In the first on-air installment of the Mapping Main Street project, National Public Radio explored a side of Chattanooga's Main Street that doesn't get much press. Moving east from the revitalized arts district near Market Street, they found homelessness, drugs and prostitution:
"In Chattanooga, we have this underbelly," Brother Ron Fender says. "You can walk down Main Street, and you don't know that just over there, there's prostitutes — or just over there is a camp where people sleep in the woods at night."
The NPR crew, who blogged about their trip to Chattanooga in May, also chronicled the love story of two homeless residents trying to leave old ways behind and the struggles of a couple working to make their corner of the Main Street district a safe place to one day raise a family.
Mapping Main Street is asking residents around the country to participate by contributing photos, videos and stories of their city's Main Street.
John Hawbaker
DavidMorton on Aug. 22, 2009
I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that the NPR headline is not a PR win for our city. Bummer.
Willy Stanton on Aug. 22, 2009
Rename the revitalized part of downtown "The Green Zone" I guess.
But seriously, one of the comments on the NPR article is true in that any city of this size will have a prostitution and drug problem. The forces in Chattanooga have succeeded in moving those elements around and concentrating them.
facebook-553721667 on Aug. 22, 2009
This mapping main street project seems to only convey the run down, under developed parts of main streets.
Looking at the pictures you don't see any new development, just old run down things and ignored areas.
It seems the contrast they are trying to convey is negative, seems very biased. I mean the article only really has the first few sentences of positive talk then it just runs right into a negative spill.
facebook-553721667 on Aug. 22, 2009
Actually after going through there site and listening to the audio, portraying the negative, run down aspects to main streets is their point to the project.
Joel K on Aug. 22, 2009
Forgive me if my wife's picture pop's up next my comment. We share everything.
I hate the propaganda of NPR. Main St. is not a prostitution strip.
The ironic thing is there is so much going on in the Main Street area that would make most of the NPR crowd blow their wad. Hopefully this story gives some people pause before they celebrate every story they hear on New world order Propaganda Radio.
twitter-42306294 on Aug. 22, 2009
The first and only time we went to Main St was for the sculpture dedication and Friday's on Main a while back. We were quite excited to go, but honestly, the conditions reported by NPR were apparent when we wandered too far east outside the art district. And again when we were leaving the parking lot, circled the block, and saw the bottles and camps on the dirty backsides of the upscaled shops.
It reminded me of a movie set where things are just to create an illusion. And after the 'show' is over , the 'cool' folks leave their 'sweet' jobs at the 'hip' galleries to sleep in a safe bed in another part of the city. And the real residents of Main St - stayed there in the wings - their souls made a little warmer by the complimentary beer and wine offered at the opening galas earlier that night.
Margen Laratta on Aug. 22, 2009
As a Highland Park resident who lives one street over from Main Street... yes, there's a definite underbelly, as is the case in all urban areas. But how old is this revitalization: 2 or 3 years? It takes a decade or two to turn an area around, and that's only with persistence and vision. People are looking at a tiny little sprout and complaining about the lack of flowers. They will come! And the slower it comes, the more likely it's being done right, in my experience. Pieces fall into place when they're ready.
I moved to Highland Park because it was a beautiful historic home that I could customize, it was affordable, and I could walk or bike downtown. I didn't even realize that Main Street was being invested in, and I'm thrilled that there are shops and businesses moving in that are so close to my home. There's even a farmer's market there every Wednesday evening, so I don't have to even get in my car to get fresh produce and eggs. I honestly feel lucky to be living the life I am here; I really couldn't do it anywhere else without paying an arm and a leg.
Which is key to this revitalization, in my opinion. Build it up, but don't speculate. Keep the area affordable to live, work, and play, and people will come. Keep costs in line with demand.
twitter-42306294 on Aug. 22, 2009
I have nothing against a real revitalization. Like others said - just keep costs down. Make it a place where the local residents can participate, live and work. The whole upscale approach does not say 'affordable'. The people who come in during the day and live somewhere else are not really revitalizing the original community. The focus seems to be on how it looks, not whether it is a really livable community for the residents that were there before gentrification. Do the new shops and businesses employ, serve, support or in any way include that original community?
