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Today's Letters: Penny helps protect the environment

As co-chairs of the Pinellas County Environmental Science Forum, a citizens and scientists group formed to advise Pinellas County on pressing environmental issues, we urge you to support the Penny for Pinellas. These funds will provide more than $73-million for environmental restoration and protection in Pinellas. Leveraging these dollars to receive matching grants could result in many millions more for the betterment of our environment.

Both of us have dedicated our professional and personal lives to protecting and preserving the environment, and we believe that passing the Penny is critical to continuing the county's long-standing commitment to environmental preservation.

While not all residents may agree with every county plan, the revenue the Penny brings to our community for libraries, fire stations, disaster preparedness, road improvements - as well as environment restoration and protection - is far too significant to jeopardize because of narrow disagreements. Let's not cut off our nose to spite our face.

While we work toward resolving countywide environmental land management issues through the Environmental Science Forum and other venues, please remember the important things the Penny is doing for the entire environment as you go to the polls on Tuesday.

Holly Greening and Darden Rice, co-chairs, Pinellas County Environmental Science Forum

Penny a positive force

The other day I voted early in favor of the Penny for Pinellas tax. This was after giving some serious thought to protesting the amount of taxes that are levied on us every year and voting no. I thought about it and changed my mind. Here is why:

I live in the unincorporated area of Seminole, and I thought about the Pinellas Trail, the newly improved Oakhurst Road and, the best kept secret, the New Millenium Park. I remember when the county purchased the land that was owned by a developer and later constructed the new park, doing such a great job of leaving it in a very natural state. It could very well have been an expensive subdivision of 300 homes.

Recently a young girl discovered an area in the park that is quickly becoming one of the great archaeological discoveries in Florida. In my mind none of these positive things would have happened in my little corner of the county without the Penny for Pinellas.

Jerry Tetro, Seminole

Real cost of this 'penny'

The county politicians are still calling it a Penny for Pinellas, leading you to believe it is only a penny tax, which it definitely is not. It is a 1 percent sales tax. Big difference. Figure out how much this "penny" tax is costing you per year and you will be surprised.

The fact is that Pinellas County doesn't need this tax. The county is tax-rich now from the windfall taxes collected from the huge increases in property values over the past few years. Send a message to the politicians that what we really need is a substantial cut in both property taxes and bloated budgets, not more tax "pennies."

After all, do you believe your pennies should be used to pump water from the Brooker Creek Preserve to water the greens of a private golf course? Or maybe we need to spend our tax pennies on a few more soccer fields when many of our senior citizens who live on tight, fixed incomes are being forced to leave the area because there is no way they can continue to pay the high taxes and insurance premiums now being forced on them.

Vote "no" on the extension of the Penny for Pinellas sales tax on Tuesday.

John Pringle, Tarpon Springs

A vote for healthy lives

The Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail, funded by the Penny for Pinellas, has changed my life for the better. As a recreational cyclist, I rode on the Pinellas Trail about 220 days last year. Since I started riding in July 2005, I have lost nearly 50 pounds. My weight is down, and so is my pulse, my cholesterol and my blood pressure. Even better, my energy is up.

As race director for the Gulf Beaches Marathon and the Holiday Halfathon, I utilize the Pinellas Trail for significant stretches of our race courses. These events have allowed me to serve our community by promoting a healthy, active lifestyle, showcasing our coastal communities and generating a positive economic impact - all while keeping road restrictions and the level of inconvenience to our residents to a minimum.

I believe the Penny for Pinellas is a modest investment for my improved health, as well as for those who take advantage of the recreational opportunities this tax provides.

I will be voting yes for the Penny. I encourage everyone who has an interest in improving the health of our community to do the same.

Chris Lauber, St. Petersburg

Let them hear us now

We have had enough of our state, county, and local government agencies receiving double-digit tax increases year after year, without regard to those who have to pay them. Apparently the November election did not send a clear enough message.

We have another opportunity. Vote no on any proposal that increases taxes. That's simple enough. Just vote No! Then, just like the Verizon ad, we can ask, "Can you hear me now?"

Albert Brendel, Clearwater

Clouding our judgment

Those opposed to the Penny for Pinellas would have us believe that capital projects will continue without the income that the Penny would provide for 10 more years.

A yes vote on the Penny would fund necessary county capital projects such as a new jail and the new 118th Avenue expressway in addition to numerous city projects.

We should not let problems with our property taxes cloud our judgment on the Penny.

Voting no on the Penny tax will not lower property taxes. As a matter of fact, it could have the opposite effect, because these capital projects must happen regardless to keep our community safe and progressive while maintaining our quality of life.

I encourage all my fellow citizens to vote yes.

Edward Ameen, Clearwater

[Last modified March 10, 2007, 20:40:24]