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Ethics clause in charter would be superfluous

Re: Putting ethics clause in charter is right idea, June 20 editorial.

You state that putting an ethics clause in Port Richey's city charter is a right idea. This begs the question: What part of the charter don't you understand? And what punitive clause would you like, something more than removal from office? For indeed that is the only punishment according to the charter. Section 2.03, (b) (2), (6) and (8), and Section 3.02 (m) are very explicit. A council member who willfully violates any express prohibition of the charter, who engages in malfeasance, misfeasance or nonfeasance, and who interferes with the everyday operations of a department head shall have his or her seat forfeited by majority vote.

It fortunately does not give this authority to any other entity, not the city manager and certainly not a grand jury. Action is taken by the council and only the council, and if there is a problem and no action is taken then state agencies, who rule on these issues as part of their function, can be alerted.

And to set the record straight, I have not retreated from my position over the past four years. I voted to have our attorney give his opinion hopefully to put an end to the constant attacks of a former administration. Though, legal opinion or not, I am sure your attacks will continue, along with your selective reporting and criticism of those people who are not in your favor.

You take advantage of what our great country allows, always hiding behind the First Amendment. You say what you want, protect those of like mind, and conveniently turn a blind eye. I wonder if our forefathers ever envisioned such behavior.

Comments about pre-K show ignorance

Please inform School Board member Marge Whaley that the voluntary pre-K program was not enacted to serve as a babysitting program for working parents. Its sole purpose was to provide pre-K services to children as a means to better prepare these children for kindergarten. Kindergarten is no longer play time.

You also could tell Ms. Whaley that the working parents of 2005-06 pre-K students already have had babysitting services in place for approximately four years. Surprise! We are not negligent and do not leave our children home alone until they are old enough to attend an alleged pre-K program funded by the Florida government.

In fact, some parents work to afford the best education they can provide their children rather than rely on the terrible public schools that exist under Whaley's auspices. I will certainly remember her remarks at her next election, as I hope will other voters. Her statement was ignorant and she should be embarrassed for herself.

Stop the complaining, let Wal-Mart in

It seems to me that people do not like change. I have listened to all the people complain about the Wal-Mart that would be placed in Bayonet Point. The two biggest complaints are traffic and crime.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but was there not an outlet mall built there? Would that not have added to the U.S. 19 road beast a long time ago? Would that not have caused young adults to hang around and cause crime?

I also recall that when we had carnivals come to town they set up at the parking lot at the outlet mall. Did crime go up? Would the people like to see the mall up and running ? Would that be better then a Wal-Mart?

That lot is an eyesore and something will end up there anyway. So it just seems to me that people do not like change and that is all. People will grasp at straws to come up with some excuse to keep things the way they are.

I say let Wal-Mart in. Let the single mother have a job and health insurance in hopes of getting off state help and buying a home. Let the elderly greet you with a cart so they can have extra income that they need. Let the young adults stock the shelves and ring you up so they can have money to go to the movies and dinner, and have somewhere to be, instead of on the streets causing you problems with crime.

We cannot stop the massive growth in Pasco County. Megastores or not, we will always have crime. We would not have car accidents if people would pay attention to what they were doing on the road. There will always be car accidents and it will have nothing to do with new buildings or stores.

Doubling of insurance rates lamentable

People need to make voices heard on insurance issues, June 14 letter.

I strongly agree with the writer's letter on homeowner's insurance. The premium increased so much.

My parents moved from Georgia last year, and they bought a house here in Hudson. To their surprise they couldn't find any insurance company except Citizens. This year they got a letter stating that the premium increased. It doubled. By the way, State Farm denied their application last year because they had a claim in Georgia for under $900, their first claim ever. They were so disappointed that my dad won't recommend that insurance company to anybody.

I hope and pray that this insurance problem will be resolved fast.

Insurer with monopoly raises rates again

I have been a resident of Florida going on three years. My first year here I purchased wind insurance from Citizens for $735. In 2004, I paid $859, which was fair. I just received my bill for 2005, it was a whooping $1,700. I nearly had a heart attack. I'm a disabled veteran, and this increase is one I cannot afford. Then again, Citizens Insurance knows we customers cannot go without this insurance.

It is my opinion that Citizens is a monopoly for it is the only place one can purchase this insurance.

Attack on grandmother unconscionable

I sit here and wonder what this world is coming to. When do you know when to trust someone in need? When a simple question is asked, do you keep walking and pretend you don't hear or do you stop to help what seems to be an innocent person?

I ask this because last week my grandmother was walking home from grocery shopping when someone stopped to ask her for directions. Seems so innocent, right? As she offered this young woman her help she was severly assaulted. This selfish woman grabbed my grandmother's purse and dragged her almost 6 feet on the cement.

How can someone be so heartless? Why did they have to choose my grandmother as their victim? She was minding her own business and thought she was being helpful. My grandmother has gone through so much pain and suffering this last week. As I see her in her hospital bed I wonder what was so important in her purse? I would assume they wanted money, probably to buy drugs or something of that sort.

When I look at my grandmother in pain, I hope that the selfish person who did this to her will eventually be caught and suffer the consequences. An elderly woman cannot even walk to a grocery store without worrying about being attacked? What is our world coming to?

Accidents are driving up insurance rates

It is time we do something about the car wrecks in Florida.

On every newscast there is another wreck and loss of life. I am furious, disgusted and disappointed that Florida Highway Patrol, Gov. Jeb Bush and the Legislature care so little about our residents.

This state needs to hire more Florida Highway Patrol officers and get their vehicles out on all the highways and unincorporated areas.

I lived in Illinois 40-plus years. Illinois does not have these kind of accidents, and neither does the city of Chicago. You know why? The state police monitor all expressways and station multiple vehicles everywhere. The cities also station vehicles everywhere.

Illinois taxes are higher for obvious reasons, but the citizens are safer with lower auto insurance rates.

I am tired of paying over $1,000 per year for automobile insurance in Florida. I paid only $600 in Illinois My driving is very defensive. That is why I have not had reportable accident in 17 years.

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[Last modified June 29, 2005, 01:19:17]