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Re: Legislator sidesteps GOP on Schiavo, story, Oct. 23.
Thank goodness for state Rep. Tom Anderson. Even though he was in the moral minority in regards to the Terri Schiavo case, he at least remained true to his own convictions and did not give in to pressure from any of his constituents. Playing hardball with the governor could possibly hurt him politically, although I admire him for his strength and courage.
The long, drawn-out saga of Terri Schiavo has been an eye-opener. There is a vast difference between life and an existence. Being in a vegetative state, totally incapacitated and dependent upon feeding tubes for nourishment, is not really living, according to my interpretation of the word. Since her cardiac arrest more than 13 years ago, Schiavo has merely existed as a human being.
All of the publicity has served as a wake-up call to me. If anything at all positive comes from this, it will be that more adults will be aware of the importance of a living will. And with this knowledge, will follow through by writing out their last wishes as well as giving copies to all of those necessary in order to execute these desires. I, for one, am taking my own advice. This week I have an appointment with an lawyer who specializes in probate, wills and trusts so I can get my personal affairs in order - including a living will.
Just in case I am ever incapacitated, I want to be sure that my last wishes will be respected and carried out. If you want to have the last say so, get it down in writing, legally. Your family and loved ones will thank you for it in the end.
Re: Working to keep people off streets will help businesses, letter, Oct. 13.
The president of the Clearwater Beach Chamber of Commerce made excellent observations in her letter to the Times published Oct. 13, a federal holiday. As I walked two blocks that day to the post office to collect the post office box mail for a non-profit foundation, I passed Station Square Park in downtown Clearwater, where a homeless person was aggressively trying to get a free cigarette from customers at a lawful beverage stand in the park. He irritated people and the business operator and was asked to move on. Instead, he became angry and threatened several people before someone intervened and promised him a cigarette if he would leave.
As I then attempted to enter the post office, I found all the doors locked. Access to stamp machines and post office boxes is blocked Sundays because of homeless people sleeping in the hallways and was blocked on Columbus Day, a Monday holiday. Post office officials lock the place up tight. Those who could not pick up their mail Saturday had to wait until Tuesday for access, all because of the homeless people who have no respect for, or regard for, the rights of law-abiding people, including those who are willing to work for a living and who through non-profits provide grants to agencies that help the homeless and many others.
I'm still stunned by the termination of Clearwater Fire Department assistant chiefs Pete Huffman and Gordon Yaudes. It's true that these men are well-respected, not only in the city of Clearwater but also at county and state levels. The city manager says they were let go because they were too close to the union. The union is made up of all the firefighters and paramedics in the city of Clearwater. Is the city manager telling all department heads and supervisors in the city who their friends can or can't be? Is this a new city policy? Does anyone believe that this will encourage respect and loyalty among employees? Does the city manager think that competent and qualified people are going to be begging to work for the city of Clearwater?
Morale is bad, and the termination of these two men is going to make it worse. Did the city manager think of that? Absolutely, he did. He is trying to alienate the city and crush the men and women of the Clearwater Fire Department.
There is mention of the Fire Department going in a different direction. Would someone, anyone, tell me what new direction we are going in?
What is it about fear and hysteria that prevents residents in a public meeting from receiving information in a manner that allows them to walk away and continue to research and study an issue? We believe that any resident of a community should have the ability to attend a public meeting without having to fight fear and hysteria in order to become enlightened on any subject. Fear and hysteria can lead to shutting down of the mind.
The not-so-distant past referendum in Clearwater concerning redeveloping downtown is an example, where a single-issue group named Save the Bayfront created a spin of corruption to discredit the well-founded redevelopment information that Clearwater leaders attempted to present to the public. It was very disturbing to witness how a small minority could drive an issue in directions that were divisive and contrary to effective public discussions.
Today, we live in the Town of Belleair and the issue at hand is whether or not the purchase of the energy utility infrastructure will be beneficial to the long-term maintenance of the town. The opportunity to purchase is afforded by a simple contract written years ago that allows the town the option of investigating possible purchase of the infrastructure. Progress Energy forced Belleair leaders to spend considerable money to fight for this contract-given right.
While we have attended a meeting on each side of the issue, we still feel uninformed, since the town's final analysis on the subject is just under way and is yet to be presented. What we have noticed is that issues unrelated to the one at hand have already surfaced in a general attempt to discredit individuals, i.e. politics.
In our opinion, we need a lot more data and research before we are persuaded to support either position. We hope that there is large resident involvement and civil public meetings. Fear and hysteria serve no purpose in determining what is best for the future of Belleair.
An Oct. 7 Largo Times subhead reads, Largo gives residents in about 50 neighborhoods a chance to sign up for reclaimed water, an offer that may not be made again for decades.
As a public service, it might be well to advise residents of the 50 neighborhoods that this might be just the kind of opportunity to pass up. Once the pipe is laid, everybody pays, use it or not. Even if you don't mind paying for what you don't use, you must grin and bear it while your neighbors' sprinklers spray you with reclaimed sewer water.
A worst-case scenario is described in an Aug. 1 Times article: Errors send wastewater to home faucets. This happened in Cape Coral and had to cause homeowners great unhappiness at the very least, particularly the family that unknowingly consumed and bathed in the reclaimed effluent for more than three months. This might not be the last case of the colorblind plumber connecting the wrong pipes together. To paraphrase Murphy's Law: "If it CAN happen, it WILL."
Maybe the Cape Coral story can be looked upon as a testimonial to how good reclaimed sewer water can taste, but you can bet the people down there would prefer those pipes had never been laid anywhere near their neighborhoods.
While it is still fresh in my mind - although it will remain there for years to come - I want it to be said that heaven will now be in much better hands as the result of the passing of two outstanding people.
First, the untimely passing of my good friend and young mayor, Thom Feaster, in 2001.
Second, the untimely passing of my good friend and closest ally, James S. (Jim) Miles, Oct. 16.
I had the distinct honor of sharing my 10 years on the Largo City Commission with both of these civic-minded men. Particularly, I kept an almost daily communication with Jim Miles, discussing the commission hearings on Channel 15, sharing continuing concerns for the city that we both love, and addressing (as best we could) the ongoing problems and issues that the present commission has to face.
Never have I known an individual who has been so concerned and done something about it who could live up to the standards set by Col. Miles. His service to our country, his discipline and actions for and on behalf of our city and its residents are unparalleled as far as I know.
Former County Commissioner Steve Seibert put it so well when he addressed our Greater Largo Area Chamber of Commerce and singled out Commissioner Jim Miles and said, "If you want something done in our area, give it to Jim Miles and you can count on it being done. . . ."
I will miss both of these outstanding people - particularly Jim Miles, whom I not only considered one of my very best friends but who was almost like a brother to me. I look forward to being with them in a far better place at some time. My love to the widows of these two outstanding people.
Re: Beach Walk trumps motel parking needs, editorial, Oct. 3.
I am an employee at a small motel on Clearwater Beach. With all the impacts that the city's widening of Coronado Avenue will create, one impact has not been mentioned. That is the potential loss of employment for the many people who work in the small motels and other tourist-related businesses along Coronado.
The equation: no parking = no motels = no tourists = no business = no jobs. The final result will be a nice, quiet ghost town like Sand Key with no one to drive or walk along the new, beautiful, broad avenue except perhaps a few condo owners. The parking problem will be solved once and for all. No sense in going to the beach; it is all private access!
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