People who had a way with words in the news last week:
“His voice may be gone, but his messages of faith, perseverance and hope remain timeless. The train he once sang about in ‘People Get Ready’ is still rolling, carrying forward the ideals he helped set in motion, reminding the world that change, justice and unity are always within reach.”
— Marco Ferri, a McCallie junior, reading an obituary he and another student wrote for Samuel Gooden, a member of The Impressions and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee.
“I’m not your typical developer. I am proud of what I build because I want to use it, and it’s not something that I just want to flip and move out of town. … There’s nothing wrong with flipping something and moving out of town, but it’s not my style. Other people can do that.”
— Claudia Pullen talking about her philosophy as a developer. Pullen is the developer behind Station 33, a high-profile, multiuse project planned off South Broad Street.
“I’m excited about all this, a little wary. If current office holders are not going to be undermined by a star chamber, and we will support whoever runs for office, I think that’s fantastic.”
— Bill Thomas, Hamilton County Pachyderm Club member, about the new county GOP leadership.
“We don’t tolerate that kind of unprovoked violence in our community. You cross that state line from Tennessee thinking you can bring violence into Georgia, you’re going to find out real quick.”
— District Attorney Clayton Fuller in a statement on Samantha Hyatte of Dayton, who was sentenced to 30 years in prison after breaking into a Catoosa County home brandishing a pair of hedge clippers.
“One thing that you’ll notice as you start getting into advocacy of any sort or running for office is that you will immediately have a bunch of people tell you, ‘That’s not the way it goes. You got to stand in line. You need to talk to old so-and-so. Have you been to the so-and-so? How long have you been in the so-and-so? 100 years? Well, that’s not long enough. Wait your turn. Go through the proper channels.’ Maybe go through once for courtesy. And set a timer. That time will have been wasted, and now you can start going through the improper channels to get things done.”
— Brandon Lewis of the Tennessee Conservative, speaking at a political organizing workshop at Chattanooga’s Calvary Chapel.
“Y’all see what’s going on. When people come outside early in the morning, in the dark, with booty shorts on running their dogs, you already know that it’s coming. Right? It’s no secret.”
— Chattanooga City Council Member Demetrus Coonrod on gentrification in Eastdale.
“We got a chance to speak to them and remind these young people that they are our future. We’re looking at their eyes and asking them about their dreams and their aspirations. To hear them, they want to be doctors, they want to be police, they want to be lawyers, one wants to be president, who knows, maybe one will want to be governor of Tennessee. The beauty is we get a chance to remind them they are created for greatness.”
— Manny Ohonme, president and cofounder of global nonprofit Samaritan’s Feet, which provides free shoes and socks to children and adults.
“I hate to say this, but (gentrification is) the new Trail of Tears for African Americans,”
— Audrey Ramsey in a phone interview about the Glass Street/Chamberlain Avenue Democracy in Action protest.
“I think there’s absolutely things we’ll all miss (about AT&T Field), but I’ve got to tell you, I’m super excited about the opportunity to miss some of these things.”
— Rich Mozingo, Chattanooga Lookouts president, about the team moving to its new stadium.
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