JK1000 on Aug. 22, 2009
Mr. Haint, how do you propose to keep the costs low? Should we have a Main St. czar that disallows businesses from charging a certain amount and makes sure they hire a certain percentage of original residents. I'm sure you would be willing to give a percentage of your salary every month in order to make sure things are done the "right" way. Maybe we should charge an extra tax to the businesses making too much money to subsidize unprofitable businesses that make people feel good.
Allison on Aug. 22, 2009
The green green approach to marketing the Main Street area has become tiresome to the masses. It has been over marketed as a fofo green this and that, and is regularly joked about in the media. The revilizaiton approach does not mesh with the culture of this area, and is over the top and so far removed, the yup stuff will not work there. In North Chatt. revitalization, lived in the community and we had realistic vision. You guys are over the top and do not even live there.
That is why it will fail, this region is made of working class, familes, and the vision in revitalizaiton does not match the culture needed to economically support this silly green vision . A blind person and planner could see this one. Haint is correct the people driving the Main Street revitalizaiton are simplying sluming during the day, and not connected with the Main Street community.
fred on Aug. 23, 2009
does bit.ly have a sense of humor??
Ufuk?
http://bit.ly/sUfuk
JK1000 on Aug. 23, 2009
Allison, I'd just like to point out that you are taking someone's perspective who has been to Main St. one time as the authority over people who live here. How does he know if the people that work here go home to sleep in the suburbs? Mr. Bradley mentioned camps behind the nice shops. To me that is flat out lie. I walk up and down the street multiple times a week and know of no homeless camp anywhere. You will physically have to take me to it and show it to me for me to believe in that one.
I'd also like for you to explain how you quantify revitalization. I mean we get accused of gentrification all the time, and also this take which is that Main Street is essentially a slum with a pretty face. It can't be both. I think the fact that two people could come away with either perspective demonstrates the transition and revitalization happening.
Perhaps the greatest falsehood in your conjecture is that those driving the revitalization are not connected to the neighborhood. Virtually every business in the Southside area has people who live in the area working there and a lot of the business owners live here. At neighborhood events like Last Fridays on Main, you will find a lot of neighbors at the event. And no they don't go back to a slum warmed up by the free beer, although many enjoy the refreshments at our events down here. It's actually true that not every single person that is connected with the revitalization live here, but I would say the majority are. If you want to believe somebody who has been here one time over people that live here, what can I tell you?
As far as the green green stuff, I'm tired of it to. I may be in the minority of my neighbors, but to me green means paying more for something that does not work as well and usually has no positive impact on the environment. That being said this area can not be marketed to the typical working class family in Chattanooga. The average Chattanoogan would not move down here.
I'd like to know if your assertion is that people are not moving down here. I'll tell you about Jefferson Heights. Over 80 households in the neighborhood, and 40 or more new homes have sold in the past 3 years. That is a solid truth based on fact. Fort Negley has nearly 0 homes for sale because the homes have all been bought, and I dare say close to half that neighborhood is new residents who have moved down here in the past 4 years.
What evidence do you have based on fact that people are not moving here and do not work and live here?
Allison on Aug. 23, 2009
You agree that "average Chattanoogans would not move down here," which is it my friend, conjecture on my part, or contridiction on your part. I agree a couple of the homes are selling to a very small niche of people.
The Main Street revitilation effort as it is currently being marketed will snare a very definitive niche of earth muffins with resources, not to say that is bad. However, this green market will not entice the masses that bring the ecomony to turn it urban blight around. Reality check is needed on the Main Street effort.
The speciality niche of green people and green housing will not entice the masses that is all I am saying, because this niche is so far removed from main street Chattanooga culture. It is a hard sell, or it be working would it not.
