Mayor Littlefield,
I would like to introduce you to a man I ate lunch with yesterday. His name is Doc. He grew up in Chattanooga, and at one point, was a very successful businessman. He is now homeless.

The road from economic success to life in the ditch began when he sued a national corporation for breach of contract and lost. “They had 40 lawyers,’’ Doc said, “and I could afford two.’’ The corporation then sued him back, and took everything.

Homelessness is about spirals that go downward, and Doc soon lost his wife, job and possessions. He has been homeless for about five years, and he lives in a small tent hidden away in a corner of downtown that is going to be bulldozed down on Friday morning.

You have the power to stop that bulldozing.

Doc asked me to ask you if you would tell the police to let their dozers run idle, to let mercy trump other interests. “He probably thinks there’s some advantage to mowing our campsites, that it would cure something. But it just squirts us back out into the visible population, and then the police get after us all over again.’’

Doc has had encounters with the police before. A few weeks ago, he had earned enough money (more about this soon) to buy a sandwich from a Frazier Avenue restaurant. As he sat in the afternoon sunshine near Coolidge Park, eating his purchased sandwich and drinking his purchased soda, a policeman drove by, stopped, got out, and walked up to Doc and his friend.

“He told us there had been complaints about panhandlers around here, and he said we needed to move along,’’ Doc said. “Even though he told us that the (convenience store) clerk told him it wasn’t us, he still told us to move.’’

“What you need to do is hide to eat your lunch,’’ the policeman said, according to Doc.

“Don’t finish your sandwich here. Go hide and eat it.’’

It seems that wherever Doc goes, he must hide. Many people in Chattanooga will tell Doc that the cure to his homelessness can be found in good, honest work. Interestingly, Doc wholeheartedly agrees. On a regular basis, Doc goes to the places in town where folks are hired for day labor jobs.

And on a regular basis, he is short-changed the money promised him.

“They usually pay us, but not always. The other day I worked 10 hours and was promised $7 an hour,’’ Doc says. “At the end of the day, I got paid $20.’’

When I asked Doc who hired him and failed to pay him, he wouldn’t say. It was as if he was frightened.
“It happens all the time.’’

This is criminal activity, Mayor Littlefield. It is illegal and immoral. Doc wanted me to ask you if you would have the police look into this as well.

For the record, Doc felt the need to tell me that he was a drinker. This fits the stereotype most folks have of the homeless – that they are addicted – and in many cases it is true. But I would offer to you Mayor Littlefield, that most of the alcoholics you and I know are upper class people, often holding martinis and champagne glasses at black tie parties. I looked at Doc, and heard his story, and thought to myself with great clarity: “my God, if I were in his shoes, I’d drink too.”

“People have it backwards. Drinking didn’t put me on the streets. I started drinking when I got on the streets,’’ Doc claims. “Now, I’ve got to numb this pain. Not drinking doesn’t help. It just makes it worse.’’

But on Wednesday morning, when temperatures the night before had been in the twenties, and within hours of seeing his home - really just a few blankets in the woods – bulldozed, Doc was surprisingly optimistic. He’s had some help working out his resume, and is applying for a great job, and even borrowing a suit for the interview.

As he told me this, I wondered: where will he take a shower beforehand? What phone number will he give his potential employer? What address will he provide for his home?

Since Doc doesn’t have a phone number, I’m going to publish yours. The number to your office is 423-757-5152, and I hope enough people call and convince you to halt Friday’s bulldozing.

Mayor Littlefield, why in God’s name, as winter knocks down our doorstep, are you allowing the police to bulldoze tents in the woods where poor people lay their head at night? Where else are they to go?

“We find a place where we’re not bothering anybody, and then they push us away? Where are we supposed to go?”

Mayor Littlefield, you can stop this from happening.

(David Cook is a former journalist for the Chattanooga Times-Free Press. He currently teaches American history at Girls Preparatory School and can be reached at dcook7@gmail.com)

* * *

Mr. Cook:

Doc can get a shower at the Salvation Army. He can also get a cot in a warm room to sleep on. The Community Kitchen will feed him. There are multiple agencies in Chattanooga devoted to helping people like Doc. In fact, they will even get him a nice second hand suit and give him interview tips.

The chronic homeless, such as Doc, are well aware of all these services. There are limits and rules, of course. That's why some homeless limit their utilization of these services. If someone is homeless but able bodied and willing to work, they should not remain homeless in Chattanooga for very long. Some people like Doc are very adept at laying out sob stories to suckers such as yourself.

I have an idea. Since you think it is fine for Doc to camp out in the taxpayer's backyard, how about you just let him camp out in your backyard? Problem solved.

