Dear Ms. Thurman,
Over the years I have mostly respected your ability to be financially responsible and passionate about your wishes for our county school system, while being able to express your views —normally without invoking language and ideas which could be interpreted as hateful, bigoted and incendiary.
You are quoted in the Chattanoogan.com as saying the following regarding Bassam Issa:
“I have a problem with somebody going out and buying a lot of buildings cause they can get funding from someone else, outside of the country, and holding them hostage.”
An elected official, and role model to thousands of students, should be above that kind of language and behavior— all day every day.
I am disappointed personally and also hurt for my friend Bassam “Sam” Issa, as a result of your references to “foreign money“ and “being held hostage.“
Sam Issa is a Chattanooga resident who has worked his whole career to make Chattanooga a better place. He has taken on challenging projects and successfully assumed risk, all of which have contributed countless thousands of dollars in property taxes for your county school system—money you spend.
Without the Sam Issa’s of our community, the school board would have much less property tax revenue to spend on the school system.
You should be thanking Sam for all of the property tax support and hard work that he has contributed to our community. That would set a more appropriate example for our county‘s students.
Michael Mallen
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Mr. Mallen,
It's sad you and your followers jump on the 'bash the racist' bandwagon so quickly. Although I don't always agree with her I trust Rhonda enough to believe she wouldn't have said this if she didn't know something. The girl does her homework.
The school board would be very wise to look further into this deal before spending taxpayers money.
Rusty Chastain