Hello Littlefield and Cooper,
Although I did not use the words mayor or chief to describe Littlefield and Cooper, readers will likely know that I was referring to Ron, the elected one and Freeman, the appointed one. What I've written was just a foolish and comical attempt at sarcasm.
It is just as foolish and comical for a mayor and police chief to stand before the cameras with straight faces and play stupid word games with a frightened and frustrated citizenry. The good people of this city don't give a hoot in Hades about flash mobs or gangs. What they care about is the safety of the public.
The facts are: two or more gangs of sociopathic punks and thugs gathered in and about the park. The available Chattanooga Police could not control the situation. Eventually one or more of these hooligans began shooting and four people were shot. The good officers of CPD were able to make arrests but only after four people got shot. The crowds were eventually dispersed but only after four people got shot. I'm glad it was only four people who got shot.
I can only imagine the the outcry if a Riverview socialite got shot in the butt while jogging through. Heck, the mayor would be requesting a National Guard unit be sent down.
Webster's describes gang as 1: a group of persons working to unlawful or antisocial ends or, 2: a band of antisocial adolescents. I do believe that is a fair description in this context. Ron and Freeman may not agree with that, but that is okay. I don't think they should be called mayor or chief so I suppose we're even.
It ain't nothin but a word.
Kelley G Miller
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Can you believe it? “The cameras must have pointed in the wrong direction.” “It was a flash mob.” The mayor and chief are well schooled in the manner of, “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.” All of this would make great theater for Coolidge Park were it not such a dire problem.
Wake up. You two gents need to get out in the sunshine and let the light shine on the real world.
Hutch Smith
Walden
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To those of you who mistook all the black youths in the park the other night wearing all red or all blue, you can rest easy. Those weren't gangs.
They were simply part of Mayor Littlefield's new inner-city team building initiative. I haven't seen that much spin since the Olympic figure skating competition.
Bret Douglas
retdouglas@live.com
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Chattanooga doesn't have gangs, it has flash mobs. Wow, what a high tech city we live in.
Everyone knows that there was gang activity at Coolidge. Even the police spokesperson, Lt. Kim LNU stated that the perps were seen to be wearing red and blue, and "...we all know what that means."
Further, it has been ongoing, and becoming more brazen with every passing month.
But of course, if the police department and the mayor don't see gang activity, they won't be held responsible for doing something about it. Nothing to see here folks, just move along.
And the beat goes on.
Chuck Stevens
Hixson