Letters to the Editors

Act of kindness worth much more than $5.39

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 14, 2000

This past Sunday, I found myself in quite an embarrassing dilemma. After working out at the gym, I decided to fill my gas tank at the Mobil gas station on the corner of State Road 580 and Belcher Road. After pumping $5.39 worth of gas, the attendant informed me over the speaker that my automated gas tag was not working and I would have to pay by another method.

I had foolishly left the house with no wallet or driver's license, and no form of payment other than my apparently defective gas tag. The attendant flatly refused to contact Mobil and access my credit card number, which was linked to my gas tag, and proceeded to call a deputy to escort me to my home to retrieve the payment due.

Thankfully, the deputy was very kind and did not proceed to embarrass me further as he took my information down on his note pad. Incredibly, just as this was happening, a stranger insisted on paying for my gas. I had never seen her before, and she declined to give me her address so that I could repay her, saying only that this was her good deed for the day.

My only hope is that she sees this letter and understands how grateful I am for her kind gesture.
-- Jules Stewart-Schmiederer, Dunedin

Roundabout situation, proposed solutions are tragically funny

Until the roundabout opened in December, I used to read the comics. Now I turn right to letters to the editor. Just when I think I couldn't read a funnier comment on what has become the Joke of Clearwater, bam, there it is -- another side-splitting comment on a memorable roundabout experience.

Now we are spending $29,000 for extra police on weekends along with $2,000 for free bus and shuttle services. Is that what they mean by "tweaking"?

Please don't stop printing all the anti-roundabout letters. It is comforting to know I have so many comrades.
-- JoAnna Anderson, Clearwater

Florida drivers' rudeness is what makes roundabout a disaster

I would like to commend Mike Roberto for his fortitude in the installation of the roundabout at Clearwater Beach. This method of traffic control has been very successfully used in the United Kingdom for many years.

However, there is a difference. U.K. drivers are invariably polite, whereas the drivers I have seen in Florida must be some of the worst in the world. I have never experienced such blatant breaking of the law, such as running red lights, cutting in and out of traffic, tailgating and just downright anger.

The chief ingredient to make such a roundabout work is good manners. Until this happens, there will be a pile of letters to the editor, mostly from people who don't make it work. Incidently, there is a roundabout in Clearwater that has been there for many years. It is at the intersection of Hamlet and Lennon and it works like a charm.
-- Donald J. Sykes-Free, Clearwater

A long-term solution is the only way to deal with roundabout

Re: Just fix the roundabout, column, March 12.

Where have you been for the last month? As a resident of the north end of the beach and a Clearwater city commissioner, I have voiced my concerns with the design and functioning of the roundabout for a long time. I have also asked the city manager, since last year, to plan for spring break with alternative forms of transportation.

Several messages have come through the many suggestions I have received. We need to rely more on our residents and their experiences rather than simply listening to the experts. We must weigh expert opinions with common sense and acceptable driving practices. We must acknowledge the mix of drivers who use this intersection, especially our young drivers, senior citizens and tourists.

Although I have met with one of the original engineering consultants for the roundabout, I feel that it is extremely important to have a new, independent engineer review this intersection. We need fresh perspective rather than continuing to defend the present design.

I am not for a quick fix but a permanent solution. We need to stop the denial and finger pointing and focus on making the necessary changes to improve the functionality of this intersection.
-- Ed Hart, city commissioner, Clearwater

Clearwater's tax dollars were poorly spent on traffic circle

I have read with great amusement all of the comments regarding the Roberto Circle on Clearwater Beach. I have also had the wonderful experience of traveling this true piece of highway engineering.

After all of this excitement, I can only say that I'm glad I don't pay taxes in Clearwater!
-- Don Mott, Largo

Project's failure is plain to see from wherever you are standing

Mike Roberto's monument to his ego needs to be renamed "Roberto's Runaround." It has a nice ring to it because that is exactly what everyone is getting.

Roberto's response to a thoughtful and well-crafted e-mail letter from a concerned citizen demonstrates his total lack of humility and his ability to duck responsibility. The only thing good about this traffic mess is that people on bicycles are getting to the beach faster than cars.

If you want to see a disaster in the making, just stand at the western entrance to Clearwater City Hall on the bluff. From that vantage point, Mike and the city fathers have a perfect view of the chaos they have created.
-- A.J. Boyer, Clearwater

99-year lease proposal would take power away from voters

Don't fall for the attempted end run being made by Clearwater elected officials. Vote against the proposed charter amendment to allow 99-year leasing of municipal real property. It is your property!

A long-term lease (up to 99 years) will serve the purpose of allowing private developers the use of the valuable bayfront land to make money for themselves rather than preserving this beautiful land for general use for the benefit of the public as a whole.

Many current residents are probably not aware that about 25 years ago a large number of residents were disturbed with how previous Clearwater elected officials had foolishly leased valuable city property throughout the city for $1 per year to private businessmen or to small groups of citizens with restricted membership in their private clubs and organizations. Citizens voted for a charter change from 99-year leases to 30-year leases to protect city property from what our current elected officials are now planning.

We worked hard to amend our city charter to prohibit the lease of city property for longer than 30 years. Don't vote to give away that protection. Good leases that are of benefit to the public as a whole can always be extended either by the available 30-year option in the current charter or, if need be, by voter referendum.
-- Karleen F. DeBlaker, Pinellas County clerk, Clearwater

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