Today's Letters: Plans for a new Rays' stadium
Letters to the EditorPublished November 15, 2007
New stadium for the Rays
Weather will spoil the game
I can't believe people are drooling over a new outdoor waterfront stadium for the Rays. They must have heat stroke! And if not, they will in July, August and September when it's 95 degrees in the shade, there's 90 percent humidity, with lightning, thunder and daily storms.
We endure a couple of those days at Bucs games in September. It's unbearable, to say the least! How many rainouts, game delays or lightning strikes in the area will people endure? I say not many!
A new stadium must have a retractable roof and air conditioning. The old stadium was not well enough thought out, with poor engineering. That's the only reason for a new stadium. The old stadium isn't old - just poorly planned.
We pay through the nose for all this. When will it all stop? It's $7 for beer, $4 for water, $5 for a soft drink and $4 for a hot dog! A family of four will pay about $150 to watch a losing team!
With $3 a gallon for gas, insurance rates through the roof, everything skyrocketing, the only ones who can afford it all are the millionaire players and owners! Perhaps that is why they want to entice us: for the view!
Bill Durnell, Holiday
No tax dollars
Sports is a business. Taxpayers should never pay for a stadium. If I went into business, taxpayers would not and should not even be asked to pay.
Reid Thomson, St. Petersburg
Foster system thwarts success Nov. 10, story
Put children first
A new sports arena is on the table at an estimated cost of $450-million. Is this a reasonable use of millions while there are approximately 3,500 foster children in the Pinellas County system; while one case worker is saddled with 60 children under her supervision; while others are managing 40 children; and while the recommended number for each worker is 20? The majority of workers care about and want to help children, but their hands are tied with their caseloads.
Certainly sports are an important part of our society and should be encouraged. But it should not be at the cost of our children. What if a portion of that $450-million went to improve of the Florida Department of Children and Families? Perhaps, when given some stability and proper supervision, these children could break the cycle of abuse or neglect and become responsible citizens who could add to our society. This can be accomplished if adequate funds are available to educate, train and increase the number of social workers. It's time to set our priorities straight on the use of our funds.
Renee G. Salzer, Seminole
Cap fuel costs Nov. 10, letter
Ban the gas guzzlers
The very first sentence of this letter reveals the major source of our country's gas problems. "When I filled up the tank of my SUV ..."
I have no sympathy for those of who drive those gas guzzlers. The letter writer wants us to encourage government to step in and put a cap on fuel prices, when what we need is a cap on consumption.
Yes, there are certain businesses that need those larger vehicles, but my challenge to all the drivers of giant pickups, SUVs and Hummers is this: Get the government to pass a law that any vehicle driven in this country must get a minimum of 25 mpg.
I know that the monster vehicles are status symbols but feel that the country, even the world, can no longer afford them.
Happy will be the days when I see energy-efficient cars with more than one person in them at a time. Consumption goes down, demand goes down, price goes down.
M. Carder, Largo
Bollea punishment not a sure thing Nov. 9, story
A driver's responsibility
Nothing is a "sure thing." I do have an opinion on the seat-belt issue and laying the blame on John Graziano. I feel it is the responsibility of the driver to make sure all passengers are properly belted in before starting the car.
I also think Nick Bollea would be more remorseful and aware of his reckless driving if he did extensive community service for several years - perhaps probation, house arrest and working in a hospital or nursing facility with people who have sustained injuries similar to those of his friend and passenger.
Dorothy E. Karkheck, Dunedin
Hulk Hogan's son charged in crash Nov. 8, story
Hurtful comments
In this article, Ashley Berry, John Graziano's girlfriend, said that Nick Bollea showed no remorse whatsoever for Graziano's being injured in the accident.
This is terrible. I've known Nick since he was in kindergarten. He was in my daughter's class and I taught him through eighth grade. When I see Nick on TV, all I can see is sadness in his eyes. If anything, he is in shock. I can tell that he is suffering and so is his family.
I don't think it is fair for anyone to judge him and say he is not showing remorse. Why make a terrible situation worse by hurtful comments?
Marreen Majer, Palm Harbor
Seen solely through the eyes of one downtown merchant, baseball at the site of Al Lang Field would be a good thing, and it would be during the quietest time of the year. You can still shoot a cannon off at times during the summer and hit nothing. We could only hope for traffic congestion downtown from May through October.
May I suggest the ballpark be surrounded by multilevel parking? Those 81 home games during the slow season downtown would be a boon to the economy, and the opening of that parking to the public the other 284 days would solve the downtown parking problem until infinity! Bring fans downtown to a world-class, thriving, beautiful waterfront location, not a cultural wasteland like the area around Tropicana Field is today.
James A. Nannen, St. Petersburg
It's the wrong place
Think a bit about a new Ray's stadium in downtown St. Petersburg. It's a ridiculous idea: There is no room for a stadium, there is no parking, there is no access, there is no money, and there will be no livable downtown with a stadium there. And I am a baseball fan who attends a dozen games a year.
Where is the Rays' management coming from? They should be spending their time figuring out how to win, not how to further their commercial interests.
As for the City Council, rezone that area so these commercial interests can't take hold. They should have done it earlier.
Paul Chiavacci, St. Petersburg