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Re: Casinos can solve insurance troubles, Aug. 28 letter
I have to agree with the letter writer. Does anyone realize just how much revenue is lost to other states from Floridians' gambling?
I bet the casino revenue in just one year in Florida would eliminate the insurance crisis.
And if certain Floridians are still saying that legalized casino gambling will bring crime to this state, then what about the crime of our obscene homeowners insurance rates that our legislators allowed to get to this point!
Mary Ann Finneran, Hudson
All insurers should take on high-risk properties
Our politicians have said little about what they will do to correct this state homeowners insurance crisis. I, like many others, will be looking for candidates who will actually do something. Many people are losing their homes, unable to sell homes they cannot afford, leaving the state or moving inward. Rental prices have increased so high that most families cannot afford to live here.
I have a suggestion: Draw up a bill that stipulates that any insurance company that wants to do business in the state of Florida must take a percentage of high-risk properties. All of the big name companies just want to write the gravy money: life insurance and low-risk homeowners. Force them to take the good with the bad. If all the high risk is divided up, it won't be a burden on one company.
Laurie Simpson, Port Richey
Solution to insurance crisis lies in casino gambling
Re: Casinos can solve insurance problems, Aug. 28 letter
Three cheers for letter writer Jan Draugelis of Holiday and what would appear to be a reasonably viable solution to our insurance crisis. Why haven't any of our politicians come forward with this idea? None of our politicians have come up with any ideas about how this insurance dilemma can be solved.
One politician suggests we need more competition. How can you have more competition when you can't even get insurance companies to write homeowners insurance policies in the state?
Let's get rid of our "make-believe" casinos and convert them to Las Vegas-style casinos. Many of our residents, myself included, leave the state for Biloxi, Las Vegas or the gambling boats for real casino gambling. Let's get real casinos in the state and keep the money in Florida, and use these funds to help resolve our insurance problems. Whether we like it or not, people are going to gamble. Let's keep the money in our state.
Daniel J. Ward, Zephyrhills
Art of deception is true purpose of government
Re: Ken Littlefield and PSC
Molly Moorhead's articles concerning Ken Littlefield are evidence of the true purpose of politics and "government." It is the art of deception to mislead
The best government possible is the least government possible. All profit - anything more than what is needed to exist of the nation - goes into the coffers of those who need the least to gain more for themselves.
Control (the first three letters spell con) is evident everywhere if people could only see what is right before their eyes. If people would learn not to be deceived and to treat every person as they want to be treated, there would be no needing by the deceivers and people would regain the wealth that has been siphoned from them.
J.A. Stone, San Antonio
It's up to the residents to make recycling work
Re: County explores recycling options, Aug. 29
I have worked in recycling for over 30 years. In this time, I have seen recycling programs evolve from the very archaic to the very sophisticated. I applaud Pasco County for implementing a research pilot to study its curbside collections. We are so impressed with their commitment that we have selected them as one of 22 communities across the country to study and analyze as part of our national program called the Curbside Value Partnership.
Pasco County is testing whether their system of blue bags is more effective than using bins, which are found in more and more communities. This is a step in the right direction. The truth is that recycling costs money. Residents may think that someone is making money hand over fist in recycling but they are not. You have to pay for the trucks, the drivers, the labor to process the materials, and on and on. The more residents who take part in a program, the closer you get to breaking even. Before real, long-term change can occur, habits must change in the home.
Pasco County and other communities across America are doing their part to educate citizens on the benefits of recycling, but it is up to homeowners to take the extra step and recycle everything they can at the curb, especially stuff like cans that have value. Use your bin or your bag every time, and then we can really start to make a difference.
Steve Thompson, Director
Curbside Value Partnership
Washington, DC
Panel ignores community's wishes on warehouse
This was one member's response to our request not to have a warehouse in front of our property, Pine Ridge at Sugar Creek. He sits on the Development Review Committee and said "They are only citizens" just because we did not have legal representation.
We are a new community that is not yet built out, so we do not have a homeowners association in place. It is our property values that will decrease. We are the ones who will have to look at a warehouse. Why a 35-foot-tall warehouse when our fences are only 6 feet? Why another driveway so close to the 30 children waiting at the entrance for their school buses as well at the end of the day when they are dropped off?
When the zoning was applied to this property years ago, there were no homes here. Things change. The owners of this property should support building something compatible. I bet the members of the DRC live on property that was once zoned for agriculture only.
It looks like we will have to continue this fight with a trip to the Pasco County Commission. Maybe it is citizen friendly.
Larry Greenberg, Hudson
Facility not worthy of Claude Pepper's name
My wife and I were referred by our HMO to the Claude Pepper Senior Center for a fitness program.
I have lived in Florida for over 50 years and remember Sen. Pepper very well. After seeing the facility, all I can say is that he would be ashamed to have his name attached to something like that.
I certainly hope that the new sports recreation center now being built will include a senior center worthy of Sen. Pepper's name.
Donald S. Johnson, New Port Richey
Heavy backpacks are too much of a burden for kids
Well, here it is time to vote again. Who shall I vote for this time?
My interest is the School Board candidates.
The concern bugging me today is this: Who is going to pay for our children's backs when they are in disrepair when they get older?
I picked up my seventh-grader's backpack and was just about floored by the weight.
I went looking at the contents of this backpack and what did I find? Nothing my daughter didn't need for a full day of school. She is a special-needs student.
Can you imagine how much more the backpacks weigh with more textbooks in them?
My main concern is for the health and safety of our children. With our children being more of a target for being grabbed, the backpacks are literally weighing our children down from running away.
Make room at the schools for books and any other items that do not have to go home.
Who out there running for office is willing to answer this and many more questions for our children?
Jamie Van Beek, Holiday
TIMES RECOMMENDS
Early voting for the Sept. 5 primary continues today through Saturday. The Times has published recommendations in all races in which voters must make a choice. The detailed recommendations are available online at politics.tampabay.com. Here is a summary of the Pasco-specific races:
FOR ALL VOTERS COUNTYWIDE:
Commission, District 2: Pat Mulieri
School Board, District 1: Allen Altman
School Board, District 3: Renee H. Jonas
School Board, District 5: Frank Parker
County Judge, Group 6: Anne Wansboro
County Judge, Group 7: Candy VanDercar
Circuit Judge, Group 9: Christine Helinger
Circuit Judge, Group 32: Pat Siracusa
Circuit Judge, Group 45: Jack Day
FOR REPUBLICANS:
U.S. House District 9: Gus Bilirakis
State House District, 44: Robert Schenck
State House District 48: Peter Nehr
FOR DEMOCRATS:
U.S. House District 5: Rick Penberthy