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PSTA hearing offers varied views

Re: Bus fares to increase as fuel, other costs rise, Aug. 27.

A college kid, an old lady, a mom and an electrician - now that's a cross-section of opinions. Too bad, though, that a Times reporter was not at the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority hearing a few days before. There, advocacy, service, charitable and other nonprofits appeared before the PSTA board.

One by one, representatives of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Pinellas Association for Retarded Citizens, the Department of Children and Families' Recovery and Resiliency Committee, Suncoast Center, Vincent House, and a dozen others pleaded that their members, clients and congregations were the least able to absorb a bus fare increase. Each represented people who are poor because of low wages, limited retirement funds or severe disability. As primary bus riders, any fare increase hits them hardest, and they can least afford it.

After all the statements were made, the board ruled that for most, a fare increase of about 20 percent stood. For those in need, the increase was 10 percent. Advocates hailed this as a victory, of sorts.

Our society assists those who cannot do for themselves - a good system. Perhaps not as generous as in some nations, but beneficial to recipients, nonetheless.

Those in attendance at the hearing got a snapshot of our democracy. Too bad more weren't there.

Donald Turnbaugh, past president, NAMI, Pinellas County

County moving toward 'megalopolis'

Re: Pinellas, cities brace for a charter battle, Sept. 8.

This is in reference to the article about the cities suing over proposed county charter amendments.

Why can't people see that there is a concerted effort to turn this county into one megalopolis? There has been a drive by the Sheriff's Office to be in total control and do away with local police departments for years.

Politicians want to do nothing but be in control and suck taxes out of their constituents.

Once they are elected to the "seat of power," they know what is best for everyone and you lose your ability to reason and think for yourself, or so they would have us believe. Of course, they only have to look to the supreme example for the "One World Takeover," the Bush administration, and find authority to pursue their local dreams.

Bud Trill, Palm Harbor

Louder motorcycles not really better

Re: Be on the lookout for motorcycles, letter, Sept. 10.

I take issue with the letter writer, who in talking about motorcycle safety, attempts to perpetuate the great myth that loud pipes save lives.

This nugget of misinformation has been debunked by countless authorities, including the American Motorcyclist Association, which concluded that "few other factors contribute more to misunderstanding and prejudice against the motorcycling community than excessively noisy motorcycles."

The Hurt Report, analyzing the statistics of motorcycle accidents, concluded that speed, inadequate training, lack of proper equipment and alcohol were the real root of crashes between bikes and automobiles.

And Harley-Davidson has drastically retooled its muffler systems to counteract the bikers' urge to remove the baffles or otherwise make the bike far noisier than it needs to be.

Judy Ellis, Central Florida Chapter, Noise Free America, St. Petersburg

[Last modified September 16, 2006, 20:16:37]