I agree with the mayor's opinion regarding the Pet Store at Hamilton Place Mall. His judgment may have been off by contacting Judge Paty's office. However, I think his open letter sums up the opinion of most of the people in this city.

This pet shop had multiple warnings about the proper care and treatment of their animals. They showed no concern about improving their conditions. After much testimony during the trial, it was perfectly clear they had no compassion for these animals.

Very ill animals left in their cages with no water, temperatures reaching 87 degrees or above, very little veterinary care, if any. Testimony of sick animals being sold, and these animals spend their entire lives in a 2 X3 crate with out any exercise. There was repeated testimony of the intolerable conditions these animals had to suffer.

I am pleased there will be a new trial. Maybe this time we will get the right decision from the judge.

This Pet Company should be run out of the state of Tennessee. If it is allowed to remain open, this is an embarrassment to our community. This city is demanding a higher standard of treatment for our animals. I applaud Karen Walsh of McKamey for her efforts, and I agree with the mayor's view on this matter.

Linda Eddlemon

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"The mayor may have been a little off in contacting the judge." Sorry, Ms. Eddlemon, the mayor was a lot "off" in contacting the judge in the middle of a trial and asking to meet with her privately to discuss the case.

The e-mail sent to the judge from Mayor Littlefield clearly was a failed and improper attempt to tell her how to decide the case. Right thinking citizens know that what Mayor Littlefield did was 10 times worse than what the pet company did and what the company did was very bad.

Just think if you had been sued by the city or had been compelled to sue the city and the mayor was meeting privately with the judge to discuss your case and to persuade the judge to rule against you.

I, personally, was not moved by the mayor's open letter. It was a carefully crafted document to excite the emotions of pet owners and to make the judge look bad so the mayor could finally have a reason to look good in the public's eye. There is a significant recall going on to put the mayor out of office. There is a reason for that. "Being a little off" on too many signficant issues that affect this city and its citizens are only some of them.

The rule of law and fair trials are a must for our country to survive and for our citizens to have fair and impartial trials. The mayor's admission that he has written to federal judges in the past and during ongoing trials is very troubling. I hope that the city of Chattanooga was not involved in those cases as in this case. I also hope that the mayor did not meet privately with those judges to discuss the cases.

Mayor Littlefield knows better. He just got caught "this time" doing something very wrong and this judge just happened to have the courage and ethical conscience to resist and to stop it. Ms. Eddlemon, the issue now is something much bigger and much more important than just the obvious mistreatment of animals. It is about justice and open and fair justice for all. Please separate these issues and do not be hoodwinked by the mayor's play on emotions as a cover up for his indiscretions.

Gary Bartley

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Please, Mr. Bartley, do not use the pet store fiasco to promote your agenda of recalling the mayor. Mayor Littlefield was wrong in contacting Judge Paty; however, I cannot believe you think his action was worse than the mistreatment of animals. In this case the focus should be on the animals, not your recall of the mayor. I used to be in agreement with your recall but have definitely changed my mind now.

Vicki Hill
Hixson

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Gary Bartley’s reply is a good example that the facts tend to get in the way. The mayor is perfectly within the bounds to discuss the progress of a case when he is concerned about how taxpayer money is being spent or could be spent. I don't see anywhere that the mayor wanted to discuss what decision the judge should make.

The McKamey center is supported by taxpayer funds and needs city oversight. He did not request a private meeting so he could pressure the judge.

The facts are that the judge’s office thought it was a great idea and had potential merit so the judge’s office contacted the mayor’s office to set up a meeting. The mayor, the city attorney, the judge and the attorney for the McKamey center were all present at the meeting.

All of those facts are out for the public to view. The mayor has made his email available. There is a lot of transparency but the judge seems to be covering the proverbial backside. The mayor is doing a good job in keeping watch on taxpayer’s monies and the interests of the citizens of Chattanooga.

Johnny Franks
seechatt@yahoo.com

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Nothing gets people more upset than the mistreatment of animals, including me. But what Mayor Littlefield did was a serious breach of ethics if not the law. Mayor Littlefield holds an office that is responsible for the public trust. So Ms. Hill, I must respectfully disagree. I do believe this breach is just as bad because it is emblematic of the 'I am above the law' attitude of so many of our public servants today. Will you remember Mayor Littlefield's ethical breach as a 'misstep' when you are paying higher property taxes? Or will you feel, like so many of us, that the 'fix' is in and there's very little we can do about it?

Lisa Frazier

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Anyone who thinks the mayor is right about how he has handled the pet store travesty needs to understand that these type of ex parte communications are outside the law. Whether it be in this case, or the Craft case, where witnesses were talking to the judge in the same kind of manner, it is simply wrong.

Littlefield needs to understand that he is not above the law, and his ignorant admittance to these types of actions in the past is one that should be taken seriously. I applaud Ms. Paty on taking the proper actions, although I doubt that Bill Cox, an arm of the mayor, will take the proper steps needed to be sure this does not happen again.

While I think Littlefield has done his best to curtail the strong growth of our city, I deplore more deeply the fact that many in our judicial system, as well as all level of politicians have a belief that they are above the law at every turn. In this case, Judge Paty did what Brian House should have done in Catoosa County, and excused herself. Now will Bill Cox do his job and come down on Littlefield for his actions?

Sara Bass

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Get real; the mayor is a half-pint, want-to-be dictator. He puts his nose everywhere it does not belong.

He has thumbed his nose at the voters by attempting to slip metro in through the back door even though the voters have voted not to go metro.

He is like a cancer to the city of Chattanooga and needs to be removed expeditiously along with his newly appointed yes man of a chief.

Roy Glenn
Ooltewah