Willy Stanton on Aug. 23, 2009
To throw you hands in the air and say there isn't a way make new development accessible to poorer residents is disgusting, no wonder there is class distrust.
JK1000 on Aug. 23, 2009
I feel like I'm being perfectly consistent. My point is that the average Chattanoogan would never move down here no matter what spin they tried to put on the neighborhood. The average Chattanoogan is going to stay in the suburbs. Furthermore, my point is that regardless of how crazy or foolish the "marketing" of the area is, the past 4 years have been very successful in convincing people this is a great place to live. The facts support that based on the number of people who have moved here.
I don't know what your assertion that "it" is not working is based on. Virtually every single family home that has been built has sold. The businesses that have opened have stayed open and new ones are coming in all the time. So explain to me in concrete terms what indications are you looking to conclude that the revitalization is not working.
JK1000 on Aug. 23, 2009
Not sure what comment you are responding to, but I will say that I believe that individuals and foundations have the right to do with their property and resources what they want to as long as it is legal. Do you oppose those rights?
I am currently unaware of any development that was not accessible to any resident in the area. A lot of the existing residents have enjoyed and been in favor of the revitalization efforts, so you'll have to tell me specifically what instances you are thinking of. Not saying it hasn't happend, but I also don't know of an instance when someone has been evicted from their home on the Southside, do you?
Allison on Aug. 23, 2009
Lets see, who do I believe NPR, or you? Your previous post stated that you would not believe homeless people were sleeping in the woods behind the businesses. As I understand, your "assertion" is that you believe NPR is making up, and anyone agreeing that Main Street has a homeless problem is all "conjecture." I am just a dumb red neck, please stop nauseous misuse of lawyer language.
I am reading every detail of you post to understand your, appearing lets say, heres one convoluted! You have quoted in detail new residential sales at Jefferson Heights, down to the number of empty units, you are funny Ms. Lynhurst,.
Willy Stanton on Aug. 23, 2009
I don't believe in absolute propety rights, so I don't agree with you on a fundamental level. What I am talking about is the increase in propety values (and thus tax) and rents. To be honest I don't know of instances in the Southside but I have seen the "Nothshore effect" on housing in and around it over the years. I can't imagine it being much different.
JK1000 on Aug. 23, 2009
Look, it's obvious you have your own point of view that won't be changed, but I'll speak for myself rather than have you put words in my mouth. I never said there are no homeless people in the Main Street vicinity. I never said there is not a homeless problem. The fact is there is no homeless camp in the area Haint Bradley suggested. If you can take me to it and show it to me I'll believe it. I know where Last Fridays on Main was. Name the actual business it is behind. It's not there.
Also, I never mentioned the number of empty units in any area. I just stated the facts on about how many have sold in my neighborhood.
This is a very sudden subject change for you. The homeless problem in the NPR story is a totally different region of Main Street, and different topic from the revitalized Southside. You have yet to bring up one fact. Again what is your criteria for revitalization. You just seem to just want to decontstruct, but I'll give you one more chance.
Allison on Aug. 23, 2009
Here is verbatim, Ms. Lynhurst what you stated regarding residential sales,
"I'll tell you about Jefferson Heights. Over 80 households in the neighborhood, and 40 or more new homes have sold in the past 3 years. That is a solid truth based on fact."
You have spent more time trying to refute the homeless presence on Mainstreet. Maybe I could get one of those non profitt CNE loans and buy a house from you.
Little Napoleon on Aug. 23, 2009
Then leave. There are lots of us that will help you pack.
Little Napoleon on Aug. 23, 2009
Yes, there are still problems with Main St. but no one can refute the fact that it is light years better than it used to be. And JK1000, if you looks at Allison's other posts you'll see she has a huge ax to grind with the foundations in Chatt, and she never acknowledges any good that they do while never providing any vision as to how she would do things differently to revitalize the city if she had the opportunity.
