Does anyone know where Gov. Jeb Bush, Attorney General Charlie Crist, Florida's chief financial officer Tom Gallagher or insurance commissioner Kevin McCarty can be found these days? Or for that matter where our elected state legislators may be hiding out?
One can only surmise that they are on vacation. Otherwise, how can anyone account for their lack of response to the alarming number of insurance companies which have taken a "pick and choose" attitude on writing homeowner insurance policies.
While many victims of last year's multiple hurricanes continue to wait for overdue insurance payments and live in undersized Federal Emergency Management Agency housing, major insurance companies continue to drop like flies out of the homeowner insurance business.
Nationwide Insurance, you know the one that claims to be "on your side," was the latest to announce they would be pulling out of the Florida homeowner insurance business. But like so many others before them, they too announced that they would still underwrite other business lines such as auto, life, health and other insurance policies. It must be nice to have the luxury of picking more lucrative business opportunities and discard any other business activities which might hinder profits.
Perhaps it's time for Florida legislators to tell insurance companies: "If you want to do business here, you must provide all your lines of insurance, not just the ones that bring big profits."
What is wrong with these parents that are whining about school starting early? Didn't schools in Pasco County get out in May?
A lot of parents were complaining that the early start conflicted with their vacation. How would these parents or the kids, for that matter, like to go to school well into June. Our grandchildren went until June 10 this year and will return to school Aug. 24.
In our area, which is rural/farming, the school year works in conjunction with the planting and harvesting. We read everyday that school children are below in testing and advancement. Wouldn't you think the parents would be more in tune with their children getting a better education instead of worrying about school starting too soon that it interferes with their vacation time?
Why not assess the riverfront property owners whose property gains from the proposed dredging (special assessment)?
After all, we in Beacon Square have to help pay for road repaving via special assessment. So it would be logical to also assess a property owner for the improvement of their waterway.
I am waiting for the Pasco County Sheriff's Office to have its very own Mark Fuhrman when the defense attorney in the strip club arrests asks the arresting officer/officers: In the last 10 years have you been offended by the sight of a nude female dancer?
I retired as a police officer 30 years ago, from an all-male environment when police use of the word "sensitive" described gun trigger pull. At that time any other use of "officer" and "sensitive" in the same sentence was a contradiction of terms. Did the selection of this Sheriff's Office undercover team require some special culling to select the sensitive officers that were assigned to this squad?
-- Frederick A. Highman, New Port Richey
Current voting system for superintendent works well
Re: School Board not qualified to choose school chief, Aug. 14 letter
We have to ask ourselves why are we now being asked to choose a different way to elect a school superintendent when our present voting system has worked prior for Pasco County?
The voters in our community have a right to elect a school superintendent. Pasco County schools educate numerous students that have interested, involved parents and grandparents. Many of our residents are dedicated employees of the school system that are directly impacted by School Board decisions.
We also have wonderful volunteers from our community that have valuable opinions on educational issues. Why would we take the school superintendent vote away from these qualified voters?
In the last superintendent race our growing and changing population elected Heather Fiorentino to be our Pasco County school superintendent. We have already observed policy and communication improvements within our schools. As a Pasco county public school parent, educator, and community member, I would like to keep my ability to vote.
-- M. Kathleen Abremski, New Port Richey
Hayhoe misses point on guns, industrial parks
Re: Bunting should worry about crime costs , Aug. 9 letter
The St. Petersburg Times seems content to publish whatever Mr. Hayhoe writes, without regard to relevance or content.
When presented with the issue of government subsidy of industrial parks, Mr. Hayhoe responded with an inaccurate diatribe about the Florida Legislature, Gov. Bush, the National Rifle Association, and gun control laws in general.
Hayhoe admits that crime rates have dropped considerably, yet complains. A law designed to protect shooting ranges from overzealous, agenda-driven environmental officials, which places the burden of compliance on the range owners, is described as a taxpayer burden. Not true.
A bill that prohibited law enforcement agencies from keeping databases of law-abiding gun owners, with no legislative approval, and amounting to de facto gun registration, hasn't cost law enforcement a cent.
The tough-on-crime laws have worked very well, and do contribute to lower crime rates. Those who use a firearm in a crime are subject to mandatory prison sentences. Does Hayhoe advocate the early release, slap-on-the-wrist approach to violent crime?
