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By Times Staff
Published October 14, 2007

Slammed by Charley, then their insurer Oct. 11

Send United Casualty packing

To Gov. Charlie Crist and the Florida Legislature: What more do you need to hear from this story to enable your heart and power to tell United Casualty Co. of America/Unitrin to get out of Florida, never to be heard of again?

I really don't care if this company was one of the few who would "let their customers pay $70 to $80 by the month" for their $40,000 to $50,000 homes. Besides it appearing to be an exorbitant monthly amount, United/Unitrin, when faced with claims, begrudgingly paid out only about 10 percent of the value.

The company sits in a 41-story marble building with Mr. (Richard) Vie, the top man, taking home $4.1-million, breathing pretty easy with the 90 percent that perhaps should have gone to his "clients." They are not breathing so easily because some don't have roofs or, at best, leaky ones, but they do have lots of mold. Imagine paying $81.82 a month for the privilege of sitting in an unsafe home breathing in mold?

Surely, I'm not alone in asking the powers-that-be to send this company and any others like it packing!

M. R. Powers, Indian Rocks Beach

Class action is a worry, though

Kudos to Craig Lastinger for having the common decency to call United Casualty Insurance Co. on to the red carpet. My heart breaks for the people who put their faith in this insurance company to preserve their family home, only to be completely taken advantage of. I have never condoned the lawsuit-happy world that we live in, but in this case it is well deserved. My one concern is the notoriety of "class-action" type lawsuits. Attorneys have been notorious for taking large chunks of money for themselves without regard for the people they represent. Oftentimes, the plaintiffs end up without enough money to solve the problems that brought upon the lawsuit to begin with. David Pettinato, no one expects you to work for free, but please don't slam these people again.

Miranda Avendano, Spring Hill

If we don't want coal, what will power us? Oct. 7

Try efficiency, conservation first

The article asks an important question, but in trying to answer it, the representative of the Electric Power Research Institute wrongly insists that "you need natural gas. You need nuclear. And, yes, you will need coal."

The fact is, Florida does not need any new coal-fired power plants to have a reliable electricity supply. Instead, the state's growing need for electricity can be met through a combination of energy efficiency measures and renewable energy technologies. Choosing a clean-energy future would create jobs, invigorate the economy, reduce global warming pollution and protect Florida's environment.

Former Gov. Jeb Bush once said, "The cheapest, easiest and fastest kilowatt we can generate is the one we save through efficiencies." He was spot on, and now Gov. Charlie Crist is moving our state down the path to a sustainable, clean-energy future.

Florida's energy use has been akin to operating an air conditioner with the windows open. Before we turn the first spade of dirt to build any new power plant, let's focus our attention and resources on efficiency and conservation.

Mark Ferrulo, Tallahassee

executive director, Environment Florida

Solar power is the answer

This story illustrates the dilemma facing utility executives used to building centralized power plants and "wheeling" electricity to customers over long distances.

Put aside the self-serving concerns of utility executives, and the answer becomes much simpler for Florida: solar power - and not just for heating water. A number of California wineries are using solar to power their entire operations.

Doesn't it make sense to envision a day when, in the Sunshine City, rooftops - especially residential rooftops - capture sunlight, convert it to energy, store some for the nighttime hours and send the rest out into the grid to be used by business and those who don't have solar roofs?

There would still be a vital role for electric utilities and for the plants they operate to generate electricity. But there wouldn't be such a need to build new carbon or atomic plants.

Dr. Joel Whitaker, Silver Springs

Natural gas is a workable bridge

Your staff writer airs a serious question: If not coal, then what?

True, solar and wind can't meet all power needs, even if ocean current power adds some. But we can reduce demand through subsidies for efficient heat/air systems, more building insulation and green roofs, and implement conservation (tiered) rates. There is much waste going on. We should not forget population stabilization; maybe 18-million is sufficient for Florida.

Finally, the "bridge" - until we can get to a total solution - is natural gas. It emits only half the carbon. Price volatility should not matter. We may not have the funds for a beach or mountain home, a Lexus, marble countertops or designer clothes, but we can organize our income/expenses to give energy the top priority. Coal is unacceptable.

Gary Lloyd, Tallahassee

A man, a shirt, a big ruckus Oct. 6

Offense in the eyes of beholder

The man wearing a shirt imprinted with the "Master Baiter" seems to have gotten some people upset. I wonder why. How about the ad in Sunday's Oct. 7 paper from Kmart showing a teen's skirt with a smiley face licking its lips. Should people become upset about that? If so, I wonder why.