Little Napoleon on Aug. 23, 2009
Allison she says nothing about the number of empty units in Jefferson Heights. But so what if she did?
JK1000 on Aug. 23, 2009
Yep, that was your last chance. Just for the reader's sake I will clarify. Just over 80 households total in the neighborhood, by my count, of that number over 40 of them are new homes sold in the past 3 years. To be clear I am not saying there are 80 for sale, but 80 total. Never stated anything about what's empty.
What I have been mostly trying to refute is some of the misinformation that Haint Bradley posted. To say there is not a homeless camp in one specific area does not mean there are no homeless people anywhere on Main St. I actually don't dispute anything in the NPR story, but I do feel they only reported the worst of what they could find. What people don't realize is the location of the NPR story is totally different part of Main St. from the Southside/Lyndhurst territory.
It's funny. Allison has a problem with loan programs to help low income people move into the neighborhood, and then Willy Stanton thinks they are getting neglected and forced out of the neighborhood. Which is it guys? Failed revitalization or rich people moving in and oppressing the poor?
Allison on Aug. 23, 2009
There are high quality non profitts in Chattanooga, that when you follow the money the organization's work does evolve into for profit. Based upon the sponsors I am hearing they may do fine without the group you represent.
I apoligize Little Nap. I was just taking a "stand" and asking my own questions and using crayons to create a flow chart.
JK1000 on Aug. 23, 2009
I respect your disagreement. I will say that under the law we presently do not have absolute property rights. So when I say I support the current rights people do have under the law, it's not the same thing as saying I believe in absolute property rights.
Not sure that you are, but if you are saying there should be more restrictions on development, I would disagree. Simple as that.
It's easy to say stuff should be cheaper and every new business should employ the poor, but you have to understand that comes at a cost. A lot of the times it would mean no business would be created if it had to deal with restrictions like that, and if you have those restrictions how do you build the economy? If individuals had more property rights they wouldn't have to worry about the taxes going up to the point they couldn't afford their home.
At least this is something we can agree to disagree on.
Willy Stanton on Aug. 23, 2009
"Not sure that you are, but if you are saying there should be more restrictions on development, I would disagree. Simple as that."
I suppose this is from watching "Only minutes from the North Shore!" signs popping up near apartments and homes that were traditionally working class/student etc.. housing over the years, but I feel that the invisible hand of capitalism will not do the right thing when it comes to the community. It's easy to say "My money talks, deal with it", but there are benefits to having a diverse (in class) neighborhood makeup that isn't immediatly reflected when it comes to prices. A positive externality I suppose.
So basically, there needs to be checks on what happens when developers and foundations decide to gentrify an area. It is a good thing overall, but they need to be "reminded" every now and then by encouraging mixed housing and buisnesses that cater to both yuppies and the regular just trying to get by.
One day you might wake up and realize all the hip people couldn't afford to play there and you'll be left with another psuedo-suburb full of suits.
fred on Aug. 24, 2009
holey crap.. NPR? Agenda? No No No Never! They only report FACTS!
Bush Sucks on NPR=okay
Main Street sucks on NPR=Bad.
runwithb on Aug. 24, 2009
There are some interesting comments about this story on NPR's site. I hope I'm not out of line by re-posting here a comment that I thought was particularly pertinent to the discussion going on:
Justin Allen (JPAllen) wrote:
It's true that this story is one-sided and that it under-appreciates the contributions of those committed to a transformed Main St. but it also tells a story that you won't hear anywhere else. You don't have to look hard to find Chattanooga boasting about its reinvigorated downtown or its strides to be a modern, progressive destination (and appropriately so), but the city isn't all New Urbanism and transformed neighborhoods. The truth is that Chattanooga is more complex than either side of this argument may want to admit. In our city, revitalization comes with gentrification, and progress (as wonderful as it is) is infected with racism and willful neglect of the poor. So, is the story dishonest by exclusion? Maybe. Do we expect and deserve more from NPR? Yes! But what NPR has done is told a part of the Chattanooga story that you won't find in the local paper or in those glossy tourism advertisements. I'd like to suggest that as embarrassing and insulting as this piece is to many Chattanoogans, it would be just as outrageous not to tell this side of the story.