The new castle doctrine law, effective Oct. 1, will serve to streamline police and court procedures for those in compliance with the law.
Hayhoe's letter is irrelevant, inappropriate and inaccurate. Why does the Times print such nonsense?
-- Lee Hanson, Hudson
Kudos to school officials' work on pay increases
I want to commend the Pasco School Board, the superintendent and the union for working together to get needed raises for teachers and other staff members.
As an educator for many years, I know that most people who work with children love what they are doing. Money is not the key issue. However, everyone deserves to earn an adequate living. Also a monetary reward is one way to show that a person is valued.
It is great news to see that the new school year will have a good beginning. I applaud all of you and your efforts. Pasco's employees and students are the winners.
-- Pat Mulieri, Ed. D., Spring Hill
Intentional harm shouldn't befall neighborhood ducks
Re: Feeding ducks has become fine kettle of fish , Aug. 12.
I am a resident of Jasmine Lakes and I find it appalling that you would actually print in your paper ways to kill ducks. They are living creatures and I think it is disgusting how easily people will kill them.
Doesn't the state of Florida have animal cruelty laws? If I saw anyone in my community purposely set out to harm a duck or any other living creature, I would most definitely call the local authorities and turn them in, hoping they would be prosecuted.
Most of the adult ducks in Jasmine Lakes have babies they are attending to, so what would become of them if everyone killed their mamas?
-- Toni Moles, Port Richey
Find more humane ways to handle duck problem
Re : Feeding ducks has become a fine kettle of fish , Aug. 12
Advising readers to decapitate, shoot in the head, or break the neck of any unwanted duck found on their property is not only cruel, but it is also reckless, as it can land anyone following her advice in a world of legal trouble. None of these killing techniques will provide ducks with a humane death. If any person does any of these things that Ms. Grumet is suggesting, they will be in violation of Florida's anticruelty statutes and will be subject to prosecution.
What the public needs to know is that killing ducks is not only cruel, but it is also wholly ineffective, because as long as the area remains attractive to birds, others will simply move in and fill any void left by those who are killed.
Successful methods of resolving clashes between human and duck populations do so humanely. They include habitat-modification, the use of repellents, fencing, frightening devices and reproductive controls, such as egg-addling, which should be done by a professional.
For more information about coexisting peacefully with wildlife, call (757) 622-7382 or log onto peta.org.
-- Amy Skylark Elizabeth, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Norfolk, Va.
Sex offenders should remain under punishment
Re: With support, sex offenders can change, Aug. 12 letter
Mike Bailey is kind enough to offer up a single instance of alleged rehabilitation regarding a sex offender. One, single instance.
First of all, based on the number of heinous criminal acts perpetrated against children by sex offenders that we read about almost daily, one is not a number that is going to impress anyone.
Secondly, is there anyone that understands Mr. Bailey's defense of someone who committed these types of crimes and went wholly unpunished? I do not. And, while we're at it, Mr. Bailey, do you honestly feel that "this man has suffered and has been punished enough" because he subjected himself to "regular counseling"?
Because you claim this crime was perpetrated 25 years ago, the criminal you make reference to should just be coming up for parole, at least in my opinion.
Just a thought to those who read these letters to the editor: perhaps it is best to show your displeasure with someone's stance on a particular issue by not patronizing that person's business. If I need an attorney, I know one that I will absolutely not consider.
-- Charles W. Bruscell, Spring Hill
Resident thanks Hudson Water Works for service
Kudos to the Hudson Water Works and Durwood J. Horak, utilities director. On July 28, there was a water main break on N Fivay in back of the Sunoco Gas Station on U.S. 19.
I live in Club Wildwood in Hudson. Immediately after the break, which appeared to be a major one, our community, which consists of 478 mobile units, received individual notices of the break and a boil water notice. On Aug. 1, each unit received notices of "The Rescission of Precautionary Boil Water Notice."
This unbelievable service is above and beyond the call of duty. It gives all of the residents a great peace of mind that we are serviced by such a great utility!
-- William G. Quinn, Hudson
Protection needed in case of any fireworks explosion
Fireworks are explosives! Should a deliberate terrorist or accidental mass explosion of firework tents happen, we should be prepared. A 7-foot high wall of sandbags would be an excellent protective barrier for people and property.
-- Rudy Sinkovich, New Port Richey
[Last modified August 16, 2005, 14:51:56]
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