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Eagerness to build on chemical site is unbelievable

Re: Dangers lie beneath surface, story, Oct. 31.

Good grief! Have our county commissioners lost their marbles?

Let me get this straight: Florida declares the former Stauffer Chemical site in North Pinellas a "public health hazard," and it's named to the federal Superfund list of worst toxic waste dumps in the country. It is deemed "radioactive," "contaminated" (arsenic and lead) and "hazardous," to name a few. Houses can never be built on the land because of the unknown future contamination.

Our brilliant U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Stauffer are using an untested cleanup method (for that kind of site) of "mound and cap," and now our county commissioners are considering building six soccer fields, among other family oriented additions, around these mounds?

Based on the intelligence of that consideration, do the commissioners think the radioactive elements in that contaminated land will surely stay in the mounds and not spread out or leak to other parts of the land? Gosh, at this point we should be thankful they know better than to build directly on top of these mounds.

I guess I'm not really baffled by the fact that they want my children (and yours) to play on radioactive ground; I think it's the eagerness they've displayed to spend my money (and yours) to purchase it.

Even the best fiction writers can't make this stuff up!

Humans' safety outranks dogs'

Officers killing dangerous stray dogs at Wall Springs Park in Palm Harbor is a nonissue. Letter writers have said the pack animals should be captured with the use of tranquilizer guns. The animals have already behaved in a wild and menacing manner, so they are not fit as pets.

It is sad that pet owners, on whom animals must depend, fail their loyal friends, but they are the parties who should be criticized. I wonder how many human lives should be risked to avoid putting down dangerous animals?

Pet owners who have pets that have bitten others should be required to attend courses in safe pet ownership - similar to defensive driving courses given offenders - that include autopsy photos of innocent humans who have been killed by animals due to the lack of responsibility of pet owners.

People who value animals over human beings should move to an island where their animals don't endanger other people. I can't imagine a much more horrific injury than to be mauled by a dangerous animal that some antisocial dope keeps for his or her own sense of power. A chow is fully capable of killing a strong adult, not to mention a child.

Belleair sent message to mayor

Re: Ads about power may have backfired, story, Nov. 10.

I'd like to add my voice to those quoted in this article on the power vote in Belleair. We, the "elderly" citizens, were not intimidated by Progress Energy. Rather, it was the "Power to the People" group headed by Mayor George Mariani, with its condescending attitude coupled with a grossly expensive, overkill campaign, that scared us.

The mayor said all was done in the sunshine. Funny, I only saw fog.

Foster kids don't deserve labeling

My wife and I, who are adoptive parents of a special needs child, were disturbed by the Nov. 3 article in the Times titled Group home for kids resisted.

We were subsequently pleased with the Nov. 4 editorial, Foster children need community's support. It is extremely unfortunate that prejudice is directed at foster children.

[Last modified November 13, 2005, 03:00:43]