Sun Aug 23 09:35:10 2009
mwillingham on Aug. 24, 2009
No city advertises its slums in the "glossy tourism advertisements". Every single city in America has these problems. That isn't news. Our revitalization is newsworthy.
Colin on Aug. 24, 2009
Then Move.. Please.
Kordax on Aug. 25, 2009
Over the years, the City has grabbed unincorporated territory like Tiftonia, Hixson, stretches along Hwy 58, many parts of East Brainerd & others. Citizens living in those areas eventually received garbage & brush service, sewers, fire & police protection but their City tax bills were immediate & everlasting.
The Main Street area, like so many other fair-haired parts of the core city has been the beneficiary of numerous City orchestrated improvement & additions. Sidewalks – many neighborhoods within the City have -0-. Street lights – ditto. Storefront improvement grants like the Urban Renewal, UDAG or the Model Cities programs – does anyone know how much federal grant money was spent on/near Main Street long before this most recent round of gentrification began? Over the years, MLK merchants & property owners received money from scores of grants the ultimate success of which resulted in most buildings along MLK being torn down. And remember that stroke of genius project where Market St was torn the hell up for month & months just to place some “traffic calming” curves in the roadway between MLK & 7th St? The City claimed it was a vital necessity because more people would subsequently shop at downtown shops if we slowed traffic down with the curves – most of the retail & storefront businesses fled the City for more desirable locations once they realized that the curve plan was a sham. Two-way conversions along McCallie & MLK/Bailey were described as forthcoming “economic miracles” by City leaders; looks like it will be a miracle if the taxes generated by businesses along these streets ever approximates 1970 levels.
The point is that the City has a losing history of bigfooting faddish projects into existence downtown at the same time that outlying neighborhoods where most people live within the City get fire, police, sewage & garbage. It’s time to reject city-inspired core city favoritism & the millions of dollars disproportionately spent within a few zip codes; it’s time for the city to recognize that resources should follow the people rather trying to manipulate people into living in their preselected tiny sections of the core city….
mwillingham on Aug. 25, 2009
Apparently the nice editors deleted your post. Anyway, as Allison will readily tell you, I am a freeloader on the city of Chattanooga because I only work, shop, and play here.
John Hawbaker on Aug. 25, 2009
Disqus puts comments into moderation queue if a user clicks the
"report" link.
Allison on Aug. 25, 2009
Actually, Mike, I want to move to North GA to access high quality public education for my child. The 100-year old Ham. Co. Commissioners do not think public ed. is important. I love Chickamauga, GA good schools, low crime, a nicer, non urban, culture. If I could obtain employment in N. Ga., I would move there as well. The rural culture is much nicer. RTN is correct Main Street is mean and dirty. We should never accept homelessness as a normal condition of all urban areas.
mwillingham on Aug. 25, 2009
Come on down!
Yes, you're right. We should never accept it as normal.
Robert T. Nash on Aug. 25, 2009
AS WRITTEN: Disqus puts comments into moderation queue if a user clicks the
"report" link.
FACTUALLY ACCURATE: Disqus puts comments into moderation queue if a registered user clicks the
"report" link.
CLOSED-CIRCUIT TRANSMISSION TO GEORGIA RESIDENTS WHO CLAIM CHATTANOOGA AS THEIR OWN: GO DIE...
