Help protect national parks
For years our national parks have been protected under laws such as the Antiquities Act and Wilderness Act, but the new Trump administration could easily alter those laws, causing devastating consequences for our parks.
Standing up for the environment helps ensure that wildlife is protected and the parks have adequate funding for care and maintenance. Not only are we protecting wildlife and nature, but we are also ensuring our ability to hike, kayak, mountain bike, climb and camp in a healthy and clean environment.
I want to encourage everyone to call your local senators and make your voice heard on this issue.
Alison Moon
Ooltewah
Maglev train just a high-priced fantasy
I was surprised to read in a recent TFP article that a mayoral hopeful was flaming Mayor Andy Berke for not being in favor of allotting more than $1 million for a continuing study of a high-speed train between Chattanooga and Atlanta.
Rather than criticizing the mayor, he should be praising him for using common sense about a project that is pure fantasy. Just because they have high-speed trains in Asian countries does not mean it would be feasible in our area.
With the estimate of a trillion dollars on military and maybe another trillion on highways, bridges, airports and dams, do you think Congress would approve a large expenditure on a fast-speed train that would have to be heavily subsidized in the same way Amtrak is being rescued by the government?
It is nice to dream about maglev trains, and it might be feasible in some other parts of the country, but faced with all the problems with the terrain and astronomical expense, it would be throwing good money after bad to finance any further studies.
Gene Blaes
District 8 voters should choose Byrd
I have followed politics since elementary school, and I have never seen anyone like Anthony Byrd run for office.
Anthony is not your typical politician; he is a public servant. He loves everybody and he truly cares about their opinions. He is one of the most humble people I have ever met.
Tom Kunesh and Anthony Byrd have great plans for the city, and I honestly wish that both of them could be elected, but since we can only pick one, that one should be Anthony Byrd. He is fed up with the exorbitant amount of crime in Chattanooga, and he is deeply saddened by the low level of home ownership in his district.
Anthony wants to audit the VRI and scrap every part that has failed; he wants to help create better-paying jobs through the expansion of vocational programs; and he wants to freeze property taxes on seniors to help them keep their homes. Anthony and Kunesh both want to save Lincoln Park. Incumbent Moses Freeman is a nice man, but it is time for new leadership in District 8. Anthony Byrd is the leader who can make life better for the Chattanooga community.
Alexander Ioannidis
Ooltewah