Just bringing up a situation does not equal city business
Published March 21, 2004
Editor: The story by Molly Moorhead about how Lowell Harris was concerned enough about Dade City City Manager Doug Drymon to simply bring up the situation to Mayor Scott Black never defines exactly what city business is, as determined by the Sunshine Law.
Just bringing up a name of an employee or circumstances made known to a commissioner by either employees or their own constituents in my mind does not really equal city business. Until an action is proposed or discussed at a city meeting, no business old or new really exists except as gossip, which is customary and usually unavoidable in a small town such as Dade City.
As early as 1999, I had complaints about Drymon's attitude and veracity simply. Lowell Harris was good enough to listen to my concerns by phone.
Commissioner Harris helped get a new American flag I sought. For that I am grateful. For the attitude of the former city manager, I am sorrowful. For the inaction of the commission to terminate Drymon's employment, I will leave that up to the readers to assess.
-- Kathryn A. Lambert, Dade City
Penny for Pasco vote was a joke that won't disappear
Editor: Penny for Pasco passed by a 52 percent margin of the people voting. The article also stated that about 29 percent of the voters turned out to vote. I would call this a majority of the minority!
I am willing to bet that the 71 percent of the voters who were too lazy or apathetic to go out and vote are not overjoyed with the outcome. Of course, you have to hand it to the commissioners for their slick maneuver of sliding this in on the March ballot and spending thousands of dollars over several months for its passage.
The voting was a real joke when you come right down to it. The Republicans had one item to vote on, and the Democrats had two. Voting for the Democratic nominee was a gimme from the start without the Floridian input. Kerry had it all wrapped up regardless of what Florida voted. Of course I am sure he needed to spend his campaign money somewhere.
So now, we have 10 years to look forward to the tax and see just what improvements they make with this windfall tax. At the end of 10 years this is supposed to disappear? When pigs fly! I'll bet they (commissioners) are already drawing up plans of how they can sock it to us again in 2015. They can make it sound like this tax was the best thing since sliced bread and if you vote against it, you probably have problems with motherhood also.
Sure is going to make me think long and hard when election time comes around for those folks. Hope it does for you, too!
-- Howard R. O'Neill, New Port Richey
Look at Republicans' role in Penny for Pasco
Re: Democrats tried to sneak Penny tax on March ballot, March 12 letter
Editor: The letter writer is a true Republican. Do wrong and place the blame on the Democrats or anyone else. If Jeb and his brother hadn't cut taxes, which helped the large corporations and the rich, but did almost nil for the middle class and poor, maybe then the Penny for Pasco would not be needed.
It was not the Democrats who put it on the ballot; it was a combined effort by both parties.
Yes, I am a Democrat who has voted a split ticket. Have you ever voted a split ticket? I'm sure not; you feel all Republicans are the one and only.
Do you understand the difference between a Democrat and a Republican? Your party will always help out the rich and powerful; the Democrats help all the people: the rich, the poor and the middle. To you and your party I'll come hug your elephant if you will come kiss our donkey.
-- Ann Bully, New Port Richey
There's no place like home, the Sunshine State
Re: Problems? Sure, but what a state, March 10 guest column
Editor: I seldom agree with Douglas Spangler, but this time I do. His article, "What a state" really hit me where I live.
He said he has lived in seven states. Those must be the seven states I missed. I think I covered the four corners, almost.
I retired from the Air Force in Kansas City, Mo., the tornado capital of the world, where it reached over 100 degrees in the summer and below zero in the winter. Of course, I wound up in the lightning capital of the world, Tampa Bay, but no one is perfect.
Then there was California, San Bernardino to be exact. I cleaned out my room in the barracks, opened the windows to air it out and went out to lunch. The dust storm that came up while I was out made a sand box of my room.
Cape Cod had its wind and snow. Wyoming had the same. Texas had a little bit of everything undesirable, as did Alabama. Newburg, N.Y. was too close to the Big Apple where, if you could find room on the highways, they drove like they were William Tell and you were the apple.
Since I was an Army brat (I went to 13 schools) and an Air Force medic, I did travel a bit. When you are reassigned in the Air Force, they call it a PCS move for permanent change of station. I had 14 PCS moves in 24 years. Yea, permanent!
I've been in Florida long enough to be a native, and there is no way I am going back to the hills of West Virginia, plains of Missouri, sands of Texas, high tides of Massachusetts or any other garden spot.
Mr. Spangler, you are so right. The Sunshine State is mine, also.
-- Kathryn L. Robinson, Holiday
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