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Letter to the editor

Today's Letters: Citizens capable of revising plan

Group wants development issues put back on ballot Oct. 28, story

The city commissioners of St. Pete Beach are burying their heads in the sand as this city deteriorates around us.

They think only they are capable and should be doing recommended comprehensive plan changes, not citizens.

If citizens are qualified to understand and vote on these issues, why wouldn't they be qualified to write petitions to revise the plan?

It appears the majority on the commission believes the current 1998 plan is working just fine for the community.

This city is deteriorating quickly with no sign of investors. One developer recently filed for bankruptcy. Hoteliers say they can't hang on much longer without increased density.

Those pleas have fallen on deaf ears at City Hall. All you see is more and more properties abandoned and vacant.

This City Commission continues to evade problems, they refuse to discuss or look for solutions, they continue to divide the community with insulting rhetoric and they have not shown the leadership or foresight needed to make things better.

Therefore, it should come as no surprise that citizens are petitioning to bring these relevant issues to a vote.

And if citizens are qualified to understand and vote on these issues, then they certainly are qualified to petition for much-needed revisions to the Comprehensive Plan.

Arlene Cohen, St. Pete Beach

City has done nothing to solve homeless issues Oct. 31, letter

Seek creative solutions

I am completely sympathetic to the complaints of local business people like the letter writer and other downtown merchants who have to put up with this misuse of their property by the homeless and the poor.

St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker, council member Jamie Bennett, head of the Homeless Leadership Network, and the City Council's solution to this problem is to try to drive these people out of this area by closing or restricting the hours of the few public bathrooms, making arrests and refusing to consider proposals to open more shelters in St. Petersburg.

More of this same shortsighted policy is continuing with the creation of a temporary shelter in an unincorporated area of Pinellas County. It is painful to see so much money being spent on short-term remedies that do little to help people who suffer from long-term problems. The intent of our city government is to create a place that will allow the police to sweep these people off the streets while violating their civil rights.

I suggest a meeting involving all the interested parties to seek permanent solutions. Other cities have been able to come up with creative approaches.

Dwight Lawton, St. Petersburg

Want to ride? Pay the price Nov. 4, letter

Pay residents to ride bikes

Bicycles don't destroy the environment, the road or people to the incredible extent motor vehicles do. The government should be paying citizens for riding bikes and staying fit and healthy.

That way people won't be such a burden on the health care system with heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and obesity.

A bike will protect the environment and keep the rider healthier and more productive for a longer and better quality of life.

Cars kill more people than all the wars put together. I don't see any people picketing in Washington about this death machine issue. Americans love their cars and use them to such a level that the environment is being destroyed, i.e. global warming.

Get on a bike and you'll soon see the benefits that we cyclists enjoy. I hope gas prices hit $5 per gallon soon, and that money can be used to pay cyclists to travel the highways without the pollution levels killing us all.

John Tanner, Largo

Market goes to the dogs Oct. 31, letter

Dogs, kids need to behave

The letter writer says, "The city needs to rethink its position regarding the dogs."

The Saturday Morning Market takes place on a public city street. It is not just a place for people to buy their produce. Plants, furniture, art, clothing and crafts are but a few of the other offerings. Food is sold to be enjoyed right there while listening to live music or simply watching the crowds passing by, including the dogs, dogs, dogs.

The manager of the market has made it a dog-friendly place and never fails to greet me and my dog by name when he sees us. Greyhound rescue groups are frequent market participants.

Dogs should be under control at all times, and those who cannot behave properly should be left at home. I feel exactly the same way about children, whether at the market, in restaurants or in Publix.

I can't count the number of times children (and adults) have approached my dog to touch him without asking first if it's okay. It's never been an issue with my dog, who has never even bared his teeth.

It's the parents' responsibility to teach their children the basics of life, including how to interact with people and with dogs. It is also the parents' "job" to supervise their children at all times when in public.

If the letter writer finds this too taxing while taking her out-of-state visitors downtown to pick up produce at the Saturday Morning Market, perhaps they should all just stay home.

Chuck Lindeen, St. Petersburg

Forget chores: Go have some fun Oct. 31.

Family fun amid drunks?

Was this a joke? Under the item "Get Downtown," you wrote:

"The scene: Couples and families stroll the streets until sunset, when gaggles of drunken college students take over."

Sure sounds like a wonderful fun family thing to me - not!

Mary Hardy, Largo

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[Last modified November 6, 2007, 22:59:19]