Today's Letters: Let Ybor return to its historic roots

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published June 30, 2007

Unfortunately two decades ago the city of Tampa and many in the business community set Ybor City on a course for failure by declaring the area an "entertainment district." Establishing Ybor City as a drinking mall was supposed to bring the community back to life and allow it to thrive once again. But what those same leaders didn't realize were the problems that would follow because of the homogeneity of the bar and nightclub oriented businesses.

Because of the term "entertainment district" and what the proliferation of unchecked wet zoning has brought, many citizens and businesses can't afford or are afraid to move to the area. Today Ybor City lacks a truly mixed-use commercial and residential community due to the "entertainment" stigma that exists. Many buildings have been converted into large nightclubs that threaten the structures themselves and destroy historic storefronts and facades. Many structures are in a state of disrepair, and no thanks to urban renewal in the 1960s, vacant lots still continue to make up a very large part of Ybor City.

The next step in the redevelopment of Ybor City is to correct where our leaders went wrong and put an end to classifying the area as an "entertainment district." The city of Tampa, the business community and media must realize that Ybor City is first and foremost a National Historic Landmark District. One of only three in Florida. The history and heritage of the area must be preserved and returned to what it used to be, a mixed-use community.

Ybor City is a community in constant transition, still trying to find itself in a modern world. We insist that the city, business community and media realize the treasure that exists and finally give Ybor City the respect that such an esteemed Historic Landmark District designation deserves, thus allowing Ybor City to move forward into the future as it was in the past, as a thriving mixed-use community.

Tony LaColla, president, Historic Ybor Neighborhood Civic Association, Tampa

Dispell the stigma

As a longtime resident of Ybor City, I agree wholeheartedly with the opinions expressed in this editorial. But the problems go beyond two nuisance clubs and the solutions go beyond those offered. Yes, the city should explore being as tough and as stringent on entertainment venues as legally allowed.

Enforcement should be rigorous. After all, those who will perform responsibly in our neighborhood and meet the standards set for them will succeed as viable businesses, and those who don't will depart. Should any one entity or group profit at the expense of an entire community?

I wonder if entertainment venues located on south Howard Avenue performed in this fashion with guns and shootings spilling over into New Suburb Beautiful (as it has in my neighborhood) would it be tolerated for very long, if at all? Why is it happening in Ybor City?

Perception is reality. The responsibility falls on our city government for conducting a 15-year experiment in which they have used the label "entertainment district, " where radically indulgent, overly dense wet zoning was permitted. That experiment has failed. It has now become a toxic stigma, a reason bad things happen here. It's become an excuse. It limits us. And how will a critically needed residential base continue to grow while held down by this negative "branding" and the crime that is associated with it?

Ybor City's only real definition is as a federally recognized Historic Landmark District. It is the wellspring of Tampa's history, culture and architectural heritage. This accurate definition allows for Ybor City to be all that it can be. As for development and business, heritage tourism is a much greater moneymaker than being a "beer zone." Everyone who visits Paris wants to see the Eiffel Tower. Ybor City's only hope for a sustainable future where businesses will flourish and residents will thrive is to adopt a course of action that puts Ybor City officially back on track as a mixed-use historic district and for it to be defined as such by the city of Tampa, the police and the media.

Once these changes are made, I predict that clubs and the crimes associated with them will not be the problem they are today.

Joe Howden, Tampa

Travel plans lodged in passport limbo June 26, commentary by Michael Dobbs

Procrastinators created the passport problem

This column was about the problems Michael Dobbs' wife and daughters are having with their passport renewals. I sympathize with their plight, but when Dobbs says, "The passport mess is the result of bureaucratic unpreparedness, " he is wrong.

I'm no fan of our incompetent government, but in this case our officials did their job properly. The current passport mess was caused entirely by the millions of lazy, procrastinating Americans who waited until the very last minute to apply for passports. The new passport rules were announced three years ago, purposefully allowing time for an orderly processing of the large number of expected applications. However, most of the people affected by the new rules waited until early this year to submit their applications. I don't know; I guess they thought the law might go away.

So the real reason people are suffering now is not because "the government failed to plan adequately when it made passports mandatory." It's because the people failed to plan adequately for their future needs.

