Slow down tax breaks on projects
Chattanooga finally has a good housing PILOT program. Three good projects have been submitted since the new program began (Chestnut Flats, Jaycee Tower, Woodlawn Apartments). Good. The Berke administration has chosen a very aggressive schedule for getting these tax breaks before the City Council for approval. Not so good.
Accountability for Taxpayer Money believes that the Jaycee Tower and the Woodlawn Apartments projects are complex enough to warrant an independent review by someone with expertise in their various funding sources. This week both projects are on either the City Council or housing bond board agenda. ATM recommends the Berke administration seek thirdparty opinions and that the City Council and housing board postpone action pending the reports.
Previous tax break agreements have done a great job of ensuring that companies receiving the tax breaks got a good deal. They have done a poor job of protecting the public interest. We have not done a good enough job of making sure we can hold the companies to what they promised.
We need an independent look at the proposed agreements submitted by developers' attorneys to ensure they protect the public interest.
- Helen Burns Sharp
Founder, Accountability
for Taxpayer Money
No vote for Trump is vote for Clinton
When Gov. Haslam came out against Donald Trump, it made me wonder if he is a true conservative. He is telling me he wants another four years of Obama's agenda. All these so-called Republicans who are not supporting the Republican candidate should be voted out of office. Of course, our governor is not concerned since he is not up for re-election.
It appears the Republicans and Democrats do not want change in the country. A no vote for Trump is a vote for Hillary. Doesn't take a genius to figure that out. Do you really think Hillary has not made many comments in private? There were 36,000 emails destroyed. What are the chances many of those had comments a lot worse than any Trump has made? The Democratic candidate, in my opinion, is a thief, liar and a world class deceiver. If you want to see what kind of person she really is, just read how she treated the White House staff and Secret Service when Bill Clinton was in office. Trump may not be the ideal candidate, but I am willing to take a chance on him.
- Jerry Walls
Let's get moving on a new CSLA
Thank goodness funds have been found to finally be able to do away with those unsightly portable toilets littering the landscape at East Hamilton School athletic fields.
The students and faculty should benefit greatly as will the students and faculty of Ooltewah High School now that they have been given the money to purchase their much-needed striping machine.
Perhaps someone in authority could take a walk through our Blue Ribbon/National School of Excellence, the Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts. Despite the deplorable physical conditions, the teachers and staff continue to turn out superior students who love learning. Imagine what could be done with a safe new building. Jay Greeson, we need you to take an interest in and report on this situation!
- Loretta Lankford