Letters to the Editors

Don't let rain ruin First Night forever

Re: First Night.

How very proud I am of our city, St. Petersburg. We are the only city in Florida to still have a flourishing First Night event. Ours was diverse and well planned -- but absolutely inundated by rain. My husband and I, despite living downtown, never ventured out because of the torrents. But we want to make sure this fabulous event continues to be supported and is there for us in the coming years.

Therefore, we are sending a check to First Night (P.O. Box 1915, St. Petersburg, FL 33731) for $20, the amount we would have spent for our tickets, and another $10 for our houseguest. This way, they don't lose our money even though we were unable to participate. We hope others will follow our lead and start off the New Year by supporting a wonderful local institution. We are not, by the way, in any way associated with First Night, just happy consumers of other people's efforts. Elinor Gollay, St. Petersburg
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Security heavy-handed at BayWalk
Re: A place to see and be teen, Dec. 28.
After reading your recent story on BayWalk in downtown St. Petersburg, I feel compelled to respond. Police and civic leaders seemed to brag about the way they keep the peace at BayWalk, but the demeanor of police and security personnel there is the very reason that I won't be going back any time soon.
An evening in or around BayWalk ensures harassment for even the most peaceful and law-abiding citizens. Almost immediately after the bars close, patrons are chased out by overzealous police, who seem to want to clear the area as soon as possible. I've seen people sitting on park benches, who are in no way causing any trouble, told to leave or go to jail. This reaction might be understandable two hours after closing, or perhaps in rare cases when there's a crowd-control issue, but it is otherwise unacceptable.
In one incident, a few friends and I were told by a security guard in one of the parking garages to "get our sodas and keep walking" for committing the terrible crime of talking too loudly next to a Coke machine.
I have never been to BayWalk at any time when I didn't experience at least one incident like this, and this has to change before I will go back. Downtown St. Pete is a beautiful area, with a lot of untapped potential that will never be realized until community leaders learn not to harass the very people they want to attract.
James Bennett, Palm Harbor

Recyclers should return post office tub

I read and see on TV news that the U.S. Postal Service is missing hundreds, maybe thousands, of its white plastic mail tubs. Postal officials report that people keep them for various reasons (storage, seats, etc.)

In the Dec. 29 Neighborhood Times is an article Recyclers have a big plans for new year. Attached is photo of an individual using one of the missing tubs, with another tub on the table for recycling. The Louise Graham Regeneration Center is to be lauded and helped in its efforts, but I think the center could also help by returning the tubs to the Postal Service.

The Postal Service spokesperson has said individuals will not be prosecuted for the misappropriation of these tubs. Maybe this is one way we as good citizens can help hold down the ever-increasing costs of the mail service.
-- William Fitchpatrick, St. Petersburg

We conserve so others may waste?

Re: Water, water not everywhere, Dec. 21.

New condos, high rises, townhouses and private residences are being built on Gulf Boulevard, Gulfport Boulevard, St. Petersburg's downtown -- actually, all over Pinellas County! And the state asks us to conserve water so it, and the counties, can continue their model conservation program and practices?

Actions speak louder than words.

In keeping with the season, all I can say is "Bah, humbug" to their request!
-- A.J. Bialik, Gulfport

Rise up, taxpayers: Put down the thieves

Taxpayers, arise!

It is time for taxpayers to come together and do something about the ever-increasing taxation by all levels of government. The Pinellas County property appraiser increased the assessed value of our property by 25 percent in just one year. Twenty-five percent in just one year. Thievery is the term that comes to mind.

The time for a taxpayer rebellion in this country is rapidly approaching.
-- Henri A. Monteau, Clearwater

Police ignore report of drunken driver

On a recent Monday night, a friend and I were driving south on 49th Street when we spotted an obviously impaired driver. We watched as the small pickup truck weaved over and over again across dividing lines, nearly hitting several vehicles. We drove behind the truck from 38th Avenue N and 49th Street all the way to Gulfport, with a stop at a McDonald's by this driver along the way. But we didn't just watch, we called 911 from our cell phone at around 22nd Avenue N. We gave the tag number, the exact description, and described the erratic driving to the dispatcher. I stayed on the phone more than 20 minutes, giving the location of the truck as we followed.

We expected a police cruiser to appear at some point in our conversation with the dispatcher, but that never happened as long as we were in St. Petersburg. When we gave our location as Gulfport Boulevard, the dispatcher commented that we had passed into Gulfport's police district and transferred the call. For 15 minutes we were in St. Petersburg following this dangerous vehicle as it veered near passing cars over and over again. Where were St. Petersburg's patrol cars?

In Gulfport, the driver pulled into a parking space in front of an obviously open bar. We watched as the driver got out of his vehicle and walked down an alley alongside the bar. Finally, two Gulfport cruisers appeared and we approached them in our vehicle and told them exactly where the man had gone. At that point, we left and continued our evening, left to wonder what would happen, if anything, to keep this driver and vehicle off the road. How much more information does a concerned citizen need to give in order to aid in getting an obviously dangerous driver off the road?
-- Louis Casciano, St. Petersburg

Honest man stars in good-news drama

I just wanted to tell people that we still have some very honest people around. My daughter by mistake left her wallet lying at a car wash in Pinellas Park. It had $240 in cash in it. Well, five hours later she had a message on her cell phone. A man named Wallace Poole had found her wallet and was calling to return it to her. God bless him! It had every bit of the money still in it. She gave him $20 in return.

Isn't this a great story to hear about in our rough times, instead of all the bad stuff going on in the world?
-- Dorothy Skonecki, St. Petersburg

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