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Letter to the editor

Today's Letters: Speed decrease is just a trap

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published July 25, 2007

I have the misfortune of driving on Clearwater-Largo Road four times per day, and have been doing so for the last two years.

The Largo City Commission stated in your paper that the reduction of speed from 40 mph to 30 mph on this four-lane highway was to promote safety in an area that is experiencing a business and foot traffic boom.

What? Excuse me? Where is this great expansion of business? The only foot traffic increase I saw were the officers rushing to give out the speeding violations.

If they are so worried about safety, why oh why are there massive obstacles - new palm trees - in the middle of the road?

I am certainly glad that the city of Largo has had such a decrease in crime that it could afford to place up to six staffed police vehicles in this area during the day.

Interesting also is the timing of this action, just weeks after the state mandate for cities to cut spending. Hmmm. Let's just call it like it is: a speed trap, something Largo is certainly known for.

Robert Ihrie, Clearwater

Sidewalks before MLK monument

Re: It's been a long road to vision of MLK plaza editorial, July 24

I'm certainly glad that the St. Petersburg Times is not running the city of Largo, especially making the decisions as to what is important and needed. Supplying services to the taxpayers (customers) is what we need and is truly important. Monuments are not needs, nor are they important.

Repeatedly, the paper mentions the "importance" of building the $60,000 MLK Plaza in Central Park, yet never states why it's important. Perhaps because it's not or - safer bet - the city has more pressing financial issues that must be addressed.

At the last commission meeting, I mentioned that for years Northwest Largo has been clamoring for sidewalks to enhance the safety of the residents. Therefore I asked, "How many lineal feet of sidewalk can be built for $60,000?" As of this moment, I have not received the answer. However, it appears as though the Times thinks another memorial to King is more important than the safety of Largo's children.

It's worth mentioning that when Commissioner Rodney Woods was first elected, he proclaimed that his priority would be to increase Largo's funding to build sidewalks. Wonder what happened to this commitment? Apparently, he too thinks another memorial to King is more important than public safety.

The final irony of MLK Plaza: Just a few days ago, Commissioner Woods stated in the Times, "This is about the spirit of this community. I am so grateful we are at this point right now and I would not want to put this off any further because there is an attitude out in this community that we really don't want to do this."

Confidence is high that Commissioner Woods' thinking is clouded, because it's not a matter of "want to do this," it's a matter of priorities. Building another monument to Martin Luther King Jr. is not a priority, sidewalks are.

Largo commissioners need to answer just one question: What is truly more important - another monument that might be utilized once a year or sidewalks that will be used daily?

Curtis A. Holmes, Largo

Story should have been constructive

Re: Ticking time bombs special report, July 22

It so happens that I live in a mobile home, and I cannot for the life of me find any reasonable help or advice in this needlessly negative article. It was the state of Florida that allowed this construction in the first place.

Most of us live in these dwellings out of necessity, not choice. We are very aware of their shortcomings in a severe storm (ask our insurance companies), and we try our best to be ready to evacuate in an emergency, but your story contained nothing new, nothing constructive, it was merely frightening to many of our older, more vulnerable citizens.

Oh, one more thing. The last time I looked, a "trailer" had wheels and was designed to "trail" a motor driven vehicle. My "manufactured home" is worth approximately $70,000, contains 1,200 square feet plus my laundry and workshop, has no wheels and to the best of my knowledge, has not run down the street in many a year.

It is time to get rid of the "T" word. There are many good things about living in a manufactured home park, but saying we live in a t------, and being referred to as a "debris field," are not two of them.

Howard G. Olsen, Safety Harbor

Taxpayers are unfairly burdened

Seems our local Clearwater officials and government have an insatiable desire for our tax dollars and ways to spend them.

The state Legislature just passed a law forcing local governments to cut back on their budgets from property taxes. The city of Clearwater cries and says watch out because we are going to have to cut services.

But wait. They found another solution. Let's just raise the utility taxes and user fees to help make up the difference. Just what is wrong with this picture?

Oh, and don't forget that as the price of oil goes up, so does our electric bill and so does the revenue to the city. The utility tax and franchise fees on our electric bill are already at about 13 percent.

When is enough enough?

John Blechschmidt, Clearwater

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 July 25, 2007, 08:54:24]