Friday, January 1, 1904
The June 23 Business section's feature article dealt with the out-migration of local residents from the Chattanooga Airport.
In the past I attempted to use our local airport, despite the higher cost and need for connecting flights. Arriving at the airport between 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. however, there often is very little available parking. One day, I arrived 50 minutes prior to my scheduled departure with checked bags and preprinted boarding pass in hand. No long-term parking spaces were available.
Despite the higher cost, I then drove to both the intermediate and short-term lots. No spaces there, either. With only 30 minutes until flight departure, with sweat pouring from my brow, I doubled back to the long-term lot, found a single open space, and ran to my plane.
Upon my return, I met with the new airport manager and was assured a parking garage was on the drawing board. Since then, I always have taken a taxi from my home to get there. However, considering the taxi fare, it makes more sense to take the airport shuttle to Atlanta or Nashville, save money on the airfare and avoid the change in planes that would be necessary from Chattanooga.
MICHAEL J. ZEMA
Richard Berman's op-ed on the Free Press page, "Employee freedom," piqued my interest. In short, Berman offers a poll indicating 28 percent of Tennessee workers would chose to leave their union if they knew they could.
This is misleading for several reasons. Those on the right who disdain unions often are in unions, and they eagerly receive good union pay and benefits. But righties are ignorant of the fact that if they leave their union they weaken it and, in return, contribute to their lesser economic well-being.
Indeed, unions have a ripple effect, e.g. they tend to raise wages of nonunion workers in neighboring companies. But sadly, it is true that unions are on the decline. Is the U.S. in a second Gilded Age of the robber barons? Just look to Wall Street greed.
But there is a ray of hope. A little over 100 years ago we entered "The Progressive Era." Might we very well be sitting on the cusp of a new one?
MIKE BODINE, East Ridge
It is a scary situation for citizens to be subjected to the powers that officers Adam Cooley and Sean Emmer will weld if they are reinstated to their jobs on the police force.
Who knows if you will be the next victim of these two men? If, by some chance, they are turned out on the streets again I would ask that a large billboard with their pictures be placed in a well-traveled area to warn all citizens of the danger they may be in if they encounter these two whether being questioned, stopped for a traffic violation or in a place with no witness.
I still do not understand why they were not arrested for attempted murder. I hope for justice for their victim and pray none of us ever are victims of these two thugs.
JULIE DOLZADELL