Re: Over half pay fees to park trailers, story, Aug. 23.
I am really angry about the fees that boaters are being charged to park boat trailers at Pinellas County boat ramps. I am even more so now that I know the fees go into the county's general fund and not specifically toward improving the boat launch ramps.
Why are the boaters being singled out, when there are so many people using Pinellas County parks? The boat launch ramps are such a small part of the overall county park system. Look at all the costs involved in running a park: fuel for parks equipment, labor for parks employees to keep the trash cleaned out, the grass mowed, security, etc., yet it is only the boaters paying extra to use the boat launch areas of the parks. Why shouldn't park users be charged a fee also?
Another thing that makes this irritating is that there is so little room at these boat launch ramps for parking, and the sheriff has given the Indian Shores Police Department an open license to ticket any vehicle that is not parked in the marked spaces at the Park Road Boat Launch Ramp - another revenue-raising method that returns nothing to the improvement of the boat launch ramps.
-- Tom Schollenberger, Largo
For the time being, Crossroads Mall is still open for business
You recently had several rather large articles about the Crossroads Mall at U.S. 19 and East Bay Drive. Unfortunately, many of our regular customers have read your stories and thought the mall was about to close and have stopped shopping the many stores that remain open - 22 in all.
It is quite true; someday we won't be here, perhaps next year or the year after that, but for now, we are still here during regular mall hours. We would love for our former customers (and new ones, too) to come back and take advantage of any sales that these stores may have.
Thank you to all of our loyal mall customers over the years. We look forward to seeing you all again.
-- Sue Gills, Vitamin World; Janice Rider, Art Masters; Alan Berry, Sports Locker; Lee Mullen, Lasting Impressions
Scientologists only used storm victims for media exposure
Re: Scientologists contribute to recovery effort, story, Aug. 22.
Why would the Times single out one group, the Scientologists, for their presence in the hurricane-ravaged area? Where are the articles about the real churches that were there helping?
I was part of a group from First Presbyterian of Dunedin, and we were one of hundreds of churches there to help, and not one of us cared to bring attention to ourselves for helping. No big yellow tent or T-shirts. We were there just to lend a hand.
The cult was there for exposure and to recruit. They were the only ones passing out propaganda along with government food and provisions. They exploited the hurricane victims the same way they did the New York City victims at ground zero.
Please don't help the cult and its recruiting efforts. Write future articles about groups that really care.
-- David Rodman, Dunedin
Column offered reminder of president's excuses for war
Re: Gripped by fear, anger during bogus traffic stop in Orlando, guest column by Douglas Spangler, Aug. 20.
Why is it that Douglas Spangler's guest column reminded me a great deal of President George W. Bush and his maneuverings? As Spangler explained, there was not a "No U-turn" sign on the road as the state trooper who pulled him over initially claimed.
Since the trooper had no concrete reason to stop Spangler, he proceeded to make up reasons, to prove that he was righteously doing his duty.
That brings me to President Bush. Ahem! Remember the weapons of mass destruction that were never found in Iraq? When the WMDs could not be produced, President Bush had to find other reasons for going to war - like to free the Iraqis and to remove the "evil" dictator Saddam Hussein. To this day, President Bush insists that he made the right decision. After all, "the world is a safer place."
Yes, indeed, Spangler's column struck a familiar note, with a theme that drew similar parallels. It was lucky for Spangler that his contrite response enabled him to leave the scene without a traffic ticket - which, by the way, we can all learn a lesson from. It is too bad though, that the war in Iraq cannot be as easily resolved.
-- JoAnn Lee Frank, Clearwater
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