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Letter to the editor

Today's Letters: City should support hotel commemoration

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published June 27, 2007

St. Petersburg Preservation did not oppose demolition of this hotel in view of the greater good that can come from its replacement by the $350-million Tropicana Center. However, a modest request was made that the building's history be professionally documented by the developer and that information about its history be displayed on the site. It was also asked that appropriate artifacts be offered to the history museum. City staffers recommended against this request. The EDC did agree that these things may be done, but at St. Petersburg Preservation's expense. St. Petersburg Preservation is a nonprofit organization. Its membership fee is only $15 per year.

Alternatively, the city is requiring the developer to spend $1.7-million to provide "a significant piece of public art." While public art is an important component of the city's downtown redevelopment efforts, surely some support should be directed toward memorializing the Floronton's historic contribution to our city. The cost of St. Petersburg Preservation's request is less than $20, 000.

Jay Lasita, board member, St. Petersburg Preservation, St. Petersburg

Bridge burden is unfair

For 31 years now I have been paying a toll to get to my home in Tierra Verde. This is a necessity, for if I don't pay the toll, I cannot cross the bridge to get home. There is no alternative route to get to Tierra Verde, so we have no choice.

In 1976 the toll was $0.30. In 1986 that toll was raised to $0.50 and we were also allowed to buy a yearly pass for $50 and we were told that the purpose of the toll was to ensure the maintenance and expansion/replacement of all bridges in the Bayway system. Now DOT wants to raise that toll from $0.50 to $1 or more and still give annual passes from $50 to $100 or more because the current toll levels are insufficient to build the new bridges.

For the residents of these islands to pay the toll is a must to get to their homes; however the bridge also serves Fort De Soto park. There is constant traffic coming through Tierra Verde because of the park. The wear and tear on the bridge with each vehicle that crosses is steady, especially each weekend, plus all the trailers, motor homes and trucks that go to the park campground.

Not only are we expected to pay for a new bridge, we find it very difficult to even use the bridge to leave the island on the weekends and holidays due to the traffic from Fort De Soto and the congestion and backed-up traffic it causes, sometimes for a mile or more, trying to cross the bridge. What a waste of gasoline waiting in line. Over Memorial Day weekend, there were six extra officers from the Sheriff's Department to direct the traffic over the two-lane bridge.

The county should be concerned and in favor for the building of a new four-lane bridge. How will people get to enjoy the park if they cannot get to or leave it? For us to have to carry the burden of the cost, though, is totally unfair to the Tierra Verde, Isla Del Sol and the Bayway Isles residents.

Once the bridge funds were moved to another project other than the Bayway bridges, and that was the Blind Pass Road project. The movement of the funds was done by the Legislature. The Treasure Island Bridge was funded through a congressional earmark in appropriations. Penny for Pinellas has built two bridges, the Clearwater and the Belleair Beach causeway bridges, while Tierra Verde received a new firehouse. Isla Del Sol, Bayway Isles and Tierra Verde sit here like orphans and the people who live on these islands should be very concerned. Do we have a say in the situation?

Marion Probeck, Tierra Verde

Enforce park's pet rules

Like many other parks in Pinellas County, Freedom Lake Park in Pinellas Park has a large dog park. Do people use it? No.

Rather than use the dog park, people insist on walking their dogs along the walking/jogging path and do not even pick up after their dogs regardless of how many signs are posted. If people want to walk or jog, they often have to take a detour around a person's pet which, of course, is not fair to those people who like to exercise minus a pet.

Why have a "dog park" if people with pets refuse to use it or abide by other park rules as well, such as picking up after their dogs?

The bottom line is to make necessary changes by holding people responsible for their actions. Park personnel should be able to patrol this park and others, and give out citations. Maybe then people will learn to follow the rules.

Why have laws if people are not going to obey them - in this case using the "dog park" and picking up after their pets? If people do not want to follow the rules concerning pets, then they should not have pets, as they ruin things for responsible pet owners who do follow the rules.

Eileen A. Nece, Pinellas Park

Make housing affordable

Homeless haven is said to be working June 17, story

It's great to read that a haven for the chronically homeless is making a positive impact on their lives. More of these humane havens should come into existence.

What also needs to be done is for average folks and the poor to get together and demand that their political representatives devise a public agenda that includes affordable housing. Influential government can induce developers to build for the poor and working class.

What else can control the corporate avarice and money-hungry developers from exploiting the little guy for the benefit of the already affluent? Unaffordable housing exacerbates the homeless problem.

Robert B. Fleming, St. Petersburg

Share your views

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[Last modified June 26, 2007, 20:11:41]