QuoteWorthy

People who had a way with words in the news last week:

“I do want to make sure that — as we look forward with happy anticipation (to) the implementation of this new traffic pattern — that we are mindful of the tragic loss of life in November that catalyzed this fast action. It’s sad that we got to a place where Ana Posso Rodriguez and Jonathan Devia lost their lives.”

— Chattanooga City Council Vice Chair Jenny Hill on the announced redesign of Frazier Avenue.

“Let me be very clear — for those we don’t reach by education, we’re gonna reach them by enforcement.”

— Hamilton County Sheriff Austin Garrett on texting and driving.

“I don’t have the ability to stop them or tell them no, but work on things that matter. When you get all the important stuff done, then go name airports.”

— Jack Allen, a Democrat running against Rep. Chuck Fleischmann in the U.S. House, on Fleischmann co-sponsoring a measure to name an airport after former President Donald Trump.

“I’m excited to get to Chattanooga and get to work! Go Mocs!”

— Deandra Schirmer after being announced as the new University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women’s basketball coach.

“The director of schools, principal and the chief of the local law enforcement agency are the only ones notified of those permitted to carry, and they are not to disclose if someone is or is not permitted to carry on school grounds.”

— Tennessee state Sen. Paul Bailey, R-Sparta, who co-sponsored a bill that would allow public school teachers to carry handguns in classrooms.

“Workers have a right to organize … but I hope workers from Tennessee recognize the risk that comes with the UAW. I hope

Tennessee workers will recognize that the UAW represents the party of President Joe Biden and their values and political contributions, which are completely inconsistent with the people of Southeast Tennessee.”

— State Sen. Bo Watson during a news conference several local officials participated in Monday on the upcoming vote by employees at Volkswagen Chattanooga on whether to align with the United Auto Workers.

“I was a proud member of the UAW. And yes, they did protect workers. Through union efforts, we received higher wages, better working conditions and better benefits.”

— Hamilton Commissioner Warren Mackey on the United Auto Workers during a meeting of the County Commission on Tuesday. Mackey said in a statement at the meeting he worked at three Chrysler plants in Detroit.

“Anytime that I’d ever seen them, it was always like, him hugging her, very nice and very, very sweet. That was just the image that we saw. And there was actually things hiding that we didn’t see.”

— Latoia Smith on her cousin, Jessica Smith, and Jessica Smith’s partner, Christian Gil. Authorities believe Gil shot and killed Jessica Smith, their 6-year-old daughter, Ailin, and then himself March 1.

“This is definitely the craziest thing that’s happened to me this entire school year. I’ve been in a space in my life where I kind of wanted to be acknowledged, to be seen. And I feel that God was saying, ‘I see you.’ It’s not even about Mark Cuban. It’s about that God cares about me.”

— University of Tennessee at Chattanooga senior Tony Bonner on receiving a yes from “Shark Tank” host Mark Cuban. Bonner was part of a social media effort to recruit Cuban to take part in a virtual interview with a UTC marketing class.

Did you see a quotation we should highlight? Send an email to news@ timesfreepress.com with QuoteWorthy in the subject line.