Superintendent set wrong example in insensitivity toward depressed teacher
Letters to the EditorPublished September 12, 2006
What is school superintendent Heather Fiorentino actually teaching children? Don't show compassion and concern? Don't commiserate?
Fiorentino is worried young adults who witness a suicide are more likely to attempt it themselves. What about young adults who witness a school superintendent passing harsh judgment, trying to take away an employee's income and health insurance just at the time the employee needs them the most? A boss who turns her back when she should show concern. Fiorentino missed an excellent opportunity to be a leader and show students and the community what morality is truly about. It is about conduct of people as social beings in relation to each other, it's about respect.
We have a school superintendent here who also should be judged. It's about the action she took, her behavior, her judgment, her lack of compassion. Fiorentino needs to take a sensitivity training course.
Patty Jay, New Port Richey
Suicide attempt desperate cry for help
If a teacher took all these pills in front of theses students, it is immoral, correct? Then I guess a good analogy is if an overweight teacher who has cardiac disease eats a plate full of greasy french fries and a big sugar-laden piece of fried dough in front of students, it is immoral and the teacher should be dismissed.
This teacher whom superintendent Heather Fiorentino wants to dismiss has a disease just like cardiac disease. The way the superintendent is treating this teacher does not send a positive message to our children. Basically you are saying to them if you have the disease of depression and you attempt suicide, society will perceive you as immoral, and we are not going to help you get help.
Believe me, this is the message you are sending students by taking a stance that this is an immoral act. Wake up and stand by this hurting individual. Get her help. Support her. Don't fire her, or she just may succeed at another suicide attempt. Why do you think she did this in front of people? Obviously it was a cry for help, and the superintendent wants to abandon her.
Herbert Hoos, Hamburg, N.Y.
County should fulfill project promises
Re: East Brown Acres.
I participated in the home renovation loan program based upon the upgrade of my property to current code requirements and the upgrading of the subdivision the county was to make.
I am disappointed as to the county fulfillment of its proposed improvements. Sidewalks along the north side of Ranch Road and the east side of Zimmerman Road were not completed. The 5-acre tract in the northwest portion of the neighborhood for drainage improvements and a neighborhood park was not acquired. A neighborhood entrance off Ranch Road was not produced.
We still have "Lake Harding" (flooding of Harding Drive and adjoining streets) when it rains, which could have been corrected with the purchase of the 5 acres. Maybe then we could have had curbs installed as we all desired.
We had increased presence of the Sheriff's Office at the beginning of the project, but the only sheriff's vehicle seen in the neighborhood is a deputy who lives in the area going to and from work. Also, we were told of increased code enforcement, but we still have uncollected garbage and junk cars in front yards.
To me, the county gets an "A" for salesmanship and a "D" for fulfillment. While I take comfort in having my property upgraded to current code, I now have a lien on my previously unencumbered home, and I see no advantage in making the improvements while others were not also required to improve their property.
I would not have gone in debt had I known the county would not fulfill its proposed improvements.
F. Lear, Port Richey
Take rising insurance gripes to the polls
Re: Primary featured only one big winner: apathy, Sept. 7 C.T. Bowen column.
I was amused to read this column of apathy at the polls after months of people complaining about insurance rate increases. There is a direct and symphonic relationship between these two points. The insurance lobbyists as well as those by the medical and sugar industry supply the much needed mother's milk of politics - money.
The vast majority of people eligible to vote do not take the time to fulfill their responsibility. The politicians know this. The voting demographics show seniors vote at near 90 percent rates, as do special interest groups. This is why we as a state are looking to give seniors an additional property tax break and the pro-Second Amendment groups vote and receive favorable legislation.
So why are people, who for the most part do not vote, complaining about the insurance cost in this state? The lobbyists provide the needed money to win elections. The special interest groups like insurance, medical and sugar industries provide the lobbyists the money. Why then should not those costs be passed on to the consumers in the form of higher prices?
Want a solution to the high cost? Get out and vote. Then tell the Legislature to place a fee on all insurance products: life, annuity, investment and retirement account policies to pay for the catastrophic loss fund. Many insurance companies split into separate companies for life and investment vs. property casualty coverage. We all see the record profits in the life and investment side, but the rates get increased for the losses of the property casualty.
Without lobbyist influence we can see real relief. This would force those companies that pull out of the home insurance market to pay their fair share for the problems they caused. There is too much money in the investment sector of insurance for the industry players to pull out.
I am not opposed to legalized gambling, but without more people becoming voters, the Orlando- area lobbyists will kill that solution in the Legislature. The solution is simple; people must get out and vote or pay even higher insurance premiums in the future.
Hugh Townsend, New Port Richey