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Snowbirds help fortify Florida's economic base

I am a vacation condo owner from Ohio. On March 17, it was stated in the Times that both the Senate and House insurance committees in the Legislature voted to charge owners of vacation or second homes more for insurance with Citizens. This statement was made by Rep. Dennis Ross: "As legislators, our choice should be, in terms of priorities, to the residents who are permanently here."

Is the surge in sales tax collections, in the winter months, in this state due to the residents who are permanently here? Is the increase in the income of restaurants, golf courses and retail establishments, during the winter months, due to the residents who are permanently here? Such statements as Ross made are obviously for the purpose of votes from the residents who are permanently here. He overlooks the fact that the Florida economy would not be so good if it weren't for the snowbirds who bring substantial money to his state. But, then, he is a politician who is entitled to make stupid remarks without thinking about what he says.

He further overlooks the fact that this is the easy way out and that, possibly with a bit of intelligent oversight by the legislative committees, Citizens wouldn't be in the plight it is in. But, as stated, he is a politician!

Report on school break-ins ignored some vital facts

This is about the break-ins at River Ridge Middle School. You wrote in your article that the school had a break-in and you also stated that the school had numerous video games stolen and also a DVD.

By just stating that these items were stolen was not enough information. You did not let your readers know that these items were stolen from an SED classroom, and that these games are used as a reward for good behavior. They are not used on an everyday basis.

The stolen DVD was confiscated from a student, as it was not the property of the school. The teacher took it because it was not appropriate for school use, and it was being held for the parent to pick up. You made it sound like all they do at River Ridge is play games and watch movies, which of course is not the case, as they have a very strict learning environment there.

Commissioners' defense of incompetence is baffling

It is amazing to me the things that go on in Pasco County government. We have Bruce Kennedy letting sewage run out of secret pipes and causing the ratepayers to pay a $2-million fine and then have County Commissioners Steve Simon and Pat Mulieri defend him without any investigation of what had happened.

Perhaps the highly paid commissioners ($76,000 per year) were too busy on the Internet to bother with the mundane business of sewage gone awry.

It seems to me that I pay about four times as much in sewer charges as I did in Queens Village, N.Y. I don't mind so much if they treat the sewage, recycle the effluent and protect our environment. However, when I see what occurs and how our elected representatives rush to defend such incompetence, it makes me wonder.

By the way, I really like to shop on eBay, make travel plans and answer e-mail on my computer. However, I do it on my own time, and I think that our Commissioners Simon, Mulieri and Ted Schrader should do so, also.

Let's investigate the sewage fiasco and see that it does not recur.

Article was poor attempt to ridicule SBA policy

Re: Feds offer help, but disaster is missing, March 17 .

Ha, Ha, Ha. You're so funny. In a story, your reporter Garrett Therolf took it upon himself to ridicule the offer by the U.S. Small Business Administration of disaster recovery loans to businesses and residents in Pasco County after flooding from rains in and around Pinellas County on Feb. 3.

An SBA spokesman made it very clear to Mr. Therolf that SBA policy in all disaster declarations is to offer recovery loans to residents and businesses in the counties directly affected, and to all contiguous counties. It's been the rule for years, and it's still the rule.

Mr. Therolf ignored this information in his attempt to ridicule the offer of loans in Pasco County. After all, if he couldn't pretend to be ignorant of the facts, he would not have had a story.

[Last modified March 21, 2006, 10:27:13]