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© St. Petersburg Times, published March 6, 2001
Re: Tempers reignite over apartment project, Feb. 28
Editor: Just who does Commissioner Altman think he is by saying that Embassy Hills is a neighborhood in decline? If it is, it is because Altman and all of his good old boys and gals made it that way. I see that they consider River Ridge a "better" place, because they aren't putting low-income housing near what he considers the affluent section of town.
How come in Tampa they call these housing projects, and in Embassy Hills they call it low-income housing? They are putting 160 units with 360 parking spaces into a community that already has very overcrowded roads. I guess it doesn't matter how they get to work; they are "service people," not professionals, and can afford to be late. Not once did Altman or any of the other commissioners consider that if they wanted to help what he calls the "service people," they could build houses on that land and get special mortgage rates and let these "service people" have a home and some self-respect, instead of making them live like ants in a colony.
They just want giant complexes that will line people's pockets. I'm sure the people who live in the declining neighborhood of Embassy Hills, or should I say what Commissioners Hildebrand, Schrader and Altman consider the slums, will make sure you all have served your last term. These commissioners need to be impeached for not listening to the voice of the people. You were put there to serve us.
You continue to live your lives in your comfortable homes and put all your poor people into projects making sure you lead them to believe you care about them. All you do care about is your own lives and neighborhoods. After all, you would not want the values of your homes to go down. Also, if you put them all in one place, you can keep an eye on them.
I will actively campaign to make sure that you do not serve another term.
-- Sarah Mauro, Port Richey
Editor: Our newly elected commissioner Altman made a statement that infuriates me. He said "Embassy Hills is on the decline." Is that his reason to vote to approve the apartments coming to Lake Lisa?
What is his projection of the future of our area? When an area is on the "decline," stick in some low-income housing units. When the remaining homes' valuation is $25,000 or less and they receive no tax revenue coming on these properties, then what?
Many of our older subdivisions are becoming eyesores. Who helped in this progress? Not our commissioners who live in the more affluent neighborhoods.
County codes went by the wayside and were not enforced. Twenty years from now the newer areas will experience the same scene. Does that mean any vacant land will be used for low-income apartments because they now are in the "decline" areas?
Code enforcement has been very lax in our area. We are beginning to see an improvement, however.
We all need a safe place to live. Careful planning is the answer, not cramming housing on any vacant land. The money they generate today will not offset the expense later to rebuild or destroy them in years to come after a ghetto-type area is undesirable.
Inner cities were born because of the word "decline." But I say, not in my area.
One can't fight city hall, but we can let them know when election time comes around.
-- Marie Wolownik, Port Richey
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