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Letters to the EditorsVisioning task lacks public, business input© St. Petersburg Times published January 15, 2003 Re: Seeking altruism and the center of Land O'Lakes, Jan. 12, C.T. Bowen column. Editor: The efforts of the Heart of Land O'Lakes visioning group were truly noble and well intentioned. A lot of hard work, effort and time went into their planning sessions over the past several months. I had the opportunity to attend a couple of sessions and was truly impressed with the efforts of this group. If there are any shortcomings or criticisms to be noted, it was in the extremely poor turnout from the overall community. The public hearings in which I participated were sparsely attended at best. The poor attendance was certainly not for lack of effort in getting the word out as the hearings were duly noted in local newspapers. Perhaps we suffer from the age-old tenet of 9-to-5 suburban doldrums. Many of those automobiles that you note speeding by you on State 54 and U.S. 41 are actually young suburban parents in their SUVs rushing home from 9-to-5 jobs (with pizzas and fast food burgers in hand) on their way to pick up and delivery their young children to baseball, football, cheerleading and soccer practice (not to mention Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, PTA, church services . . . etc.). Regretfully, the average suburbanite parent of the 21st century does not have the luxury of time to stop and smell the roses, let alone participate in the planting of the roses. Free time to participate in community planning sessions on weeknights is not a luxury (or obligation) that many parents with young children can afford. What I think was drastically missing from this entire planning process was input from the Land O'Lakes business community. Despite two written requests to be allowed to become an active participant in the process, the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce's (370 members strong) requests went unanswered. As the chamber's Governmental/Community Affairs Committee chairman, I had made two written requests at the direction of the board of directors of the chamber to allow the chamber an active role in this planning process. Without strong participation by the local business community, you cannot expect to be successful in setting planning guidelines and restrictions that will primarily affect local businesses and property owners.
Bunting's help goes beyond gun rightsRe: Republican Party lurches far to the right, Jan. 3 letter. Editor: That letter writer's description of Bill Bunting is unfair. He tries to make Bill look like some fanatic, and that is simply not the truth. Bill works very hard for whatever he thinks is right, and he fights for much more than gun rights. He has helped keep Beacon Woods the beautiful place it is by serving on the board of directors for the civic association for several terms over these past years. Just recently, he organized the Garden Club's efforts to put in more than 400 trees and 1,200 pine seedlings in our neighborhood. The program will expand its efforts next year. Other civic associations are looking to us as a model. He is spearheading efforts to resolve anticipated traffic problems through Beacon Woods as a result of the proposed new Wal-Mart Supercenter. Bill has consistently fought against higher taxes. He and his wife, Ann, organized a fundraising effort for a neighbor whose house burned down. When a neighbor was near foreclosure, he wrote a check. Bill Bunting is much more than a gun rights advocate. He is a fine person who cares about people and his community.
Share your viewsThe Pasco Times welcomes letters from readers for publication. Because of space limitations, letters should be of reasonable length (250-300 words maximum as a rule). 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. Anonymous letters or letters with initials only will not be printed. Send your letter to Pasco Times, 11321 U.S. 19, Port Richey, FL 34668.
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