Re: Public soil is the place for politics to germinate, March 30.
Public librarians have a long tradition of supporting free speech and public discourse. The Library Bill of Rights extends to meeting rooms. The decision to ban petitions at the Citrus County Public Library was a misinterpretation - but taken with meeting room policies in Dunedin and Tarpon Springs it demonstrates a pattern of repression of discourse. Florida's librarians have been engaged in a struggle over the public's right to know and gather together for several years.
Public library administrators in Florida meet annually at the state capital at a conference sponsored by the State Library of Florida. The fall 2002 conference, held during the race for governor was to have included Lance deHaven-Smith, professor of public administration at Florida State University, as a speaker on Florida trends. However, on Sept. 2, 2002, the professor published a column saying that Al Gore would have been declared the winner if the state had been allowed to recount all uncounted ballots. Three days later, deHaven-Smith got word that he was out as a luncheon speaker for the librarians conference. (The governor plays rough, by Martin Dyckman, Oct. 6, 2002).
Shortly after these events, Jeb Bush attempted to close the state library. Legislators demonstrated great courage in standing up to him, and the library remained open. However, libraries continue to be a target of repressive action. HB 0899 and CS/SB 1552 (government mandated Internet filtering) are unfunded mandates and would do irreparable harm to local libraries if implemented by further eroding already impacted budgets and curtailing valuable programs, services and purchase of library materials. The Florida Library Association passed a resolution March 10, opposing government mandated filtering.
Policies that limit Internet access, limit public discussion in public library meeting rooms, and limit the books that can be bought as precious public dollars are wasted on filtering combine to diminish the public sphere. New librarians are taught the importance of the public's right to know. I teach new librarians at the University of South Florida. This commitment is part of the very first course in which graduates enroll. Sometimes this means we must confront our elected officials and remind them of the Bill of Rights.
-- Kathleen McCook, Ruskin
We need to know more about Uhurus
Re: Frustration, front and center, April 1.
What can be said about the story regarding the Uhurus complaining to St. Petersburg police Chief Chuck Harmon about alleged police department tactics? Well, there is a good photo of Omali Yeshitela, the Uhurus received some public notice and Chief Harmon was willing to listen to an assortment of charges and allegations, which the story cites no evidence to support.
Has the Times educated its readers about the Uhurus? Perhaps a little, but I suggest readers check www.inpdum.com for real detail. Has the Times checked the factual basis of the Uhuru complaints and whether Police Department internal affairs investigations and reviews by the city's Citizen Review Committee have substantiated most or all of the allegations? Basically the Uhurus charge city police with containing and suppressing African-American residents. Has the Times written about and identified the specific community accomplishments of the Uhurus compared to other African-American organizations? I have no answer.
The history of race relations in St. Petersburg has been poor, according to a book by USF professor Ray Arsenault (St. Petersburg and the Florida Dream) and the 1996 disturbances validate that theme. However, didn't Mayors David Fischer and Rick Baker and Chiefs Goliath Davis and Chuck Harmon usher in a better controlled and behaved police force? Are there not multiple efforts to improve conditions in the black community.
An example of leadership is the recent stories about former Florida Power executive Larry Newsome. There is much to be done, but it is time to recognize improvement and determine the credibility of Uhuru complaints. It's a perfect opportunity for an investigative piece by a Times reporter that goes beyond public face-offs. There is a good story here that simply needs to be completed.
-- James R. Gillespie, St. Petersburg
A puzzling message
Re: Frustration, front and center.
What kind of message is the Uhuru organization trying to convey? Why would the members of this group speak against a police department for arresting more than 300 people, many of them on drug charges? Has it become a crime to try to remove cocaine from the streets? Cocaine that could end up in the hands of a teenager, or even a preteen? If this organization had even the slightest bit of interest in the social and economic issues affecting African-Americans, it would be praising the police for the drug raids. If the St. Petersburg police ended a drug ring that was working on my block, I would most likely shower them with thanks and praise them for the wonderful job they had done!
-- William Watson, St. Petersburg
Uhurus should look inward
Re: Frustration, front and center.
For once I'll have to agree with Omali Yeshitela and the Uhuru group, as much as it pains me to say it. He's right. The anger has come to a boiling point, but it should be the police and law-abiding citizens who are outraged! How can this man and his cronies say they benefit the city of St. Petersburg and its citizens with their hateful and angry rhetoric?
