Time has come for Largo human rights ordinance

Re: Largo human rights ordinance.

The proposed human rights ordinance is an important step in the right direction for a city sometimes perceived as racist or insensitive to human rights issues. It makes the city of Largo's position unmistakably clear on matters many thought were settled in the 1960s. It mirrors protections already found in state and federal law.

The proposed ordinance also breaks new ground by including protections against discrimination based on actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status. Perhaps this is the area that has prompted the most resistence - the phone calls and hate mail described by Commissioner Charlie Harper.

The proposed ordinance does not legalize any behavior that is currently against the law. It does protect against discrimination in housing, employment or accommodation. As Commissioner Pat Burke observed, the hate mail and phone calls are why such an ordinance is needed in the first place. Individuals need protection against the intolerance and hatred of others.

But the proposed ordinance is not about homosexuals and cross-dressers. It is not about people who have had a sex-change operation. It is about families that are not made up of a mommy and a daddy and 2.3 kids. It is about people who are sharing their lives and caring for one another. It is about the ability to conduct one's affairs free from the tyranny of what others might think - and do.

Yes, the city has its conservative qualities. The city also has elected a thoughtful City Commission concerned with doing what is right. The city is ready for a human rights ordinance.

Is the city ready to include protection against discrimination based on actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status? Only time and public debate will give us an answer.

Driving range has done its best

In response to Driving range predates nature preserve (letter, April 22), I would like to say that at the time Missing Links was constructed 16 years ago, the entire area surrounding it was environmentally sensitive land and in a flood plain.

When the driving range was built, we were not required to erect netting because we were told no building would ever be allowed around us because of the reasons mentioned above. The nets were erected to help us from having to collect balls from the surrounding woods.

Yes, there was a natural area behind us (by the way, too far for anyone's balls to possibly land), but Largo has since changed the rules and invited the public into an area that was previously gated off from the public.

East Bay Country Club is bordering the park, and its balls are landing in the park from the sixth hole. There are now signs to "Beware of golf balls." If you drive past any golf course in Pinellas County - Clearwater Country Club, Belleair Country Club, Largo Municipal - you will see there are no nets. Your car may be hit if you drive by.

Also, the 66th Street driving range has its balls landing in traffic on busy 66th Street, even with 100-foot-high netting.

There can be no higher netting erected at our range because of the high voltage power lines from Florida Power crossing our property. We have consulted with Florida Power about this in the past, and it can create a dangerous arc.

Finally, we tried to warn the city of Largo about the possibility of golf balls hitting cars as they drive past our range on the way to the park, but they were not interested in solving the problem.

There is a woman who contacted us after reading the Times article regarding a ball problem. Seems she lives on the 18th fairway of Largo Municipal Golf Course and has been trying to have the city correct the problem she is having with golf balls landing on her property. They basically told her it was not their responsibility and planted a viburnum hedge. Interesting!

Traffic, seaweed at beach need attention

It amazes me that at extremely busy times like spring break and weekends, Clearwater does not have traffic police helping at the beach roundabout. Many people do not know how a roundabout should work, and therefore it is a mess with unnecessary traffic jams.

Secondly, I've never seen the beach so full of seaweed. I thought I remembered that it is raked away regularly. We don't need that when finally we arrive at the shore after driving through that ugly construction on the causeway.

Here's hoping the city can help both the tourists and the locals get to and from the beach, with pleasant images at the end of the day.

Fix dangerous part of Sunset Point Road

Have any politicians driven on Sunset Point Road lately from Keene Road west to Edgewater Drive? It's narrow, it's bumpy and it's scary to drive. Please consider widening and paving this area.

Safety Harbor changes don't help

The city of Safety Harbor has recently installed a so-called "traffic calming device" at the intersection of Seventh Street and First Avenue N. This is nothing more than an old-fashioned speed bump that jars both the driver and vehicle going over it. It should be called what it is: a road hazard.

This is a totally unwarranted and unnecessary device, as is the new combination of one-way streets and the removal of one of the city's very few public mail drop boxes. This public mail drop box was utilized by many residents, and the loss of its convenience is felt by the entire community.

Let's let reason and common sense prevail. Remove the obstruction and return First Avenue N to its original, safe, two-way operation. The money spent on this unfortunate experiment should be written off as an education for all involved.

The city should be making life more convenient for city residents, not more difficult by taking features away and installing obstacles.

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