Today's Letters: Union behavior won't get results

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published July 1, 2007

The sight of the protesting deputies and firefighters left me shaking my head with amazement and distaste. These same individuals, who claim to take pride in their jobs serving and the protecting citizens, made quite a spectacle of themselves as they lined Little Road during peak traffic hours.

While the drivers of the passing cars gawked at their signs and shirts, many others were put in danger of accidents and fender benders. The picture in the Pasco Times shows evidence of those who actually stepped into the road during their protest and still others brought their children to teach them the art of negotiation.

The sheriff is employed by the county citizens, not the employees of the county, which this public staff seems to forget. Many of the citizens of Pasco County are currently experiencing hard times themselves, due to high taxes and homeowners insurance. As well as these hardships, others have either lost their jobs or are struggling to keep afloat because their hours have been cut back due to the housing and real estate slowdown, which causes a trickle-down effect.

In regard to their issues, we all have concerns about health insurance and wages. The average raise for most is 3 percent across the board, and our health insurance benefits decrease as the premiums increase each year. In this day and age, families must have two wage earners to make ends meet, let alone have the luxury of raises or health insurance. This union obviously gives no regard to the fact that our taxes will have to be raised to meet their demands. Or is it greed?

I think that this union should negotiate properly and stop displaying negative public behavior, which I doubt will get any positive results.

Debbie Wills, Port Richey

Letters wasted taxpayer money

Property Tax Appraiser Mike Wells and/or his office staff would be wise to reacquaint themselves with the services offered by the U.S. Postal Service. The rejection letters for homestead exemption could have been sent in an envelope for the cost of a 41-cent stamp plus an additional $1.75 fee for an electronic signature confirmation, totaling $2.16 each, rather than the $3.39 per item through UPS.

We as taxpayers would then have saved $1.23 per item, for a total of $2, 370.21. I, for one, don't appreciate my money being wasted simply because Mr. Wells says "This is the cheapest way I know."

Linda Hoobler, Land O'Lakes

Applaud GOP for promised tax cut June 25 letter

GOP caters to the rich, forgets poor

Why does Bill Bunting say the GOP keeps its promise? The GOP promised to make the insurance companies lower their rates. Nothing was said about real estate taxes.

These only help the very rich people who bought very expensive homes, not the middle-class folks. The GOP has always done for the rich, forgetting the poor and middle class.

He says the local government should live within its means. When the time comes when he needs a policeman, fireman or any branch of local government and they are slow to his aid, he will be the first to cry foul.

Mr. Bunting has always said great things about the party and the president; now he hopes the federal government does as Florida does. He seems to blow hot and cold.

I just want a promise kept!

Ann Bully, New Port Richey

Treated stray cats shouldn't be freed June 27 letter

Prevent breeding to stop the killing

In response to the letter that stray cats shouldn't be freed, I was a little disturbed by the last paragraph, which said that cats should be caught, evaluated for adoption and, if not adoptable, be "put down."

Sounds pretty cruel. If we humans were more responsible with our animals by having them fixed and not allowed to roam, we would not have this problem. There also are those people who have to have that cute puppy or kitten and a month later decide they no longer want it, so they abandon it on some side street to fend for itself.

Where has the compassion in people gone when it is so easy to just say, "kill them." I realize it is a problem, but let's stop the breeding, which in turn will stop the killing. It is we humans who are creating the problem.

Mike Borrelli, Hudson

Treated stray cats shouldn't be freed June 27 letter

Law against stray cats and ducks

Thank you to the letter writer for his attention to the cat problem. I also wondered why cats got different treatment from dogs.

Every night I am awakened at 2 a.m. by a crying stray cat under my window. When you have to get up at 5 a.m., it is extremely annoying. Most of the time I can't go back to sleep for an hour or two, and then I'm not very productive the rest of the day. I thought the ducks were annoying enough, but at least they don't wake anyone up when they mess all over your driveway after being well-fed by neighbors.

There should be a law against both of these pests. They leave very unhealthy messes behind for all children and many already sickly adults. Children are supposed to play outside, but most can't for fear of cat and duck feces.

Donna Herrick, Port Richey

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[Last modified June 30, 2007, 21:55:15]