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Visitor has misguided traffic view

Re: Drivers, not lights, are cause of roadway fear and frustration, letter, June 23.

Under the guise of politeness and "respect," Jack Brown of Tuftonboro, N.H., writes to tell us that the mistiming of lights along U.S. 19 is not at all a problem, that the answer would be to install four-way stop signs and for us to walk to work instead of driving. But, "probably not," he writes. "Too many Americans want to keep the Obesity Capital of the World title."

May I suggest that Mr. Brown is either a guest to the state of Florida and Pinellas County or perhaps a part-time resident? Retired? Is he one of the many people who has moved here thinking he also owns the roadways? Or maybe he feels smug about getting off the rat race treadmill because he retired to Florida's "paradise" and has no place to go anymore.

I have lived here all my life. I have watched Pinellas County grow to the point of near explosion and the fiasco going on at Clearwater Beach is all for people who don't even live here year-round. Are you one of them, Mr. Jack Brown?

Do you use the public transportation system? Do you actually walk to get your groceries for your family of six? Do you claim to possess that "rare commodity" of "politeness and cordiality?" Since you claim to have limited knowledge of combustion engines, then I'll give you that for your ignorance (and nothing for your lack of common sense), but I'll remove your pretenses for politeness. Stop-and-go traffic uses far more gas than just driving to a destination, 5 miles or 15. Ignorance is bliss, isn't it?

Maybe you are just smug and indifferent. I hope you realize your driver's license is a privilege and not a right, that you don't have ownership of the roads, that you are a guest as far as I am concerned and that you don't live on an island but around plenty of people who obviously have to put up with you and your misguided brand of courtesy.

You can go back home to New Hampshire. I'll bet we can live fine without you.

You can catch the green by maintaining even speed

Re: What's the big problem? Time the lights, letter, June 16, and Timing traffic lights requires the support of cities, letter, June 17.

I grew up in Detroit in the mid 1950s. It had two streets that had posted speed limits of 35 mph. They were named Second Street and Third Street. If a driver got a green light at either one and maintained a speed of 33 mph, that driver would hit green all the way down or up the street. This was long before computers became the way to run things.

I realize that traffic has become more intense these days, but come on! Let's get with it!

Parking on beach could soon disappear

Re: Lawsuit targets beach project, story, June 30.

Anne Garris lives on Clearwater Beach. She can go to the beach any day at any time. She can also walk to many of the restaurants. Now why would she spend her time and effort to try to preserve land and parking for the citizens of Pinellas County?

All people who intend to use the beach now or in the future had better wake up or they will find those massive traffic lines and will have no place to park if they do get to Clearwater Beach.

Be informed. Find out what's going on before it's too late.

Museum could benefit from African-American ties

Re: Museum on quest to keep on operating, story, June 19.

One area of tourism the Gulf Coast Museum of Art should try to tap into is already in its back yard. The African American Heritage Festival at the Pinewood Cultural Center probably brings more than 10,000 visitors every year in the end of February.

However, the museum has done little to coordinate its programs. No area art museum has a substantial collection of African and African-American art. The Gulf Coast of Museum of Art could give itself some distinction and enrich cultural opportunities for the Tampa Bay area by doing so.

[Last modified July 13, 2005, 00:10:12]