Board's denial of food pantry request is outrageous
Published June 3, 2003
As a Religious Community Services Food Pantry volunteer in Clearwater, I was shocked and disappointed in the way that the Clearwater Community Development Board treated our attorney's request that it reconsider its denial of permission to purchase a piece of property to house the offices of Religious Community Services and its Clearwater Food Pantry.
With the exception of the board chairperson, the volunteers on the Development Board were not interested in hearing facts concerning this desperately needed property, and it was clear from the outset that their minds had been made up and, thus, our attorney was denied the opportunity to present information that would prove the advisability of such a move.
An example of the facts of the matter are that most of our clients, by the very nature of their financial status, do not own cars and arrive by bus, bicycling, walking or carpooling.
Additionally, we had redesigned our parking plans to add more spaces. Another fact: The vast majority of our clientele are the working poor, the unemployed and the elderly, not vagrants and transients.
Just before announcing the Food Pantry's appeal, this same Development Board unanimously voted to allow an upscale Island Estates restaurant to build on city-owned property a nine-boat mooring area, with the city of Clearwater picking up the insurance tab. A feeble attempt to suggest that other stores, including the local Publix, would benefit by this mooring area near the restaurant's door was met with embarrassed smiles and head shakings.
As the board members enjoy boating to and dining at this restaurant, one hopes that they will remember the people who are not as fortunate as they are, people whose main concern is getting help with the high cost of food for their families' daily meals.
A final word to the Development Board: Re-examine your priorities! Think of those less fortunate than you are, and do the right thing.
-- Ruth Vogel, Belleair
One site is needed for all community outreach
Re: Food pantry's home, future in doubt, story, May 18.
Nothing against Mrs. Lena Tighe. I am sure she is a wonderful mother, a (good) citizen, a fine lady and a resident of Clearwater.
Should Mrs. Tighe have to live in a "tiny" apartment, turn off her air-conditioning unit, go without more food stamps to cover the cost of "a good steak," "drag" her shopping cart to the Religious Community Services Food Pantry, lose her "lifeline" (life) if the pantry closes? No! Mrs. Tighe has 10 children, 23 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. Where are they?
The food pantry is a needed service and deserves an adequate location to serve its clients.
All Clearwater homeless outreach services need to be combined into one complex in north county or mid county in an unincorporated industrial area to include soup kitchens, shelters, transitional housing, inebriate centers, food pantries and other services for these individuals.
Currently, there is a Clearwater economic development director, the Homeless Task Force, and real estate agents looking for suitable sites to potentially solve the existing problems. Some sites have been identified in Clearwater.
The Clearwater Community Development Board denied the application for two good reasons: parking and compatibility with the neighborhood. What if Myrtle Avenue is widened after becoming Alt. U.S. 19? What if the city declares its adjacent property surplus? What if Religious Community Services combines or expands all services? Where will they all park? Where will they grow? If the RCS Food Pantry fed 42,024 last year, where did they all park?
All homeless outreach agencies in Pinellas County should combine knowledge, money, energy and work force with faith-based organizations to create a complex to complement all. Will the Times help?
-- Gilbert G. Jannelli, Clearwater
Golf course area is already bursting at the seams
Re: Condo plans have golfers seeing red, story, May 25.
I would like to respond to an article regarding the building of condos along the golf course at the Westin Innisbrook resort in Palm Harbor.
This is a matter of public safety. The main roads surrounding Innisbrook are already pushed to the limit. Wal-Mart was recently turned down for expansion in Palm Harbor because the area is already bursting at the seams!
As voters and taxpayers of Pinellas County, we in the area are strongly opposed to the building of more housing that will further endanger the residents in and surrounding Innisbrook.
-- Marilyn Chimeri, Palm Harbor
New park offerings are a pleasure for the community
Congratulations to the people in the Pinellas County park system who planned and opened not only the new extension to the recreational trail, but also the new dog park at Walsingham Park.
They certainly anticipated the needs of the citizens. The new trail that goes all around the lake now is attracting more and more bikers, and as an added bonus, one can stop and watch the dogs.
The dog park is a big area with trees and water and sections for small and large dogs. It is a joy to see those housebound dogs, especially the adopted retired greyhounds, running free and playing with one another.
-- Jackie Mizisko, Seminole
[Last modified June 3, 2003, 02:00:16]
