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Today's Lettrs: A strange anxiety about Hispanics

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published April 28, 2007

The article about the new Honduran restaurant in Tampa's Seminole Heights really hit a few nerves. First, I find it interesting that people were fine with another Hispanic restaurant, Viva La Frida, in that space. Now that it is Honduran, they complain about Hispanics taking over?

The only thing I agree with is the need to have the menu in Spanish and English. Other than that, why are people so afraid of this "takeover"? I for one would much rather have original restaurants than the chain type you find in other neighborhoods. If you want Chili's, go to Carrollwood.

The only way you remain an outsider is to not get out and experience what other cultures and communities have to offer. Will you always understand everything that goes on around you, through language or other means? No. So what? You can choose to feel slighted or threatened or you can ask questions and learn.

This article reeks of xenophobia, and I never expected this from Seminole Heights residents.

I am a second-generation Hispanic woman and American citizen who believes everyone living and doing business in the United States needs to have some proficiency in the English language. What I do not believe is that Hispanics or others must also give up who they are and their culture, language and traditions so a few threatened people can feel more comfortable.

If you do not like the food on the menu, don't go there. All Hispanic restaurants are not the same, by the way, and the owner has said she'd make changes and additions if requested! Changing a Honduran restaurant menu for vegetarians - now that is trying to please the customer.

My friends and I are going to dinner at Rincon Catracho. We all will wear our shirts designating our countries of origin: Spain, Ireland, Brazil and America. I can't wait to try the arroz con frijoles (rice with beans).

Jackie del Val, Tampa

Just don't go

In response to the locals who are feeling left out of or are complaining about the influx of Hispanic restaurants into the Seminole Heights area:

1. Nobody says you have to go there. If you don't like it, don't go, and it will disappear just like all the other non-Hispanic restaurants that locals have tried to open in the area and failed due to lack of community support.

2. Viva la Frida? Sounds pretty Hispanic to me. Just because the menu was primarily in English doesn't demonstrate diversity.

3. Where's your restaurant? Where's your alternative? Are you affecting change, or just whining?

4. If Chili's is what you really want, drive 15 minutes to one of the other five locations in town. How's that for diversity?

Samuel Rotker, Tampa

Culture, like food, needs a little spice April 25, Sue Carlton column

Too many Hispanics

Different cultures do add to this country. The current problem today is:

1. The Hispanic influx is way out of control. When you call an insurance or other company, it is: "Do you want English or Spanish?" Not German, Italian - over and over. Company after company.

2. Many Hispanics do not assimilate as previous immigrants who moved here did. If you moved to a Latin country, wouldn't you want to learn the language? Would you expect every business to now hire English-speaking people to accommodate you?

3. Yes, they are rude. Some who live in the condo where I live won't even respond to hello. They act like you don't exist. They live in our country, don't they?

Please tell congressmen to reduce the number of Hispanic immigrants since, with illegals, they are now a disproportionate share of our country.

We also need English as our national language.

If they don't assimilate - like every other generation of immigrants, and that doesn't mean losing their culture - they should leave and stop taking advantage of our country and resources, and not contributing and being rude.

Shelley Kinser, Tampa

Culture, like food, needs a little spice April 25, Sue Carlton column

Immigrants made Tampa

Thank you, Sue Carlton, for giving an accurate description of the attitudes dominating the blogosphere on the influx of Hispanic restaurants in Seminole Heights. You summed up the issue nicely. Those of us who have lived here all our lives have seen many changes in Seminole Heights. Regrettably, the influx of affluent white residents in the '90s has been accompanied by a "loss" in restaurants offering traditional Cuban food. The same is evident in Ybor City.

I welcome the Honduran restaurant, the Recuerdos Bar and any other interesting establishment that might take a chance here. The complainers have their beloved Starbucks now. It is only a matter of time before another sort of "cultural (market) invasion" occurs and small restaurants will have to fight for space and permits alongside the big players.

Perhaps the neighborhood association might consider scheduling a talk by history professor Gary Mormino. Tampa exists because of immigrants working in the cigar factories. Tampa continues to exist economically because of immigrants.

Michelle Barron, Tampa

After sharing his secret, pastor seeks forgiveness April 26, story

Pastor can be forgiven and still face consequences

"To err is human; to forgive is divine." - Alexander Pope

That is the attitude the Rev. Manuel Sykes has received from his congregation after his infidelities were made public recently.