Allison on Aug. 25, 2009
I think I should those mean, dirty, urban, alleged non profitt, tax exempt for profit, yellow zealot businesses on Main Street are simply nauseating. People are sleeping behind their for profit businesses, and they are arguing about "foundations" and "property right.'" Yuck, glad I did not raise those brats.
mwillingham on Aug. 25, 2009
I didn't report it!! I assume John can back me up on that.
middleroad on Aug. 25, 2009
I lived at the Grand Hotel (Location of the English Rose) at 14st and Market for seven years. I believe the building may be owned or at least managed by CNE. The apartments are also low income, meaning that tenants financial earnings are monitored on a annual basis. My rent was raised once, from $525.00 (all utilities included) to $550.00 in the seven years I lived there. I am a single white female of 33 years of age. My apartment was a 1 bedroom, coming in at 550 sq. ft. I felt extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to live at the Grand for so many years.
I would have to say, that the majority, if not all of my neighbors were also low income. The building holds 32 units and was full, diverse and urban. I was only approached twice in my 7 years by homeless people. I only witnessed one drug deal in my 7 years. I developed relationships with my neighbors and knew, because I saw, that they were receiving government assistance - green envelopes.
The building was cleaned everyday by a janitorial service but on several occasions there was urine and feces in the elevator. The dumpster was picked up everyday, so there was never any trash overflow.
I was really happy.
Today I live two blocks south at the corner of 16th & Williams. The developers are out of Birmingham AL, the building is known as the Southside Lofts, I'm on the 4th floor with an amazing view of the west side of the city. I have a much larger apartment and pay a large amount to live. I am just 1 block from Main Street, just as I was when I lived at the Grand. I have not been approached by homeless yet. The rest of the tenants are approximately my age, and the climate or building neighborhood is not at all that diverse. Everyone living downtown has a dog, though. What I do see is from my balcony. I see homeless walking, drinking, pissing on the sidewalks, vomiting and sleeping in the vestibule of the church across the street. I see what I believe to be people from all walks of life on bicycles, people of many different races, walking and enjoying their neighborhood.
I drive to the Conoco on Main Street almost every day, to get gas or cigarettes. I drive all the way down Main Street to Dodds to get to Brainerd Road. I have seen prostitution. I have seen the drug dealers. I have seen poor people, rich people, white, latino, black and asian people all along Main Street. I have seen the run down homes behind Neidlovs and Estate of Confusion. I have seen the littered alleyways and homeless cats and dogs. I saw a homeless man on the stone bench right outside of alleia, his leg was in a cast, his crutches thrown on the ground, right there next to the rose bushes.
Growing up, I went to church in the old YMCA on Mitchell Avenue, that was like 23 years ago. Have you seen the building now? I was told as a child to avoid wearing bandanas of a certain color, for fear of getting caught gang related gun show, cross fire. Can you imagine?
I am not rich, I am just a little bit more responsible. I go to my job everyday and I make art that I am fortunate to sell, to help me make money, to buy food , pay rent, and to get to my job. I don't think I'd ever want to move to East Brainered to the Hell of Hamilton Place Mall. I grew up in Tiftonia and probably will not move back. There are a million things I hate to see, there are a million places I never want to live. But I am thinking, that prostitution, drug dealing, alcoholism, gentrification, racism, and all the major issues brought here to discuss will make me see my Main Street differently. It's hard for me to hear and read the negativity but I am willing to see and be a part of bringing the truth into the light. I wish that solutions were easy, that the lying would stop. I wish promises were fulfilled and that it did not take $500,000 to change our city. I still feel ultimately responsible for what happens and for how my side of the Main Street is viewed.
Name on Aug. 26, 2009
Q: what do you get when you toss a grenade into a frenchman's kitchen? A: Linoleum Blown-apart. if its a small kitchen, you get a little..nevermind i know the girl who got mugged leaving the terminal on main st. the wife and i go there regularly. it will take an alonzo heyward incident to get that area under control. but, after that, all will go swimmingly. the young, motivated couples will buy, at a bargain, the undervalued property, which was all-but-destroyed by govt funded tenants, and after they fix it, and fix the neighborhood, someone will call them racists for wanting a substantial return on their investment. because youre only allowed to make a profit in this town if youre a non-profit, and in the right zip code
atrowbri on Aug. 26, 2009
This is fantastic. This is what journalism looks like, Times Free Press reporters and editors.
