Letters to the Editors

Don't clutter our Constitution with amendments

This election year, voters are being presented with constitutional amendments on a wide variety of things, none of which belongs in the Florida Constitution. Some of them I disagree with and others may have some merit as legislation or as administrative directives, but none belongs in a constitution.

Why are they being offered as constitutional amendments for the voters to act on? The main reason is that our legislators do not want to go on record as having voted for, or against, some of them. For example, if the amendment regarding classroom size was proposed as legislation, it would lead to the obvious question: "Where would the money come from?" And that would lead to the obvious answer: "from increased or additional taxes," with which no legislator wants to be associated -- especially not in an election year.

Do you really want an amendment in your Constitution that regulates the size of cages for pregnant pigs? Come on, folks. We'd be the laughingstock of the country. Besides, pig farming is regulated by the state's Department of Agriculture. If such a restriction is necessary, it ought to be accomplished by a directive from the agricultural commissioner -- but, please, not our Constitution.

If the various things contained in these amendments are worthwhile, direct your efforts to the Legislature or to the appropriate state department or commission to enact the appropriate laws or directives. Our state Constitution should be limited to how our state government is elected or appointed and what powers and authorities each branch of that government has.

The only amendment I would vote for or recommend is one that states in no uncertain terms that there will be no further amendments to this Constitution.
-- A.J. D'Amario, Hudson

Initiative process deserves voter support

Re: Amendment 10.

I am voting "yes" on Amendments 10, 6 and probably others. For me, the reason has little to do with pigs and smoking. It has to do with supporting the initiative process, which gives power to the people. I admire all those people who contribute their time and money to issues they feel passionate about. Personally, I have never participated in such a grass roots effort, but I usually support them when I step into the voting booth.

If the industries to be affected by these amendments don't want to be forced to comply, they'd be wise to listen to these citizen groups, change the way they conduct business (usually for the good) and avoid being forced by law. If that cannot occur, then the lawmakers in Tallahassee should listen and write laws that could be annually modified or removed as they see fit so they, too, will not be forced to comply with such concrete amendments over which they had no control.

Some people are critical of such amendments because they believe they are unnecessarily increasing the size of our state Constitution. Perhaps, but the blame for this is not on those who raise such issues but rather those who ignore them. I am hopeful that the powers that be will begin to open their ears when such concerns are voiced and act accordingly.
-- Terry Regan, Tampa

Amendment will help higher education

The people of Florida owe a debt of gratitude to Sen. Bob Graham for his decision to lead opposition to the governor's reorganization of higher education governance. It is clear that the Legislature has been given too much power in determining the programming and financing of the state's higher education. Gov. Jeb Bush has succeeded in politicizing higher education. Given the state's experience with the unenlightened last legislative session, only a self-serving governor and a Legislature bent on increasing its power would have established such a system.

Until the '60s, the state of Massachusetts had a similar system for its mental health program, but it had to be scrapped, in part, because politics interfered significantly with the development of new programs for patients. Since the Legislature was responsible for each mental hospital's funding, administrators developed cozy relationships with powerful legislators, helping to protect their fiefdoms, much to the detriment of progressive mental health services in the state. Mental health programs were political footballs because funding for each hospital required legislative approval.

Florida does not want to travel that road with its higher education programs. Opposition to Jeb Bush's reactionary program has nothing to do with support or lack of it for the University of Florida. We just cannot trust the Florida Legislature to do the right thing, regardless of controlling party, in keeping politics out of the higher education program. Bush's plan is a return to cronyism and a gift to some party legislators. We must soundly reject Bush's misguided attempts to create political plums of our colleges and universities. We must vote "yes" on Amendment 11.
-- Michael L. Fabien, Ed.D., Palm Harbor

Politicizing education is harmful

In November, Floridians will be voting on a constitutional amendment to establish a statewide citizen board that would have the authority to set policy for the state university system. Under Amendment 11, local citizen boards would retain the power to administer each university while the Legislature would keep its power to appropriate funds.

