The most memorable quotes in the Chattanooga Times Free Press for May 24-30.
“Any kind of intercity rail doesn’t happen without large-scale federal investment. It’s pretty clear that the federal government is not in a position right now to do large-scale infrastructure investments.”
— Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke on the fading likelihood of a long-wished-for Chattanooga-to-Atlanta bullet train
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“I feel like I can finally start to get to know my daughter.”
— Will McBryer, after a judge said his infant daughter, Tobi, should be placed in her grandmother’s custody. Tobi was taken at birth from Will and Diana McBryer by a social worker after Diana exhibited post-partum depression.
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“I’m not surprised.”
— Hamilton County Schools Superintendent Rick Smith, after County Mayor Jim Coppinger said he would not raise property taxes to fund $34 million in school system improvements Smith had proposed
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“I’ve always said time and time again that it would only be … a last resort to raise property taxes.”
— Mayor Jim Coppinger, explaining his decision
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“We’re doing all the recruiting we can, but it’s very difficult right now to get enough of the right people for all of the available jobs.”
— Mark Campbell, owner of Manpower staffing franchise, on the tightening labor market