Got a comment on one of my editorials, one of the commentaries on this page or a story in this newspaper? If so, I’d like to hear from you and perhaps include our dialogue in this space in our Saturday paper. In the meantime, here are my thoughts on a few things happening in our area this week.
City up 10,000 since 2020
The United States Census Bureau released its 2024 population estimates for state, cities and counties this week, and they show Chattanooga with a population of 191,496, up more than 3,000 residents from 2023 and almost 10,000 residents from 2020.
It also shows Clarksville has crept within less than 6,000 of the Scenic City’s population and Murfreesboro at 168,387. In addition, the gap between Knoxville and Chattanooga has narrowed, with the former’s smaller growth now putting that city at 198,722.
The estimates show Hamilton County’s 2024 population estimate at 386,256, up almost 20,000 people since 2020 and up almost exactly 5,000 from 2023.
Here’s your sign
It’s hard to imagine it’s been 30 years since comedian Bill Engvall recorded his debut album, “Here’s Your Sign.” The phrase referred to his statement in his comedy bits that stupid people should have to wear warning signs that state “I’m stupid” so that no one will ask them anything or rely on them.
To me, there’s nothing funny about vehicle break-ins, but I had to pause when I read this newspaper’s report about the recent rash of them. In that report were the facts that at least a quarter of the reported thefts occurred with an unlocked vehicle or one with the keys or key fobs left inside. Push-button ignitions are useless when the key fob is not nearby, but when it’s right in the car it’s an open invitation.
Guns are usually the most sought-after items in car break-ins, but most thieves are not discriminatory. If they can make use of something or sell it or pawn it, they’ll take it.
We’ve said it before in this space, but if more vehicle owners would lock their doors and leave nothing worth stealing in sight, law enforcement would have a good bit less crime to investigate.
Here’s your sign.
Who has orange barrel concession?
Only three years ago, Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) officials announced that the widening of Interstate 24 around Moccasin Bend would start in 2024. Thankfully, it did not. Imagine, if you can, that project fouling local driving at the same time as the three current interstate projects on I-24 and I-75.
But take heart. In 2027, the same year the third of the three local interstate projects (the Hamilton Place exit/entrance ramps) is supposed to be finished, work on I-24 around Moccasin Bend is slated to begin.
When TDOT first announced the 2022 start for the project, pay-to-drive choice lanes were not in the picture. Now they are, as the area is supposedly second on the list to get them after the Murfreesboro-Nashville corridor.
With the current interstate projects, motorists have plenty of corridors — though much slower — to get through the city. With the Moccasin Bend project, the only alternative — other than driving up and over Lookout Mountain — is Highway 41, which skirts the side of Lookout Mountain. When the interstate is blocked, trust me. You don’t want to be in the slow crawl of cars on the old highway. I’ve been there and done that and don’t want the T-shirt.
Public meetings at the Chattanooga Public Library from 5-7 p.m. on July 8 and at John A. Patten Community Center from 5-7 p.m. on July 10 are expected to offer more information.
And maybe one day the McCallie Tunnel lights project will be completed. If it is anything like the Wilcox Tunnel, it will be worth the wait. The latter tunnel is the brightest I’ve ever seen it.
Banking on land bank
Eleven years ago, the Andy Berke mayoral administration created a land bank and, according to newspaper archives, said 21 blighted properties out of almost 300 acquired by the city would be transformed into usable and affordable rental units by the fall of 2014.
It didn’t happen.
Last year, officials from the Tim Kelly mayoral administration said they would seek proposals for a group of parcels in the land bank in the hopes of distributing them at the start of this year.
Finally, the first project on a piece of property in the land bank is underway, and a Cleveland, Tennessee, modular home builder has met requirements to develop a lot on a property in Alton Park. Another 30 pieces of property are being examined, city officials said.
Both the Berke administration a decade ago and the Kelly administration this decade have complained about how slow the gears of government can grind.
It’s a shame, though, that it seems where governments need more regulation, they seldom have it, and where they need less, as in making it easier to offer affordable housing, they do.