Column

Work paves way for better future

Two days before municipal elections and just past the midpoint of the first Florida legislative session of the new century seems like an appropriate time to clear the desk and fill this space with previously unreleased material.

By C. T. BOWEN, Editor of Editorials

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 9, 2000

Two days before municipal elections and just past the midpoint of the first Florida legislative session of the new century seems like an appropriate time to clear the desk and fill this space with previously unreleased material.

One of the leading campaign issues in Zephyrhills? The already-completed downtown improvements.

The intricate brick work, drainage work, lighting and landscaping are drawing criticism from would-be council members. One called it California-mall ugly, and another said the construction was too detrimental to businesses. The city is preparing to apply for another state grant to continue the work, though not as elaborately, from Zephyr Park on the west to 16th Street on the east.

Funny, though, eight years ago the leading issue in New Port Richey was downtown improvements. The city planned to spend $4-million (more than four times the price tag of Zephyrhills' improvements so far) to beautify the business district. Several candidates for office opposed the spending or said it should be done incrementally. Yet, today, former council candidates and this year's mayoral hopefuls, Ted Thomas and Wendy Brenner, can point with pride at the refurbished downtown and tout it as their most significant accomplishment.

Nobody says they are sorry the city did the work. Wonder what they'll be saying in Zephyrhills in 2008?

Sen. Jack Latvala is attempting to schedule a personal lobbying session with Gov. Jeb Bush to tout the merits of dredging Hudson Channel.

Nearly $1.1-million for the dredging has been included in state spending plans approved by the House and Senate, though that is no guarantee it will become reality. The county paid $180,000 to apply for the environmental permit after Bush vetoed that appropriation last year.

Al Meyer, the loudest advocate of such a plan, said he and County Administrator John Gallagher also are to attend if the meeting can be arranged.

Meyer didn't mention Rep. Heather Fiorentino, even though Hudson is in her legislative district. Maybe it's a good thing. Fiorentino's courageous stand last year against vouchers likely won't be forgotten by the Bush camp when it comes to time to veto legislative spending.

Fiorentino has been named the fourth winner of the CARES Phil Mishkin award, given annually to a Pasco person committed to the elderly.

I like Fiorentino, but CARES certainly is diluting the significance of the award by routinely picking west Pasco's state legislators for the honor. Rep. Mike Fasano and former Rep. Debra Prewitt also have won the award. Doris Cook Smith, a former Zephyrhills City Council member, is the only non-legislative winner. She also is the only senior to win.

Mishkin served two terms in the Legislature, first being elected in 1990 at age 75.

Though his career in Tallahassee gained him the most celebrity. it's arguable he had a greater effect on people before being an elected official.

He formed the National Senior Citizens Council to raise awareness of elderly issues, and his touching and eloquent presentation before the Pasco County Commission in 1987 helped sway that board to reverse an earlier vote and finance a mass transit system for west Pasco.

Repeatedly looking to Tallahassee for a Mishkin award winner leaves an impression that dollars, not dedication, are the motivation for the recognition.

That being said, it should be noted one of the attributes that helped swing the judges toward Fiorentino is that she had been a caregiver for her elderly parents. She was nominated for the award by Fasano and by Gema G. Hernandez, secretary of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs.

But even Fiorentino is aware of the legislative leaning of the Mishkin honor.

"I agree with you. I really do," Fiorentino said. "You have so many people here who are wonderful volunteers that should be recognized."

Did you see where Latvala played peacemaker on the Senate floor Thursday? Times staff writer William Yardley reported that amid the rancor of debating a bill about juvenile crime, the senate majority leader, whose district includes west Pasco, pulled out the Senate rule book and read aloud the doctrine about avoiding personal attacks.

This decorum bulletin is from the same guy accused of a profane tirade against County Commissioner Steve Simon over the issue of water.

You think he will bring said rule book to next year's Chasco Fiesta parade?

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