V. Paradis, Seminole

Whole affair was asinine

"Much Ado About Nothing." "Oh what fools these mortals be." While this all might sound a little Shakespearian, maybe Southwest Airlines could take a tip from Shakespeare himself. Or perhaps, that wise old saying: "Don't look a gift-horse in the mouth." After all, airline passenger Joe Winiecki did pay for his airfare. And quite frankly speaking, I find Winiecki's shirt - which reads on the backside "Master Baiter" along with a cartoon character of a fisherman - to be rather humorous, and this entire situation of asking Winiecki to change his shirt or leave the plane to be asinine, at best.

JoAnn Lee Frank, Clearwater

Letter had the facts wrong, letter Oct. 7

The uninformed aren't helping

Perhaps letter writer Don Calabria thinks that everything is hunky-dory with our economy and our politicians who provide leadership in our nation, but masses of informed and thinking Americans vehemently disagree. Many national and local politicians are quality representatives of impeccable integrity, but many are not.

Look at the condition of the country since President Bush took office. Iraq is a hellish mess with casualties continuing. By 2004, the Clinton surplus of $236-billion had disappeared into a $521-billion deficit. From 2002 to 2004, Bush added $1.3-trillion to the national debt. By 2004, the IMF was warning the United States that its enormous debt (look at what we owe China alone) and appetite for borrowing was imperiling the world economy. Wastrel ways warrant criticism, as does the U.S. health care crisis, countless Americans losing their homes to foreclosure, exorbitant taxes, the home-owners insurance crisis, illegal immigration and the homeless, ad infinitum. The ignorant commentary of the truly uninformed, with their heads in the sand, are a detriment and do nothing to promote a better America.

Robert B. Fleming, St. Petersburg

It says 'Opinion' on the page

The letter writer states, "Perhaps in the future the Times will adhere to the principle of printing letters that are based on facts as opposed to opinion." It is my opinion that when I read the word "Opinion" at the top of the page, it is a solicitation for an opinion. And that's a fact.

There are two sides to any argument. Both sides can be right, and both sides can be wrong. It's a matter of opinion.

And, as a matter of fact, that's my opinion.

Donald F. Kelly, St. Petersburg

Hardee's agrees to animal guidelines Sept. 27

Company takes laudable first step

PETA is thrilled that CKE, the parent company of Carl's Jr. and Hardee's, has agreed to buy a percentage of its pig flesh from suppliers that do not confine pregnant pigs in gestation crates. Mother pigs, known as sows, spend most of their lives in these individual metal crates, which are too small for them even to turn around. After giving birth, the sows are moved to "farrowing" crates, which are wide enough for them to nurse their babies, but not big enough for them to turn around. Their piglets are taken away when they are as young as 10 days old. They're packed into pens to be raised for breeding or for meat. As a result, many display neurotic behaviors such as cannibalism and tail-biting, so farmers use pliers to break off the ends of the piglets' teeth and chop off their tails - all without painkillers. Once her piglets are gone, each sow is impregnated again, and the cycle continues for three or four years before she is slaughtered. While CKE's compassionate decision will help reduce animal suffering, the company can further help pigs by offering vegetarian alternatives to pork.

Heather Moore, Norfolk, Va.

senior writer, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals)

Real estate slump

Simple solution: Just lower prices

Much has been said about the so-called real estate slump that we are in. The solution almost seems to be a no-brainer: Lower prices about 10 percent. The fact is, prices should not have risen as fast as they have. But thanks in part to speculators hoping to make quick money, we were faced with rapidly increasing prices, which in turn increased property taxes and insurance.

Even if prices were reduced, individuals who have owned homes for at least four years would still make a substantial profit. With decreasing prices, we might see a reduction in property taxes and insurance, as well as increased sales. This sounds like a win-win solution.

Carl E. Graham, Seminole

Realtors not honest on prices

Asking Realtors and developers their opinions on housing was a great idea. But where were the fact-checking and probing questions that could have made it a great story?

For example, one Realtor claimed prices are truly good now. County assessor Web sites show that even starter family homes have more than doubled in price in the past five years or so. The monitoring agency (Local Market Monitor) used by one national Realtors' group still lists the bay area as badly overpriced. How does that add up to good pricing?

Another Realtor suggested that housing prices couldn't go lower, because developers can't sell below their cost. Show me it actually costs $280,000 to put 1,700 square feet up on a tiny lot in working-class Citrus Park as some are charging, and we might believe you.

Finally, one contributor mentioned regret over selling to flippers, but seemed to miss the point for the current market. With rampant investors out, the typical buyers now are working families. The average family income is less than $50,000. Even with 20 percent down, that family can't afford the cost of a three-bedroom starter in a decent neighborhood without dooming themselves to living house-poor (at best).

