Last week I read two opinions that were based on good premises, but still contained irritating statements.
Under the title Downtown Needs Cleaned Up (August 24, 2016) was the argument, "Why invite tourists to come visit Chattanooga when our streets are a stinking bio-hazard?" And a second to the motion, "Make downtown look good for the tourists."
Another opinion was titled Pedestrians Have The Right Of Way (August 26) and included this note: "I believe Chattanooga needs to make this a priority so we are a pedestrian friendly city. We are growing as a vacation destination city and lots of locals are coming to town every day to work and enjoy the downtown area."
With all due respect, Chattanooga doesn't belong to the tourists. Chattanooga doesn't even belong to 'local' out-of-towners. I pay nearly $1,000 a year in city taxes, whether or not I ever step on the downtown streets and sidewalks. (My own neighborhood doesn't even have sidewalks.)
Chattanooga doesn't belong to tourists and nearby out-of-towners. Chattanooga belongs to those of us who live here and who pay so dearly because we live here. The city government should see to it that every square foot of Chattanooga is as clean and pleasant and safe as possible, simply because it is their duty and we pay taxes for that purpose. There are already laws against every kind of filth and misbehavior that was described in the two opinions last week, and against many other conditions and activities that also make Chattanooga unpleasant and unsafe for those of us who live here.
I suspect that if and whenever the city officials decide to clean up and patrol the downtown streets and sidewalks and every neighborhood so they are all fit and safe and pleasant for the citizens of Chattanooga, then our city will suddenly be suitable for tourists as well.
In the meantime, of course, those city tax notices will arrive in the mail every year at the end of summer. The tourists will be long gone, and those of us who remain will continue to pay for the city's upkeep, whether that work gets done or not.
Larry Cloud
Chattanooga
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Mr. Cloud,
In 2015, Chattanooga's thriving convention and tourism industry revenues topped the one billion dollar mark, with 2016 looking to set a new record.
Twenty million dollars in tax revenues collected from tourism anchored businesses go directly to Hamilton County schools ever year.
You'll be excited to know your property taxes, thanks to the income left behind by our visitors to Chattanooga, save you over $500 in property taxes every year.
Even more incredible, the hospitality industry has thrived, and one could argue saved Chattanooga from the brink of extinction when our industry based economy plummeted in the 1970s.
Personally, I'm proud of my city, proud of my industry, and proud that people from around the world know of the Scenic City.
Justin Strickland