Re: Street won't be renamed for MLK, story, Dec. 5. I am in favor of naming a Dunedin street in memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I think it is way past time for Dunedin to do so. Anything less than naming a street for him would be a slap in the face to the black community in Dunedin and the surrounding area.
If this is not done in a timely fashion, I think the repercussions to the community would be very detrimental and could bring negative publicity labeling Dunedin as a racist community statewide and possibly nationwide.
Frankly, I think it is ridiculous that this issue has gone on for as long as it has. If Dunedin prides itself on its progressive vision, I think this matter should be attended to posthaste.
The black citizens in this community have been sequestered in a small section of the town near a sewage plant and living a subservient lifestyle for far too long. Naming a street for a historical black icon should be embraced universally. Let the "closet" racists move somewhere else. All of our children need us to take that first step to be an inclusive community by honoring a great man.
Please do the right thing.
-- Karen Weibel Burton, Dunedin
Dunedin officials stand by their seniors
Unnoticed and not reported by the media was the approval of an additional $5,000 income-based senior citizen exemption by the City Commission of Dunedin at its meeting on Nov. 20.
Three years ago, the commission granted its first exemption of $10,000, which now brings the total to $15,000. Experience has shown that this exemption has had little impact on the city budget but will give qualified seniors a $66 credit on next year's tax bill, at present rates.
As a native of Dunedin for the past 80 years, I am quite proud of our commissioners for their leadership in following the state of Florida's guidelines for making Dunedin (one of the first cities in the state) an "elder-ready" community. This is one more step taken that will enable some seniors to hold on to their homes a little longer while they "age in place."
Some politicians say the words, but in Dunedin they put the words into action.
Interested citizens may contact the county appraiser's office for details on how they may qualify for this exemption after the first of the year.
-- Robert Tharin, Dunedin
Hold applause until transit supports itself
Re: PSTA chief returns self-granted bonus, story, Dec. 5. The article says it has been a very successful year for the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority. Does that mean it is now self-supporting and it won't show up on my ad valorem tax bill? Before a bonus for anyone is earned, the public should not have to subsidize the transit authority.
And to the 11 members on the board, shame on you all. Executive Director Roger Sweeney not asking your permission to grant bonuses is not the problem. His character and your generosity with taxpayers' money is the problem.
-- J. Mills, Safety Harbor
Smoking ban drives away tourists
My wife and I recently visited Florida on holiday from the United Kingdom to find that, being smokers, we were unwelcome at restaurants unless such establishments had outside dining.
Have the nonsmokers who voted in your referendum actually thought through the result of this vote? Probably not!
I understand that the vote on the smoking decision was about 70 percent to 30 percent in favor of the ban. This would probably mean that the 70 percent would still go to a restaurant, but the 30 percent would not. A drop in revenue?
Let us put this into figures that can be more easily understood. Last year there were approximately 38-million visitors to Florida. Assuming that the 30 percent who voted NO to the ban were smokers and this figure is reflected in the visitor numbers, this would mean approximately 11.4-million visitors were smokers. If only 50 percent of those felt unwelcome, as we did, this would mean 5.7-million fewer visitors.
Bearing in mind that for a 14-day holiday, each visitor would spend approximately $1,800 (airfares, hotels, meals and car rentals), this would mean a loss in revenue of $10.26-billion just on the basic vacation cost, let alone everything else that goes to make an enjoyable holiday.
All we smokers ask is that after a good meal we can sit and enjoy a cigarette rather than virtually being shown the door as soon as the last mouthful of food has been taken.
My wife and I have been visiting Treasure Island twice a year for the past 11 years and have enjoyed every visit except this November. We will in the future probably spend our hard-earned cash elsewhere.
-- Len Holliday, Kent, England
Some Turkey Trot runners overlooked
Re: For 24 Turkey Trots, he was there, story, Nov. 23. I was reading your article about Allyn Ramker running the Turkey Trot. I would like to suggest that your research department place an article in the paper next time they are trying to find someone. In my small circle of friends, I know of two people that fit your requirements (had run all 24 Trots). If you are planning to write an update, please remember these.
The first has been a friend of our family for about 45 years. His name is Dr. Phil Currey.
-- The second is my husband, Rick. In addition to running, Rick and the rest of our family work the registration booth on race day. Rick always runs the 10K and occasionally runs the other races, too. I think he is crazy, but he loves to do it. This year our 2-year-old son, Joey, beat his dad across the finish line by virtue of him being in a stroller.
For our family this is truly a Thanksgiving tradition.
-- Kathleen Moore, Clearwater
Make Teach-In a year-round event
Re: The Great American Teach-In.
What a wonderful one-day event the Great American Teach-In is - connecting concerned adults to our schools and kids. Wouldn't it be great if our schoolchildren could experience the benefits of adult interaction year-round? Well, they can and they do.
Throughout the year, Junior Achievement of West Central Florida has passionate volunteers who go into the classroom and inspire kids to learn the economics of life through free enterprise education. These dedicated volunteers share the same qualities as the thousands of volunteers who entered the classrooms on Nov. 19 to participate in the Great American Teach-In.
Junior Achievement's classroom curriculum enables caring adults to share their experience with students, showing them what it takes to be successful. After all, kids are our future. JA's business and economics programs are for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. The dynamic interaction between the volunteer and the students promotes active learning and brings theory to life.
The Great American Teach-In should come more than once a year, and JA makes this possible. More than 2,000 Tampa Bay volunteers teach JA programs every school year. I applaud all the volunteers who came forward for the day, and I invite and encourage them to learn more about becoming a JA volunteer. Volunteers do make a difference. Visit www.ja.org or call 727 530-0884, ext. 29.
-- David H. Wilbanks, Pinellas chair, Junior Achievement of West Central Florida, St. Petersburg
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 you may 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.
