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If Crystal River dissolves, what will be next?

Delete a whole city! Wow, what an idea. Where have I heard that before?

It starts with one person who can convince a few more people that the ruling majority are not to be believed, trusted, or listened to. Those few then band together to manipulate the very ground rules of democracy, to spread dissension and instill fear into the public.

Rather than accept the rule of the majority, they would do away with the city of Crystal River, proving that if the city is not run according to their bidding, it should not be allowed to exist.

If this group is permitted to impose its will on the citizens of Crystal River, what next? The county? The state?

I remember a guy that hung wallpaper and had a mustache who did the same thing a while back in history. I also remember the devastating and deadly results of his actions. People of Crystal River, take warning, take up verbal arms, defend yourself, do not sign a petition to revoke the city charter.

I have attended many City Council meetings and heard time and time again these very people compare the city to the county. They have stated that the county is slow or "nonresponsive" to the population. They express great disappointment in the management of the county. If the city is disbanded, just who do they think is going to run things? The county, of course, the very system they already condemn.

Let's take a look at the people of Crystal River, not just the voters. What's going to happen to the many city employees who live outside the city? Sure, they will be compensated but how long will they have a job? Do you want to say goodbye to the Police Department now or wait till later? What will happen to the thousands of dollars in grant money that has been awarded to the city (there being no city left)? How about the waste management contract for trash removal? It is signed with the city. How do you feel about hauling your own trash to the landfill?

The business community will be greatly affected, and since most of the owners don't live in the city (not voters), they will not have anything to say about it. How's that for a slap in the face? They will have to pay good money out of their own pockets to change signs, advertisements, letterheads, billing statements, and on and on. For example, look at the number of stores in the Crystal River Mall. A lot of expense for a silly idea.

This group of people, known as the "Susan Boyer clique," are mad and extremely upset that Ms. Boyer is no longer the city manager; their pet person is gone. Out of frustration, they have turned their anger on the entire city, or have they?

Could this be a well-planned ploy to discourage applicants for the position of city manager? After all, who would want to relocate to Crystal River, buy a home and take a job that might not be in existence very long?

Is their plan to have Ms. Boyer recalled as city manager because no one else would be willing to fill the position? Food for thought? I believe this is the basis for this entire sham.

Now is the time for the good people of Crystal River, and there are many, to stand together shoulder to shoulder and fight for what is right, fight to keep our wonderful city.

Do not sign the petition. Don't even let these people onto your property. Run them down the street and out of town. Do not let them destroy our democracy that we and our forefathers fought so hard to obtain.

Impact fees increase value

In a recent full-page advertisement the Realtors Association of Citrus County said, "Impact fees drive up the price of housing, all housing." They are right.

Do you own a home? Is it your most important investment?

As they said, "Think a Rise In Impact Fees Won't Affect You? Think Again!"

Higher impact fees will protect your investment in your home. They will even help that investment grow. As residents we deserve this.

Contact your county commissioners. Demand that impact fees be raised, even doubled.

Impact fees are highest here

In my lifetime I've lived in many parts of the country that were experiencing housing growth, and I've never seen impact fees on new construction that:

A. were nearly high enough to cover the additional costs new housing created, or

B. caused any slowdown in construction.

This includes California, where residential impact fees can exceed $40,000 per house.

There is no excuse for N word

I don't think any of us can truly say we are completely above being racist, but this past week several people I know, including a community leader, seemed to approve of the use of the N word in referring to African-Americans.

I disagreed and heard responses such as: "What else are we going to call them?" or "You're just being politically correct," and, "Well, they refer to themselves using the N word."

Words have meaning, and Webster's Dictionary states that the N word is offensive and disparaging. Being against the use of racially offensive and disparaging epithets is not political correctness. We are supposed to treat fellow human beings with dignity. Anyone who truly knows me will tell you I'm the last person one would accuse of being politically correct.

Further, just because some African-Americans disparage themselves doesn't give others the right to do the same. It is obvious that self-abuse does not create a right for abuse by others. In fact, leaders in the African-American community are speaking out against the use of the N word among African-Americans.

I think that racism is America's second-most grievous evil, with abortion being the most grievous. I would not go so far as to ban all literature containing the N word such as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, but the continued practice of defining any person of a different race using racially offensive and demeaning words only serves to perpetuate grievous racist attitudes and beliefs.

As a white man, I would also like to take this opportunity to say to African-Americans that I am truly and deeply sorry for the way you have been and still are treated by whites.

[Last modified March 18, 2005, 00:42:17]