Does Sykes think ministers are above God's standard? Here is a quote by Sykes taken from the St. Petersburg Times on April 2, 1999. It is in about the future of Bethel Metropolitan Baptist Church after its pastor, Henry J. Lyons, was sent to prison for racketeering and grand theft. Sykes "says he thinks Lyons' name will remain on the church for years and that Lyons will return to its pulpit once he gets out of prison."

What does God say about sin and church leadership? "Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach" (1 Timothy 3:2). In Jude 1:4 we are warned against men who "change the grace of our God into a license for immorality."

A pastor should be held to a higher standard. Yes, Sykes should be forgiven if he has truly repented. But forgiveness does not take away consequences for our actions. He should not be allowed to continue in his position. He would be fired if he was a CEO of a company and used his power to steal from the shareholders, or if he was a fire captain and took pornographic pictures in his fire station. How much more should a preacher be held accountable for taking advantage of his position by luring a woman into bed and then possibly even suggesting the murder of his unborn child to hide his sin?

Sykes not only sets a standard for his church, but also for his community. Should Sykes be allowed to retain his pastorship when he has committed such a grievous act against his congregation, community, Sheila Wright and God?

Please, Mr. Sykes, show a true heart of repentance by stepping down from your position. Teach other young men and women the importance of chastity and holiness before God and how to take responsibility for one's actions.

Phyllis Esposito, St. Petersburg

After sharing his secret, pastor seeks forgiveness April 26, story

Gossip and sensationalism

I am very concerned with the article on the front page concerning the Rev. Manuel Sykes. What makes this news and worthy of front-page coverage?

I am incensed at the mention in the article of theologians who supposedly know more about how I feel as a black person and are held up as experts on the criteria that the black community uses to judge its clergy.

Speaking as a member of the black community and a longtime member of the church in the community, I do not believe that the "black pastor is a highly revered figure who represents the moral and human ideal in the community."

I, and a lot of people like me, believe that a pastor is someone who is called by God to deliver a message. The message is not just for his congregation, but it is also for him. He has the same temptations as his members and he falls down and gets back up just like the members of his congregation.

You, the media, are the ones who put this superman persona on these men and then hold them up as examples of moral standards. This is not news! A story about a scorned lover is gossip and sensationalism, not news!

I must say that I spoke to the writer of this story and she listened to what I had to say and respected my position on this story. I thank her for that. I am asking that such a good reporter be given stories that have more of an impact on the community.

Shirley C. DeLoach, St. Petersburg

Very poor examples

I am continually amazed by the hypocrisy of so many ministers and their congregations. Heaven forbid they preach "true" abstinence and then follow it themselves. They set such a poor example.

In a time when HIV is a leading killer of young African-Americans, imagine an African-American minister, well respected and well known, admits to having sex and fathering a child with a woman he hardly knew at all! Given the fact that a child was produced, I would guess that no condoms were used. Basically he "picked her up" at church! Clearly there was no "dating and getting to know one another." It sounds like he was just looking for sex.

If you are going to act like a "player" perhaps you should at least use condoms, 100 percent of the time, and be up front and honest with those who look up to you.

Poor little Saint, with a mother who doesn't have sense enough to avoid pregnancy and is just lucky she hasn't acquired a terrible disease and a father like the Rev. Sykes. I can only hope that in his lifetime he will hold himself to a higher standard, and show better sense and self-respect than either of his parents.

Rev. Sykes, your congregation deserves better.

Anne Conklin, Largo

Practice what you preach

Ordained ministers are called to be models for human behavior. In their training, they learn that their position of leadership means that they have power over their congregants. Therefore, their every step is an example of the examined and holy (whole) life. Certainly, they must practice what they preach; their actions speak loudly and influence the actions of all people in their churches and culture.

An adult minister in this situation would immediately resign both his positions, with the church and the theological seminary.

The Rev. Donna Guillaume, St. Petersburg

Hard choices on Pinellas jail crowding April 25, editorial

A tale of the jail

After reading this editorial and then the letter writer's comments in Jailing to excess, I need to say I agree with both. Furthermore, I would like to add that this commonsense action is long overdue. Below is an event that happened to my mother.

Two years ago, my then-74-year-old mother was stopped for a small item by the St. Petersburg police. It turned out there was a warrant for her. Her crime? Dog at large. A couple of years before her little dog had gotten out and she had forgotten to pay the $25-$35 fee.