Getting sales going again is simple. Unless it costs $150 a square foot to put a home up, stop charging $175,000+ for each one. And if a home sold for $75,000 some time this millennium, stop claiming that $200,000 is a "good" price now.

Eric Odgaard, Tampa

Paper needs to lead, not follow

As a longtime real estate professional, I have seen an enormous amount of change over the years. At a recent sales meeting, we were discussing the changes we have seen in the real estate market in the past 18 months. Sellers must now price properties to sell rather than focus on the amenities of the property. Buyers seem to have lost that sense of motivation and are waiting to see what will happen next. The main constant in this market is that the newspaper and media coverage continue to provide a continued avalanche of negative information regarding the housing market.

In case no one has noticed, the entire economy has been experiencing withdrawal due to the lack of income that a good housing market generates. Would it be appropriate to request the St. Petersburg Times become a leader among its peers, to start the wheel turning in the opposite direction?

Why not provide information on the many good buys that are available, interest rates which are remaining lower than average and the benefit of a full and varied inventory? All of which make home buying a possibility for many who thought it a lost dream, to find what they want at a price they can afford. There are now efforts to reform property taxes and property insurance programs.

It is always easy to be like the lemmings, following the same path, but maybe it is a time to be a leader rather than a follower.

Maren Cox, St. Petersburg

Coldwell Banker

Paper has the power to change

Enough is enough. I am sick and tired of picking up your newspaper daily only to read such slanted spins on an already overstated sluggish real estate market. Your luster in reporting only doom and gloom has culminated in accomplishing results in line with your predictions. In other words, our injured real estate market is a perfect example of a "self-fulfilling prophecy." In my heart of hearts, I believe the press, certainly the Times, is responsible in great part in negatively influencing the buying public's perception of the current market conditions. The message given repeatedly in article after article is that to buy now would be a grave mistake because the prices have not bottomed out and the length of this declining market is far from over.

In my opinion, this is unfounded and irresponsible reporting. The media/press has crippled this local real estate market with its continued negativism. Why not encourage buyers that this is the opportune time to purchase real estate? Inventory is plentiful, the interest rates are excellent and the pricing is highly competitive. It is as if the buying public is waiting for permission to buy but when they turn to the newspaper the resounding message is: Not now. Just wait. It will certainly get worse from here.

I implore you to do your part in stopping the bleeding and help the recovery process. Your newspaper has the power to catapult positive change. Let's see if you have the conscience to do so.

Debi Balogh, Largo

Realtor, Coldwell Banker

Pieces of Wiki keep zipping off into the sunset Sept. 26

Support the arts to attract talent

I read with interest your article about the departure of Jimmy Wales (Wikipedia founder), who is packing up and leaving for San Francisco. My wife and I moved to this area a few years ago pretty much on blind faith that this would be a hospitable place for the pursuit of our interest in art and culture. Although we have met some interesting and talented people here, my observation is that this area seems to generally consist of two groups: the exploiters and the exploited. Both groups I could categorize as uneducated, unsophisticated and uncivilized.

Recently, I have attempted to find employment to supplement income after a successful career in technology innovation. I thought that my skills, credentials and education would give me a variety of good choices for the kind of job that would be interesting and would benefit others. When I saw that Bright House Networks was looking for people for technical support, I applied. I was rather surprised when I was informed that I had been firmly rejected. It appears as though a college degree and 30-plus years in the computer field mean nothing to employers in this area.

It doesn't surprise me that postings on the employment message boards frequently tell posters asking about opportunities in this area in the IT field to not relocate here. I thought for a while in my case, it was just "ageism" (I'm 61), but now I'm not so sure.

On a positive note, my wife was honored with the distinction that her painting was voted best of show at the member's exhibit at the Arts Center last month. Interestingly, the judge of the show was not from the Tampa Bay area and there wasn't any press coverage.

Why am I mentioning art? If it is the desire of the people of the Tampa Bay area to attract and hold innovators such as Jimmy Wales and the companies that grow up around them, there will first have to be a rich cultural infrastructure. It will start in the educational institutions and spread into the arts. It will require a large commitment in private and public funding. It can't be done overnight, but it could and should be started now. Canada has been supporting the arts vigorously for 50 years through the work of the Canada Council for the Arts. I'm sure many thought this was a big waste of money, but now their dollar is worth more than ours. It looks to me like it paid off in a very big way.

Norman Bringsjord, Safety Harbor

[Last modified October 12, 2007, 20:00:40]