Reveille
September
2001
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Reveille September 2001 |
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Published by
International Press Service Union workers lost in Water WarsWorkers
believed water company promises, Two years ago the Chattanooga’s mayor and council made a
decisive effort to take over the water utility in the city from the New
Jersey based ownership. The city government questioned validity of the 100 year old
working agreement, and brought in the possibility of eminent domain. They failed, mainly because the union workers sided with the
American Water Company, parent of the Tennessee American Water Company.
Now it appears likely that European ownership will take over the
facility. Mayor Jon Kinsey had support from City Council members and
many in the business and civic community.
With his chief of staff Ken Hays, he promised the union workers the
same benefits including retirement that had been established with the
water company. The water company outspent and outpromised the city.
They admitted to a $5-million budget.
Many think it was more. More importantly, they played on
suggestions of insecurity if the city took over.
The water lords promised no layoffs or cutbacks. Without union support and with council member support
eroding, Mayor Kinsey compromised with the water company. The city gained on water costs and the TAWC cemented their
position in Chattanooga. Losers were the union workers.
The water company has closed offices and cut back wherever
possible, in the name of saving money. Contract workers are used to fill positions of higher paid,
skilled workers. Many with the union now consider they may have done better by
siding with the city. At
least, one member said, if we worked for the city, “We would know who to
contact if we had a problem.
Now it looks like our boss might be in Germany or Switzerland 3-way race
shaping for GOP bid in primary as governor nominee The Republican race for governor has three names prominent:
Van Hilleary;, Jim Henry and . . . David
Fowler. Friends urge the
Hamilton County state senator to join the race. Many in the GOP worry that David’s entry in the primary
will split the party. He
would reach for strength from the anti-lottery and Christian right
community. Most veterans lean toward Van who is a veteran of the Gulf
War and has voted favorably in Congress for veteran rights. Popular with state Republicans, Jim Henry has a lengthy
legislative history. David has strong local and state ties. Van has already built a comfortable war chest and
is launching an aggressive campaign.
Jim Burnett is his campaign manager and his right arm. Calloway facing
stalking charges Will Calloway, who ran against Rep. Zach Wamp in the last
district congressional race, was being viewed as the most likely candidate
to challenge Zach again. If he does, he will have to display Bill Clinton’s
charisma. Will was charged in
Nashville with stalking Mary
Littleton. Mary worked for the state Democratic caucus .
Both she and Will were on Irvin Overton’s mayoral campaign staff. Vets View . . . pete
chaney The so-called trial of Judge Walter Williams by the state
judiciary was a farce, an embarrassment to everyone. With great fanfare, the high judges announced they would hold
a hearing on misconduct of the Chattanooga’s controversial court judge. Many of his decisions and statements are unorthodox, to say
the least. He was once
featured on the TV program Sixty Minutes for his idea of spanking and
urging defendants to get their GED. State judiciary felt he went too far, especially with a
prostitute held in jail for contempt when she couldn’t come up with
money to pay her fine. They
listed their complaints and set a hearing date.
There was talk of the hearing room being filled with Williams
supporters. On the eve of the hearing, the judicial panel compromised and
dropped nearly all of the charges, giving Judge Williams less than a slap
on the wrist. Either they had no evidence to proceed or it was politically
motivated. Either they should
never have begun the hearing or they should have proceeded with it. Incidents like this erode public confidence in the judiciary. MOH Museum has used
up time, Five years ago the directors
of the –Medal of Honor Museum knew the city planned to remove
their quarters at 4th Street and Georgia Avenue for intersection changes. Now time has run out. Their
deadline was set as December 3. Museum
leadership wants the city to assist them with donation of the combustion
building on Riverfront. Under direction of Leo Smith, he museum rented the old
unemployment office quarters on Georgia Avenue for a token amount, which
was seldom paid. With
dedicated volunteers, he turned the vacant building into a creative
history of the American Military centered around the most prestigious
medal the military awards. Valuable artifacts have been accumulated, but more are in
storage than space allows for display. Some years ago, then County Executive Dalton Roberts offered
the museum property just off Interstate 95.
The board rejected it as too far out. Mayor Gene Roberts was followed by Mayor Jon Kinsey in giving
the museum the old St. Elmo School and spending $150,000 on it renovation.
The board accepted and then rejected this site. More recently Rep. Zach Wamp was instrumental in getting them
a track at the VAAP site, which the board now considers too distant from
downtown. Time is running out and options are becoming less available. Veterans Dock
becomes reality at VFW 4848 Two years of work and hoping paid off August 31 when the
Veterans Dock was installed at VFW Post 4848 on Riverside drive. The project began with a music benefit hosted by Dalton
Roberts and ended with efforts by Jim Harmon who found a Florida company
to manufacture the 40 by 8.5-foot structure. It will be a private dock for Post 4848 and its members but will be available for veterans worldwide to visit the post and enjoy Chattanooga’s river scene. It
takes courage While everyone else was looking for political cover, Gov. Don
Sundquist did at least put the idea of a state income tax on the table.
It took courage and the former navy man and state chief executive
displayed it. Post script Chattanooga police arrested a woman in East Lake and charged
her with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
Allegedly, she and some family members were rolling and selling
joints in the neighborhood. The confiscated $2,000, but told the woman to report to court
instead of arresting her. She
weighs nearly 600 pounds. ******* The old Mountain Creek Manor rest home is getting geared from
another name change. Now
called Grand Court, it will shed the name with the management switch.
Another Florida company will be running it, but they seem to have
deeper pockets. Renovation is
being done and payroll is met on time. ******** Most people like to turn their back on prison problems.
If they are a relative is a “guest” of the county or state,
they prefer to forget it. Rep.
ZACH WAMP faced the issue lately, commenting something needs to be done to
put the rehabilitation word back in imprisonment.
As he commented, the word “correction” is misplaced in the
current system, and there needs to be some. ******** Maybe they should change the job description of DON
ASHENBRAMER from State Veterans Affairs office to Keeper of the Crying
Towel. He gets calls from
people wanting his assistance on everything from financial problems to
marital matters. ******** Taking issue with our comment that Tennessee Temple was a
slum lord, HENRY STOCKMAN declared that property focused on didn’t
belong to the school. He’s
right. It belongs to Highland
Park Baptist Church, which to most is synonymous with Tennessee Temple. The organization has done great work for the community, but
someone needs to do a better job of handling their rental property.
One recently vacated is flooding the neighborhood with cockroaches. ******** How quickly people forget.
CARL ATHERAN, JOE YOUNG and PAUL ANDERSON went to a recent
executive board meeting at American Legion Post 95.
A new member on the board asked if they were members.
All three are former commanders.
Joe is a former state commander of the American Legion. ******** Rep. VAN HILLEARY is getting a lead on others in the
governor’s race. He has an
attractive web site: www.headquarters@vanhilleary.com. ******* Friends believe that not even Sen. FRED THOMPSON knows if he
will run again for the Senate. He
has ruled out the governor’s race, but kept his congressional seat plans
quiet. ******** Sen. BILL FRIST has said he will not seek reelection when his
term is complete. The popular
Tennessee legislator and physician is leaving the door open early for
candidates . Already planning
to try for the position, Rep. ZACH WAMP will make a formidable candidate. He has gotten high marks from his constituents.
His task will be name recognition in the rest of the state. ******** Our hero SHAWN TILLEY keeps getting clobbered by life and
getting back up. Recently he
fell in his backyard and had to undergo extensive treatment, but he’s
still able to get around and continue the great work he does for veterans.
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