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Letters to the EditorsWhy neighbors really oppose lighted soccer fields© St. Petersburg Times published March 20, 2003 Re: An escalating fear of fields, editorial, March 16. What a perfect public relations coup the city of Clearwater has pulled off on this one. Knowing the controversy that would be stirred up by turning the Glen Oaks soccer fields issue into one with racist overtones, city officials quietly put the idea to the St. Petersburg Times that perhaps the Glen Oaks residents are against lighted soccer fields because non-Americans will be playing there. Hogwash! Let's take this editorial one piece at a time. When city officials told us last fall that the stormwater portion of the project at Glen Oaks would proceed, but the building of the soccer fields would be "revisited," we did not assume, as the editorial states, that the soccer fields issue was "dead." But, yes, we are angry that "revisiting" meant "come and see what we are doing that you did not want and we went ahead with anyway." Wouldn't you be? The editorial reads like a mouthpiece for Clearwater city officials. "The most difficult test for Clearwater commissioners lies ahead. Will they be able to hang tough when unreasonable fear and prejudice ratchet up the debate about the soccer fields?" What unreasonable fear and prejudice? We simply don't want a lighted spectator sport literally in our back yards, and front yards. The city and the media are creating the prejudice debate, not the residents. But that wouldn't make for interesting journalism. Another great quote from the editorial: "Is fear and prejudice against Mexicans and other minority residents the real reason neighbors object so strongly to having soccer fields a little closer to their homes?" A little closer? One of the new soccer fields will be about 80 yards from my front yard. Folks, this is not an issue of racism. It's a noise issue, a traffic issue, a loss of quality of life for which we specifically purchased in this quiet little neighborhood. Pace off 80 yards from your front yard and see if you would like a lighted spectator sport placed there. That's about three houses away.
Threats to Glen Oaks cause concern Re: An escalating fear of fields, editorial, March 16. This is a definite time of concern for me and many people who live adjacent to the fine Glen Oaks course and to others who can play golf without traveling a long distance or spending excessive money. I challenge anyone on the Clearwater City Commission to say he has toured the course or monitored the use and usefulness of this beautiful jewel in the middle of Clearwater. To say that it is a flooding issue involving Stevenson's Creek is both deceiving and an outright lie. It amounts to a ruse to do what they want to do, and their plans will, I'm sure, go forward regardless of citizens' objections. I spoke at the first meeting, which was not announced to the public, and now the original plan for soccer fields for foreigners is back in the works along with a cesspool because of flooding. I have lived beside the Glen Oaks course for 27 years and have never been threatened with flooding from this body of water. I contend that just dredging and cleaning the creek would allow the creek to flow freely and clean itself. Just take a look at Glen Oaks and see how the creek is overgrown and inhibited from flowing freely. I also am concerned that the Salvation Army has established a home at the former Clearwater Community Hospital for AIDS patients, homeless and transients. This is about a quarter of a mile from Glen Oaks. My community is dying and I am concerned. No one on the City Commission seems to realize or care about a community that has been here since the early 1950s. To provide soccer fields is ridiculous. They will be used by aliens and provide a haven for vagrants. This is a beautiful little golf course that provides so much to so many people. Just drive by on any given day and see the golfers enjoying themselves. But I guess that doesn't matter to the people who don't golf or just don't care. Clearwater is shamed once again.
Clearwater needs more soccer fields I have played soccer in Clearwater for over 27 years, as a youth growing up in Clearwater playing in the 1970s and now playing as an adult. I attended and played soccer for St. Cecelia's School and was a teammate of David Martin at Clearwater Central Catholic. Being an active player and referee, I can tell you that those who are associated with soccer are not vagrants and strange men, as some of those in the neighborhood have stated. They are hard-working men and women who love the game with a passion. It is a nothing more than good, sometimes muddy, healthy fun. Clearwater needs a lot more soccer fields. With the increase of youth and adults playing, plus the influx of Latin American and Eastern European immigrants, the use of fields is at its zenith. I support Clearwater in building the fields. I also propose that the city convert the underused baseball and softball fields in the area to soccer fields. Leveling the ground and installing turf would not cost that much. Plus, these new fields would be in areas whereathletic fields are already established. Please, city of Clearwater, build more soccer fields.
Punish drivers who don't yield Re: Practice safe driving, letter, May 11. Kudos to the letter writer. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it the law to yield to emergency vehicles? It may have been a while since I took a driver's education course (class of '84), but I was under the impression that not yielding was a ticketable offense. We should install cameras at all intersections and record the plate numbers of nonyielding vehicles, just like the surveillance equipment used on California roads. They seem to do a good job of catching speeders; why not other traffic offenders? Then send them a hefty fine. I'm sure the cameras would pay for themselves within the first three months. Bottom line is if there is no penalty for being a selfish road hog, more people will not receive medical attention in a timely fashion. Let's hit the hogs where it hurts: the wallet.
FCAT questions are not hard Re: FCAT sample questions. I am a grandmother, 70-plus years old, who received my education in a rural one-room schoolhouse where one teacher taught all eight grades. Our rural high school had a total of 118 students in grades 9-12, with four teachers teaching all subjects from algebra to gym. I took the sample FCAT questions and solved them all with no problem, getting the correct answers. Hey, if I can do it, today's students with all the advantages of modern education certainly should have no trouble. Something is wrong.
Your voice counts We invite readers to write letters for publication. Address them to Letters to the Editor, the Times, 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756. Or fax them to (727) 445-4119, or e-mail to npletters@sptimes.com . E-mail letters must be text only and cannot include attachments. Letters should be brief and must include the writer's name, city of residence, mailing address and phone number. Addresses and phone numbers will not be published. Letters may be edited for clarity, taste and length. We regret that not all letters can be printed.
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