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Letter to the editor

Today's Letters: Commissioners serve themselves

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published July 1, 2007

Re: Board weighs control of lands story, June 23

Does "government of the people, by the people, and for the people" ring a bell? Certain county commissioners need to get off their exalted belief that they know what's best for the people, even though the people in this democracy are telling them differently.

The people made it clear that we don't trust (county) government anymore - a well-deserved reputation in regard to public lands.

I was shocked when the county commissioners indicated they would stand by their self-serving parks and preserves ordinance, which is so full of loopholes that it gives them or their successors the ability to destroy the preserves rather than protect them for our future, as is the people's intent.

Person after person stepped up to the podium at the County Commission workshop to get involved in government and stated, "Make a charter amendment." The people spoke, but only two commissioners, Calvin Harris and Ronnie Duncan, were listening and receptive to their pleas.

Commissioner Susan Latvala made appalling remarks that government should not have its hands tied. Latvala, of all people, needs to be bound hand and foot. After all, she is the one leading the charge to destroy the Brooker Creek Preserve.

If need be, the people can vote to make appropriate changes as necessary with the charter.

Pinellas County residents, please remember this come election time. Vote for people who serve government by the people, not people who dictate it to the people.

My heartfelt thanks to all those people trying to preserve the preserves.

K. Johnson, Tarpon Springs

Re: Board weighs control of lands story, June 23

Here's an idea: Think ahead

I do not care to be "sold" on any concept by my county government. Preferably, all sides of an issue should be considered by the County Commission and then the public should make the choice.

The voting public will not "tie the hands" of current or future commissions because they have been issued a right to make decisions about publicly owned properties. Actually, it may give the commission more time to focus on other things, like fiscal responsibility and planning! Mostly, I'd like to recommend that they spend that extra time planning for the next 20 to 50 years so we have fewer disputes about parks and preserves.

For those who stopped a moment to think about Commissioner Susan Latvala's comments to commission chairman Ronnie Duncan regarding the differentiation between parks and preserves, I'd like to add that a great deal of it has to do with active vs. passive recreation, which is what we've been talking about this whole time - unless, of course, we're talking politics, in which case "park" means to place your automobile in a spot and "preserve" means to keep things good with sugar.

Barbara Walker, Palm Harbor

Re: Animal Planet Expo June 16-17 Clearwater's Coachman Park

Some pets not welcome at Expo

The back page of the June 19 Clearwater Times section had three photos of people and their pets enjoying the Animal Planet Expo.

Perhaps you should have included a photo of my two grandchildren crying in the parking lot when we were asked to leave because our pet did not conform to Animal Planet's idea of a companion animal.

If birds and other "exotic" animals are not welcome at an event held in a public park, the TV and newspaper advertising should state this.

Animal Planet is not animal friendly - unless your animal of choice is a dog or a cat. How many others also went to the trouble of gathering children and pets and driving to this event only to be asked to leave?

Carol Hines, Clearwater

[Last modified June 30, 2007, 21:52:33]