Letters to the Editors

Parents, vote for your kids' sake

In response to the Sutherland Elementary mom who wrote about the lack of participation in our children's education (Do your part to help schools, letter, Jan. 27), I would like to add that, yes, we should be ashamed of ourselves for letting the hustle and bustle of our daily lives take us away from being involved in our children's education.

Taking the time to attend a PTA meeting, volunteering or simply providing supplies sends the message to your child that you care. Studies have proven that the most important factor in making your child a success in school is the relationship between school and home; however, the most important way to get the message across to the very people (our elected officials) who take away from the education budget is to get out and vote.

Our representatives know that fewer than 15 percent of families with children in day care vote, only 17 percent of people under the age of 35 who work outside of the home vote, and five out of six primary voters are over the age of 50. It is not difficult to see that those supporting the decisions made for our children's education are not the parents of our children. It is by far the senior population that put in these officials who choose to cut the education budget to the bone.

It's time for the parents to take responsibility. Do something to support your child's education by letting your elected representatives know that if they proceed to make cuts in education, you will make sure they are not re-elected. Before it's too late, get registered today and make your voice heard that education is important. Our schools cannot tolerate any more cuts!
-- Holly Berry, Largo

Sports complexes don't earn their keep

Re: Phillies, city close to deal on new stadium, story, Jan. 29.

Spending more than $20-million on a spring training complex for the Philadelphia Phillies would be a terrible economic "investment" at a time when Florida is undergoing a fiscal crisis.

Instead of forcing taxpayers to foot the bill for private business interests, Florida's state and local officials should force franchises that benefit from these tailor-made facilities to pay their own way.

Professional sports teams are insatiable in their quest for taxpayer dollars. Last year's fiasco between the Toronto Blue Jays and Dunedin is a perfect example. After a $12-million training facility renovation and construction deal got under way, the team asked the city to pony up another $1.5-million for additional facilities or it would consider leaving. Government officials must learn to stand up for their own citizens rather than worrying about getting their city's name in the newspapers.

In a study on the economic impact of stadiums, Roger Noll and Andrew Zimbalist found that new sports facilities have a small effect on economic activity and employment. No recent facility has earned anything approaching a reasonable return on investment or been self-financing in terms of its impact on net tax revenues.

A healthy suspicion of subsidies that directly benefit private businesses is always good; but when the state faces a budget hole of $1-billion and has delayed promised tax cuts, concerned citizens must speak out against these boondoggles.
-- Paul J. Gessing, policy associate National Taxpayers Union Alexandria, VA

Angry drivers won't stop to shop

Re: Public: Do not narrow busy road, story, Jan. 30.

Did I read or hear right? Reduce Alt. U.S. 19 from four lanes to two so drivers would have to slow and may even stop and shop? You may slow them, but you're not going to make them shop.

You may make them steamed, and steamed people do strange things -- like telling others how bad it was going to work, etc.
-- Carl "Barney" Barnthouse, Dunedin

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright