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Let preserve's pure beauty remain as it is

Re: What's preserved at Brooker Creek Preserve? Diane Steinle column, April 2.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is now trying valiantly to undo the damage they did to the Everglades. They were destructive to an invaluable, irreplaceable environment.

Pinellas' Brooker Creek Preserve is an invaluable, irreplaceable environment. You cannot put a price tag on nature, on the depth of joy and peace given to humans in experiencing the wonder of the Earth in its pristine beauty, on walking the trails of the preserve.

And do we owe anything to the wildlife that has claimed that land as its home since time began? I think we do. I think we need to cherish the habitats of creatures who depend on us for survival.

I think we need to allow Brooker Creek Preserve to survive untouched as it now exists.

Brooker Creek's preserve status needs clarity

Re: What's preserved at Brooker Creek Preserve? Diane Steinle column, April 2.

It seems Pinellas County has yet to clearly state all aspects of this "preserve." What is it? Who owns it? How may it be used? What laws protect it, now and in the future?

Is this land actually set aside to protect wildlife habitat and the headwaters of Lake Tarpon for future generations? (A preserve.)

I guess as long as people don't know, the county can use it any way they choose. I just hate to see them fooling all those great folks giving their time to help maintain it.

Find solution to Save Our Homes cap inequities

I read the articles in the St. Petersburg Times on March 26 regarding the discrepancy in property taxation that has come about through the Save Our Homes amendment to the Florida Constitution. This was a ridiculous amendment and now it is coming to fruition, since this preserves old people's homes in some cases but prevents young working people whose families grow and need to expand from moving to a larger and better home as their net worth increases.

Through this ridiculous, unfair tax structure, a young family has to make the decision to live in a too-small house or move to a bigger house and pay the high taxes, possibly denying their children the opportunity of going to private schools or to college.

As an older person who has chosen to move from a home where I no longer wanted the worry of hurricanes, I am now being penalized by paying huge property taxes on a safer home, but one of equal value.

There is a definite disparity from county to county on the value of property. It is a fact that property in Broward County is appraised at approximately half of a similar property in Pinellas County. This is unfair taxation and needs to be remedied, and the solutions the Florida Legislature are currently considering are not practical.

An alternative solution would be to allow the elderly who cannot afford to pay the taxes on their house to let their taxes become a lien that would be paid upon their death and sale of the home. This is a more equitable solution than forcing the rest of us to cover the taxes for the elderly so their heirs may inherit these properties upon their death.

Our Constitution guarantees fair and equitable representation as well as (hopefully) fair and equal taxation. If the Legislature chooses not to remedy this situation, we need to have attorneys file suit in federal court, and those who are paying unfair property taxes would certainly be willing to contribute to the cost of this litigation.

Think before giving rabbits as pets

It's that time of year again, when well-meaning parents think they are buying a low maintenance pet for their kids. Like every other kind of companion animal, rabbits need experienced care and a home for life.

Every year, a few weeks after Easter, shelters get flooded with unwanted bunnies given as gifts. If you feel you must give a bunny to your child, please, always adopt from shelters or rescue groups. Never buy them from a pet store, as you simply fuel the overpopulation and homeless situation of so many animals.

Of course, any animal you get should be spayed or neutered. When you adopt, you will get an animal that has already been "fixed," so that they don't add to the misery of the homeless. I hope your Easter will be a compassionate one for the animals.

[Last modified April 9, 2006, 00:20:18]