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Post by Walker, Texas Ranger on Oct 27, 2009 23:09:47 GMT -5
I will be interviewing Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield Wednesday about a variety of issues, mainly metro government and annexation.
What questions do you folks want to know his answers to?
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joedog
Senior Forumite
Posts: 2,830
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Post by joedog on Oct 28, 2009 5:45:12 GMT -5
How is this going to affect current city employees and their shortened payroll due to lack of funding this past year.
You may have to reword it. but I am trying to say if you cant pay the current staff what was promised how can you afford to provide services to the new areas.
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Post by vanstheman on Oct 28, 2009 6:32:15 GMT -5
In the grand scheme of things this may not be a big deal but it bothers the hell outta me.
Oneof the reasons that Coolidge Park was built was for citizens to gather and recreate while enjoying an unimpeded,full view of the downtown and it's wonderful vista.The permanent docking ofThe Delta Queen has taken all that away so we have one more "notch" on our "tourist belt".
From my observances on my weekly bike rides and walks it's pretty much a ghost town on water during the off-seasons--what is the benefit -what is the trade-off for this "tourist dollar"? What a shame.
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Post by gridbug on Oct 28, 2009 6:43:14 GMT -5
Boxers or briefs?
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goomba
Global Moderator
Straight Shooter
I am the Security God of Conventions. I am everywhere, but nowhere to be found.
Posts: 2,403
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Post by goomba on Oct 28, 2009 7:49:45 GMT -5
did the aliens give him an anal probe?
why is it that he keeps putting off the pay raises that the city has promised its police department? I know of one rookie who is making as much as an 8 year Officer with an exemplary record. Why is this?
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Post by coffeeshooter on Oct 28, 2009 10:13:36 GMT -5
Gary, is this going to be on the radio? or in print?
My question is what joedog said. Plus, how any annexation or metro plan effects city surplus funds.
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Oct 28, 2009 11:11:07 GMT -5
Why did he pay $250,000.00+ for a pay study and completely throw out the results in favor of ANOTHER pay study that cost the City and ADDITIONAL $75,000.00? The second pay study came up with the same conclusions as the first, except (surprise, surprise) the second study said police weren't as underpaid as the first study figures showed. When will he implement the suggestions for either study?
Why does he do everything in his power to hurt the police department? Examples: not giving pay increases that TWO studies prove are needed; not allowing funds for promotions and pay-grade increases, while the fire department continues to get them; not providing funds for academies yet having the fire department hold 2 back-to-back this year alone; continued attempts to raid our pension fund (which is in better shape, has more funds/less people to cover, and is run more openly/professionally that the City's General Pension Fund); attempting to cut/eliminate all overtime for ONLY police officers as was proposed 2 weeks ago by the Mayor and Dan Johnson....
When, exactly, will the next police academy take place? What is the Mayor's plan for police coverage for the City (not to mention the annexed areas) since there seem to be no acadamies scheduled for the next year? Where does he plan to get more police officers to fill in for those retiring/leaving? How do these actions fit into his plan to "increase police officer numbers to 500 sworn officers" when he can't even maintain 400 at the current rate of attrition?
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www.nooganews.com
Full Member
Visit www.nooganews.com for Chattanooga's News!
Posts: 190 
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Post by www.nooganews.com on Oct 28, 2009 11:19:50 GMT -5
Gary, since Ron is a very good friend of Marti Rutherford, my question I would like answered is...
Does he live in the city he represents or does he just have a rental house here?
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Post by daworm on Oct 28, 2009 13:03:25 GMT -5
Ask him how many families can afford to by art, and what makes him think that the city can afford to do so in these times. Sure, when we're flush, you can afford luxuries like public art, but when you're considering taking away the already underpaid police officer's take home cars to save money, spending $100,000 a year on the crap they call "art" around here is ridiculous.
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Bob
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Bird Geek
Posts: 7,029
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Post by Bob on Oct 28, 2009 13:35:23 GMT -5
to comment on Worm's comment. The problem with the art is the amount spent, WHO is spending it and WHO is getting the money. Does our mayor think the art community in Chattanooga is too"backward" ? Why does a private sector gallery have to lead the drive to promote local artists? Ask him if he's ever been to Eastgate Towncenter to look at the work on diplay by local artists?
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Post by daworm on Oct 28, 2009 13:51:05 GMT -5
Sorry, I know you are an artist and so is your wife, but in down times, from the public coffers, I'll pay police over artists any day. We can live, for a while, without art (bleak as that may be), but you won't make it very long without police. And even then, its not like we don't already have public art already on display, we can go a year or two without adding more.
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Post by ohwell on Oct 28, 2009 14:00:21 GMT -5
Wanna talk about bleak??? My husband lost his job, laid off. Then, we found out that he has cancer. Don't talk to me about bleak. If the city of Chattanooga tries to annex the part of Hamilton County I live in, I will sue them for taxation without representation. I am tired of the rick getting richer and the poor getting poorer, and the damn illegal immigrants getting it all for free.
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Post by jester on Oct 28, 2009 14:55:42 GMT -5
I'd like to know if the city is really paying the Chamber of Commerce $450,000 a year.
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Bob
Global Moderator
Bird Geek
Posts: 7,029
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Post by Bob on Oct 28, 2009 15:21:45 GMT -5
Not that art is more important than the police, all I meant was $100k is way too much. The community arts should get some (granted lower priority) money. (but can we cut back on $20k for a wire bound pile of rocks?)
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Post by coffeeshooter on Oct 28, 2009 15:29:11 GMT -5
to comment on Worm's comment. The problem with the art is the amount spent, WHO is spending it and WHO is getting the money. Does our mayor think the art community in Chattanooga is too"backward" ? Why does a private sector gallery have to lead the drive to promote local artists? Ask him if he's ever been to Eastgate Towncenter to look at the work on diplay by local artists?
oohh .. good question Bob! |
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Post by Justin Thyme on Oct 28, 2009 15:54:48 GMT -5
Ask him how he feels about the rumor that he raped, tortured and murdered a teenage girl in 1983. Not that any of us believe that there is any truth to that rumor but something that serious needs to be discussed in public.
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JC
Full Forumite
No Messiah
Posts: 1,919
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Post by JC on Oct 28, 2009 18:11:05 GMT -5
In the grand scheme of things this may not be a big deal but it bothers the hell outta me. Oneof the reasons that Coolidge Park was built was for citizens to gather and recreate while enjoying an unimpeded,full view of the downtown and it's wonderful vista.The permanent docking ofThe Delta Queen has taken all that away so we have one more "notch" on our "tourist belt". From my observances on my weekly bike rides and walks it's pretty much a ghost town on water during the off-seasons--what is the benefit -what is the trade-off for this "tourist dollar"? What a shame. I agree. Its gotten to the point where I wont go there anymore because of all the traffic,and parking problems associated with the Delta Queen. |
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Bryan Stone
Full Forumite
I'll give it six months.
Posts: 1,993
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Post by Bryan Stone on Oct 28, 2009 19:27:33 GMT -5
you get all that gary?
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Post by Tsavodiner on Oct 28, 2009 19:35:23 GMT -5
Ask him how he feels about the rumor that he raped, tortured and murdered a teenage girl in 1983. Not that any of us believe that there is any truth to that rumor but something that serious needs to be discussed in public. Third term?  |
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Post by cheffey on Oct 29, 2009 15:14:58 GMT -5
When will he start hiring for the new Director of General Services?
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