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To empower, give votes to minorities

Re : Dunedin board takes pass on diversity, story, March 19.

The Dunedin City Commission not only takes a "pass on diversity," it also shows the underlying pathology of exclusion and disenfranchisement to minority representation on councils and boards in this city.

Commissioner Bob Hackworth is the only commission member who emphasized repeatedly the importance of including two African-Americans, James Brown Sr. and William Charles Davis on the Dunedin Housing Authority Board. These men would have truly represented the displaced residents of Highlander Village and the concerns of that area in Dunedin where the city seeks to use that land to expand its wastewater treatment plant. For years that plant has reeked of offensive odors and there have been complaints of health problems from the residents nearby.

Instead, the recommendation was made that the two men hold auxiliary positions on the board, which adds insult to injury.

You still don't get it, do you? You can dedicate all the monuments, streets and holidays you want to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., but until you truly empower the people of your so-called good intentions, you are nothing but empty suits, political hacks and remnants of Jim Crow.

Qualifications should count in filling seats

Re : Dunedin board takes pass on diversity, story, March 19.

Like a wad of gum that has lost its flavor from being chewed too much, it seems to me the term "diversity" has lost its meaning because it has too often been used too freely.

When the city commissioners chose not to fill a vacancy on the "all white " Dunedin Housing Authority board with one of two interested black residents, the commissioners didn't miss an opportunity to bring some "diversity" to that board, but rather, I believe, simply chose not to appoint one of two unqualified residents, both of whom happened to be black.

Diversity shouldn't always be about race. The word, from the Latin "di" (away from) and "vertere, versus" (to turn, turned) hence, "differ," usually refers to points of view ("point in which things differ" - American Heritage Dictionary). Things, not races. While either of those two black residents certainly could offer different opinions, their credentials, not their color, should be considered for possible appointment.

Commissioner Bob Hackworth's idea to expand the housing authority board so that the two residents could serve unfortunately would appear to have been suggested only as an accommodation because they were black. Of course, by not expanding the board, it would appear the City Commission was discriminating against the blacks. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Hackworth was on the right track. The solution seems pretty simple: Vote whether to expand the board (pick a number), solicit all applicants (not just the two interested residents), conduct interviews and make intelligent choices based on experience and expertise.

But please forget "diversity." As far as I'm concerned, skin color and ethnic origin should be as relevant as height and weight.

Maybe the commission could chew on that idea.

Safety Harbor learns from others' mistakes

Re: Safety Harbor should create plan for growth, editorial, March 18.

I read with a great deal of interest your recent editorial on Safety Harbor. I agree with the overall positive theme of the article. I live in Safety Harbor and every day I just say, "Wow!"

I was so impressed with the obvious direction of the city. I was one of the local residents who sent a resume and a letter of interest to the city clerk applying for the appointment to fill Neil Brickfield's City Commission seat prior to the recent election.

Look at the problems confronting Clearwater. Its recent election did not draw any interest from the community, period. Residents' fear of flawed projects, more of the same and disappointment, not apathy, kept people away. Safety Harbor, by contrast, had 15 qualified applicants for similar positions. Four were attorneys and three had direct city government experience.

I think the big difference between the two elections would be the direction of the two very different city governments. There is a plan in Safety Harbor and work on the plan is discussed in some detail on TV every other week, administered very well by the mayor.

The big priority right now is parking and traffic flow. A committee and a professional consultant are being looked at to analyze and suggest traffic patterns. Action has been taken on Bayshore Boulevard and Philippe Parkway traffic. The cut-through traffic has been addressed and virtually eliminated by "No Left Turn" signs and police enforcement. Heavy traffic on Philippe is reduced because cars drive much faster on McMullen-Booth Road, the alternate and preferred choice.

There were a couple of items you missed. First is the new park just dedicated at Second Avenue N that's adjacent to the library. Talk about the highest and best use! The city government could have made that a parking lot. It chose wisely there and during the decisionmaking process to create our bay shore greenway. Bicyclists enjoy the waterfront as a secondary form of transportation.

It's a great small town with big-city management.

Dunedin's new approach is "more is better." Keeping the original theme, it is spreading in all directions. Watch out, Dunedin, Safety Harbor has a new plan. It is a city following your lead, correcting errors and making adjustments as we go. We will soon have a passing lane.

Top 100 hospital list needs closer examination

Re : Two hospitals again part of leading 100, story, March 10.

As a physician and onetime hospital administrator, I wonder how meaningful the "100 Top Hospitals" designation is. The article states that "hospitals don't pay to be in the study, which costs $125 and is marketed to hospitals and other medical industry administrators." The article omitted important information. Who provides the $125? I doubt that Solucient is a nonprofit organization. Its Web site refers to customers, investors and consulting services. Perhaps the "recognized" hospitals do not pay the $125 as such, but do they purchase nothing from Solucient? Does Solucient evaluate all hospitals or only its customers?

The globally recognized authority and standard-setter is the Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations. Its surveys cost and are worth substantially more than $125. It is a nonprofit corporation collecting cost-based fees from the hospitals and other organizations it serves. The commission does not rank hospitals other than, essentially, as "pass," "fail" or "conditioned, on probation with reinspection at an early date."

Morton Plant Mease is and has long been accredited by the commission. It is a very high-quality health care provider and I do not mean to imply otherwise. However, the "100 Top Hospitals" designation is misleading.

[Last modified March 22, 2005, 01:21:16]