Unfortunately, Dobbs' wife and daughters are suffering when the problem is not of their making. You certainly can't expect people to apply for renewal passports a year or more before their current ones expire, but please don't blame the government. Many of our problems these days can be rightfully blamed on the government, but not the passport problem.

Alfred T. Barnard, Beverly Hills

Prompt service provided

Contrary to Michael Dobbs' op-ed piece and other newspaper articles and TV stories, my wife sent her passport in for renewal and received it in 19 days. No muss, no fuss, no telephone calls.

So it seems like the passport office can be efficient.

Malcolm Fossett, Clearwater

Either agree or stay home June 19, story

Families of disabled have to fight for inclusion

Steve Bousquet's ignorance about the issue of inclusion is evident in this article. Institutionalization is an entitlement. No one has to advocate for it. Anyone meeting the means test and disability criteria can have a bed in an institution whenever they want.

Inclusion, on the other hand, is not an entitlement. People with developmental disabilities who want to receive support services in their own homes in the community must fight long and hard for that right.

The Florida Developmental Disabilities Council is mandated by federal law to promote inclusion. The inclusion summit in Orlando was a valid activity for this mandate. My son, who is 31 and lives with severe cerebral palsy, and I attended this well organized conference. He lives a life with purpose in his own wheelchair-accessible villa. He does not ever want to be warehoused in an institution.

But his choice to live in the community is constantly in jeopardy because those who profit from institutionalization are always trying to undermine inclusion. It appears that they have found an ally in your reporter.

Carol Novak, Clearwater

Either agree or stay home June 19, story

A matter of human rights

The people who don't agree with the basic human right of inclusion are trying to assassinate the character of people on the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council. Gov. Charlie Crist should take notice and give these FDDC members a medal for fighting for the human rights of people with disabilities.

The FDDC gave families and people with disabilities across our state a wonderful opportunity by sponsoring an inclusion summit. Together we all worked very hard, from early in the morning to late at night with strategies, innovative ideas, and a plan to move our state into a seamless system that does not discriminate or segregate individuals with disabilities.

I want to thank the FDDC for its commitment and the financial support it took to bring together such an amazing group of leaders. We shall overcome!

Joe Edward, Clearwater

Court incoherent about free speech and In war on drugs, free speech is a casualty June 27, editorial and column

Court got it right

The two opinion pieces in the St. Petersburg Times that addressed the Supreme Court's decision on freedom of speech in reference to the "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" banner compared apples to oranges.

It is one thing to wear black armbands as a symbol for showing you are against the Vietnam War, and it is another thing to carry a banner that reads "Assassinate the President" so that we can end the war.

Freedom of speech is our right as Americans, but is it right to advocate illegal activities, especially at school or in the workplace? We all have the right to express ourselves, as long as we are conducting ourselves appropriately. Clearly, the conduct portrayed in this case was not only inappropriate, it was also in violation of established school policy.

As the executive director of Drug Free America Foundation, which was a party to the amicus brief filed in support of the school principal, I have extensive knowledge of the details surrounding this case. Congress has declared that part of a school's job is educating students about the dangers of drugs. Student speech celebrating and promoting illegal drug use at school and in the presence of school officials poses a particular challenge for those officials in working to protect the children entrusted to their care. The "special characteristics of the school environment" allow schools to restrict student expression that promotes drugs.

The justices exercised good common sense in their ruling in protecting the rights of the majority of our children and those charged with their care.

Calvina L. Fay, executive director, Drug Free America Foundation, Inc., St. Petersburg

4th branch of government? June 27, editorial

Nowhere man

Come on, lighten up on Dick Cheney. First you knocked him for a hunting "accident." Now you criticize the vice president for denying that he is part of the executive branch while claiming to be part of the legislative branch. That he had earlier claimed executive privilege should not restrict his options in evading all that he can.

He is certainly not alone among the denizens of Washington, D.C., in distancing himself from the Bush executive. Indeed, past performance certainly qualifies the man for that "4th branch." Personally, I think that is a great place for him and his boss. (Sorry, who his boss is, if any, seems to be in doubt.)

Actually, since he occupies a constitutionally undefined position, he should just go home. That would satisfy me. Irresponsibility becomes him.

