As a city resident and voter, I'm very concerned that our property values are not a priority. The enforcement of existing codes allows vacant properties and abandoned vehicles become eyesores.

I also see a lot of resources devoted to the "tourism" areas. We get it. Visitors will spend more money in nice places. But living just outside of the North Chattanooga glamour area, we're overlooked but pay our taxes.

Mayor Berke seems like a smart man with all the right friends. I just hope his time in office serves the taxpayer and not his friends.

On the question about the most powerful person, I'm getting jaded as a twenty-something-year-old. I have always wanted to see the ones who work the hardest to do good things as most powerful. I'm seeing the same group involved in many of the big money projects making big money. I sure hope our local government isn't their inside bank account. Especially since so many taxpayers like me don't see value added to my neighborhood.

Another lesson I've learned from each of you-I never want to be known as such an angry, hate-spewing person as each of you. I also never want to associate in any way with people who hate someone instead of simply disagreeing.

So, since I don't support your hatred I know you want to shut me up, too. I get it. You're all about individual rights as long as they are just like yours.

Well, I've learned from the comments on this article that there are those more interested in personal attacks and partisanship than honesty.

Thanks for telling on yourself.

I've also learned that whoever this lady is must have some clout because the level of hatred against her isn't directed toward people who just go along in the local good ole boy system.

Again, thanks for telling on yourself.

Facts is a whole lot nicer man and definitely more gracious. I'm going to be the best Christian I can be. I'm not willing to insult the One I believe in and actually have hope in more than myself. I'm not going to insult you for what you believe.

For an almost 30-something year-old, here's my statement: I'm not perfect. I need some power stronger than my weaknesses. I'm going to choose to be a Christian.

Do whatever you want. It is your choice.

Give it up, Facts and any other Christian trying to talk with these angry haters. I shared a house with two hater guys that gave me my share of crap for trying to be a Christian.

Now, they've both lost their jobs from failing drug tests, one's got his "girlfriend" pregnant and the other's blaming everyone but himself for losing this job. It was the second time to be fired in just over 6 months.

But I'm the freak for having standards and discipline. I'm also the only one of the 3 employed and paying rent.

I've also learned these guys hate me because I'm not screwing up my life to match theirs.

My dad says I'm growing up.

From the crime and activity I've seen in my North Chattanooga neighborhood, I'd say personal responsibility and accountability are EXACTLY the beginnings of either heading in the right or wrong direction. And those are individual choices whether poor, rich, educated, uneducated, etc. I'm one for standing for no gangs. But we'll see who's for keeping the excuses alive under the label of racism, intolerance, and wanting governments to control the situation, not families. I guess Judge Lila Statom's "Clueless" too according to the worldly, superior previous commenter.

I guess Bob Corker's a propagandist by your progressive standard. http://www.chattanoogan.com/2013/3/17/246821/Corker-Well-Know-Obama-Is-Serious.aspx It seems that Mrs. Smith said exactly the same thing Senator Bob Corker just said. It's funny that the extreme left just wants everyone on a government program not making their own success.

I'm not a right-winger yet. But the progressives I run with a wasting so much time smoking marijuana, playing on social media and losing their jobs, I'm learning their policies grow out of their dislike for work. As a twenty-something-year old, I'd never hire a single one of my peers and those who are influencing them. So, maybe you're helping turn my generation into right-wingers.

When your streets in your neighborhoods don't have sidewalks, street lights, and there's been 4 break-ins in the last 2 weeks, the city providing "culture" for tourists and those who with such high intellect seems like a lower priority.
But, when you live in the area patroled more because of tourism and you have gated communities, you want more of the same. Nevermind the taxpayers out here in Stuart Heights, Lupton City, and Hixson. We don't have a voice in our needs.
And this paper is as guilty as any. The left side's always for the elite not the average guy like me. The right side seems say you're for the little guy but end up giving power to the same politicians because of ideology rather than reality. When I can afford it, moving.

I live right off Hixson Pike in the Stuart Heights precinct. Because the Crutchfield machine won in my district with the Kinsey-Hays-Crutchfields candidate of Jerry Mitchell, nothing will change.
Unlike a few districts that got a real representative, our area just got a political hack who seems untouchable.
But the rich folks on the river want to protect their own, so we get what they want.