I would like to add my voice to those baseball fans who are disappointed in the new ball park in Clearwater.
The parking lot is not only a long distance from the park, but also it is difficult to refer to it as a parking lot. It is really just a vacant field, which will become a quagmire after a heavy rain.
If it rains during a ball game, the city of Clearwater could raise money by holding mud-wrestling contests to see who gets towed out first. They could at least have leveled off the area and spread some gravel.
The scoreboard obviously was designed by someone who was not the brightest bulb in the string. Dark red bulbs should never be used on a black background - there is no contrast. The dark red bulbs need to be replaced with white ones so the numbers are visible in the Florida sun. It is rather ironic that Bright House Networks has its name on a scoreboard that was designed by a "dimbulb."
While the cup holders at each seat are a good idea, who designed them so that liquid in a full cup slops over one side because the holders are installed at an angle?
It is unfortunate that so much was spent on bars and private boxes and so little on fan comfort such as the parking, scoreboard and drink holders.
-- R.W. Mumm, Largo
Safety Harbor's museum move doesn't add up
Re: City's quality of life is its most important value, letter, March 22.
The budget for the proposed move of the Safety Harbor Museum to Philippe Park was put together by a few people on the board who did not review the financial year-end statements for years past, nor did this group get full board approval to take on this impossible task.
Had they done this, they never would have put out a budget of $170,000 to fund the first year's operation. The museum has never brought in $170,000 in its history. In fact, it can't bring in the current $6,000 a month needed to stay open.
The city of Safety Harbor, under the mayor's plan, will take in $2-million, build a museum, then lease it for $1 a year to a museum that is broke. The mayor did not have city staff review the preposterous budget, nor did she have staff review past financials of the museum. Had this been done, she would have learned that the museum couldn't move.
I have been on the Fish Fry Committee the last two years. In 2002, we resurrected the Fish Fry and made $2,400 net. Last year, we netted $5,000. This year, the committee told the board of directors we would net $8,000. Yet the rudderless leader canceled the fry, then put back the canceled Fish Fry and then canceled it again. Why would a struggling organization pass up $8,000?
The current president has not discussed with the board a capital fundraising campaign - again, a sign of a rudderless board.
My position remains on course. I support the museum at its current location; put together a solid business plan, raise funds and bring in exciting exhibits. This plan avoids the mayor's and museum board's rescue plan by the residents of the city and county. The mayor's plan will place a heavy tax burden on us all.
The mayor states that the museum cannot make it at its current location, yet at a city meeting she stated that when the museum moves, put in another museum.
The county commissioners should vote to table this tax burden or vote "no."
-- Patrick Whelan, former director, Safety Harbor Museum
Why don't bus schedules adapt to obvious needs?
Saturday, March 13, was a horrendous day for anyone using buses out of the Clearwater Park Street terminal.
After waiting 45 minutes for the 76 bus on Cleveland Street and watching three 61 buses pass by, I went to the terminal on Park Street. It was very crowded; people waiting for the 60 had been there one hour.
On that day there was a Phillies game, a concert in Coachman Park, and the spring breakers were all clogging up Cleveland Street, so the buses had difficulty making schedules.
Wasn't the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority aware of these events? Where was the on-site supervisor at the terminal with authority to reroute buses? Three 60s rolled in and rolled out while I was standing there waiting for the 76. I spoke to the drivers on their breaks. They could do nothing other than drive the buses out that they had driven in. I called PSTA's office and no one was there who could help.
PSTA hasn't any contingency plans and no one in the terminal to help and assure the public that they will secure transportation. PSTA has a "public-be-damned" attitude. This was never more evident than on March 13.
-- Ann Gill, Clearwater
[Last modified April 2, 2004, 01:20:42]
