Letters to the Editors

Unanswered questions cloud Brown-Waite issue

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 22, 2000

Re: Senator clear to work for Swiftmud, March 15:

Editor: I hope voters will remember the Times' report that state Sen. Brown-Waite has just arranged a cushy deal for the Southwest Florida Water Management District to pay her $71,000 a year, at the same time she is paid to serve as senator.

Voters also should know that Sen. Brown-Waite works against equal rights for women. Her suggestion that it is her gender rather than her conflict of interest that is causing public criticism of her appointment by Swiftmud is merely the most recently publicized example.

She also is known for telling constituents she works to protect the reproductive rights of women, on the one hand, then votes to restrict those rights on the other.

If she remains a state senator and an employee of Swiftmud, guess how she's going to vote when Swiftmud wants more of our money?

Would it also look odd that she sits on state Senate committees that budget money for Swiftmud? Why, also, is she using the "gender card" when another woman was in the running for the job? Too many questions, not enough honest answers.

Thanks for exposing this scam on voters, as well as the people in the Swiftmud district.
-- Jan Kalnbach, Brooksville

So what if Brown-Waite returns to old employer?

Re: Sen. Ginny Brown-Waite's job at the Southwest Florida Water Management District:

-- Editor: For Pete's sake, quit belly-aching about Sen. Brown-Waite's employment at Swiftmud. She's going back to her old employer she had before she was elected senator. So what? She is qualified. She was good at what she did then, and obviously Swiftmud thinks she'll be good at what she'll be doing.

I applaud her for asking the opinion of the state Ethics Commission. Bravo!

Sen. Brown-Waite has been in public service and involved in politickin' and bureaucratin' since I've known her (approximately 13 years), not only in Hernando County and the state of Florida, but in New York before becoming a transplant to "southern New York."
I do believe you all probably are upset to realize this woman has caught on to your wily ways, but she does it with finesse.
Betty Tillis, Shady Hills

Stop robbing aquifer, rivers and find new sources of water

Re: Ex-commissioner calls Simon's plan flawed, harmful, March 19 letter

Editor: At least four years ago, the Water Issues Advisory Committee strongly recommended that the Pasco County Commission reject Plan 4A, which was the framework for the master water plan. Tapes of public comment at West Coast Regional Water Supply Authority, a.k.a. Tampa Bay Water, and a perusal of the newspaper morgues will reflect that I have never endorsed the smoke and mirrors that make up the master water plan because it takes into consideration neither the cumulative damage done by overpumping nor the long-term hydrologic constraints.

We need to develop new sources of water. Mining the aquifer and robbing rivers that feed estuarine systems are not the answers to water supply for exploding growth and expanding business.

The master water plan does not take into account long-term water supply needs. Granted, the Legislature requires a 20-year plan, but so far, we have managed to outstrip every plan put forward. I have asked that the Department of Environmental Protection and Legislature consider setting up a revolving fund for seed money to build desal plants where they are needed.

Unlike Commissioner Steve Simon's attempt to consider public health and safety (open water sources are very vulnerable to contamination), Commission Ed Collins did away with all of Pasco's protection and advantages in exchange for conditional promises. Was this too a part of the Clinton-liberal Democratic line? Please, such partisan silliness beggars description. Republicans like myself drink water.

Is there something akin to Viagra for the memory? If such a product exists, I beg the manufacturer to send the proper dosage to Ed Collins; his memory is failing badly.
-- Gilliam Clarke, Wesley Chapel

Veterans Memorial becoming a reality

Editor: We have finally reached our goal, and the Veterans Memorial is currently under construction. The granite panels are being cut and engraved in California. The supporting concrete base will be poured in stages over the next few weeks in front of the West Pasco Government Center. The granite panels and bronze eagle will be shipped and installed during the week of April 17, and we plan to have the dedication at noon Saturday, May 20. The cost to the fund will be approximately $32,500 plus associated office expenses.

Trinity Memorial Gardens has picked up all of the cost over the $32,500, and in fact the actual retail cost of the memorial would have run approximately $105,000. Another large supporter during the construction phase is Sheriff Lee Cannon. He provided the technical expertise, labor and materials that are required to prepare the site for the panels.

This work is being done with extremely close tolerances and will require approximately 30 yards of concrete, intricate rebar and electrical wiring for the built-in illumination. The installation of the panels will be completed by techs from Honor Life Memorials of Vista, Calif.
-- Jack Kinney, chairman Pasco County Veterans Memorial Fund

Letter writer off base with animal-rights stance

Re: Horse racing is fine; animals have no rights, March 14 letter.

Editor: The letter stating that animals have no rights needs a reply. The writer says we treat them humanely (whatever that means).

I quote his words "whatever that means" which indicate he has no idea of the value of animals or how they should be respected and loved.

He states humane treatment is done for legal or moral reasons. In other words, he feels this is only done if we feel so inclined. The animal does not deserve our respect and has no rights. With this attitude I can only hope he does not have an animal.
-- Aline Johnson, Bayonet Point

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