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Letters to the EditorsWal-Mart a reaction to growth© St. Petersburg Times published August 9, 2002 Editor: I have just about had it with the Green Party and CAUSE and their fight against the Wal-Mart Supercenter. The so-called jazz funeral, scheduled for Saturday, and the "boycott/procott," are the icing on the cake. I came to Hernando County in 1985, when it truly was the Nature Coast. That is how I wish it would have remained. Unfortunately, thanks to the real estate interests in this area pushing for growth, we now have a population that exceeds 75,000 in Spring Hill alone. Am I happy about what they have done? Absolutely not! However, I do understand their reason; This is how they earn a living and they obviously have made a killing. This is their constitutional right. After all, we are a capitalist country and I wouldn't do anything to change that. I am proud to be an American. Now, common sense comes in. With a population increase as great as this, we have to accommodate the people in this area, and this means businesses moving into the area. It's called supply and demand. Having three Wal-Mart Supercenters in our county does not seem ridiculous to me. It only makes sense. Have you seen the lines at the store on State Road 50? I can't wait for the new stores to open. Maybe then I won't spend half my day shopping. The question that I ask this group is: What is the difference between three Wal-Mart Supercenters in Hernando County, compared to six Publix stores (five of which are in Spring Hill) three Kash n' Karrys, and four Winn-Dixies, not to mention the many Walgreens and Eckerd drugstores, which seem to be popping up at every intersection? One final point I would like to make is that Wal-Mart plays an important role in the tax base of Hernando County, as did Florida Rock. It is very unfortunate we will be losing the tax dollars from Florida Rock, as you will soon see, when our property taxes start to increase. Let's not make the same mistake with Wal-Mart. I do not want a drastic increase, or any increase for that matter, in my property taxes.
School Board lapses are a big deal indeedEditor: It is disturbing that School Board member Jim Malcolm found the apparently illegal School Board meeting, held without a quorum to designate tax millage, "much ado about nothing." As an elected public official who ran on a platform of integrity, I hope Malcolm doesn't think it appropriate to have unlawful meetings to set legislation under the public's radar. I don't think Mr. Malcolm's response says very much about his ethics as a School Board member. The absence of Malcolm, Robert Wiggins and Gail David at the conspicuous meeting certainly raised my doubts as to the authenticity of the laid agenda. Had Superintendent Wendy Tellone not had the good sense to re-hold the meeting, who knows what the legal implications could have been? Malcolm's response to his and his colleagues' neglect to attend to their public duty was to bash, via cell phone from Maine, the whistle blower. Tacit behavior from Wiggins and David could be construed as taking responsibility for the confusion around their absences (David being the only member absent staying within the county). I wonder what Malcolm or Wiggins (Mr. Wiggins is running on a platform for student punctuality) would have done had our teachers decided to set their own schedules for classes. How much "much ado about nothing" would that have caused? Malcolm needs to be reminded that cutting a corner here, or having an official meeting there, is one of many reasons the School Board can no longer brag about having a surplus. Unfortunately for the taxpayer, advocating improper procedures is leading to the "Enron-ization" of our School Board and our children's education. Or do we forget about the amazing disappearing/reappearing $3-million?
Candidate clarifies fire budget concernEditor: Re: Petty politics undermines vote on fire services. Aug. 7 Times. I want to thank Bill Kelley for his recent letter to the editor regarding the subject of fire service for Township 22. I have always enjoyed reading Bill's letters to the editor, which are usually very informative and entertaining. Sometimes I agree with his views, other times I do not. I also have great respect for Mr. Kelley and we have worked together on various civic projects. He was totally correct in his description and belief that I am honest and civic-minded. His opinion that I somehow accused three of our seated commissioners of violating the Sunshine Law is incorrect. I now wonder if Mr. Kelley is playing "petty politics" himself. Anyone who has heard me speak, knows that I did not want or desire to get into negative campaigning. What I did say about the Township 22 decision (Hernando Today news article Aug. 2) is that I thought it very strange that the monies for Township 22 were already in the county budget prior to the vote. I said that this gave the "appearance" that it was a done deal and that decisions were already made prior to the vote. I did not say that any of the commissioners violated the Sunshine Law. Even Commissioner Aiken also has found the budget strange (Hernando Times, Aug. 7). Possibly, budget officer George Zoetlin or County Administrator Richard Radacky, assumed the vote would go as it did and entered these monies into the budget. And I was and still am, appalled at the fact that a vote was not yet decided upon, but the monies were in the budget. Mr. Kelley has my phone number (I'm in the phone book) and if he had given me a call I would have clarified to him exactly what I did say, not what was printed. Please believe that if I thought there was a violation of the Sunshine Law, I would be the first person to contact Tallahassee and would proudly take credit for it.
Share your viewsThe Hernando Times welcomes letters from readers for publication. Because of space limitations, letters should be of reasonable length. Letters may be edited for clarity, taste and length. All letters must be signed and must contain the writer's address and telephone number. Addresses and telephone numbers will not be printed. Send your letter to Hernando Times, 161 E Jefferson St., Brooksville, FL 34601. To fax a letter call 754-6133. Send letters by e-mail (in text-only format) to hernando@sptimes.com
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