Golf courses bring revenue for city
Council members need to learn the facts before speaking.
Upon reading Councilwoman Debra Scott’s “solution” of selling one of the golf courses to fix the city’s money problems, I was left wondering if she or any other council members even have a clue about what goes on around them.
Why would the city sell the only revenue-producing entities it owns and keep all of the others that lose money every year?
Brown Acres and Brainerd golf courses give the city $100,000 each year from their revenues, while the Champions Club tennis center loses about $300,000 each year, and it looks like the zoo costs the taxpayers about $500,000 each year.
The golf courses don’t use any taxpayer money and aren’t part of the general fund so there shouldn’t be any discussion about selling them. They even pay their own salaries. Who else in the city can say that? How do these people get elected?
BOB KENDALL
Is Benson not listening?
The July 7 issue of the Times Free Press reported that City Councilman Jack Benson said, “I want to know where you can cut the budget?” after he voted to increase real estate taxes by 19 percent.
This is a strange statement as Mr. Benson was at the City Council budget meeting when Councilwoman Deborah Scott presented a well-developed, comprehensive, balanced budget that would have served Chattanooga very well without a real estate tax increase.
Is it possible that Benson has a short-term memory problem or perhaps he does not want to accept responsibility for his vote.
MARVIN STONE
Fields will provide fiscal responsibility
As early voting approaches July 16 for the Hamilton County election, I urge the District 2 voters to support the candidacy of Republican Jim Fields for commissioner.
His conservative views will ensure that his actions will always support fiscal responsibility and limited government.
Jim has served his church and community in many ways but now desires to serve in public office. He is a Navy veteran and has been an attorney for 25 years.
Please vote for Jim Fields as Hamilton County commissioner from District 2 in the early voting or in the general election on Aug, 5.
ANSLEY H. MOSES
Lookout Mountain
Behler can help troubled youth
The office of Juvenile Court clerk should not be an invisible office, but a source of help for troubled youth and families who are failing.
Records can be filed, schedules set, hearings recorded and the youth in trouble passed through the system by a “well-oiled machine,” or be dealt with by a person with proven expertise, concern and dedication to detect the warning signs and work with the Juvenile Court to turn those young lives around.
You have the opportunity on Aug. 5 to place Gary Behler in that office. You could not find a more qualified and proven individual: Sixteen years dealing with youth as director of programs for Bethel Bible, 10 years in adult correction for CCA and faculty administrator at the Bureau of Prisons in North Carolina; operations director at First Things First, and adjunct professor of criminal justice at UTC.
Gary Behler has worked to salvage troubled youth, heal dysfunctional families, rehabilitate failed adults and better acquaint students with the criminal justice system. If my family were in trouble, I would want this caring touch and not an impersonal “well oiled machine.” Gary Behler has dedicated his life to reaching out to others.
BOBBY WOOD
Harrison
Elect Fleischmann to stop distrust
It looks as if some in the Republican establishment have attempted to anoint Robin Smith as our next congressman. To quote Richard Wilson, a professor of political science at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, “my feeling is Robin Smith is well-connected with many prominent people in the Republican organization in the 3rd District.”
I would like our next congressman to represent the average, conservative Republican of the 3rd District; not the Republican Party establishment.
Isn’t it time we elect someone who is more interested in listening to the concerns and ideas of the people rather than getting endorsements from political bosses? Isn’t it time we realize that a person whose loyalties are to the Republican Party establishment rather than to the people have only two interests at heart: the Republican Party establishment and their ambition. By electing Robin Smith, you will be continuing the distrust we all have in Washington.
It is time to shift the power back into the hands of the people. Electing Chuck Fleischmann will do just that.
PAM COLLINS
Cleveland, Tenn.
Georgians need McBerry in office
I feel that Ray McBerry is the man we need as Georgia’s governor.
He is pro life.
Pro gun. Ray opposes any infringement on law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms.
Ray is the only candidate for governor who takes a strong stance for states’ rights, understanding that the 10th Amendment is the final peaceful, constitutional solution to the federal intrusions into your daily life.
Ray seeks to abolish the state income tax and property tax.
Verify the citizenship of those registering to vote and remove electronic voting machines.