You probably think I am a horribly cold hearted individual. You would be very wrong. I have and always will give (to the point it really hurts sometimes) to help people that are really willing to help themselves. But, I am not a sucker that will fall for a sob story. Long-term (chronic) homeless choose such lifestyles over responsibility and work.

Please recognize I exclude those with severely limiting disabilities. But, there are other programs available for them and that is another issue to discuss.

Jerry Yates

* * *

Dear Mr Cook,
I have read, I think, every article you have written to the Chattanoogan. Some, I agreed with you, but others, I could never understand your reasoning because you never offered a solution, other than someone else providing it.

Such as the story of Doc. You mention where will he shower, receive a phone call, or provide an address. You gave Mayor Littlefield's. Why not yours?

You seemed so concerned, but you didn't help Doc by letting him shower at your place, receive calls there where you could have forwarded the messages to him, and give your address where you could personally forward the mail to him. Do you think these responsibilities are those of the mayor of Chattanooga? I think not.

And how in God's name do you justify someone being homeless for five years and question where they are to go. Let's see, Union Gospel Mission, St. Matthews Night shelter at Second Presbyterian Church, Salvation Army, Chattanooga Rescue Mission, Red Cross, Ladies of Charity help center, and any or all Chattanooga churches who help those in need. Not to mention you, who seem so concerned for this one individual.

Action speaks louder than words. Or hey, he could get a job. You can't pass a fast food restaurant or a convenience store without a help wanted sign. May not pay as much as you're used to, but it keeps you from begging and being homeless.

You remind me of Jeff Styles, the radio non-personality, who always has an answer for all the world's problems, hugs trees, doesn't litter, climbs mountains, and knows he's right and everyone else is wrong, but you and he do nothing to solve the problem.

Have you, Mr. GPS, ever considered running for mayor and changing things to suit you? Of course, not. You like Jeff, run your mouth, and do nothing to solve the problem.

In 1994, I was without a job, a home, an automobile, or family who would take care of me due to being in an unfortunate situation. Within two days of being in this situation, I had a job. In one week after my first payday, I had a place to stay. In a couple weeks, I had an automobile. But I had people who helped. No where in your story do you say you helped Doc. You wanted Mayor Littlefield to help him. If you're so concerned, why didn't you help, and do it quietly and without recognition, as the Bible tells us to?

You tell Doc, he can use my phone number and address, and, if you give me his location, I will forward his messages to him. And, by all means, he can come to my house and shower. Mr. Wilson here at the Chattanoogan can provide you with my phone number to give to Doc.

Now, put up, or shut up. You want everyone else to solve the problem, but you personally offer no help.

Arlos Dempsey
Walden

* * *

Excellent response, Mr. Dempsey. David Cook may help the needy in many ways we may never know, but for too long he has blamed local government for the travails of the homeless and expected the government to turn a blind eye to illegal activity.

The government's main responsibility is to protect its citizens and enforce the laws. If there are people living illegally in Chattanooga they need to be removed. Help should be offered, but Chattanooga does not need to be the Mecca of vagrants. Many vagrants are misanthropes, addicts, or criminals. Law abiding, taxpaying citizens should not have to put up with aggressive panhandling or fear to walk the downtown streets.

Mr. Cook, no matter what Barack Obama advocates, the government's job is not to share the wealth. It is yours. Work hard for what you believe in. Quit your job and stop indoctrinating the youth of GPS with your Marxist notions. Dedicate your life to provide better for the homeless. I'm sure with passion and persistence you can build shelters, provide job training, and help others for whom you have compassion. Set your hands to work and keep them out of my pocketbook.

Ted Jameson
Chattanooga

* * *

Upon reading Mr Cook's glowing opinion and the responses, I immediately came to a moderate understanding. If this letter and responses were a boxing match between the two, I would have to call it a draw.

What Mr. Cook has done in my opinion, is an example of unseen inspiration. He has written an opinion regarding the homeless situation that really has not recieved much attention lately due to politics, economy, etc. He gave an objective and subjective viewpoint as well as some facts in short detail.

The responses on the other hand in my view are just as important as the original subject, as a reader that is. Im not too sure about the "put up or shut up" bit, but everyone made some valid points that to me some may miss entirely. The info given in the responses is truly in need to be repeated and spread deeper in the columns simply because many folks do not think to stop and pick that freezing homeless person up, take them to a shelter, feed him/her.

Mr. Cook has done well with his interview-based opionion because he did one simple thing here. He put the bait on the hook. He created awareness, again, and got some great responses.

P.S. I frequently put my efforts into helping the cause, as many of us readers do.

michaeltcastle@comcast.net