Article only part of county's homeless story

Re: Christmas in Tent City, Dec. 28

>-- Editor: Great article from Lance A. Rothstein about the homeless in Pasco County! He described it perfectly.

However, I am afraid that the impression that may be left from the article is that all the homeless in Pasco County live like the tent city family. I would like to challenge Lance to spend a couple of days with another group of homeless, the homeless at Holy Ground, a shelter at Denton Avenue and U.S. 19.

This shelter is run by Lisa Barabas-Henry, who has been operating the shelter since 1992. Lisa operates strictly on contributions. She receives no help from county, state or federal funds. With the help of her mother, Jean, the shelter provides a refuge for anywhere from 50 to 75 people, depending on the time of year and the weather. Around the Christmas holidays and during the cold weather, the shelter houses the homeless in their Chapel, as well as in the home of Lisa and her mother, which is a mobile home on the site.

Holy Ground runs a Christian program and accepts anyone who is willing to participate in the program. When Holy Ground accepts a person in their program, they do their utmost to help this person rise above their present circumstances and become a productive citizen. They provide spiritual guidance, psychological counseling, and they help find employment, housing and medical help for those who need it.

I would love to have Lance bring his blanket and spend a couple of days with these people. They are so inspiring. I bet he would never leave.

Poor "a drain on humanity'

Re: Christmas in Tent City, Dec. 28

Editor: All I can say is that these people all seem to be a drain on humanity. Can't afford bus fare to get to and from a job, but can afford six to seven cases of beer a day?

This whole article seems to support their way of life - drunks and hobos. Not in my neighborhood!

Fun is main point of karaoke

Re: Lady Luck gave their dreams a stage, Dec. 29

Editor: Staff writer Molly Moorhead did not have a clue of what Pat and Phil Tripp's karaoke shows are all about or what they help people achieve. All Ms. Moorhead seemed to focus on was people in a private club, smoking, what attire they were wearing, if a song picked was appropriate for that person to sing, or if that person should have been up there singing at all because they were meek or sang off-key, or had bad haircuts.

The VFW Post is a private club of close friends, members and their friends who get together twice a week for karaoke singing. We chose Pat and Phil because of their extreme kindness and genuine caring of their patrons. They have helped many people. Some who needed a little confidence to belong and others who needed to belong to some activity other than sitting at home alone. Their ability to sing great or what they wear doesn't matter at these shows.

Pat Tripp has an extremely beautiful voice. She is hired professionally to sing because of her quality voice. I can think of some singers that at a young age had much better voices than when they became older. But to their friends and fans it didn't matter if once in a while Frank Sinatra or Elvis or Dean Martin weren't right on key every time.

Downs a devoted police officer

Editor: We have been visiting this area for many years and were pleased to know that Chief Bill Downs was assigned to this community. He was truly an asset during his career in New York in law enforcement and it is great to see that he has continued to serve the people here in Port Richey.

We don't know how the folks down in the South run their law enforcement agencies, but up here in the North these fine public servants are here to serve the people, not the politicians! Bring back Chief Downs! Port Richey should consider itself blessed to have someone who cares and brings experience to the job.

Sales tax argument weak

Re: Sales tax will bring more money home, Dec. 28 editorial

Editor: The editorial writer makes the somewhat shaky, but nevertheless credible argument that somehow the numerous Pasco residents that work in adjoining counties help to pay these counties' financial obligations through a higher sales tax, when they make purchases there.

I believe this is exaggerated. I don't believe Pasco residents are going to buy anything of real consequence in neighboring counties as long as they can get the same item in Pasco for less. The writer then makes the completely whacko statement that Pasco residents can choose to invest in their own quality of life or continue to finance previously approved improvements in other locales.

What? Should the Pasco sales tax increase pass, the taxes expended in other counties by Pasco residents will remain the same. The only difference will be that Pasco residents will now be paying more in their own county. Since it would no longer matter where Pasco residents would make their purchases, they might very well spend even more than they do now in neighboring counties.

Pasco would be source of funds

Re: Sales tax editorial

Editor: The editorial argues that because many Pasco residents work in counties which charge a higher sales tax, Pasco is somehow losing money. Increasing the sales tax in Pasco is not going to stop people who work in other counties from spending money in other counties. In fact, the opposite is true. It's more of an incentive for workers to wait until they get back to Pasco to spend money.

The editorial fails to mention there is a huge mall planned for Pasco in Wesley Chapel. A 6 percent sales tax will attract Hillsborough and Pinellas shoppers. This mall will generate tremendous sales tax revenues.

If the sales tax increase is expected to generate $437-million over 10 years, the money has to come from somewhere, and it's going to be paid by people who live here. At best, only 20 percent will be paid by visitors.

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