Will oppose any federal meddling of our water supply or any other natural resource.
Supports home schooling.
Want to know more? Go online to: www.GeorgiaFirst.org.
EDWARD LANGSTON
Rossville
Arizona border can be fun site
A request to Gov. Jan Brewer of Arizona. Let all White House staff and their families, including our commander in chief, have discounts to your parks on the border. Anyone who agrees with the new federal lawsuit against your state should also be included.
Family fun awaits you all. Hunting: you could hunt them big and small, and for the thrill seekers, you could become the hunted.
Recreational resources such as drugs. The variety would be endless, and I’m sure discounts could be arranged.
Big family? Lower your load, Arizona is the kidnapping capital in the states.
Take your family down here for a vacation to remember!
Ms. Brewer could add a bonus; have those lovely young men in berets meet them when entering the parks. Have a wooden sign that: “The Black Panther Party Welcomes All.” Wouldn’t it be great if all of Washington could go.
The next time you feel that this administration is not in your best interest, then think again. These discounts would be a way to say thanks for all you’ve done to us.
MICHAEL JOHNSON
Hixson
Sixties’ freeze did in the frogs
I noticed the article in the July 6 paper about the whereabouts of frogs. I can tell you their whereabouts!
In the year 1960 or 1961, we had a very hard freeze. The pine trees on Lookout Mountain froze! Also, the swimming pools had their drain pipes forced up out of the bottom of the pool! The ground froze about a foot down. This killed the frogs. The tree frogs froze under the bark on trees.
ROBERT LINDSEY
Public is losing patience with war
Your correspondents in their letters often denounce administrations operating in the red without mentioning among the worst on-going contributions to the deficit is the unnecessary and at times badly prosecuted wars.
War with Iraq, led at first by an “old, weak and contained Saddam” (Gen. Anthony Zinni), possessing neither WMD “or any delivery capability” (Gen. Brent Scowcroft), continues costing trillions in deficit.
Some true conservatives including George Will acknowledge that war against all of Afghanistan was a mistake. An appropriate response to the attack of Sept. 11, 2001, might well have been to focus on al-Qaida and getting Osama bin Laden in regions with proximity to Pakistan, a goal reasonable of attainment rather than a mission impossible.
While Afghanistan is presided over by an unreliable president with a corrupt brother, more than 7,000 of our soldiers have been killed or wounded and casualties are mounting.
This war continues longer than any in our history with the former commander in Afghanistan having admitted that neither our forces nor the enemy is winning. The public is running out of patience.
JOHN BRATTON
Sewanee, Tenn.
Arizona law bans racial profiling
Your July 8 editorial causes me to ask whether you have even read the law in question, or whether you merely read from some White House playbook. There are so many errors in your copy that I scarcely know where to begin.
You accuse Arizona of racial profiling, yet such is specifically prohibited in their law. In fact, the federal lawsuit does not even address this as an issue; they certainly would if it were so. The residence status of offenders will be addressed only when it becomes an issue as a result of a prior illegal act. You know that if you or I are discovered in the commission of a crime, we will be asked for identification; is it too much to expect the same of someone who might be an illegal alien?
The Arizona law mirrors the federal statute which is not being enforced by those who should be protecting the people of all states. How many thefts, how many rapes, how many murders by illegal aliens are acceptable to you? How long would you wait for the federal government to stem the tide of illegals across your own back yard? It’s past time for the feds to do their duty!
RONALD KOHLIN
Soddy-Daisy
Teen moms still need an education
I commend the Cleveland, Tenn., Family Resources Agency and David Kelley for the $1 million grant to help teenage mothers stay in school.
For 40 years I taught at an inner-city high school of 2,800 students. I am now, and always was, a champion of student success.
Many young women crossed my classroom door over the years who were pregnant or had a child previously. As a teacher of seniors, all were 17-18 years old. I appealed to them to finish their high school diploma and then go on to a field of training or college. Education is the key to having choices in life.
I hope this program creates successful, forward-moving young women who gain self-esteem and hope for a better future. Pregnancy in itself does not diminish mental capacity.
LYNNE HUMPHRIES
Hixson