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Letter to the editor

Today's Letters: City of Progress or Intolerance?

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published June 14, 2007

Re: Hate fuels attack on couple, police say, story, June 12.

Here we go again. As Largo is slowly recovering from one act of intolerance - the firing of former Largo City Manager Steve Stanton (now known as Susan Stanton) because of his plans for a sex-change operation - the city is now investigating what may be considered a racial crime.

Such hatred and discrimination seem to be abundant in this tiny little town of Largo, also known as the "City of Progress" (although you could sure fool me).

Verbal intolerance is bad enough, but when it escalates to being physical as well, it's time to really get tough on crime.

My first impression after reading that Joseph Daniel Burnard allegedly uttered racial slurs at Atari Gainer (who is black) and threw bricks at the trailer where he lives with his white girlfriend (Sabrina Seward), was that Burnard must have lived in a hateful and intolerant household. Unfortunately, bigotry has a way of being passed on to future generations.

Burnard even admitted to being a racist and said that he "can't stand seeing white women with those n------."

My hope is that the case will be pursued as a hate crime, so that Burnard will get maximum punishment and possibly some help with his violent anger.

JoAnn Lee Frank, Clearwater

Beach losing that family feeling

There are hundreds of young people gathering at the north end of Clearwater Beach. They are using foul language, drinking, leaving their trash, and most recently, a young man was telling the group where they could get drugs.

A policeman on a three-wheeler approached the most obvious group of drinkers and some left the beach, while others moved their coolers south of the first location, leaving their trash.

One of the group came back, weaving and bragging and talking about grams of drugs. All, of course, had their cell phones to call the number they were given. I could not tolerate the behavior and confronted the young man. His response was he was 25 - couldn't I tell by his tattoos? - and when I walked away he called me an ugly b----.

We came here for years with our family and loved it so much that we chose to retire here. Another family came up to me when we were leaving the beach and they too had left the beach because of the behavior of the group. They had a young child with them.

Cathy Foley, Clearwater

Re: He's the face of Dunedin change, story, June 10.

Dunedin has that special someone

Many other cities and people have asked the question, "What is it that Dunedin has?"

You need all the ingredients in the right proportions to bake a successful cake. Leave out one and it's a flop.

Our city is blessed with conscientious and hard-working volunteers, city staffers and business leaders who care enough to get involved. That's the recipe. Seems simple enough, but how do you do it?

The article about the highlights and qualifications of Robert (Bob) Ironsmith, head of the new city Department of Economic and Housing Development, is just the start. Ironsmith deserves the good words and accolades written about him. He's earned them.

Bob usually works behind the scenes, talking to business people and investors, getting input about our community, developing a plan that's in keeping with the city's vision, and implementing that plan in a logical order with purpose and enthusiasm.

Bob is one of the secret ingredients for success.

Our list of city staff and support people is unmatched for desire and love of the city. This is ingredient No. 2.

This city is blessed with hundreds of volunteers, citizens who devote their time and talents to support city functions and events. Thousands of hours are freely given each year to help benefit the city. Ingredient No. 3.

A forward thinking and progressive City Commission, leaders with the ability and foresight to carry out the will of the citizens over their own ambitions and agendas. Business and community leaders who take an active interest, participate and care about the future of our town. We all seem to coexist for the betterment of each other. That's the beauty of a small town.

It's like the aligning of the planets - all has to be in perfect order and work in concert. If you don't have all the right stuff, you just can't make it happen.

Bill Coleman, Dunedin

Safety Harbor needs to step up

Our Bermuda subdivision is in the midst of a controversy with Safety Harbor and the Southwest Florida Water Management District, Tampa, to determine the responsibility for operation and maintenance of our surface water system.

It is our contention that by recorded city Resolution 91-04, the city accepted responsibility for operation and maintenance on Jan. 4, 1991. However, Swiftmud's Lauren Greenfield states that they are turning over that responsibility to the homeowners in Bermuda without a court decision.

No maintenance has been done on our surface water drainage system for more than 16 years, and it needs to be certified and brought up to standards before June 22. We are responding to Swiftmud's letter of June 8, 2007, as individual homeowners to state that Swiftmud should send the request for certification to Safety Harbor. Safety Harbor is a city of neglect.

Roy Bliven, Safety Harbor

Your voice counts

You may submit a letter to the editor for possible publication through our Web site at www.tampabay.com/letters, or by faxing it to (727) 445-4119, or by mailing it to Letters, 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756. You must include your name, address and phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity, taste and length.

[Last modified June 13, 2007, 22:18:27]