These malcontents sit there and yell and scream and harass the police officers there to help them. If the Uhurus truly wanted to help their people, they would stop blaming the police for everything and look inward toward their own community. Why are young black men resorting to drugs and violence? Why are the number of single black parents growing? Any group that uses Tyron Lewis as some kind of martyr has lost all credibility and should be ashamed of themselves.
God Bless the men and women of the St. Petersburg Police Department for handling themselves with professionalism.
-- Christopher Kirn, Palm Harbor
The poisoning of America
The Clinton administration ordered industry to reduce mercury emissions by 90 percent by 2007. Mercury comes primarily from 1,100 coal-fired power plants. It falls into lakes, streams, ponds and the ocean. It accumulates in fish and other wildlife. Humans get poisoned from eating these creatures as well as from breathing in the mercury. It causes mental retardation, learning disabilities and attention disorders, particularly in children. The long-term effect is the survival of the fish and wildlife is degraded.
The Bush administration is pushing to weaken the emission rules drastically. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, this weakening will allow nearly seven times more mercury emissions for at least 15 years.
If al-Qaida found a way to spew deadly mercury over the American population, this would be considered an act of terrorism. But the Bush administration and Republican Party are doing it. What do you call it now? What's the difference?
-- Ronald A. Baltrunas, Dunedin
Clear air and a fair price
Re: Nothing new: Clean air costs, March 31.
In regard to your recent stories on electric utility rates, it should be pointed out that the Florida Retail Federation supports enhancing air emission reductions for power plants, and that the existing rate review process at the Florida Public Service Commission is sufficient for utilities to fully recover the cost of any environmental improvements.
The proposed legislation to allow Florida Power & Light and Progress Energy Florida to bypass the traditional rate review process for environmental improvements would lock in utility rates at historic highs and cost residential, commercial and industrial customers as much as $3.5 billion over the next seven years. Because only $1.6-billion is needed for the environmental improvements, the bills allow the utility companies to use the rest for new generation plant construction already under way. That's not right.
Ultimately, the proposed legislation would enrich the companies' stockholders at the inappropriate expense of consumers. The state of Florida carefully regulates electric companies for a reason: They are huge monopolies without any real competition in their service areas. In return for this regulation, the companies are guaranteed a rate of return that is the envy of businesses that must compete in an open marketplace.
Traditionally, the Florida Public Service Commission analyzes requested rate changes and monitors utility earnings to ensure that costs are approved before being passed on to utility customers. In this case the PSC would set cost recovery for the pollution equipment over the life of the capital expense. It's a system that works.
As we have stated in every legislative committee meeting, we will support this pollution cleanup project as long as the cost recovery follows the system that was designed to protect both consumers and the investor-owned utilities.
-- Rick McAllister, president and CEO, Florida Retail Federation, Tallahassee
Bucs, clean up your act
Re: The wayward Bucs, editorial, April 1.
I have been a Bucs fan since Day 1. Win or lose, I followed my team. Now I could not care less. John Lynch was given the shaft. He hurt, but he acted like a gentleman. We lost a good man, and a good player. Warren Sapp wasn't treated any better. He was always a team player. Their greatest wish was to end their careers as Bucs. Now they are gone. And what do we have in their place? A confessed spouse abuser and a substance abuser. What is next? A rapist, or perhaps a pedophile?
For general manager Bruce Allen to compare Darrell Russell and President Bill Clinton was so out of line that it isn't even funny. If it wasn't for the fans of Tampa Bay there wouldn't be a Buccaneer team. They have alienated a lot of fans. Go Bucs - but go where? Clean up your act.
-- Barbara Laurie, St. Petersburg
A stupid comment
Re: The wayward Bucs, editorial.
I'm amazed! I thought you had to have some intelligence to become a general manager of a sports team. I truly don't know how the Bucs GM, Bruce Allen, made it to where he is. To make a comment that Bill Clinton has done worse than Darrell Russell is absolutely stupid! Bill Clinton did not drug a young woman to get her to consent to sex. And he did not share her with his friends and video tape her while she was unconscious!
I wonder if Allen would feel differently if that young woman had been his daughter. How stupid you are, Mr. Allen. The Bucs get what they deserve for hiring people like you and Darrell Russell.
-- Lori Manuel, Brooksville
Did the outrage have partisan roots?
Re: The wayward Bucs.
While I agree that the Bucs would sign a 7-foot rabies infected rat if it would make them top contenders again, I was just wondering if you would have been as outraged if general manager Bruce Allen had denigrated President Bush instead of "Slick Willy." I rather doubt it.
P.S.: I am a long-time Times subscriber, but your recent near-hysterical comments have moved me to study my options.
-- Creighton A. French, Port Richey
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