The police called me, and when I got to her she was handcuffed in the officer's car. There were two officers standing "guard" over her. They then took her to the Police Department, and then later to the jail on 49th Street N. If we had not bailed her out she would have had to stay in jail.

While I thanked the police for calling me, they did not seem to care that the bones in one of Mother's wrists had been fused. When Mother said that the handcuffs were hurting that wrist they refused to loosen that one side. When they took her to the jail it was on a metal seat in the back of a van. They had to help her into the van and out of the van as she has implants in both legs that are painful to this day. Riding in the back of that van did not do them any good.

At the jail they made her sit on a hard seat. The pain in her legs got worse and she had to stand up and walk a few steps to relieve the pain. They yelled at her to get back into the chair. When we finally got her out she could hardly walk due to the pain.

This commonsense action by the sheriff is a good step in the right direction. I hope this story of how Mother was treated will bring forth more commonsense action in the area of how we treat our elderly.

I understand the reasons for the protocol, but seriously, a 74-year-old, 125-pound woman who forgot to pay a small fine is hardly a threat to anyone.

Raye Minor, St. Petersburg

The money vat: Where it all goes April 15, story

Balancing costs, services

Bill Varian's article on growth in government spending, including Hillsborough County's, was a well-researched and well-written piece that continues the dialogue we in local government have with respect to balancing citizen-desired service levels and costs to provide them. Citizens should expect a good value, and in Hillsborough County we work hard to be the best stewards we can be with tax dollars.

That's why it is important to add these facts. For 14 years, the Hillsborough County Commission has led the way in providing relief through modest millage reductions each and every year when other local governments have not. This year, the commission became the first in Florida to independently choose to cap spending in line with population growth and price inflation. Since my administration began three years ago, we have reduced the growth in employee salaries by 28 percent. Our team has implemented $17-million in efficiencies in the last two years without compromising services. Last December, for the second year in a row, we surveyed citizens to see if they felt they were getting a good or very good value in services - 77 percent responded yes in 2006, a 13 percent increase over the 2005 survey.

Yet, there is one area of the budget that continually increases over which we have little control: unfunded mandates. This year alone, Hillsborough must use local tax dollars to pick up the tab for more than $70.4-million in state mandates. Some of these costs include items for the state's adult and juvenile justice systems, health and social services programs, and state-created boards and authorities. At a time when lawmakers discuss cutting back property taxes, the message about forced obligations onto local governments has gone unheard.

The article compared Hillsborough County to other local jurisdictions, which is like comparing apples to oranges. For instance, counties - not cities - are responsible for unfunded state mandates. Further still, Hillsborough County faces the challenges of providing a wider array of services to hundreds of thousands more citizens in a landscape four times the next largest entity in the group comparison.

We continue to listen to our community to discern how to serve, where to serve. Increased discussion between the public and county leaders is critical. We pledge to continue to provide the services our customers want while squeezing every penny as hard as we can.

Patricia G. Bean, Hillsborough County administrator, Tampa

Air show dangers April 24, letter

Air shows are still on

This letter has its facts wrong. The city of San Francisco did not ban air shows in 2004. That was the first time in 23 years that the Blue Angels did not fly at Fleet Week, but it was due to scheduling problems, not a moratorium placed on air shows by the city.

The Blues are scheduled to fly at this year's Fleet Week. San Francisco wisely did not stop air shows from entertaining the thousands of individuals that will enjoying the Blue Angels or the Thunder Birds.

Pete Clark, Tampa

Bounce April 21, Floridian story

Heels are inhumane

With all our tragic concerns, the new profitmaking restyling of women's fashions may seem mundane, but those stiletto heels now being touted as feminine footwear are a throwback to the late '40s and '50s.

I followed the fashion crowd then and have the permanently crippled feet to prove it! Podiatrists could warn women of the foot damage these shoes cause, but common sense could, too.

Look at the weight shift to the ball of the foot; look at the tetanus of the leg "calf" muscle (to give a sexy look!) and look at the distortion of the inward torque on the first three toes! Bunions result, at least.

It was like "old-fashioned foot-binding, " limiting women's ability to walk, never mind trying to run.

Nadine Duke, Oldsmar

[Last modified April 27, 2007, 22:10:44]