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Judge not if shelter is needed

By C.T. BOWEN
Published May 1, 2005

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TO: County Administrators Steve Spratt, John Gallagher

FROM: Pinellas-Pasco Judge David Demers

RE: Hurricane preparations

Dear Sirs:

As you know, judicial proceedings are key to any public safety emergency. The ability to guarantee due process to suspected looters and to issue rapid-fire injunctions against spouses crazed by the weather is imperative to a well-coordinated government response to hurricanes.

Toward that end, I trust you will set aside millions of dollars you don't have to pamper judges and other officers of the court - and their kids and pets, too - during hurricane evacuations. The fact that Pasco is embarking on a $17-million expansion of the West Pasco Judicial Center, the third remodeling/expansion of Pasco's judicial centers in the past 10 years, matters little if Fido has to go to a kennel when the wind blows hard.

Let's face it, judges deserve special treatment. Our families and our pets warrant considerations above and beyond what your counties provide to John Q. Public or even to your own employees required to work during hurricanes and other natural disasters.

Don't try to stifle this request with a bunch of numbers. It's not the fault of the judiciary that Pinellas has space for just 70,000 people even though a Level C evacuation forces 380,000 people to pack up and leave their domiciles. Up in Pasco, I understand you typically plan for about 15 percent of your 212,000 evacuees to come to public shelters. So what if you're 7,000 spaces short? Use that new hurricane impact fee revenue to bolster the numbers.

But, I digress. The public is not of import here. Judges, prosecutors, public defenders, court reporters, bailiffs and our families and pets are of the utmost consideration. I am seeking five shelters, holding up to 60 people each, for court personnel and their families. Generators, food, kitchen equipment, computer links and videoconferencing capabilities should be included. Silk linens, entertainment systems, wet bars, Alpo, chew toys and a public employee to walk behind Fido with a pooper scooper also are worthy of discussion.

A reasonable response is requested, but please expedite this matter. Hurricane season begins one month from today. Even though your new budget calendars do not begin until Oct. 1, I am confident you will be able to divert funds from other pressing public needs to suit the whims of the court.

Respectfully,

Chief Judge David Demers

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TO: Pinellas-Pasco Judge David Demers

FROM: County Administrators Spratt/Gallagher

RE: Hurricane shelters

Your honor:

What world do you live in?

Public shelters are located throughout our two counties for our residents who need to evacuate during hurricanes. Perhaps, you should become acquainted with the one nearest your home. The shelter, however, should be a last resort. It makes greater sense to plan to evacuate to a motel or to the home of a friend or family member not in harm's way.

We offer this advice since planning does not appear to be your strong suit. It is our understanding the court's emergency management group drafted a disaster preparedness plan last year. It might be a good idea for the chief judge of the circuit to familiarize himself with it.

Though you pitch the St. Petersburg Judicial Building as one of the five potential shelter sites, it is unworkable. Unless, of course, your budget includes an extra $1.1-million for retrofitting.

In Pasco, the county jail in Land O'Lakes should suffice since that is where the inmates are kept and it would preclude your need for videoconferencing equipment. We are unaware of a spike in domestic violence injunctions during hurricanes. By most accounts, people tend to pull together during emergencies, not resort to spousal battery.

As for pets, last time we checked kennels will board dogs for less than 20 bucks a night.

We trust you will find this information helpful as you prepare for the 2005 hurricane season.

Respectfully,

Steve Spratt, Pinellas Administrator

John Gallagher, Pasco Administrator

P.S. Have you ever heard of judicial restraint?

Reach C.T. Bowen at bowen@sptimes.com or at 727-869-6239.

NOTE TO READER: A Tarpon Springs reader had a question: was the column Judge not if shelter needed satire or did Chief Circuit Judge David Demers and county administrators Steve Spratt and John Gallagher really exchange those letters? Apparently, she wasn't alone in the confusion, judging by a couple of other inquiries.

Yes, the column was satire and should have been labeled so. Demers and the administrators did exchange correspondence over proposed hurricane special shelters. The judge did ask for five shelters holding up to 60 people each for court officers, their families and pets. The administrators declined.

The column attempted to poke fun at the request and the responses, but it was not a verbatim transcript of those letters. We regret any confusion it caused among our readers.

[Last modified May 4, 2005, 19:17:52]

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