's transit lines the "YELLOW" line. That is, until Helen Kim from CPACS heard about it.

Helen Kim (Director of Advocacy and Education at CPACS) believes that the use of the color "yellow" is insulting to residents because it runs through a predominantly Asian neighborhood. Referring to "yellow line" as an offensive term, she states:

"Our thought is, why don't you change it to gold? It's really more of a 'why not?' question. Why not change it?"

When questioned about the cost of the change, she stated:

"They don't need to redo the maps, it could literally be a sticker that goes over the map," Kim said. "I'd like to see the numbers — what is the cost?"

Many Asian Atlanta residents intereviewed by Fox News didn't agree with Kim's assesment. According to an article by Fox News:

Gary Gung, co-owner of Atlanta's Amigo Electronics, said: "What difference does it make if it's yellow, gold or black?" he told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Make the issue about the economy or something else more important."

Ultimately, what this comes down to is a question of political correctness and cost. Despite Helen's misplaced good intentions, what she is doing is actually creating an aura of racism that previously had not existed. By insinuating that the color of the line has anything to do with the color of the skin of an Asian is precipitating racism. In addition, the cost associated with this, regardless of the amount, would be pure idiocy considering the insurmountable debt we currently have both at the state and Federal levels. Unfortunately MARTA, in fear of backlash from CPACS, is currently investigating the cost associated with changing all of the signs and literature across the entire city of Atlanta. I can only assume that the cost associated with this would be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars at minimum. Not to mention all of the pamphlets which will now be obsolete and the cost associated with sending city workers to install them. Hopefully, CPACS will encourage its employees and volunteers to spend their time more constructively than creating racist ideology where it doesn't exist, and encouraging the waste of taxpayer money. I sure hope that CPACS donors feel this was a good use of their charitable donation money.

Helen Kim and CPACS could not be reached for comment.