Good parking key to active riverfront
When Chattanoogans were asked to support the redevelopment of downtown Chattanooga, we did. We visited the Aquarium and the Creative Discovery Museum.
We ate at the downtown restaurants. We attended the festivals and other events that made the new downtown area so popular. As the popularity of downtown increased, developers built condos and hotels, so some people might live downtown and tourists would come to our city. As time went along, the only public parking near Ross’s Landing is the CARTA parking garage, the parking garage behind Hennen’s and the lone parking lot below AT&T field next to the Olgiati Bridge.
River City Company is planning to develop the Hawk Hill area, including the parking lot. Without that lot, Chattanooga would not have public parking just steps from Ross’s Landing and the river. Without the parking lot, many events would not be able to be held because the staging area would be gone.
I don’t want Chattanooga to be like Memphis, St. Louis, Nashville or other cities that have lost access to their riverfronts. Without easy parking, people won’t drive from Ooltewah, East Brainerd or Hixson to enjoy events.
Having access to the river is what Chattanooga has always had. Hear our voices.
George Patten
Hixson
Literacy, books critical for kids
As we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I am reminded of his dream for equality and opportunity for all.
As the owner of a Little Free Library, I see how much kids love finding books that inspire them.
Please join me in advocating for literacy for all kids because every child deserves a chance to dream big. You can help me advocate for literacy by publishing stories about the importance of reading and how free access to books, like at Little Free Libraries, help kids like me.
Violet Lee
Third-grader and Brownie Scout
Will’s right: Stand by for ‘heavy rolls’
Some days George Will is simply spot on. This is certainly the case in the opinion piece published on the Free Press opinion page on Jan. 8. In this opinion, Mr. Will, with whom I frequently disagree, presented two of the forefront governmental interlopers of the Trump administration as the arrogant, egomaniacal manipulators that they are — Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy.
Though he mentions both of these arrogant egomaniacs initially, Mr. Will focuses on Elon Musk. I highly recommend that all readers of the TFP seek out and read this commentary. He points out to readers that Musk posted a flurry of condemnations onto his social media platform decrying the continuing resolution last month. This caused Republicans throughout Congress to quiver in fear and reverse the bipartisan deal avoiding a government shut down. He also points out how Mr. Musk identifies himself as the voice of the American people. If that were not bad enough, Musk went on to equate himself with God.
Mr. Will does a great job illustrating how the kleptocracy of Donald Trump is settling in for four years of insanity, thievery and mayhem. Strap in folks, the circus the majority selected is about to get underway. In stormy seas aboard the destroyer that I served on, the announcement would come across the main communication system: “Stand by for heavy rolls.”
Robert Landry