Teacher Spencer arrested: A glance into soul of accused, & of ‘the system’

Top photo, Raquel Eleana Spencer in 2016, from her Facebook page. And, bottom photo, from her Whitfield County arrest mugshot in a drug case that expanded into a sexual exploitation by an authority figure criminal charge. Who is Raquel Spencer, and what she is suffering? My reflections on the arrest of teacher Raquel Eleana Spencer  […]

Residents take a lot of abuse from government; just don’t try to boot them from houses

Residents applaud a statement made by a city council member at a raucous East Ridge city council meeting consumed with objections to an expansive “redevelopment” plan. (Photos David Tulis) Meredith Moore, 30, a renter in East Ridge who works at a Christian nonprofit organization, is scandalized at the seeming low qualifications of members of East […]

Civil asset forfeiture law yields private cars to highwayman, shields commercial vehicles

Private cars and trucks are subjject to the state forfeiture statute, but not vehicles in commerce. (Photo Gribblenation) The distinction in Tennessee law between travel and transportation is found everywhere. Today I am talking with state Rep. Mike Carter regarding reform in the civil asset forfeiture statute that pares back some of the evils of […]

Airbnb ordinance open to legal challenge, violates constitution on 3 counts

Many owners of houses like this one in East Ridge are being told they may not use the Internet to bring paying visitors to their dwellings. (Photo Zillow) Another Southeast Tennessee municipality is making war on the Internet, trying to raise a Beijing wall to keep out wealth that flows into town via short-term vacation […]

7 reasons mayors, sheriffs will refuse adding single question to traffic arrest protocol

Jeremiah resisted false prophets who rejected warnings from God because they had always done things the same way and could not change, even if for the better and obedience to their creator. (Image from woodcut from Eduard Bendemann, Museum Kunstpalast) The universal abuse of Tennessee driver’s license law cries for reform from the ground up, […]

Berke would make enemies if takes tough action over roadside abuses

Mayor Andy Berke of Chattanooga celebrates residents’ creativity in his state of the city speech April 19. (Photo Andy Berke) Ending police abuse of the traveling public in Chattanooga and beyond is an exciting prospect that will increase freedom and liberty in the area, draw more people to live and prosper here, and become an […]

Taxi board oversees transportation, no authority over private travel

Justin Strickland is the new chairman of Chattanooga’s taxi board, which regulates “vehicles for hire,” those involved in commerce. (Photo David Tulis) Hotel marketing manager Justin Strickland is the new head of the city’s transportation board, a sleepy volunteer regulator that exercises authority over transportation in the city. By David Tulis / 92.7 NoogaRadio Mr. […]

City to criminalize begging, directs cops to do social work among poor

Landon Howard is shushed by Phil Noblett, city attorney, because critics of the panhandling rule have already had their turn to be heard and will not be heard from further. With him are protesters Beth Foster and Jeannie Hacker-Cerulean. Police chief David Roddy, center, is empowered under a proposed ordinance to arrest beggars. Worried about […]

It’s time DA Pinkston squints at TN traffic law, observes limited scope

This is the arrest photo of a man in Hamilton County charged with criminal violation of the traffic law. Under it, common people are charged as drivers and operators who do not have their papers in order, just as in fascist-racist countries such as South Africa under apartheid. (Chattanoogan.com) Another defendant of Tennessee’s commercial statutes […]

City urged restrain cops, obey TN traffic law, avoid abusing minorities

The Chattanooga News Chronicle, a progressive voice for African-Americans, is open to hearing more about my efforts to give notice to officials about limits on the Tennessee traffic law. (Photo David Tulis) A chronic abuse by Tennessee’s white establishment against minorities is the enforcement of traffic laws against people who are not subject to those […]