To the Editor:
What is curious about the red-light camera debate is the fact that the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce did not weigh in. It is supposed to recruit and lobby for small businesses.
Not a single business in Oak Ridge, when asked, refused to sign our petition against the cameras. They knew that the cameras hurt their bottom line.
The Chamber appears to spend its time and budget on wooing the large government contracters from out of state. They seem uninterested in local start-ups and successes.
The only contact I had with the Chamber and its personnel in my years of business here was an annual invoice for membership—never a visit or a phone call asking how they could help me be more successful or expand.
I think the Chamber needs to be defunded by the city and made to operate on membership dues only. Why should they be subsidized by the taxpayers? Maybe they will get out of their offices and actually do their job.
T.J. Garland
Oak Ridge
Kay Williamson says
i BEG your PARDON,,, DID YOU OR DID YOU NOT RECEIVE MONEY $175,000 DOLLARS FROM THE CITY OF OAK RIDGE,, AND your setting on a PIECE OF PRIME REAL ESTATE THAT THE CITY OWNES FOR A MERE $600 DOLLARS A YEAR AND YOU SAY YOU DO NOT GET ANYTHING FROM THE CITY….. omg
REALLY………………………………WHO’S DAMN MONEY IS IT IF IT’S NOT TAXPAYERS MONEY AND LAND….
Dave Smith says
In your excitement you appear to have posted your comment under the wrong letter.
Kay Williamson says
it kept giving me a pop up ….on the sign in..
Al Weaver says
Once again, Ms. Williamson (aka TJ Garland’s surrogate) violates the posting rules by “shouting” (allcaps), and by using profanity. It isn’t the first time. Are you going to enforce your rules Mr. Huotari?
Dave Smith says
Would it be possible to get a list of the businesses that signed the above-mentioned petition?
Kay Williamson says
mark watson has them