Letters to the Editors

New clubhouse, not pond? Simply a ludicrous plan

Re: Clubhouse may precede drainage project, story, April 8.

When I read the article reporting that some of our Clearwater elected officials are considering backing a new clubhouse instead of a retention pond at the Glen Oaks Golf Course, I was stunned! After paying for and receiving expert advice on how the city should approach this serious health, environmental and ecological issue, we actually have city officials in favor of spending money on a clubhouse! What have I missed?

I fully agree with letter writers Mike Sanders, Naomi Seavy, Lorraine Basore and others that we cannot afford to build a clubhouse where a pond must be; nor can we reduce the size of the pond in order to have a clubhouse. Simply ludicrous.

I also cannot help but wonder about the view of another Clearwater citizen who states that if the Stevenson Creek dilemma were in a more upscale part of the city, this matter would have been settled long ago.

Having been a resident of Clearwater since 1958 and a homeowner in the Stevenson Creek basin since 1980, I have gone to meetings, read reports, watched and waited for more than 20 years as this issue has been batted about. It is time for the City Commission members and the city manager to act responsibly on this critically important issue involving the northern boundary of "Sparkling Clearwater" for all her citizens, now and tomorrow.
-- Charla Chop Benigni, Clearwater

Largo Police Department is an excellent agency

Re: Largo should contract with sheriff, letter by Dennis Fowler, April 16.

The letter states that Largo should contract with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office to avoid a tax increase to put computers in police cars. If the city did contract with the Sheriff's Office, wouldn't it need more cars, bodies, uniforms, pay raises and equipment, including car computers?

What if Largo, for whatever reason, was not happy with the contract with the Sheriff's Office at some point? Then what? It would be next to impossible to start a police department all over again.

Before working for Largo, I worked for a police department in Virginia and for the military police. I can say from experience that Largo PD is an excellent agency (no disrespect to the Sheriff's Office). Largo residents are, by and large, pleased with their Police Department.

Largo police are able to work closely with other city governments and can concentrate solely on serving Largo. Largo doesn't need to abolish its department any more than Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Pinellas Park, etc., need to abolish theirs.

If you don't want to support a tax increase, okay, but don't stop supporting the police.
-- Barry Balmer, Largo police officer

Sheriff's Office proponent should clarify who he is

Re: Largo should contract with sheriff, letter by Dennis Fowler, April 16.

I respect Dennis Fowler as a Largo taxpayer expressing his opinion that the Largo Police Department should not seek technology and other enhancements to better serve the public when the Sheriff's Office already has such technology.

I only wish that he would clarify to the public that he is a captain with the Sheriff's Office when he promotes that department's services over those of Largo's own police force.
-- Lester Aradi, Largo police chief

Some spring break acts are hard to forget

Re: Scenes from spring break, March 31.

Your description of various spring-breaker delights gave interesting coverage to many of the antics on Clearwater Beach at this time of year. But the caption under the front-page photo neglected to remind your readers that a tattoo has been defined as "a permanent reminder of temporary insanity."
-- R.J. Radford, Clearwater

© 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