posted October 23, 2007
This morning’s news brought still another example of the ineffective and incompetent government the voters of Chattanooga have chosen for themselves. Just when it seemed that the Rutherford mess might be winding down, the mayor “snatched defeat from the jaws of victory,” in a manner of speaking.
For him to say of his recent move to reinstate Rutherford to the city payroll so that she may qualify for post-employment benefits, that “sometimes you do what’s right and not what’s popular,” makes no sense at all.
I don’t believe it is unpopular to do what’s right, and what’s right does not involve facilitating a fraud on the taxpaying citizens of Chattanooga.
It becomes more obvious each day that the mayor and every member of the
City Council should be replaced by the voters at the earliest possible moment. I look forward to the opportunity to help make that happen.
T.R. Williams
Hixson
* * *
The next time I or anyone else begins to open their mouth about how Washington is going to the birds, I hope we remember this incident. Let's also remember that our school system was just granted $2 milllion to fund "Character" education. Perhaps our mayor needs to go back to school.
Yes, Monday was a sad day....still is. Through this grant how do we foster a "positive learning culture" when our elected leader sidesteps a moral issue as this?
I was taught a duck is a duck... Washington has a lot of different kinds, and apparently so do we. A lie is a lie. This is not Hugo's Les Miserables.
The expression "true grit" or "the buck stops here" just does not sit too well in my mind as to Mayor Littlefield's decision in this matter.
What is the consequence? I do hope we are teaching our children better than this. If my child breaks a friend's toy, my child will pay for that toy out of their piggy bank. My child will earn that money, I am not going to hand it to them. We all reap what we sow.
It is hoped that our mayor has broad shoulders. He definitely must be a great poker player. But really folks, how do you explain these actions to children learning about government and then go on to "teach" character?
Reba Miller
N. Chattanooga
* * *
If Mayor Littlefield is unafraid to make unpopular political decisions, I have a better one for him.
Instead of putting Marti Rutherford on the city payroll for three days in order that she may collect some benefits from her time on the city payroll, he could make an unpopular political decision that would eventually mandate curbside recycling.
Such a decision would anger fewer people than his recent decision; it would make more people happier; it would make the earth happier; it might take the pressure off the landfill expansion in Harrison; it would ensure more people will remember him for recycling trash than for recycling Marti Rutherford.
I am a resident of District 6, and no matter how long officials have
winked at council members living out of their districts, it still remains the law that council members live in the district they represent. Ms. Rutherford may have been an excellent representative, but that does not absolve her of responsibility to live under the law.
It was not forgetfulness or an oversight that made her live outside the law. It was arrogance.
Jeff Briere
* * *
It is apparent that our mayor has great compassion for a woman who lied to the public and extorted public money by accepting salary for a job that she was disqualified for. It is time that every city politician be audited to assure that they are truly qualified for their positions, starting with Mayor Littlefield.
Marti should not receive medical benefits, as she was not qualified to receive her salary in the first place. She should be made to pay back the money that she took from the city or go to jail.
James Dandy
* * *
Make that a fine example..
Rewarding bad behavior.
He calls it doing the right thing...by whose book?
Whew! So glad that East Ridge was able to fight those annexation attempts years ago.
I just shutter the misappropriate action (corrupt legislators, lying council people, thug athletes) that get forgiven, given the golden parachute or allowed to play on as if nothing happened.
Charles H. Brock
East Ridge
retcop1035@bellsouth.net
* * *
Marti Rutherford breached a technicality and that's all. The fact that she went to sleep and woke up a few blocks outside her district is only a big deal to petty people. Ron Littlefield is not reinstating anyone, he's letting her extend her retirement date three days.
Perhaps those vindictive about the matter would like to repeal all good work she accomplished while she held the office? She worked diligently and in good faith. Whoever qualifies the candidates is the party that should be blamed.
People need to keep small matters small. No harm was done. Had she of used the office to enrich herself you'd have a beef. However, she fudged her residence by a couple of blocks in order to capably do a job almost no capable people want. If the zero-tolerance people would have let her rectify the situation the affected district would be better off.
Mayor Littlefield is indeed doing the right thing by extending Marti Rutherford's retirement date three days. If it's okay with the insurance company it's no sweat off the backs of the petty patrol.
David Saluk
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