Letters to the Editors

We need more compassionate souls

Re: Presidential recognition, by Anne Lindberg, March 10.

I'm glad President Bush personally thanked police Officer Roxanne Hunt for her exemplary work with AmeriCorps. Bush went on to say, "I like to find Americans who are compassionate citizens and soldiers in the army of compassion." Those were inspiring words from the chief executive of our nation.

Society has too many self-absorbed people who have a terminal "me first" attitude and put a dollar value on everything. To them, if you're not moneyed, you're a luckless loser. From such people, the poor and needy are accorded zero respect. Thank God we also have a lot of kind people like Roxanne Hunt, who involve themselves in mercy missions. Folks like her make a major league difference in the lives of people who need a helping hand. Hardship cases are not the result of the will; it's a trick of chance and circumstance. We need more goodness and compassion in our country. Compassion makes for a closer bond with citizenry, city and country. America should be a comfortable haven for the little guy as well as the affluent. Americans helping their fellow countrymen means nobody has to live in a degrading sphere of existence.
-- Robert B. Fleming, St. Petersburg

Gambling laws send mixed message

Re: 4 arrested in coffee shop gambling case, March 28.

Sure, it's okay to go to the race track, casinos or dog track, bet all you want, lose all you can't afford to, and support an industry that has a bad reputation for exploiting man's best friend, but you get arrested for having a private card game with no spectators, playing with small amounts of money while drinking coffee.

Am I crazy or is there something wrong with this picture? If gambling in a private card game is illegal, why is it legal to do other gambling? Please, someone educate me. I feel like such a dope!
-- Marilyn Weaver, Tarpon Springs

City is responsible for drainage

Re: Canal dredging sparks billing debate, March 17.

I see that the city has taken the position that the canal "is considered local, benefiting primarily the surrounding property owners" though the city has "900 to 1,000" acres draining into the canal.

This canal flowed freely for decades before the stormwater drainage system began draining a large portion of north and northeast St. Petersburg into it. "Arterial waterways -- those which could benefit all city residents" applies in this case. Without this canal, those regions would flood with the water (and silt) that comes from them.

Eighteen months ago the city representative told the neighborhood association that the accumulation of silt was due to runoff from the yards abutting the canal; therefore the city was not liable. Now it is due to a signed contract that is now "unenforceable" due to the time frame involved.

It's time for the city to step up and take responsibility for the drainage system. If the city will not, then it should block the drain pipes coming into this canal from other neighborhoods or we will be discussing this again in 10 years.
-- Kenneth Reinhart, St. Petersburg

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