You have got to be kidding me, Mayor Glasscock. Your cameras in "Red" Bank are only for safety purposes?

Yeah right. You stated that if you didn't have the cameras you would have to hire more police officers and raise taxes. So you would have to hire three officers per camera per three shifts = nine total officers - to stand at the cameras 24/7 to reduce accidents to equal the results of the cameras. You also stated that you have had a 19-20% reduction in accidents due to the cameras.

Well, let us look at the increase in manpower first - an increase of nine officers and their benefits to the current force.

Why in the first place would you need to increase the force when you have officers falling over one another trying to find the coffee pot? Give me a break, there is no crime wave in "Red" Bank. Second and most importantly, no one can monitor those lights...they change and a human eye cannot determine the sequence. And what moron would want to stand at a light for an entire shift and watch a light change?

You've had a 19-20% reduction in accidents not due to the camera, but no one is traveling through "Red" Bank. And where are all the banks in Red "Bank". Look at Signal Mountain...plenty of banks.

Hey, mayor, you do have 40-43 vacant buildings...in the main part of "Red" Bank...not from Signal Mountain Road to the Chattanooga city Limits.

Mayor, you are delusional...but keep those cameras on for "safety" reasons.

Michael McClure
Gulf Shores, Ala.

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Dear Michael McClure,

You seem to be one of many who have complained about the "cameras" in Red Bank. You must have been caught by them for you to write a complaint. Why do people compare Signal Mountain to Red Bank? They are so different.

May I correct you on some facts? Back in the late 70's early 80's, the Corridor J project was complete. The traffic was shifted to a much larger road system. It left the city of Red Bank with many empty shops and stores. Have you kept up so far? Good. Corridor J was a much faster way into town.

Around the late 90's until today the city of Red Bank has found a growth spurt. The new BI-LO Shopping Center, new shops all through the town of Red Bank. The new and improved Red Bank Athletic Shop. The community of Red Bank is on the move and growing beyond your beliefs and opinions. Yes Michael, Red Bank has several fine banks in the community of Red Bank.

Why compare the communities of Signal Mountain and Red Bank? The community of Signal Mountain has its own speed traps. Please do not insult my intelligence to say that they do not.

The traffic cameras of Red Bank have been a comical relief for our city fathers. Only the ones who have been caught complain. When are you going to complain about the other areas that sport these cameras? Why should you care since you live elsewhere?

I cannot believe people threaten to stay out because of these cameras. They do not threaten to stay of the "S" curves. I look at it this way. If they stay out of the community of Red Bank, it will be safer for the citizens of Red Bank. These intersections are dangerous. Clowns try to beat the light from Dayton Boulevard and Signal Mountain Road. I have witnessed several bad car accidents at that location. I, myself, have had my own near misses at that intersection. The last event, the car was trying to beat the light coming onto Dayton Boulevard. I had the green light and was coming through the intersection. The red pickup truck came barreling through the intersection. He had the radio "thumping" and was on the cell phone. We came side by side. He flipped me the middle finger and began to speed up. I noticed his Signal Mountain High School student parking pass hanging from the rearview mirror.

Michael, did you know that Mayor Glasscock was caught by the cameras? He paid his ticket. Mayor Glasscock has done a lot of great things for the community of Red Bank. Have you actually been through our fair community since the improvements? It sounds like you are quoting someone else's stale facts.

My advice to you is- if you do not think the community of Red Bank is up to your high standards, you do not have to come. The people of Red Bank love our small community with our banks, churches, tennis courts, parks and other great things. If my memory severs me correctly, Red Bank has just as many banks as Signal Mountain.

Laura Crane
Red Bank
ToBSketching@aol.com

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Dear Laura Crane:
Why do you keep comparing Red Bank to Signal Mountain? Please read Mr. McClure's letter again. Nowhere does he mention speed, but he mentions lights. Signal Mountain's "speed traps" are manned patrol cars, shooting radar. You constantly reply to the letters complaining about Red Bank's cameras at the stop lights with comparisons to Signal Mountain's radar. I really haven't read that many complaints about Red Bank's unmanned speed van camera.

