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Letter to the editor

Today's Letters: City needs to getreal on parking

In 2001, a parking garage was proposed for the beach with a price tag of $18,500 per space. Here in the land of poor planning, that figure was deemed too high. The St. Petersburg Times bought into the shortsighted rhetoric of city leaders, editorializing that it was a "bad deal for the city, which would have to pay a high price for the garage."

Many beach residents and merchants implored the city to act immediately on a garage solution, but commissioners instead launched an attack on the beach motel owners, blaming them for the beach parking problem. Remember the city's idea of having the struggling motel owners get together and buy their own parking lot? Ridiculous.

In the ensuing years, various parking garage proposals have been floated, each raising the estimated cost per space. The city continued to scoff at the escalating estimates for parking as too high and continued to hold on to the misguided belief that new hotel development would shoulder the burden of public beach parking.

Concerned citizens urged the city to wake up to the reality of the beach parking problem. Many good, practical ideas were put on the table by the public, but in the euphoria of the real estate bubble, the city only dreamed of impossible outcomes.

Now, some of those very same public-provided ideas are being revisited by the city, but the window of efficient opportunity has passed. The latest "too high" figure is anything over $30,000 per parking space. The city is going to pay someone else to broker a solution, and if no solution can be found, Clearwater will consider a move that will cement its reputation as the most clueless city in America: It will build a multi-story monstrosity on the sand, next to Beach Walk.

The nightmare continues.

Dave Spath, Clearwater

Development hasruined the town

I recently have had a chance to return home to Clearwater for the first time in about 13 years. I am absolutely amazed at how many buildings have been put up and how terrible Clearwater looks now. When I lived there Clearwater was a great little town. Now it looks like another rotten city.

I have always dreamed of returning to Clearwater to live. I now feel like a man without a home.

I hope that something is done to block any more building or what I would call damage to my little town. I guess when I return to Clearwater my only hope will be to run for mayor and run the corrupt politicians and developers out of town.

Christopher J. Dolan,Philadelphia, Pa.

Clearwater Beach parking garage

Why not use landas part of a deal?

The general public has been screaming and begging the city to build a parking garage on Clearwater Beach for many years.

Fortunately, they are also voicing their opinion against building this garage on the piece of land that the city owns right on the beach (the current city parking lot on the west side of S Gulfview Boulevard).

But what would be wrong if the same general public could agree to let the city use that beach property to be part of a land deal to build the garage a couple of blocks from the beach? There seems to be X amount of dollars available for the project and a piece of land that could be used as part of the deal. Combine these two assets and maybe a parking garage could be in the making.

I guess the leadership is not powerful enough to take the idea and run with it. Too much red tape and too little willingness to get the job done.

Gunnar Hedqwist,Clearwater

Some laws thatneed changing

After reading about Florida's decline in population, the increased number of homes and apartments for sale or lease, and the people's concern over high taxes, I have herein listed a few suggestions that I pray local legislators will pursue. Upon implementation, they will help hard-pressed taxpayers, seniors who live in Florida year-round, senior snowbirds, Florida's economy and, also, it will keep people from moving out of Florida.

-Local legislators must change the current law that allows the eviction of mobile-home tenants who don't own the land and are given a mere $1,500.

Why? Because the year-round seniors and the senior snowbirds as well have invested $20,000 or more over the many years that they lived in their mobile homes. Also, the same seniors have been highly instrumental over the past 25 years or more in enhancing Florida's economy. As such, local legislators should not support a law that seriously fiscally penalizes seniors upon eviction. The law should rather be changed so that upon eviction, the tenant would receive a minimum of $20,000.

In 2005, upon our eviction from a mobile home, I wrote to then-Gov. Jeb Bush for help in changing the mobile-home eviction law. He wrote back and said, "Mr. Duci, you have a good point, but the state cannot legally change the law. I suggest you contact the local legislators. They can change the law."

I contacted the local legislators via a letter but, to this day, I have not received a response. So I decided to write this letter to the editor. I pray that after they read the sad facts herein, they will do something to help their bosses - the people.

-To keep people from moving out of Florida, local property taxes and state taxes must be reduced.

Currently, day after day, hard-pressed taxpayers are saying, "The cost of living and the high taxes are killing us." Once again, local legislators, your bosses - hard-pressed taxpayers - need your help.

Finally, I respectfully remind local legislators that if they want more people to move to Florida and retain those who now live here, please take legislative action to implement the two suggestions herein.

Frank J. Duci,Largo

Tuesday's electionis most important

I have lived in this most beautiful town in our entire state for 35 years now. I have witnessed many city elections, but I honestly believe that the one that will be held Tuesday is the most important.

The number of people who voted in last year's Dunedin election makes me ashamed to admit that I live here. The "Let-George-do-it" attitude will only result in improper people being elected.

The possible purchase of the Weaver property is the most crucial decision this city has ever faced, with the exception of the God-blessed decision of replacing our police department with the fantastic personnel of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. That wonderful turnabout was brought to fruition because just about every citizen in our town went to the polls. That is the only way we can keep what we now have and not let it slip through our fingers.

This is not in any way trying to tell you how to vote, but just make sure you go to the polls. Let's do this together so that we will have the most proper and most concerned people running our city.

A.J. Voiland,Dunedin

Thanks for help with book project

The members of Pinellas Education Employees-Retired would like to thank people who have helped us with our recent project.

The American Federation of Teachers and the Florida Education Association-Retired began collecting books to help the restructured schools in New Orleans rebuild their school libraries. Our local group, PEER, and the Clearwater Barnes and Noble have worked together to make this a community project.

Barnes and Noble has assisted us in shipping books and allowing us to set up tables to tell customers about our project. The personnel at the store have been extremely helpful. We would especially like to recognize Karen Dietz, store manager, and Linda Chierico, public relations, for their assistance in this project.

We would also like to thank all of the customers who donated books and gift cards to help us with our collection. Your involvement and contributions were wonderful and we appreciate your donations.

The students in New Orleans will definitely benefit because so many people in our area have taken an interest in their education. Our goal was to help get books into the hands of children, and we have certainly accomplished this. Thank you all very much.

Marilyn Warner, Clearwater

Your voice counts

You may submit a letter to the editor for possible publication through our Web site at www.tampabay.com/letters, or by faxing it to (727) 445-4119, or by mailing it to Letters, 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756. You must include your name, address and phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity, taste and length.

[Last modified March 5, 2008, 21:28:43]