Chattanooga's Code Enforcement, as it presently operates, is divisive and allows too much room for abuse. It pits neighbor against neighbor, and does nothing to unite and bring people together. In presently racially mixed neighborhoods that have had a long history of racial intolerance, it can and has led to misunderstandings along racial lines; causing racial divisions in some communities for some. People who were once at least cordial if not friends have been known to stop speaking altogether to one another. One neighbor called on another neighbor because someone had anonymously called on him. Sort of like mean spirited children tattling for revenge purposes only gotten out of control.
My own experience and gripe which I touched on awhile back in a meeting were that individuals were being allowed to hide behind closed doors and make anonymous phone calls, allowing them to make false complaints against individual they'd taken a personal dislike to. I was told the reason for this was to protect the caller from possible retaliation, threats or attacks, but they failed to pencil in the fact that the caller might be the one who turns out to be the abuser or the one retaliating against a neighbor for personal or petty reasons.
False complaints don't only hurt the targeted neighbor and cause division amongst neighbors, they also abuse the system of code enforcement, diminishing the trustworthiness, and undermining whatever their intent and goals might be. I stated in that meeting that something should have long been in place to track callers who make continuous calls and especially when it is found that no such violation exist at the targeted neighbor's residence. If a pattern is exposed then those callers should be monitored more closely, investigated and if it is found the callers are abusing the system and harassing neighbors then they should be punished the same way someone would be punished who abuses the 911 system. Some of these people have been known to work and operate in groups to make their complaints appear more legit. Example: One neighbor calls against a neighbor, then get four or five fellow neighbors and friends to make similar or same calls.
Over the years, I've personally had many false complaints made against me. At least two or three, I suspect with reason, were in retaliation for some injustice I spoke out against that was not in step with the agenda.
At least one disabled neighbor and her husband, also disable, felt compelled to just sell their home and move away, they became so frustrated with individuals making calls over petty or non-existent issues.
I don't think harassment, abuse and selfish gains were the original intent of code enforcement when allowing people to remain anonymous when they make calls to complain. However, any many instances, I fear, that's exactly what has happened. And like all things, when the cloak of anonymity is allowed or people are given power, no matter how small, the outcome will always be abuse.
Finally, I've been attending the meetings set up to address citizens concerns on code enforcement practices and procedures. Their community law clinic which is a nonprofit organizaion and has been very informative. If citizens don't know their rights, it is easy for others to abuse and take advantage of those rights. To manipulate the laws to intimidate, discourage and/or retaliate. When they don't feel they have redress, it's easy to be intimidated by people seemingly in power or with clout. I've learned over the years, it's not necessary to win a situation, and some situations just aren't winnable. But we all have an obligation to stand up for what's right, just and fair, if only for the next person who finds him/herself on the receiving end of an injustice.
There's to be another meeting this Sunday at 6 p.m. at 3111 Calhoun St. I'm trying to be present at every meeting if only to learn. If nothing else, no matter your economic status, class, religion or color, you need to know you have rights. After all, this is America! Whether an individual choose to hyphenate their name or not is irrelevant. Whatever a person's legal or illegal status might be, once on American soil, as a "tolerant" nation, America has an obligation to respect, protect all its people. America, a nation that is impatient and intolerant of other nations that steps on the rights and dignities of their citizens can't afford to allow itself to be intolerant, abuse, disrespect the rights and dignities of its own citizens.
Brenda Manghane~Washington
manghane_washington@yahoo.com
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Bravo Brenda! Bravo! Once again you've taken the "it's you versus us" approach to dealing with this city's problems.
As I told you in my response to that little novella you sent me when you I last responded to one of your "victim" diatribes, this is getting really, really old. You keep acting as though you are the only person who has ever dealt with oppression and poverty. Sorry, it's not like that. Guess what, other people from all walks of life have the same problems that you face. You're not in some special group.
I grew up poor. I grew up not fitting-in. I know what it's like not to have enough. I know what its like to always wonder how you are going to get by. Guess what, I did something about it. I worked hard and went to school and I bettered my situation. I didn't ask for handouts either.
Anyway, getting back to your response to the Chattanoogan. I guess we, as property owners, don't need to have any kind of standards. If you're poor, you don't have to pick up trash in your yard. If you're poor, no one should complain if you want to park a junked car in your lawn. If you're poor, we should sit by and watch as the snakes and other creatures invade your home (and ours) because you are just too oppressed to clean up after yourself. Sorry, it shouldn't work that way. People need to be held to standards.
Chattanooga has some really blighted areas. People have allowed their properties to decline. I don't care how poor you are or where you came from, you should be held under some standard. If you can't afford to maintain a piece of property, maybe you should seek some sort of assistance (or think twice about signing a mortgage). I know that there are those people, the elderly and the handicapped who do need help. I do think that something needs to be done for them. To everyone else, you need to be responsible.
I know from personal experience that you can be poor and take pride in yourself and your surroundings. Poor does not equal lazy. As I said above, there are situations where people can't do any better. However, in my experience, it comes from people not wanting to do any better.
And Brenda, don't bother sending me anymore e-mails. I really don't even want to hear it anymore. I used to laugh at your little write-ins now I just shake my head and realize that people like you are why this city is so far behind. Quit complaining. Hold people accountable. Step up and realize that you don't have it any worse than anyone else.
Oh, and Brenda, you seem to think that you're talking to a white man. Sorry. I am a person of mixed-race. Guess you didn't know that, did you?
I challenge any and everyone who is agreement with me to contact the city. We need to speak out against those who wish to change the system because they don't like some aspect of it. We need code enforcement in Chattanooga.
Roger Thomas
Hixson
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Ms. Manghane, I agree with what you are saying 100 percent. People cause other people more problems that anyone can imagine.
When our neighbors started they had the head of our local neighborhood association to back them up. Although she didn't ask what was really going on. She just took their word for everything.
They are all gone now, Thank God. Life is peaceful here in East Lake once again.
Julia Buckner
Chattanooga
SOakes9820@aol.com
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Ms. Manghane-Washington seems not to understand the difference between arresting people because of their religious or political beliefs or ethnic heritage (as was the case in the examples she cites) and arresting people for criminal activity. Very strange.
Ray Minner
Collegedale
rayminner@hotmail.com