I have heard no response yet to the fact that there are no cameras on Dayton Boulevard at Morrison Springs Road - only on Morrison Springs Road. I would have to deduce, purely for safety reasons, there have been no accidents at this intersection where an automobile on Dayton Boulevard was at fault, no matter what direction it was headed. Otherwise, the town would have cameras there, also.

If the town of Red Bank could produce figures, such as the city of Jackson, showing accidents for a time period before, and the period after the lights, maybe the slamming of Red Bank would stop. But accidents before the cameras were installed, that would have happened anyway, such as due to a loss of brakes, would have to be noted. An important number also would be the traffic count, because as you stated, Corridor J routed quite a bit of traffic out of town.

If people weren't rushing the yellow lights, or running the red lights, there would be no money. And, as the city of Cleveland just learned, there would be no cameras. But Red Bank would be safe.

Macel Holloway
Signal Mountain

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To assume that someone complaining about the cameras because they have been ticketed is completely off the mark in my case and probably Mr. McClure as well because he doesn’t even live here. I haven’t been ticketed, and I’ve written in to complain on almost every opinion article that’s been posted about Red Bank’s cameras.

I wish those that love Red Bank would stop confusing the issue. It’s not about the lovable town and all the improvements, walking the track after work or going to eat at Lily Mae’s. Come on now, we are fighting against these cameras because they are for revenue only and not buying the lame excuses the council keeps stating.

I’ve lived in Red Bank for years and love the community. However, they have a lot of folks to answer to when resigning a 12 year contract after the stated moratorium. What nerve. Citizens of Red Bank also fought for an outright ban. I would love to read an article where Ms. Crane doesn’t overlook the fact that we all have an obligation to fight for the Constitution; I don’t appreciate her down playing my rights. The whole, "Quit picking on Red Bank" is in left field. This fight is about any city putting those “safety cameras” up because it is simply unconstitutional.

If I were ticketed, there isn’t an officer for me to face in court, and they expect you to just pay it as it isn’t reported on your license. Therefore, not about safety. The revolution against these is coming, so get ready to fight off all those mean Red Bank “bullies.” We’re not leaving the camera issue alone. Just because you don’t mind doesn’t mean a lot of other people that live there do mind.

Carrie Hopkins
carriedhopkins@yahoo.com

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Ms. Crane:
If Mayor Glascock loves Red Bank “so much” could you please explain to me why he builds his very nice condo developments right outside the Red Bank city limits? Both of these are less than two miles from the Red Bank city limits. Just wondering.

Nathan Frazier

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After reading Mr Mcclure's opinion on the cameras in Red Bank, one question comes to mind. Why would anyone that lives in Gulf Shores, Alabama even have an opinion on things going on in Red Bank, Tennessee or why would he even care unless he got one of those handy dandy $50 wallet lightners?

It seems as if most of the whiners are from places other than Red Bank; Signal Mountain comes to mind. Why don't people that live on the hill address things in their back yard, such as the tree issue at the golf course. Did I read somewhere that the trees are on city property anyway and the golf course is telling everyone that it going to be "too expensive" to move them? And now the golf course is saying that they were not in the best financial shape.

Maybe what the town of Signal Mountain should have done was put the cameras in and given the money to the golf and country club. I don't live up on the hill nor within the city limits of Red Bank, but I, for one, do not have a problem with the cameras. I try and think that I know some if not most of the traffic laws concerning making a right turn on a red light. It's not a "money thing" any more than it's a "big brother is watching." If you come to a complete stop at a red light before making a safe right hand turn a ticket ain't gonna show up in your mail box. Same goes for the speed cameras. It's a simple solution...obey the traffic laws, no tickets issued and presto, the cameras go away.

Craig Collier
zook1@bellsouth.net