One woman left behind for governor
Dear Clint [Cooper],
I appreciated your editorial that included so many Tennessee women who have made history (8/16), but I was sorry to see you only included Jerri Green and Marsha Blackburn as the gubernatorial candidates and left out [independent] Lauren Pinkston. When considering the choices, Lauren is the only one who can bring reason back to Tennessee. She has a doctorate in education, she has spent years rescuing women from trafficking and aiding them to become self-supporting, she is a mom of four and a doctor’s wife, as well as a seventh-generation Tennessee descendant of farmers. So she understands all the issues our state currently faces — education, healthcare, farmland, affordability, accountability — and has a plan for all of them. Jerri Green would face a legislature that would block her initiatives. Blackburn would not face any checks and balances. Only Lauren could build a coalition that can work toward solutions. Please consider including her in our options for the future of Tennessee.
Leesa Denison Merriman
Keep the Rant, ranter vet urges
I use the Rant column to help myself recover from PTSD received by serving in Iraq from Aug. 18, 2006 to Aug. 18, 2007. I was 57 years old during this time. The VA is aware of me doing this! When I send a rant in, I know at least one person will see and read it, and my voice will be heard, whether or not it’s even printed. I have been sending rants into the Rant column like this for seven years. Please don’t discontinue the Rant!
Joel Blake
Preserve at least dual local opinions
It is reassuring that the Chattanooga Times Free Press’s new owners have expressed commitment to the newspaper’s unique dual opinion pages.
That editorial format has allowed me to not only read political opinions with which I agree, but also to better understand opinions with which I disagree.
Saturday, Aug. 15, the editorial section was reduced from two pages to one page. As that single-page format was split into right and left halves, it was still easy to recognize the conservative versus liberal perspectives of its cartoons and most editorials. However, one editorial concerning intraparty differences within the Hamilton County GOP spanned both left and right sides of the page and was simply labeled as “Local.”
That commentary concluded with a sentence describing the HCGOP as defenders of “our conservative and principled way of life.” If read as addressing all Hamilton County citizens, that description seems to imply liberal voters lack “principled lives,” which I do not believe was the author’s intent. Rather, his piece appeared directed to a Republican audience. Such ambiguity can be avoided by using the prior two-page editorial format or within a one-page layout, labeling all editorials as conservative/right or liberal/left opinion pieces.
Patrick Lavin
Hixson
Better leadership needed on violence
I sent the following to Sens. Blackburn and Hagerty and Rep. Fleischmann:
“The leading cause of death for children in America is gun violence. I would like to know what you have proposed, or plan to propose to address this issue. Please note that I am not asking what you are not going to do (take away guns). I am not asking what you have supported that may or may not have impacted the issue (deportation). I am not asking what you support doing after the fact (harsher punishment). What is your plan to prevent gun violence from killing our children? If you have no plan, please be honest and say so.”
Sen. Blackburn responded by listing legislation she had supported which helped protect children in school, apparently believing that is the only place they are in danger. Rep. Fleischmann’s response listed things he was not going to do, showing he has the reading comprehension and temperament of an at-risk second grader. Sen. Hagerty did not respond, probably because the email wasn’t from Donald Trump or a campaign donor.
I would hope that if there is anything we can all agree on, it is that we should protect our children. We deserve better.
Al Ezzell
Paper feeling thin to longtime reader
It seems that the paper is much thinner in content today, especially the editorial page. Please restore to [its] former format. I always start my day with the paper, and now I can finish it with only one cup of coffee, not the usual two. Maybe I should consider the Tennessean.
FS Newman
Bring back two editorial pages
PLEASE return BOTH editorial pages every day. There were interesting and informative articles on both sides.
Isabel McGraw
Signal Mountain
Keep developers out of Ross’s Landing
As a city and county taxpayer of Chattanooga, I’m very disappointed that the city would sell out to developers at Ross’s Landing. This is our last bit of public space for our community to enjoy the many special events we host here. It should be protected park land and never touched by developers. We pay taxes to keep it for our use.
Tourism is big in this city, and we need all the parking we have to accommodate such events. When I heard that the landing was closing I had no idea of the city’s plans to sell to the highest bidder for our sacred park! Please do not do this. This is so disheartening to us who support this city park through taxes!
Listen to the locals and please do not allow this. And take no parking lots either, as we need every bit of parking for Ironman, the regattas, 3 Sisters and Riverfront Nights. To do this to the city park is devastating! I beg you to please say no.
Laurie Jo Raymond
Reader doesn’t recognize paper
In less than two weeks, my beloved paper has devolved into something I don’t even recognize. The op-ed pages are now one page, and the Sunday edition has the Sports, Region, and what’s left of the Life sections all jumbled together. The tipping point for me came when it was announced that the Rant will no longer be published. As a contributor to the Rant for many years, it was one of the things I looked forward to the most.
What next, letters to the editor are no longer published? This was one of the last printed newspapers in the country, and I’m afraid the new management will add this paper to the list. I tried calling the circulation department to cancel my subscription of over 40 years, but the line was busy with, I imagine, other lifelong subscribers saying farewell like me. The iPad that has been taking up space in my drawer is now available for pickup.
Ken Maury
Hixson
Local-only letters may miss mark
My wife and I moved to Chattanooga more than six years ago. We both love Chattanooga very much, and two of our three children and a bunch of grandchildren live here. I subscribed to the CTFP when I moved to Chattanooga. I have been a continuous subscriber since. Unfortunately, it looks like that is about to change.
The new ownership is showing itself to be restrictive to its readers, and narrow in its mission statement. I saw printed on the new opinion page restrictions that will apply to letters to the editor. These will narrow what letters will be considered for publication to those that address “local” issues.
Last month I wrote a letter to the editor discussing the ridiculous attacks against Dr. Fauci by Senate Republicans. I highlighted one senator’s utilization of raw vaccine adverse effects data to paint a picture of danger of a variety of vaccinations. I pointed out the damage the senator was initiating for the health and well-being of our country, and that includes Tennesseeans and Chattanoogans. Unlike all of my numerous previous submissions, this one was not printed. I suppose this reflects the new ownership’s mission.
My wife and I are discussing termination of our subscription. Certainly this is a sad situation.
Robert Landry
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