Today's Letters: Plan for airport is bad for environment and taxpayers
By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published August 20, 2007
New Panhandle airport will be first in U.S. since 9/11 Aug. 17, story
The Gulf Restoration Network is deeply disappointed and outraged that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has yet again granted another permit in Florida that will lead to widespread environmental degradation, wetlands loss and increased growth and sprawl.
This continued pattern of neglect and indifference to the natural environment and natural systems by the Army Corps should outrage Floridians. From Cypress Creek in Pasco County to the creeks of the Florida Panhandle, the corps seems more interested in getting out the permits than in protecting Florida's wetlands.
This may truly be one of the Army Corps permits that future generations of Floridians look back at and ask: How could we make the same mistake time after time? How many acres of wetlands can Florida lose before the corps decides to do its job and enforce the Clean Water Act?
The Gulf Restoration Network has respect for the work that local and statewide environmental groups have done to try to make the Bay County airport proposal better for the community and for the environment. However, we feel strongly that many of the proposals for conservation are just that, proposals.
The St. Joe Co. needs to go significantly further, and needs to better quantify with firmer commitments and more documentation the conservation guarantees that could better ensure lasting and real protections for the pristine places they are endangering.
GRN is committed to the wetlands, the cypress forests and the coastlines of the Gulf Coast of Florida. This permit directly endangers all three. We are seeing the loss of coastal systems, increased pollution and loss of critical habitat all across the gulf. This has got to stop, and the Army Corps of Engineers has got to stop issuing permits like this.
We feel strongly that the proposal to build a new airport in Bay County for the benefit of one large landowner and as a stimulus for growth and development is a bad deal for taxpayers, the environment and future generations. We deserve more than the next great Florida boondoggle.
Joe Murphy, Florida program coordinator, Gulf Restoration Network, Ridge Manor
Thompson the bold Aug. 16, David Broder column
Overlooked candidate
I was disgusted with David Broder's column in which he slobbered all over the Republican "savior," former Sen. Fred Thompson. Broder and Thompson seem to be willfully ignorant of a candidate who is already in the race, namely U.S. Rep. Ron Paul.
While Thompson would like to believe that there are no candidates or elected officials in Washington who "want to deal" with the problems in fiscal policy and foreign affairs, Paul has been steadfastly working against destructive policies throughout 20 years in Congress.
Far more impressive than Thompson's new interest in the problems that will befall our nation if we continue massive spending and a foreign policy of intervention and empire, Paul has been voting against unbalanced budgets, unnecessary federal programs, "police actions" and undeclared, unconstitutional wars throughout his career.
I encourage all readers to look into Rep. Ron Paul. Do not be fooled by ignorant Beltway insiders like David Broder.
Matt Tucker, Clearwater
She's the Democratic Agnew Aug. 17, Debra Saunders column
Indecent opinion
In almost 50 years of reading newspaper editorial pages, I have never read anything as contemptible as this column by Debra Saunders on Elizabeth Edwards.
To the Times editor who read this despicable garbage and felt it should be included on the op-ed page, I have one question: "Have you no decency?"
Dennis Clarke, Tampa
Black leaders rethink vouchers Aug. 12, story
Show us the data
Where are the results! How are the children who are using the vouchers doing academically? Is their learning improving? Vouchers have been in use since 2000. There should be some results by now to bear out these claims that "vouchers could be lifelines for these kids."
I for one am tired of hearing how vouchers are so this and so that. Let's see some darn results, some accountability for these claims. If these results do bear out, then public schools should see what is going on that lets these kids learn better. And so should the St. Petersburg Times.
Kathy Zell, St. Petersburg
Disgusting display
What's with the spitting? Watch football, basketball, hockey or any other sport and you rarely, if ever, see anyone spit. But watch baseball and everyone spits, including players, managers and coaches. They spit at bat, on the field and in the dugouts. They should disinfect the entire ballfield after each game!
This is a dirty, disgusting habit that started when ballplayers thought it manly to chew tobacco that had to be spit out or it would make them sick. If other sports can be played without constantly spitting, why can't baseball?
There should be a rule: If you can't swallow it, don't put it in your mouth.
Weldon F. Holmes, St. Petersburg
World in a snap Aug. 17
Motherly love
I especially enjoyed the "pics" in Friday's Page 2A photo feature, illustrating the special love and bonding between a mother and her offspring - no matter what the species may be.
My favorite photo is that of the Amur tiger cub playfully biting its mother's tail. That charming photo demonstrates the unconditional love between the mother and her cub. I strongly doubt that the mother tiger would allow any other animal, besides her very own, to mess around with her tail. Ouch!
JoAnn Lee Frank, Clearwater
Put them to sleep
Veterinarians have been euthanizing animals for many years in a humane, painless manner. The procedure I used was an intramuscular injection of a narcotic such as Demerol to sedate and reduce any anxiety or pain. Next was an intravenous solution of barbiturates that stops the heart. This results in a drop in blood pressure, and the animal faints. The injection is strong enough that the heartbeat does not start again. And death occurs. The procedure is painless and results in a "sleep" or death.
Why not use this method for the execution of humans?
Stedman H. Carr, DVM, Palm Harbor
A jackpot section
My admiration and affection for the St. Petersburg Times has not waned since I first began reading it in 1951. When we became friends with several staffers at the Times, I became even more impressed with the quality of the paper.
On Aug. 5, I hit the jackpot with your Perspective section. The columns by Paul Tash, David Brooks and Michael O'Hanlon and Kenneth Pollack have moved me to congratulate you again.
I plan to get my kids together and read aloud to them the David Brooks piece! As a gerontology student and an "Elderly Woman," it resonated so much with me. Thank you again.
Betty Upson-Schmitz, Seminole