Berke's comments need amplification
Saturday's TFP article on President Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord detailed comments from Chattanooga's Mayor Berke.
He stated that Chattanooga was once deemed the dirtiest in the country and reverting back is simply unacceptable. He also stated that we will continue to "push forward" regardless of the stance of the current president."
Push forward with what? President Trump is not advocating reducing our current standards of environmental policies to keep our air clean and our water safe.
Two of the world's worst polluters, China and India, are exempted for more than a decade of reducing their CO2 emissions. Then how can the Paris Accord be a coalition of countries to combat "climate change"? Obama gave away billions of dollars to the accord. Which part of the world is cleaner because of those dollars given away?'
Does Mr. Berke really think that pulling out of the accord will cause Chattanooga to revert back to one of the country's dirtiest cities when the accord had absolutely nothing to do with the cleanup in the first place? I would like Mr. Berke to explain specifically how pulling out of the accord would affect Chattanooga in the slightest.
Gary Hayes, Ooltewah
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Proposed dog ordinance unneeded
As a responsible dog owner, I am extremely concerned about the effects of Jasper's proposed ordinance aimed at "pit bull type" dogs.
Breed-specific restrictions and ordinances treat innocent dog owners as criminals when they have committed no offense. Where are the evaluations of existing laws?
How is placing the blame on one breed vs. enforcing the ordinance in place going to protect the safety of people/children in Jasper? Breed-specific legislation is unjust, cruel to animals and will drain on the city's budget. It is unacceptable that our elected officials waste city funds on measures that have been proven to be ineffective.
I urge the elected city officials to rescind the proposed breed-specific ordinance and focus instead on the animal ordinance in place and how to better enforce it. I do understand the need to protect children and citizens, but I am asking you to realize any dog can be dangerous.
If this ordinance passes, I will not subject my dogs to these requirements. We will gladly leave the city my family members are not welcome in.
Jessica Huggins, Jasper, Tenn.
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Use common sense to fix illegal immigration
I have a plan, which if enacted, would solve our illegal immigration problem while protecting children born here of illegal parents, provide more jobs for our citizens and reduce funding for welfare.
First, close our border with Mexico, building the wall if that is what it takes. Then deport all illegals who have no children born here. For those who have children, give them a window in which to become naturalized citizens, with heavy fines if they fail to do so.
Next, offer the jobs they have been doing to able-bodied persons on welfare. If they refuse, cut off their assistance. If the job doesn't pay as much as they have been receiving on welfare, continue making up the difference.
It's just common sense, which seems to be lacking in Washington.
Robert Lee Rayburn