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Safety Harbor mayor must stop shifting blame

The Times' Aug. 4 news story, Mayor's e-mail use raises questions, prompts me to write today. I had the honor to serve as a Safety Harbor city commissioner for more than four years. When I stepped down, I purposefully decided that I was going to keep my distance so that our new commissioners could do their jobs. I resolved only to become involved when asked for help or for comment.

I happily returned to my life as a private citizen to raise my family and run my business only to find myself dragged back into the public eye last week with an unfounded allegation from the mayor of Safety Harbor.

I am now asked questions about her in-school conduct from concerned parents. I am rumored to head a conspiracy of five people who seemingly sit around plotting to undo all of her works. According to her, I have the power to control what the St. Petersburg Times reports.

It was a great disappointment to read that I am falsely accused of being the cause of the mayor's current problems. I read in the Times that the mayor admits she sends e-mails during classroom time and that she limits her teaching to only "6 or 7" minutes per period.

I'm not sure how her actions are my fault. I always reasoned that she was capable of taking responsibility for her own actions.

I am tired of answering questions about her behavior from my friends and neighbors. It is time for the mayor to take responsibility for her own actions and stop blaming others for her admitted misdeeds.

New projects will spark needed downtown revival

I am writing in response to your July 24 editorial regarding the exciting new projects on the horizon for downtown Clearwater (Clearwater should carefully consider tower request).

I am a resident of Tarpon Springs; however, I own several rental properties in Clearwater not far from where these developments will take place, so I am ecstatic to see sleepy downtown Clearwater becoming a soon-to-be booming place to live, relax, enjoy and work.

Clearwater Beach is famous for its beautiful beaches and quaint neighborhoods. It just simply makes sense to see the other side of the bridge flourish and prosper, too.

Thank you for your article and for keeping the public updated. This is very exciting for me as an investor, as it will bring more people and jobs to Clearwater, which certainly cannot hurt our economy - only keep it going full speed ahead, as it should.

Oldsmar's vow to limit seizure is questionable

Re: Oldsmar moves to limit eminent domain, story, July 21.

Isn't it ironic that after the Oldsmar City Council used its power of eminent domain against the Oldsmar Civic Club it now has grown a conscience?

The city had a 1994 contract (marriage, if you will) for 50 years with the Civic Club, but when the city wanted our building after only 10 years, it decided to "divorce" us and make us homeless - all in the name of eminent domain.

If the city of Oldsmar couldn't keep its promise/contract from 1994, why would any resident think that its new ordinance to limit the seizure of private property makes a taxpayer feel safe and secure?

Largo's annexation campaign marches forward ominously

Re: Annexations will push city's boundaries, story, Aug. 3.

Largo is at it again. Instead of just annexing the few people and businesses that, for some reason, wanted to be part of Largo, they took the whole lot.

Hats off to Commissioner Mary Gray Black for standing up for those who don't want to be annexed in this communistic fashion. When will Largo (officials) learn that not everyone wants to join them in their higher taxes and overpriced library, which only a small percentage of residents will visit, but all will pay for? How will they provide the fire rescue and police force when they can hardly provide for the area they have now?

I, for one, will resist annexation for as long as possible, but know they will force it upon my neighbors and me one day. The way Largo is taking over one neighborhood at a time reminds me of the way the Soviet Union took over Eastern Europe, by force.

City's culture evaporating, and no one seems to notice

Is Clearwater culture fading?

City Players Inc., formerly City Players of Clearwater, put on Guys and Dolls at Ruth Eckerd Hall recently. Technically, it was its first production because it is now independent of the city and will be seeking its 501(c) (3) status if it survives.

The show was seen by more than 3,000 people, including some members of the City Council, and culminates a 30-plus-year history of providing the residents of Clearwater a Broadway theater experience at an affordable price.

The actors and support people work for free, and the city donates the use of Ruth Eckerd Hall and a small net sum (four figures) to the City Players Inc. production. For the past few years, the city has been gradually reducing its support until the decision had to be made to either discontinue the production or form the new group.

To meet this year's deadline, City Players incorporated and put the show on in record time. It had to work on the hopes it could pay the bills - a far cry from when the city took responsibility for the bills and the net gain or loss. City Players' cost was in the high five-figure range (about 15 times the city's contribution) but thanks to a lot of faith from concerned citizens, concessions from vendors and the massive coverage by the media, the show went on and was a success.

But no one knows if City Players Inc. can produce a show next year because it has what is best described as a meager bank account. If it can't, it will be a great cultural loss for the city - but not the first. The Suncoast Symphony, formerly the Clearwater Symphony, is now seriously considering moving to another city. It would seem that the city of Clearwater should be alarmed by the possible loss of its signature symphony or its signature Broadway production group, but it doesn't seem that way.

I would like to encourage the citizens of Clearwater and those council members who attended this year's show to champion the cause of culture here in Clearwater before it becomes redefined as simply yogurt on a grocery store shelf.

Clearwater

CLARIFICATION

An editorial in Tuesday's Times contained an outdated address for the city of Clearwater's Web site. While the old address still will get you there, the new Web address is www.myclearwater.com

We invite readers to write letters for publication. To send a letter from your computer, go to www.sptimes.com/letters If you prefer, you may instead fax your letter to us at 727 445-4119, or mail it to Letter to the Editor, St. Petersburg Times, 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756.

Letters should be brief and must include the writer's name, city of residence, mailing address and phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity, taste and length. We regret that not all letters can be printed.

[Last modified August 10, 2005, 18:04:53]