Last July, the Legislature gave itself control over universities. The lawmakers abolished both the state Board of Community Colleges and the university system's Board of Regents. Educators and parents have witnessed the harmful consequences of this politicization of education. Concerned about these destructive effects, faculty have endorsed Amendment 11. The Community College Faculty Coalition of Florida, the Florida Education Association and United Faculty of Florida have voted to support Amendment 11.

Amendment 11 supports both a statewide board and local boards -- members of these boards will be appointed to staggered terms by a governor (with consent of the Senate), so that no one governor has control of all members. This will add an important system of checks and balances that the current system lacks. These staggered terms will enforce a constitutional fire wall between political interference and the classroom. Amendment 11 will reduce the number of pork barrel education projects and let an independent board of citizens coordinate the future of Florida's universities.

Some have urged voters to reject all the Amendments because they will increase taxes. Amendment 11 has been shown to save tax dollars. At a recent Revenue Estimating Conference in Tallahassee, supporters of Amendment 11 submitted a report documenting the savings of tens of millions of dollars by having a statewide Board of Governors for the state's university governance under citizen boards. It is my hope that voters will join with Florida's teachers in an effort to reduce politics and wasteful spending in education by voting for Amendment 11.
-- Steve Lodle, founding president, Community College Faculty Coalition of Florida, Brooker

Cheers for the new trolley

Last weekend, I rode on the third car out during the grand opening of the TECO Line Streetcar System, having driven from Palm Coast for the event.

I thought the crews were professional and handled the event very well. What was disturbing was the ignorance and poor planning by the some of the citizens who rode the car. Right after we departed Morgan Street we had to stop at Channelside to await an oncoming trolley. The wait that should have been only for a few minutes turned into a half hour due to problems beyond the control of the trolley line crews.

The crew began to be besieged by several impatient people demanding to be let off and criticizing the crew and the TECO Trolley. One person was upset that he was going to miss a flight. Well he should have not planned to go to an event where it was well known that there would have been 20,000 people attending. And of course if someone got hurt getting off the trolley, I am sure that he would have turned right around and sued HARTLine for letting him or her off the car between stops.

It was opening day folks -- problems are going to happen.

Other people seem to have a difficult time reading signs. There were signs posted at every station indicating that on opening day the trolley would be making limited stops. Furthermore, I knew well in advance that there would only be three stops running, and I live across the state! Why? Because I actually took time to read the signs and the news releases. Come on people, wake up and get a clue!

I want to commend Connie and the crew of car No. 429 for an outstanding job, and I surely will be back to spend my money in Tampa. The people of Tampa can be proud of their streetcar and the people who run it. They should be ashamed at the conduct of some of their citizens.
-- Bob Pickering, Palm Coast

Opening wasn't so grand

Re: Tampa trolley.

It is hard to believe that a grand opening of such an important advancement of the city's services could have gone as poorly as it did. Forty-five minutes to get from the St. Pete Times Forum to Centennial Park and 40 minutes to return. I don't think that the city will be able to pay riders enough money to waste their time much less have the nerve to charge them $1.25 for a one-way fare. According to the estimates, upward of 20,000 people attempted to enjoy their first experience on the new transportation system.

I certainly hope that they all have a more positive outlook on it than I do. It will cost the city a lot of money and a lot of time to recover from all of the disastrous publicity that those participants are spreading around.

As I understand it, the trolley system isn't supposed to be used as a "transportation" system. It's more of a "tourist attraction." I would like to advise all of the tourists to either walk or take a taxi. It is no fun spending 45 minutes on a bumpy ride to Ybor City.
-- Mike Ferlita, Tampa

Put transportation dollars to better use

The recent coverage of the TECO Line Streetcar System has been extensive, but it has failed to address several issues.

It has been described as a choice for people commuting from the new residential areas in Ybor City, but it will not begin operating until 11 a.m. Also discussed was how it would assist with parking and traffic, but the line will not be running during Guavaween due to the crowds. Plans are already being made for expanding the line without determining the ridership or if the service will pay for itself. Finally, as the streetcar system loses money, who will make up the difference?

The streetcar system is laying the foundation for HARTLine's billion-dollar light rail system, which is the train to nowhere. It is an indulgence that this community cannot afford. The citizens in Hillsborough County who rely on the bus system for transportation deserve better.
-- Philip R. Ashley, Tampa

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