Editor: Let's go back a few months when Times reporter James Thorner first started reporting on the proposed tennis stadium. At that time, it was going to be a 3,500-seat stadium with the parking lots utilized for soccer fields. This proposal was being heavily endorsed by Tom Dempsey (Saddlebrook owner), who stated that Saddlebrook would cover any deficiency in revenues so that Pasco County would not lose taxpayer money. Please note that you can't get more than a few thousand people to attend a Devil Rays game in a metropolitan area.
Now County Attorney Robert Sumner gives his endorsement, stating that hotel and motels are being proposed for the area. I would like to know how many building permits have been have been issued for hotel and motels.
Tennis is a popular but rather elitist sport. What makes the commissioners think that a tennis stadium would be income-producing? The $5.7-million is burning a hole in the commissioners' pockets. They can't stand to have this cash lying around idle. The only benefit of the stadium will be to Saddlebrook and not to Pasco County.
-- Joseph King, Hudson
Michels' apology falls short of the mark
Re: Chasco talk meant to humor, not harm, May 29 letter
Editor: Regarding your newspaper providing two long columns to Roger Michels' half-hearted, mud-slinging apology for jokingly suggesting that Chamber of Commerce members buy guns and kill American Indian Movement members - he'll bury them for free - I see only three small problems.
Because your newspaper ignored the protests of concerned citizens and AIM members at Michels' place of business, your readers might not have any idea what he is apologizing for and whether anyone in the community was upset.
Your generosity of space to Michels makes some sense, as the St. Petersburg Times turns a blind eye to the three racist aspects of the otherwise fine Chasco Fiesta. The children's pageant, which was canceled after 80 years of proclaiming that only when whites and Christianity rule Indians do they cease to be savages, and the Children's Indian Village ceased in recent years - not because of the cry from a nationally famous newspaper and its editors, not because civic leaders woke up to the harm they caused American Indians, but because a small group of people protested.
Now the Krewe of Chasco is the one remaining aspect of the Chasco Fiesta that is racially and ethnically offensive. Michels is the president and chief spokesman and jokester for those white guys and gals who think that dressing up like Indians and throwing beads out to crowds from a float leased and paid for by New Port Richey is educating the public about Indians. Here's the education part, kiddies: Indians are bad guys from our past, like pirates are; and now that we've massacred them and taken their land, we're going to steal their culture, too, because we own this town.
The third problem with Michels' apology: Is it an apology? It is an apology from the head, not the heart, and has more to do with losing business and some prestige among his peers. He sees the fault in the joke he told but not in the actions of his Krewe of Chasco. And how about the inaction of the West Pasco Chamber of Commerce - which heard his bad joke, and just laughed and did nothing - not to mention the Pasco Times - which didn't laugh but also did very little?
-- Daniel Callaghan, New Port Richey
Congressional e-mail was the culprit
Re: Rep. Brown-Waite still hasn't responded to e-mails, June 2 letter
Editor: I read Bob Alto's letter to the editor and was dismayed by the certainty with which he insists he has repeatedly contacted my office. Alto claims he sent questions to me about the Jobs and Economic Growth Package of 2003 via e-mail, only to receive no response.
The problem I have with Alto's claim is that he could not have e-mailed me because the House of Representatives' e-mail system is set up so that members receive e-mails only from the residents of their districts. Alto is a resident of Holiday, which is not part of my 5th Congressional District.
Every member of Congress tries hard to respond to the people of his or her district. Responding to another member's constituents is not common practice; however, referring misdirected correspondence to the correct member is. Had I received Alto's letters, I would have referred them to the correct member, who I know for a fact would have responded quickly and appropriately.
There are 639,000 people in the 5th Congressional District, and I have placed a priority on addressing their concerns and answering their questions in a timely manner. I pride myself on offering superior constituent service. Of the hundreds of letters and e-mails I receive each day, every one receives a personal, expeditious response.
But to answer Alto's question: The average 65-plus married couple in our area, with $45,000 in retirement income and none of it coming from dividends, standard deductions and a $3,000 capital gains loss would see $333 in tax relief under the plan Congress passed late in May.
-- U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, Brooksville
[Last modified June 5, 2003, 02:08:30]
