Fire Page; mayor must follow rules
I agree with David Cook's assessment as stated in his commentary (Sept. 22), Mr. Paul Page should be released from his position with the City of Chattanooga.
It is obvious from the city's own findings in 2008 and the recent verification by the EEOC that Mr. Page has a pattern of sexual harassment. The victim's testimony implies the mayor conducts himself similarly. I do not know of any official complaint filed against the mayor for sexual harassment, but I do know that employees rarely persist in a negative behavior, unless it is condoned and supported by their superiors. By his failure to act appropriately on this issue, Mayor Ron Littlefield becomes a party to it, and by default approves the actions of Mr. Page.
Ron Littlefield should take brisk action to dismiss Mr. Page, settle with the victim and be an aggressive supporter of the sexual harassment policy that the City of Chattanooga has in place.
KAY BOYD
Signal Mountain
Women watching city action on Page
The fact that Paul Page still has a job with the city is a true sign that the "boys club" continues to rule our local government. Considering the mounting allegations against Page and with his being defended by city officials, we have no reason to think otherwise. This is a real violation of trust for all the women of Chattanooga. We entrust our representatives to manage in an unbiased manner and to respect the emotional impact on women when harassed sexually. We expect them to not accept any excuse for predatory behavior nor to utilize technicalities to dismiss women who have the courage to come forward when work conditions become unbearable.
The women of Chattanooga are watching how our city officials manage these cases. Thus far, we are very disappointed. We need to know that safe, comfortable work environments for women are important. It is our city officials' second job to see that the citizenry follow rules and ordinances, thus, making their first job to set the highest standards, to include respectful compliance for statutes governing equal opportunity.
Resignation or dismissal are the only acceptable solutions, and for sending the right message that sexual harassment will not be tolerated at any level.
ANGELIA STINNETT
Red Bank
Corker's wealth and destruction
I see from your front page (Sept. 22) where our two Tennessee senators are "not hurting for cash," Mr. Corker being worth between $21.18 million and $100 million, the 14th wealthiest among 535 members of Congress.
This reminds me of how some of this great wealth may have flowed his way, his influence as Chattanooga mayor, and the local prominence he enjoyed.
Frequently walking the Brainard levee, I witnessed how acres of valuable wildlife wetlands were destroyed to make way for the four-lane access road along South Chickamauga creek from Brainard Road to the latest Walmart shopping mall.
Oh, we were given justification for this destruction, involving some kind of wetlands swap with another area in the county. Previously occupying the area was the expansive golf course and existing rows of office buildings. A close second to this tragic destruction is that one person supposedly benefited so much at society's loss. This is not meant to be partisan.
GLEN MOULTRIE