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© St. Petersburg Times, published April 27, 2001
Re: North Pinellas spurs county's growth, March 29 story.
The staff writers interviewed Dan Bobel, East Lake fire commissioner and president of East Lake 2000, along with Charles Schult, former fire commissioner and president of the Citizens Action League during the last year or so of its activity. They opined respectfully that the East Lake area of North Pinellas County needed a clear identity, and that the demographics had done a reversal in the past decade.
In my opinion, both gentlemen are right on target. When I moved into the area in 1988, East Lake was almost entirely retirees or white collar professionals who were in the final stages of their careers. As a member and vice president of the Citizens Action League in the early '90s, I joined the majority of the residents in successfully keeping the area known only as unincorporated North Pinellas County.
It is now apparent that any attempt to incorporate East Lake will be embarrassingly defeated. It is also time to realize that now that the East Lake Fire District was overwhelmingly voted last fall to become an Independent Special Fire District, we stand to lose thousands of dollars in homeowner insurance rebates that insurance companies will pay to the fire district after a change in the firefighter retirement system.
That is because the insurance companies normally identify a home location by its ZIP code. At this time, the East Lake Fire District shares ZIP codes with Oldsmar, Palm Harbor and Tarpon Springs.
Do we need a new post office to get our own ZIP? I don't think so. Assignments of ZIPs today are Oldsmar, 34677; Palm Harbor, 34682 through 34685; and Tarpon Springs, 34688 through 34691. So East Lake could be assigned 34686 and 34687, which are unused ZIPs.
The 2000 census revealed what I consider a shocking fact: If the 38-square-mile East Lake Fire District were a county, it would be as large as Liberty County and would have a greater population than 19 other Florida counties.
Yes, with a main road, a fire district with three stations, a high school, shopping centers, churches, newspapers and many businesses sharing the name East Lake, it is time to make the name official. But, no one had dare try to incorporate the community, just because it has a name!
-- Charles O. Dedman, East Lake
Re: Principal's action may have averted trouble in the future, April 1 letter.
I am appalled that letter writer Peggy Wiley could compare the two baseball players at Palm Harbor University High School with the boys depicted in Glen Ridge, N.J. Those boys did some vicious, cruel and illegal acts. The baseball players at PHUHS have never been in trouble.
I can speak without hesitation about one of the boys, whom I have known for more than 18 years. He is an honor student, a young man with a religious upbringing, strong family ties and an asset to the school and his community.
Ms. Wiley does not know all the facts. She has judged these boys very harshly without all the information, just as Principal Alec Liem has done. These boys are not criminals. They did not rape or rob anyone. They did not bring guns or bombs to school. They are not the anti-social sociopaths that Ms. Wiley might believe.
Their side of the story needs to be told in full.
-- Marilyn Satinoff, Palm Harbor
As suggested by Sue Ward in her letter to the editor on March 30, Pinellas County needs to "do a better job providing a little area in our parks for the taxpayers that own dogs."'
How true. I often make the trek with my dogs to Al Lopez Park in Tampa to enjoy the camaraderie there. Hillsborough County has several more parks planned. They're lucky. I wish we didn't have to drive so far.
We're not talking about a big investment or liability. Come on, Pinellas, recognize us dog lovers and set aside some fenced space in a park or two. There is a greater need than you realize. Even people without dogs can come spend time with us and learn about breeds they may want to own in the future. I predict many residents would benefit.
-- Paula Harshberger, Safety Harbor
It is time for all police jurisdictions to enter the new millennium. The wild west days of Gunsmoke are gone. It is time for upgrading the training and education of all law enforcement officers.
The Largo police chief, however, wants to lower the standards for becoming a police officer. Someone who has the power of life and death over the citizenry should be highly qualified, trained and intelligent in dealing with people.
-- Stefano Longinotti, Largo