Backers of homeless prick Roddy, Berke trial balloon ban on panhandling

Regina Ledford shamefully admits to city council that she panhandles to survive her poverty. Other critics of a proposed begging ban are Jean-Marie Lawrence, left, and Beth Foster, right. (Photo David Tulis) The left wing of Christendom is out in force to denounce a police harassment bill in Chattanooga sought by Mayor Andy Berke’s executive […]

Cobbler with ‘peach of a wife’ looks for apprentice

Michael Scallia polishes a freshly repaired boot, a job he would have gladly offloaded to an apprentice — if he could only find one for Buddy’s shoe repair in Chattanooga. (Photo David Tulis) All across the Chattanooga area are business  owners who would love to have a chance to meet your teenage son or daughter […]

Katz says localism seedbed of quasi-independent city-state, prosperity

Researcher Bruce Katz of Brookings Institution and Marcus Shaw of Chattanooga discuss lococentrism at a local economy-boosting event in Chattanooga. (Photo David Tulis) This book argues that in local economy people can exercise self-determination via the city-state and escape an impoverished political and national status quo. (Photo David Tulis) Boosters of local economy and tech-driven […]

Rhea plan would ‘define, prohibit, abate, suppress, prevent, regulate’

A law to regulate much innocent activity as a nuisance in Rhea County, Tenn., is under consideration by the county commission. (Photo Tnvacation.com) The Rhea County commission is considering a proposal to seize power against the people under authorization of a state law that gives broad authority to cities and counties with token language about the […]

Musician, hairdresser in Nashville sue to legalize home businesses

Musician Lij Saw is suing to overturn a ban in Nashville on home-based businesses. (Photo Beacon Center) Nashville hair stylist Pat Raynor says it is unjust and ugly for city government in Nashville to make her an outlaw for practicing her trade. (Photo Beacon Center) NASHVILLE, Dec. 5, 2017 — Today, the Beacon Center teamed […]

Sharp raps TIF subsidy for local developer

Helen Burns Sharp Helen Burns Sharp is a model for other concerned localists in knocking commercial government in Chattanooga and Hamilton County. She offers list of criticisms for a F$5 million tax subsidy for Evergreen Real Estate to extend West M.L. King Boulevard to the Blue Goose Landing Trailhead on the Tennessee Riverwalk. Note artist’s depiction […]

AirBnB ordinance takes effect, illegal on yet new grounds

Donna Williams is charged with enforcing city council’s AirBnB ordinance, an illegal intrusion upon the city’s thriving “Gig City” Internet economy. (Photo LinkedIn) Taking effect this week in Chattanooga is city government’s so-called short-term vacation rental ordinance, one that is illegal on several grounds — including a new one that comes into view on a […]

Q&A: Guards abusive in prison system that enriches corporations

Tennessee prisoner Grenda Harmer complains of abuse at several state slavery installations, the most recent one in which he is confined run by CoreCivic, a for-profit company trading as CXW at about F$26 a share. (Photo David Tulis) The following is my interview by correspondence with Grenda Harmer, a whistleblowing inmate  consigned to Morgan County […]