Allison on Aug. 26, 2009
I agree, this website is the next up and coming news source. The TFP will not report real local news, and investigative journalism is non existant. That is why people call outside news organizations like NPR to take a closer look. Do the adminstrators and creators of this site have journalist education?
Little Napoleon on Aug. 26, 2009
Allison - What would you do to solve the problems on Main St? Please answer without rating about foundations, surveys or the color yellow. If you can.
Little Napoleon on Aug. 26, 2009
Thank you Middleroad for a balanced view of Main St. Yes, it has lots of warts, but not nearly as many as it used to have. It would be nice if others who may have legitimate gripes about what has happened there would also acknowledge some of the successes that have make it a much better areas than it was in the 70's and 80's.
Robert T. Nash on Aug. 26, 2009
None of that entails ownership...
Margen Laratta on Aug. 26, 2009
I don't understand -- it sounds like you simply do not enjoy urban life. That's totally fine, but a city is a city. Chattanooga is never going to be a quaint, quiet suburb, so why disparage it for that? As if it has failed where every other city has succeeded. This is absurd.
Allison on Aug. 26, 2009
It is simple my friend, I do not like fake non profitt charters acting as a vanere for tax exempt business and to gain access to public funds, and low quality schools, with a graduate rate of 70 percent, yes little Muffy I have a problem with that.
stevaker on Aug. 26, 2009
I agree as well, although I truly wish those who choose to leave comments would check their facts AND their spelling. I've made a few errors myself but I don't constantly spell the word "profit" with two t's.
stevaker on Aug. 26, 2009
RTN,
So by your logic, if I live in Flintstone GA and commute everyday to Chattanooga to work and/or play I then cannot claim some part of the city / area as "my own" because I have to cross the State line? Is that any different than someone living in Soddy-Daisy doing the same thing? Or, is this just, simply, about State territorialism and making your definition of who has the right to Chattanooga and who doesn't the standard? Based on your posting history* on this site, it is my opinion that you have issues with where people reside in this community and/or surrounding areas in general. I may be wrong but that's how I see it.
*See past Chattarati topics regarding non-Chattanooga residents posting comments about City of Chattanooga elections as well as random comments about the Southside, Main Street, and, really, anything involving urban/downtown living.
(Note: Please file this under AS WRITTEN = OPINION)
John Hawbaker on Aug. 26, 2009
I'm pretty sure Adam was referring strictly to NPR, but no, we do not
have J-school backgrounds.
Little Napoleon on Aug. 27, 2009
What exactly do you do beside complain?
Little Napoleon on Aug. 27, 2009
Whoa, wait a minute Allison, NPR gets alot of it's funding from (gasp) FOUNDATIONS!!!!!! It can't be a valid news organization if it's getting money from those awful tax evading controlling trust funders like Muffy can it?
atrowbri on Aug. 27, 2009
I was referring to NPR but reporting on an NPR report on Main Street is still 100% more than the TFP managed, so good work Chattarati.
fred on Aug. 28, 2009
Ohhhh everyone is so embarrassed by this report....
Come on everyone knows its true!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxY2gynDy6E
fred on Aug. 28, 2009
And
http://www.fark.com/cgi/comments.pl?IDLink=3938189
and
http://www.newschannel9.com/news/arrested-979113-donna-women.html
and
http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_138615.asp
Chris on Aug. 28, 2009
The homeless who regularly attend the Community Kitchen on 11th street are likely the people interviewed by NPR. I have met most of them and heard a lot of their stories--they are troubled, but wonderful people.
They lived in the old farmer's market, that Littlefield happens to own, across from the Kitchen. They were kicked out for a disturbance call just a few weeks ago. So, it wouldn't surprise me if they had been camping out in the woods near Main St.
Favorite comment thus far: "Whoa, wait a minute Allison, NPR gets alot of it's funding from (gasp) FOUNDATIONS!!!!!! " -LN