Letters to the Editors

Altman needs to change his work attitude

Re: Callers get limited time with Altman, April 24:

Editor: Just when politics get boring in Pasco, along comes Commissioner Peter "I have a bad idea or comment" Altman.

It's bad enough reading about his actions, or in this case lack of action when you don't know how much he makes, but, come on, we pay this man $62,000 a year for what he does. To make it worse, he thinks that this salary only warrants part-time participation. Part time is the high school student flipping burgers after school, or the mother babysitting to make ends meet. I know double income families that don't make that much.

His actions suggest that the people of Pasco don't deserve proper representation for that sum of money. I guess the 400 or so people who had their tax forms done by Mr. Altman more than make up for his accounting services. The only thing that benefits is Mr. Altman's bank account. How dare you think that one washes out the other.

The only benefit I see from having Mr. Altman as a commissioner is what I like to call the Peter Altman diet. Just when you feel like eating, another article comes out and makes you sick to your stomach.

He should follow the example of his fellow commissioners and deal with some of the people on a one-on-one level, instead of trying to cram them all into one meeting. I'm sure he doesn't have all of his business clients come in at the same time to do their taxes. Mr. Altman, if you don't feel the need to change your outlook on your position, I'm sure I won't be the only one smiling in line to vote you out at election time.
-- Dave Scavelli, Hudson

Column was childish

Re: Hello. Leave a message, then get a grip on reality, April 28 C.T. Bowen column:

Editor: What was that? Was that an attempt to justify Peter Altman's lack of telephone etiquette. It reminded me of the spoiled child on the playground who gathers up his toys and states "I'm going home" because the other children don't see things his way.
-- Kimberly Chalmers, Port Richey

Times badly mistreated Karls

Re: Ex-candidate can always sail back to Germany, April 24 letter:

Editor: One of your less charitable readers suggested that Rainer Karls, a recent mayoral candidate in New Port Richey, should go back where he came from for declaring his bitterness over his treatment by the Pasco Times during that race. Assuming for the moment she is not stupid, merely uninformed, let me point out the reason for Mr. Karls' anger and disappointment.

To prepare for his second run for the mayor's office after losing several years ago to Peter Altman, Mr. Karls sent out hundreds of fliers to prospective voters, after attending City Council meetings faithfully for the last two years, despite illnesses and injuries. Those who assisted Mr. Karls in this race made more than 1,000 phone calls on his behalf to 1,400 to 1,600 voters of all parties who voted in the city elections during the last two years. Only one person flat out said their vote would not go to Mr. Karls under any circumstances.

Then a reporter of the Pasco Times wrote up capsule descriptions of all the candidates in the local races, and in only one of them, that of Mr. Karls, was any derogatory information included, even though one of the other candidates had an ugly altercation with city officials and police not so long ago.

Mr. Karls was labeled as a suspected wife beater and a possible child molester only days before the election. Mr. Karls is neither and that is substantiated by investigations not only by the Department of Social Services, but by the U.S. Department of Energy, which investigated because Mr. Karls was a highly prized, highly gifted federal employee doing a dangerous job involving top-secret clearance. Although born in Germany, Mr. Karls has lived in Florida for nearly five decades, 17 years in New Port Richey. He kept Americans safe.

The Pasco Times not only destroyed this man's efforts to be elected, they may have destroyed his reputation as well.

The letter writer owes Mr. Karls an apology. As for Bill Stevens and the Pasco Times, they deserve to be sued for misusing their First Amendment rights to assault Rainer Karls.
-- Daniel Callaghan, New Port Richey

Writer distorted guns issue

Re: Guns on school grounds dumb, dangerous idea, April 28 letter:

Editor: There goes letter writer Arthur Hayhoe again making misstatements about guns on campus. He knows very well you have to be 18 to purchase a rifle. In many counties, the ROTC in high schools use rifles in their programs. When our young men and women defend our country in the military, they are 18 years old.

As for the National Rifle Association, we now have 4.2-million members, and we are proud to defend the Second Amendment. I'm also proud to have Heather Fiorentino as my state representative. She stands against nursing home fraud, cuts taxes, and is not afraid to take on the leadership in Tallahassee. If Mr. Hayhoe thinks he can do a better job, then he should consider running for office.
-- Bill Bunting, Bayonet Point

NRA stands for gun safety

Re: Guns on school ground dumb, dangerous idea, April 28 letter:

Editor: Letter writer Arthur Hayhoe is quick to criticize the NRA, but what he doesn't say is that at least part of the reason he is so upset is that last year the NRA refused to renew his membership. He became enraged at that point and has led a one man anti-NRA crusade.

The NRA was founded in 1871 and has been a strong proponent for gun safety ever since. In fact, the NRA's Eddie Eagle gun safety program for elementary schools was recently endorsed by the National Sheriffs Association, and was selected by the Journal of Emergency Nursing as best program. It has also been recognized by several state legislatures, the National Safety Council, the Police Athletic League, and many other organizations. To support the NRA is to support gun safety.
-- Eric Stallworth, Holiday

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The Pasco Times welcomes letters from readers for publication.

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Letters may be edited for clarity, taste and length.

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Send your letter to Pasco Times, 11321 U.S. 19, Port Richey, FL 34668.

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