I lived in suburban Gwinnett County, the subject of the article “Feeling walled in,’’ for 16 years. Annie Linkskey’s article is insightful, but its focus on a white minority that feels overrun and surrounded detracts from the more important problem. The workers who flooded Gwinnett County during the housing boom never regarded their stay as permanent. Thus, they have minimal concern for the condition of their towns or the welfare of other residents. As Linskey correctly notes, their paychecks are “leaving this little community, not building it.’’

There are certainly concerned Latinos who have made permanent homes, but the evidence is that most new workers are transient. Signs of disregard are rampant, and the result is a decimation of the communities. As growth slows, temporary workers depart for the next high-growth county. They leave behind a swath of damaged properties, abandoned businesses, depressed property values, and weakened local economies.

The core problem is neither illegal immigration nor racial percentage. It is certainly not a so-called Hispanic issue. Most people I know do not care about being in the minority, but they care a great deal about living in a ruined community. And most Latinos I know agree with those sentiments.

Tom Johnson

McDonough, Ga.