Print

Email story

Comment

Letter to the editor

Today's Letters: The future is somewhere between party, pristine

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published September 9, 2007

Future of Shell Key

The future is somewhere between party, pristine

Shell Key is first and foremost a preserve, not a party island. By definition a preserve is "an area restricted for the protection and preservation of animals, trees or other natural resources." Therefore it is for the birds and not for us humans that this island is managed.

The first management plan took into account the human factor in addition to its primary objective of preservation. Unfortunately, it has become clear that some of those activities have proved detrimental to the animals that the plan was designed to protect.

So once again the new plan will try to compromise by still allowing human activities on the island but in a more restricted capacity. I don't believe that leaving the family dog at home will keep "many people from enjoying a resource that they have every right to enjoy."

It is unfortunate that the boating community is seeing less and less access to beaches and barrier islands. One need only stand on the beach and look north and south: nothing but hotels, condos, restaurants, bars and shopping plazas - human disturbance everywhere. But the boaters are not the only ones who are seeing the reduction of beach access.

There are only a few barrier islands and beaches left where weary migrating birds can find solitude, nourishment and a place to nest and raise their young.

We are not antiboater, antialcohol, antidog or anticampers. We simply seek a compromise between a free-for-all party island and completely banning all human activity.

With this new plan, people should still be able to enjoy the island while maintaining the integrity of a preserve. It works at Weedon Island, Brooker Creek and Egmont Key. It can work on Shell Key.

Mauri Peterson, president, St. Petersburg Audubon Society

Shopping carts

Deposit can deter thefts

I read that St. Petersburg wants to solve the problem of shopping carts that are left all over the city. For years this has been a pet peeve of mine.

I recently returned from Germany, where I saw a way of solving this. In all of their stores, the Germans have a system of putting a lock on every cart. The people must put a German mark into the carts to use them. The mark is returned when the cart is returned to the store. I purchased a token that is used in place of the mark and it works the same way. People can keep the token to use over and over.

I took the idea to the Kash n' Karry and was told by the manager that the people would never stand for it.

It wouldn't cost them anything and would stop them from taking the carts away..

Margaret Love, St. Petersburg

Share your views

We invite readers to write to us. Letters for publication should be addressed to Letters to the Editor, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731.They can be faxed to (727) 893-8675or sent towww.sptimes.com/letters. They should be brief and must include the writer's name, address and phone number. Please include a handwritten signature when possible. Letters may be edited for clarity, taste and length. We regret that not all letters can be published.

[Last modified September 9, 2007, 01:58:27]