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Letter to the editor

Today's Letters: Urge legislators to do the right thing

Bayway bridges

The Bayway bridges are not bridges to nowhere. They offer the only access that thousands of homeowners and their guests have to their homes. Many business owners, workers and customers also must use these bridges to access their destinations daily. The bridges provide the only access to Fort De Soto Park, one of our most highly rated and treasured destinations, and are also the primary access to south St. Pete Beach and its businesses and beaches. Can you imagine the potential traffic pileups on the Corey Causeway when people heading for south St. Pete Beach try to avoid the newly proposed absurd toll fees?

The idea that the Legislature should relinquish its control of the toll rates to the Department of Transportation and thereby allow the DOT to control and raise rates to whatever level it wants, free of any political repercussions, is being met with serious public condemnation and opposition.

One solution to this problem is to first deny the DOT the power to set the rates by leaving the Legislature in control. Where there is a political price to pay, there will likely be less to pay at the toll gate. A better solution lies in having the Legislature and county justify why this bridge project is being singled out so that the Bayway bridges would continue to be the only toll bridges in Pinellas County.

This is especially troublesome when enough toll money had been collected over the lifespan of the bridges to pay for the new ones. In the name of basic fairness and political rectitude, new funding sources should be used to build toll-free bridges on the Bayway. That would clearly be the best solution.

Because the Legislature opened for business last week, time is of the essence. Let's issue a strong message to lawmakers to do what is right. The two key people to contact are Rep. Jim Frishe, 727 518-3902 or jim.frishe@myfloridahouse.gov and Sen. Dennis Jones, (727) 549-6413 or jones.dennis.web@flsenate.gov Urge them to take a position against Senate Bill 554 and House Bill 287 and for toll-free Bayway bridges. An e-mail to Gov. Charlie Crist could also help: Charlie.Crist@MyFlorida.com

John Farnham, St. Petersburg

Bayway area teams up against tolls Feb. 27

Let outcry be heard

It is easy to understand why there is a huge outcry against the proposed outrageous increases in the Bayway toll fees. But the real issue is why there are going to be any tolls at all. No other bridge users in other parts of the county are being forced to pay any tolls. To be the only toll bridge and then propose to have the east-west tolls increased by 150 percent on July 1, and to as much as 700 percent later, is beyond belief and must be stopped.

Spread the word and send it to Tallahassee before they give authority to set rates to the Florida Department of Transportation. Tell them to vote against Senate Bill 554 and House Bill 287. Let's hope lawmakers will at least wait until after the public hearing at 6 p.m. Wednesday at 7701 Boca Ciega Drive, St. Pete Beach. See you all there.

Jerry Dineen, St. Petersburg

New baseball stadium

It's the waterfront

The St. Petersburg city administration and City Council have their priorities reversed. Clearly, what distinguishes St. Petersburg from other cities is its publicly owned waterfront, not 86 acres of land next to Interstate 275. All cities have land next to interstates. Plans for the 86 acres (Tropicana Field), no matter how glitzy, should not dictate the use of our waterfront.

The first priority for this city and its citizens is to determine what, if anything, we would like to see on the waterfront in place of Al Lang Field.

Our waterfront park system is the envy of other cities, including Tampa, which is in the process of acquiring waterfront land in an attempt to emulate St. Petersburg. Tampa's downtown sports arena added nothing to the city's livability.

Ronald E. Young, St. Petersburg

New baseball stadium

Consider the glare

Those living near the proposed Rays baseball stadium have rightly expressed concern about noise, traffic and parking. One other issue will have a negative impact on their quality of life, as well as on nearby restaurants, marinas, parks and, maybe, the Mahaffey. It is the lights.

Despite the so-called roof on the proposed stadium, the lighting system for the playing field will probably illuminate any rooms with windows facing the field, even blocks away, as well as the surrounding areas.

That is another good reason for the Rays to stay in the dome.

Len Wilson, St. Petersburg

Cell phone morons

Anyone who has driven the highways and byways of the greater Tampa Bay and surrounding areas has most certainly noticed the high number of irritating drivers and the predominant cause of that irritation: people talking on their cell phones while attempting to drive.

This epidemic, which is at critical mass, has caused a chain reaction of stupidity. This will only strengthen the resolve of angry motorists who wish nothing more than to see these morons drive off the Howard Frankland Bridge at a high speed while they are attempting to reconnect with their dropped calls.

Florida needs stricter cell phone regulations.

Michael Poznoski, Safety Harbor

Sleepless nights for budget officers March 5

Economy's toll

The column by Diane Steinle should help to clear up the issue of no money in the coffers.

Up to now, all fingers pointed to Amendment 1 as being the No. 1 cause, without mention of the staggering economy and the toll it is taking on every individual's daily life.

She has now let it be known that Amendment 1 may only be part of the problem.

Mary Jane Callihan,St. Petersburg

Share your views

We invite readers to write to us. Letters for publication should be addressed to Letters to the Editor, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731. They can be sent by fax to (727) 893-8675or through our Web site at www.sptimes.com/letters. They should be brief and must include the writer's name, address and phone number. Please include a handwritten signature when possible. Letters may be edited for clarity, taste and length. We regret that not all letters can be published.

[Last modified March 8, 2008, 23:39:58]