Bernard Waryas, Dunedin

4th branch of government? June 27, editorial

Impeach this rogue

Apparently, Dick Cheney is a law unto himself. If he is not, as he claims, under the executive branch of government, how can he claim "executive privilege, " as he so often does, much to the detriment of the American people?

He has been trampling on the Constitution since he took office. Did he not swear to uphold and protect the Constitution when he took office?

Your editorial asks: To whom is he accountable? He is accountable to the American people, of which I am one. I say impeach this rogue vice president and get him out so he can do no more harm to our beloved country.

The Supreme Court stood by his "executive privilege" refusal to disclose those attending his energy meeting. It is my belief that our gas prices now are the result of that meeting.

Carolynne Paul, Brooksville

Rays send Dukes down June 23, story

Helping the taxpayers

Kudos to the management of the Devil Rays for not cutting Elijah Dukes from the team and his handsome salary. Actually, the decision not to cut Dukes inadvertently benefits the taxpayers who could end up picking up the tab supporting Dukes' legitimate and illegitimate children.

He now has the ability to take financial responsibility for his many offspring. Seems to me that he takes little responsibility for anything else, but court-ordered child support will not be optional.

J. Schlosser, Weeki Wachee

Invest in assistance

The case of Devil Rays outfielder Elijah Dukes is very sad. Although he should not be treated as just a valuable commodity, he may be that, and the Rays have every right to protect their investment. Consider: If they have players with injuries, don't they spend millions on getting them to Dr. James Andrews or the like for repair?

Dukes is a seriously injured player, and without the grace of God, with his background, who wouldn't be? It seems that the Rays are trying to get him help. How can this be faulted?

Even if Dukes had to have a full-time psychological "baby sitter" or a clinic for a year, he could be more than worth it, not only as a player but for humanitarian reasons. If he is not helped, who knows where and how his rage may strike next. For heavens sake, make the investment and help the man.

Henry L. King, Clearwater

Wetlands oversight to end June 22, story

A blatant sellout

Our Hillsborough County commissioners never cease trying to add new meaning to the phrase "betrayal of trust." We elected (God knows why) Brian Blair, Ken Hagan, Jim Norman and Kevin White. These four men certainly did not represent my interests in killing off the wetlands program of the county's Environmental Protection Commission.

What a blatant sellout to the monied, influence-peddling developers. This decision must not be allowed to stand. Our wetlands serve a great and vital purpose and cannot be allowed to be plundered and destroyed to satisfy the ravenous greed of developers.

Ron Thuemler, Tampa

Destructive enforcement

Three hundred and thirteen arrests in a single year, sometimes bringing them in two at a time.

What a hero.

Some of those people didn't blow the required ".08" on the test, but they went down anyway, destroyed by the apparently false or overzealous testimony of Hillsborough Deputy Daniel Brock. Sixty-five out of the 313 cases were dropped by prosecutors.

How much undeserved shame and humiliation was caused for the victims of false arrest? How many careers ruined? How many relationships destroyed? How many fathers lost their jobs?

Shame, shame. Put him away for a long time, Hillsborough County, and then brace for the millions of dollars in lawsuits that will surely come.

John E. Campbell, Brooksville

Unintended consequences June 23, letter

Corn pushed by politics

Instead of blaming "tree-huggers" and "global-warming nut cakes" for the high price of a bushel of corn, maybe the letter writer should ask why cheap sugar-based ethanol from Brazil is banned from importation, or why corn has been so strongly pushed as a fuel source instead of less-expensive biomass materials such as switchgrass. Because Big Sugar and the lobbyists from the corn-growing states want it that way - that's why.

Besides, saving money on fuel is not the most important aspect of the debate. Getting away from Middle East oil and the terrorism connected to it is.

Peter Bach, St. Petersburg

Peeping complaint focuses on target June 28, story

No peeking

While Jennifer and Justin Turner are threatening to sue Target because now "there's a guy out there who knows what my wife looks like naked, " they also felt obligated to inform the world that Mrs. Turner recently had breast implants. But probably nobody should look.

Alida Bosse, St. Petersburg

[Last modified June 29, 2007, 22:17:33]