Today's Letters: Food inspection process working

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published September 19, 2007

Disjointed, lax oversight of restaurants is risky Sept. 3, guest column

The guest column submitted by Marc Yacht claims diminishing public health and safety in Florida's restaurants since the restaurant inspection programs' transfer to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. In 1992, the Florida Legislature replaced a disjointed restaurant inspection system that was loosely overseen by the Department of Health with a cohesive statewide program housed at the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Today, Florida has a scientifically based, nationally recognized inspection process that measures each restaurant licensee by the same standard.

The goal during an inspection is education and awareness. Because state inspectors cannot be at every one of the state's 40,980 restaurants every day, we must enlist the owners, managers and staff in a shared commitment to best practices and compliance even when we are not there.

Although we do look at the restaurant community as our partners in this endeavor, we do not hesitate to use enforcement when public health and safety could be at risk. Our inspection process begins with an unannounced inspection where violations are noted, and operators are given a date for correction. In some cases, the establishment may be closed on the spot. If violations remain uncorrected, the operator is then subject to fines and even license suspension or revocation.

Our inspection process is working. Food-borne illness in Florida has significantly decreased over the last nine years. The reduction in food-borne illnesses indicates that the aggressive attention to science-based policies and effective enforcement strategies are protecting the public's health and safety. Since 1997, there has been a 67 percent decrease in the number of food-borne illnesses in Florida restaurants, according to the Department of Health's Food-borne Illness Surveillance and Investigation Annual Report.

Our success is also recognized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which sets standards for food safety. In February, the FDA praised the department's efforts and wrote: "The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation is to be commended for its commitment to the continuous improvement of the food service regulatory program. We applaud your program's leadership and are committed to supporting your ongoing efforts to enhance the services provided to your stakeholders in the state of Florida."

Our team of inspectors is committed to ensuring public safety, and we will continue to set high standards for Florida's restaurants.

Bill Veach, director, Department of Business and Professional Regulation Division of Hotels and Restaurants, Tallahassee

Wal-Mart would benefit Holiday Sept. 17, letter

That Wal-Mart? You can have it

Well, that's just wonderful that the letter writer supports building a Wal-Mart in Holiday. Funny thing is, he lives in Wesley Chapel. Thank you for your concern for Holiday residents, but we already have not just one, but two Wal-Mart supercenters in our community. The Wal-Mart at Little Road and State Road 54 is about 3 miles from my Holiday home. The one on U.S. 19 is maybe 8 miles.

The writer asks, "Why is Wal-Mart being more vigorously scrutinized than other corporations?" The answer is, it isn't. It has taken a lot of hard work from Holiday area residents to keep them from building in Holiday. And that's what we want. For you, sir, I will make the suggestion that Wal-Mart look at Wesley Chapel to build three stores within 8 square miles of your home. That should make it nice and convenient for you and bring more jobs to your neighborhood. No need to thank me. I'm just looking out for Wesley Chapel.

Katy Coluzzi,Holiday

Wal-Mart would benefit Holiday Sept. 17, letter

10 pounds won't fit in 2-pound bag

I would like to state a few facts about which the letter writer doesn't seem to be aware.

The store is in New Port Richey, it just has the name Holiday because it failed at the Holiday site and they never renamed it.

Wal-Mart is trying to put a 10-pound ball into a 2-pound bag.

Traffic concerns are too numerous to name, but think about a site near you, such as Bell Lake Road and U.S. 41: Put a supercenter on the northeast corner, don't widen Bell Lake Road or U.S. 41 and you have Grand Boulevard and SR 54.

There is a Sam's Club 1 mile north, a supercenter 4 miles east, a supercenter 7.5 miles north and a supercenter going up 5.5 miles south.

As for affordable, check the prices at any Target or Kmart and you'll see the prices compare rather well and there are no lines to wait in for 45 minutes.

I think we already shop in our own community.

Instead of feeling sorry for Wal-Mart, why not ask why they won't listen to those who will be impacted the most and make the store smaller? It is so big now that they will have to pump water from the main site under the existing road and down the street to an off-site location.

If anyone would like to be more informed about the situation, please come to the Pasco County Development Review Committee meeting Oct. 25 at 1:30 p.m. at the County Commission chambers in New Port Richey. Listen and express your views to the committee that will make the decision.

We are not asking that there be no Wal-Mart. You and everyone else are missing the point completely. We just don't want a 24/7 supercenter in our back yard, with all the traffic concerns that come with it. We wouldn't mind a neighborhood store with normal hours; a scaled-down Wal-Mart like they are building in Hernando County would be preferred.

Cynthia Besio,New Port Richey

Fight over iPod hits sour note Sept. 12, story

Administrator just doing his job

I was very upset about this story. As mentioned, iPods are not allowed in school. If they are on school property, they should be confiscated for the school year. End of story.

As far as the assistant principal, Thomas Brochu, is concerned, it sounds to me that he was doing his job. If this child did not listen to him, the adult/supervisor in place of parent at the time, then the child is wrong, not Mr. Brochu. She, not he, deserves the discipline.

I feel that there is entirely too much investigation going on today to protect people's rights. Everyone wants to sue everyone, or have them arrested for menial discrepancies.

I happen to know Mr. Brochu for several years as a member of the American Cancer Society, and the work that he does during the Relay for Life Benefits at Gulf High School. I have seen the interaction between the students and Mr. Brochu at these events. I have never seen a student that didn't get along with him and, even, enjoy his camaraderie.

Let us get our priorities straight. If there are rules and regulations, they are there to be obeyed. Parents with children in school have to make sure these are obeyed, or will raise adults who can go their way and have no concerns for humanity.

Paulette Kotter, New Port Richey

Mom is fed up because girl's dad hasn't paid up Sept. 14, story

Child support fight too familiar

Your article about the mom fed up with the child support office caught my eye. I have been fighting with the child support office for more than 10 years to collect my support for four children. The people at the office and on the phone are very rude and short.

They have told me that people who can't support their children shouldn't have them. I've been told to quit my job and collect welfare. I have been told that child support is not a priority.

These people who just needed a job should be working at a fast-food restaurant, not a job that controls other lives.

I feel bad for the mom who has been dealing with this for a year. I hate to have to tell her that she has a much longer time to deal with this. Maybe someone needs to look into the child support enforcement a little better. I thought I was the only one until that article came out. Maybe the child support office has something to do with the overpopulation at the welfare office. I know if the child support office would do something about this, I wouldn't have to be in that line.

Tammy Hunt-Davis, Port Richey

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[Last modified September 18, 2007, 21:46:18]