Today's Letters: Developer must think we're fools

Developer doles out big money to officials Jan. 20Landfill developer's generosity is suspect Jan. 22

I would like to commend the paper and authors on exposing how insincere the landfill applicant is in its quest regardless of the costs to Pasco County and state taxpayers.

They relocate their business from Michigan in 2006, according to state records, and expect to influence the locals to do their bidding to generate profits for their privately owned business. They are making promises to the savings that Pasco County residents will realize, however their Florida Department of Environmental Protection permit application says they will charge customers $35 to $70 per ton. (That is $14 more per ton than the county charges for solid waste disposal and over $30 more per ton than the interim agreement the county recently announced for excess garbage.)

Furthermore, it appears the applicant has insufficient financial resources in their skeleton landfill company to perform remediation to the Floridan Aquifer and private drinking water wells if their proposed landfill fails. Taxpayers know who is paying for the past mistakes of private companies seeking profits at the expense of all else, they are! In 1999, Congress and the state of Florida agreed to spend $7.8-billion to clean the Everglades and return it to its original state before development, not the private companies who wanted to drain it originally.

The cost to taxpayers to clean up the Green Swamp and build a public drinking water supply system for all the residents in eastern Pasco County if this proposed landfill contaminates the area has the potential to well exceed this cost.

This certainly is not the kind of organization that can be trusted to do the right thing for their neighbors except leaving them holding the bag.

Carl Roth, Dade City

Let sheriff do job he's elected to do

We, the people of Pasco County, elected a sheriff. We, the people, need the Sheriff's Office protection. Bob White is the sheriff of Pasco County. We, the people of Pasco County, hold him responsible to provide a secure community for us.

The County Commission is a review board for everything in the county. No corporation can operate effectively if the head of that company's hands are tied.

Let Bob White run the Sheriff's Office here in Pasco. We, the people, will hold him accountable at election time if he has not done his job. Quit the petty bickering between commissioners and the sheriff. Let the Sheriff's Office do its job.

Jim Blaney, New Port Richey

Charges brought in fatal crash Jan. 20 story

Where are our law enforcers?

Again, I open the Pasco Times and find another tragedy involving someone who has had repeated traffic offenses, DUIs and speeding infractions and yet continues to be on the road and now has caused another accident killing three innocent people and destroying many families.

What is it going to take? How many more lives? I would like to see more officers on the road at all hours of the day. It always puzzles me why our Sheriff's Office can find the time and resources to check out the latest swingers clubs or X-rated shops. How many officers does that take?

In December, I apprehended a young girl on a bicycle stealing mail out of people's mailboxes. The police never came to the victim's home nor did they even try to investigate. By the way, the girl got away but not until after I retrieved the mail and had a chance to scold her.

Our community is gradually deteriorating. I see more litter and crime. No one seems to care anymore. I travel to other states and see law being enforced. Come on Pasco, let's stand up for our community.

Annemarie Donovan, New Port Richey

Vote will count only if you cast it

Over the last several days, we at the Pasco Democratic Party have been taking phone calls from registered Democrats throughout the Tampa Bay area who mistakenly believe that their vote Jan. 29 will not count.

It is time to put this rumor to rest.

The presidential primary represents a state-by-state declaration of candidate preference. Florida Democrats declare their preference on Jan. 29. You must make your vote count toward this declaration.

The only time your vote does not count is when you don't cast one.

Jan. 29, registered Democrats have an obligation to cast a vote for their favorite candidate. This is not about campaign rallies, it is not about incessant television advertising, and it is not about big money. More than ever, Florida's 2008 presidential primary is about the voters.

As the last state to weigh in before contests in 20 plus states Feb. 5, Florida is poised to have an enormous impact on the Democratic race. This year, Florida's voice will echo throughout the rest of the nation. Make your voice be heard on Jan. 29. Make it count. Vote.

Alison Morano, chairman, Pasco County Democratic Executive Committee

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[Last modified January 23, 2008, 21:32:53]