Northpoint the 'bumpiest'

LETTERS TO THE EDITORS

Northpoint the 'bumpiest'

Northpoint Boulevard ,which connects Hixson Pike and Highway 153, is probably one of the shortest streets in Hamilton County. It also is probably one of the most highly traveled streets in Hamilton County and has to be one of the bumpiest, potholed and poorest maintained streets in Hamilton County.

When I see paving crews working on streets that do not even need resurfacing and then think of Northpoint Boulevard, which just gets a few buckets of paving thrown in the potholes and bumps, which does nothing but make it bumpier, it really is frustrating that no attention is directed at his highly traveled street.

It would probably only take one night to resurface this highly traveled street and save many cars from realignments due to the "bumpiest street in Hamilton County." Why can't Northpoint Boulevard be resurfaced ... soon?

LARRY HARPER

Soddy-Daisy

Outdoor recreation boosts economy

As our nation and Congress begin to talk seriously about which programs will be on the chopping block, we need to reassess the cost and economic benefits of those things that receive federal dollars. We also need to invest in programs that will create jobs for our country and help build a sustainable economy.

The outdoor recreation sector is one such thing. Not only is outdoor recreation something that every one of us can enjoy, but it pumps $730 billion into our economy every year, $239 billion of which is direct retail sales. Outdoor recreation also generates $88 billion annually in federal and state tax revenue. This is money that can be used to balance our budgets.

Investing in and protecting our public lands (like Tennessee's Cherokee National Forest) supports 6.5 million jobs directly related to recreation, including 67,000 jobs across Tennessee. Outdoor recreation also has the potential to create many thousands of new jobs with continued investment; these jobs are based in tourism and natural resources and therefore cannot be exported, making it something that needs to be protected and expanded, not cut.

JEFF HUNTER

Director, Tennessee Wild Southern Appalachian Forest Coalition

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