Letters to the Editors

It's time to transform U.S. 19 into safer road

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 12, 2000

Re: 3-vehicle accident injures 7, closes U.S. 19 near Dunedin, story, March 9.

In the past 11 years living in Pinellas County, I have never heard of or seen an accident so bad that it closes U.S. 19 in both directions. March 8 was a first for this resident.

Time to wake up and listen to the message that Times readers have been preaching for the last few months: U.S. 19 is not your average road passing through your community, and it shouldn't be treated like one.

End the median cuts and make it a limited-access highway -- or even a freeway. Stop watching people get hurt or killed because of indifference on how or where to begin transforming U.S. 19 into a safer thoroughfare.
-- John Fontana, Palm Harbor

Apathetic residents let work conditions remain

Re: Employers don't offer fair pay, training, letter, March 7.

Right on. The reason this state is a "right-to-slave" state is that people's apathy is such that they don't remember how the United States was formed -- by the people getting so incensed that they were willing to give their all to change what they believed wrong. And they had leaders that were willing to do the same.

We are the problem, and until we do something to convince the easily bought politicians that we are willing to correct the situation, it will remain. I remember a book I read that referred to us as "a nation of sheep." It was true then and will probably not change. The letter writer has the right idea; we need more determination and maybe something will change.
-- Frank Vitale, Safety Harbor

Proposition to extend city leases is absurd

Most of the time, I trust and support our elected and senior public servants of Clearwater. But the ballot question to extend city leases to 99 years is absurd. To take away any change in use or opportunity of public land for four or five generations is both unfair and unwise.

The lame justification is that the leasees can't make long-range capital plans. If one would look up the IRS guidelines for full depreciation of buildings and equipment, it is somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 years. If that is the federal "lifetime" on capital improvements, why should our leasees deserve more?

Our mayor, commissioners, city manager and city attorney should be ashamed of themselves, withdraw the referendum and apologize to citizens. In fact, they should remove the additional 30-year extension of the lease without referendum.
-- Nicholas Fritsch, Clearwater

Drew Street library staff is truly appreciated

Since moving to Clearwater 21/2 years ago, we have been weekly visitors to the Drew Street branch of the Clearwater Library. What a wonderful resource for the community!

Whether accommodating a request for a book that has to be secured from another branch or helping with a special need to find classic videos for my elderly mother, the librarians are always helpful and efficient. Thanks to the entire staff for a job well done; you are appreciated!
-- Bill and Kay Douglass, Clearwater

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