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Voters to blame for Commissioner Black

Re: It takes one commissioner to obstruct city's business , editorial, June 10.

So I'm not the only one who noticed that Largo Commissioner Mary Black was totally out of synch with the commission. During her previous commission service in Largo, I was very busy raising my kids and running a business, so I was not that tuned in.

Mary was supported by groups whose policy is to work behind the scenes and create as much havoc as possible. The outcome of that policy is to darken the names and the deeds of elected city officials, so when the next election year rolls in they have ruined or smudged the reputation of the officials. At that time they blitz us with their new candidates, mostly unknown to us. Plenty of money and support and lies about the incumbent and you could get your goldfish elected.

The citizens of Largo have themselves to blame. You didn't show up at the polls. I voted and I worked at the Highland Recreation Complex, which held precincts open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. I believe the voter who waited more than 5 to 10 minutes was a rarity. The weather was great, so there was no reason for you to stay home.

With another election result like this, maybe we should change the name of our city from Largo to Rome.

Black focuses on fighting "gay agenda' and promoting her biblical beliefs

Re: It takes one commissioner to obstruct city's business, editorial, June 10.

This editorial on Largo Commissioner Mary Black and Largo is right on target. Mary Black ran for city commissioner for one reason. She has been extremely clear about that before the election, during the election and now after the election. Her one and only goal is to stop the "gay agenda" by forcing her biblical beliefs on all of us.

That 2.6 percent of the voters who took the time out of their busy lives to vote for her, as well as those who took the time to fill out those absentee ballots, got what they voted for.

I pray that the new city charter committee is not made up of that 2.6 percent of the population that sees an elusive "gay agenda" under every rock.

My advice to Mary and the charter committee: Start paying some respect to other people's spiritual faiths. Praise Buddha, Muhammad, Jesus and Allah, praise Mother Earth and Father sky.

News story shows support for illegal immigrants and violation of federal law

Re: Liaison a cultural bridge, story, May 23.

The Times, it seems, has shown in print its greater moral affinity with Hispanic persons who willfully violate U.S. laws than with U.S. citizens (and legal resident aliens) who are, in contrast, law-abiding citizens.

Your May 23 story essentially lauds any U.S. police department if it decides it isn't their job to "act as henchmen for the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service." By "henchmen," they mean that a person who has voluntarily sworn to "uphold the law" could be demeaned by any cooperation with a U.S. agency similarly tasked to "uphold the law."

According to the story, Clearwater "is home to 20,000 Hispanics, many of whom don't have U.S. citizenship" (or any other legal document granting any internationally recognized residency) and nobody gives a tinker's dam. Is this a "cultural bridge"?

Until my enlightenment by the Times, I thought: 1) legislatures create "acts;" 2) mayors, governors and presidents sign such acts into law; 3) law enforcement agencies enforce these laws; 4) juries, judges and appropriate courts interpret the validity of said laws; and 5) citizens and immigrants live in a "manageable" society in accordance with these basic mores. Each constitutionally enfranchised entity serves its own role (i.e., police enforce the law), and society uses a well-established system of checks and balances and elections, etc., to redress any inequities in the laws. How stupid of me to think that way.

"They're here" is sufficient justification to shortcut unliked portions of our societal structure. I paraphrase: "If you don't like a law, ignore it; they'll forgive you."

Mobile home park residents learn meaning of power to the people

The greatest news crossed my computer! The residents of Chesapeake Point Mobile Home Park saved their homes, their lifestyle and their little piece of heaven.

Last year, in the wake of the big Wal-Mart controversy in Tarpon Springs, certain residents of Chesapeake called to ask me for advice regarding the future of their park. Being a former city of Tarpon Springs Planning Department employee, they turned to me for some insight.

We discussed many options. Having little faith in the city to step forward to save this residential area, I explained that the city would likely only see high-end homes as the highest and best use. The current zoning did not protect them, and no one at City Hall, I explained, would support the concept that access to waterfront living should be protected for all income groups.

My advice was simply this: Buy it yourselves. The only way to have the property rezoned is to have "interest" in it, and the only way to protect your interest is to own it. After that, I backed away because there was nothing I could do. They needed to do it, and they did.

Well, general public, take a lesson. Whenever there is vacant land or property in danger of being redeveloped, signing petitions and arguing at City Hall will never cut it.

The impact of the 1985 Growth Management Act has been realized in the protection of development rights. When land use and zoning allow more intensive use, that use is and will always be protected by local governments because they will readily resort to "if a project meets the code, then we have no legal way to stop it." It does not matter that the people who pay these bureaucratic salaries don't want it ... it is the code that prevails!

So, my heartfelt congratulations go out to the Chesapeake Mobile Home Park residents. Good job!

No more development for an already beleaguered Clearwater Beach

Re: Building another bridge would help in emergency, letter, May 22.

Another bridge to Clearwater Beach?

Oh no! We are going to sink Clearwater Beach. It is a sand bar. It is already overpopulated and it is going to sustain further damage by shoring up high-rises, or mausoleums, whichever word you prefer.

Now someone writes in to suggest saving these poor souls by building another bridge. I think not. A sand bar was not meant to be inundated by greedy developers. However, we in Pinellas County give those words new meaning, don't we - i.e., greedy is good, to conserve is bad.

Is that the way it is now? Let's hear it by 10,000 toilets flushing at once and 5,000 showers running at the same time. What a mess humanity has become.

Officials, residents should make Clearwater the great city it once was

First, how come a bridge-building company whose sole purpose is to build bridges made such a mess of the Memorial Causeway bridge? Second, I hope the city of Clearwater doesn't run out of detour signs. Third, concerts held in Coachman Park should be a joy, not a source of noise and sometimes profanity.

I have lived in Clearwater for almost 50 years, and I am very proud of this city, but all of a sudden situations are getting out of hand.

Let's get this lovely city back on track.

[Last modified June 14, 2005, 01:27:13]