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December 13, 2005
On WDOD: Transportation, Smut Shops, & Meth Cleanup
District 8 County Commission Candidate John Bailes & HamDem Party Chair Stuart James talked about how Democrats will create opportunity and use common sense locally while on WDOD's "Voice of Chattanooga" this morning.
WDOD host Jaime Hancock moderated a lively and thoughtful discussion between Stuart James and myself about District 8 campaign issues, the county commission, and Gov. Bredesen. There is no doubt that Democrats are leading the way, listening to voters, and standing by mainstream values.
In a moment of levity, Stuart James and I performed parts out of a new and upcoming Star Wars episode. He played Curtis Adams as Darth Vader to my Luke Skywalker. We are calling this new episode 2006: The Year the Empire Struck Out.
More seriously, however, we addressed the concerns of so many people in District 8, especially the concerns about the lack of public transportation in East Ridge, the huge jump in check-cashing/pawn shops, and the increasing incidence of meth labs and meth use. To counter these issues, I am committed to protecting our community~including Brainerd, Brainerd Hills, and Concord. Here's what I am doing about the issues of transportation, check-cashing/pawn/adult shops, and meth labs/use:
First, public transportation. I am committed to solving transportation needs for our seniors, disabled, and citizens on fixed incomes. WHY? Because it is the RIGHT THING to do ~ right for individuals, families, and businesses. A modern (urbanized) city should never be without public transportation. That's why I have established the Coalition for East Ridge Public Transportation (CARTA already services the other areas of District 8). And I want to invite Commissioner Adams to work with me on this problem, although he indicated in last Saturday's Chattanooga Times Free Press no interest in addressing this issue. Unfortunately, someone has misguided him and convinced him that there's not enough demand for a public transportation in East Ridge. But believe me, there is. There were at least 400 people in East Ridge using the rural system its last three months. And there are many more who needed public transportation but were unaware of the program. Furthermore, the defunct program was minimal at best. The best estimates are somewhere between 800 - 1,200 people who need public transportation service today. That's about 4 - 6% of the total population of the city of East Ridge. The highest use of most city public transportation systems is only about 5 - 6% of a population anyway. As county commissioner, I will never stop working for seniors, the disabled, and those who can't afford a car.
Second, predatory lending and smut shops. These are magnets for outsiders, drug addicts, and crime. The seemingly endless increase of check-cashing/pawn stores and smut-related shops only hurt us, for they are now overcrowding parts of Brainerd Road and much of Ringgold Road. Let me be honest. I am a lover of liberty and free enterprise, BUT I am also a protector of community. Where has our current commissioner been while the district has exploded with these shops? While good hard-working businesses still exist along Ringgold Road and Brainerd Road, these businesses must fight the crowding in by title deed places, tattoo joints, and other shops not conducive to family-friendly commerce. No one disagrees that these kinds of shops hurt property values and exploit the desperate, turning residential areas into low-cost rental zones. I want to reverse this trend, a pattern that has been out there for at least ten years without a district leader addressing it. Fortunately, we have neighborhoods in District 8 doing just that, such as the Belvoir Neighborhood Association. As a county commissioner, I will use every means possible to reduce the magnets of crime and low property values.
Last, meth labs, use and cleanup. Gov. Bredesen and others have worked hard on stopping meth lab growth and use with Meth Free Tennessee. Democrats and Republicans are aggressively addressing this issue. I have talked with landlords in my district who have had to spend tens of thousands of dollars on meth cleanup. The problem is that meth and smut shops go together, wreaking havoc on our economy. I will NEVER stand by and watch meth use destroy lives and neighborhoods and businesses. Instead, as commissioner, I will promote educational programs in community organizations, schools, and churches to address this issue.
~John Bailes, Time for Change
County Commission, District 8
| By wjbailes | 10:09 AM
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