Letters to the Editors

Largo resident supports police chief and commissioners

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 12, 2000

Re: Largo residents deserve answers, editorial, May 10.

As I read the editorial page today and watch the lives of people who are professional, decent and good people being portrayed as otherwise, I feel I must respond.

The editorial writer cannot imagine the sense of betrayal felt because he does not understand the people of Largo or know personally the chief of police, Jerry Bloechle. I cannot stand by and have the reputation of a good man smeared across your paper.

Chief Bloechle perhaps ignored a 1998 suicide note by Officer John Ferraro because a logical conclusion was reached that if a person is unstable enough to take his own life, perhaps the note he left was a sign of his instability rather than a statement of fact. Hindsight is always 20-20.

Perhaps the chief made a mistake, an honest mistake. It was the result of a logical conclusion agreed to by his senior staff. We in Largo know we have a good chief, a decent person who is quite capable of running his department without the help of the Times. We subscribe to the Tampa Tribune and the Times because we feel we can never get an unbiased view from just one newspaper.

When you sit behind your desk and write about our chief and our commissioners, perhaps you should be better aware that the people of Largo have faith in both the police chief and our city commissioners. We do not feel betrayed.
-- Barbara Smith, Largo

Police situation requires a thorough investigation

Re: Report: Police, Explorers had sex, story, May 6.

Outrageous, unbelievable and cronyism are just a few words that I would use to describe this sordid story. If not for the seriousness of the allegations, this would be a real hoot.

After reading of the events that have unfolded and the responses given by police Chief Jerry Bloechle, it is amazing that the mayor, city manager and City Commission in Largo have not opened a full investigation into this matter beginning at the top of the Largo Police Department. Instead, it seems the only ones being investigated are the officers involved. What about the commanders who were aware of the rumors and allegations for the past two or three years and decided to put it all in a box and shelve it?

This most certainly would not have been the course of action if the same thing had happened at the YMCA or any other youth organization. Many of the quotes from Chief Bloechle that I have read seemed to be quite outlandish. I can't speak for everyone, but personally, I am more afraid of a police officer who is breaking the law than I am of a drug dealer, prostitute or burglar. Criminals are not supposed to wear badges and carry guns.
-- Don Mott, Largo

Causeway beach divided for boaters, swimmers

Re: Beauty of causeway beach falling by wayside, letter, April 25.

For the record, the south side of Dunedin causeway was divided into three sections. The first section extends approximately from the drawbridge west to a warning sign and is the powerboat and personal watercraft section. From that sign, marked "no watercraft," west to the concession is the section for sunbathing, swimming and fishing. From there to the last bridge is the non-motorized sailboat, kayak and windsurfing section.

The non-powered boat owners, sailors and concession owner use the no-motors section and maintain and groom the sand at no charge to the city of Dunedin. These people keep the area clean of trash and broken bottles, but it is being overrun by sunbathers who do not understand that this is the only place for sailboats to safely launch without hitting power lines.

The sunbathers have use of 21/2 miles of causeway and a state park, but choose to sunbathe where boats are being launched rather than other areas. When the sunbathers swim in an area with watercraft of any type, it is dangerous. So far, everybody has been cooperating and there have been few problems.
-- Greg Smith, Dunedin

Officials should work on plan to cut the grass

It is my understanding that a person traveling through some of our southwestern states is likely to encounter mile after mile of desertlike landscape, replete with scrub foliage, cactus and barren ground. It is only near the cities and towns that the greenery of lawns, trees and cultivated gardens prevails. This reflects the true nature of those areas of our country.

In sharp contrast, one can travel the length and breadth of Florida -- spring, summer, fall or winter -- and encounter miles of green, green, green. It is only in our cities and towns that we experience the brown and burned-out lawns and landscaping that our normal seasonal weather cannot sustain.

The time has come to rethink our approach to how we landscape our homes in the heavily populated areas of Florida.

First, let's stop paying homage to the "almighty green lawn." Let us begin by putting a moratorium on installing a lawn of sod on any new homes built after some specific date. Then let us set up an incentive program to induce as many homeowners as possible to begin replacing their existing lawns with other types of natural, native, decorative foliage and ground cover. A countywide implementation of such a plan, in those areas adversely affected by a lack of adequate groundwater and rain, could go a long way in resolving the kind of water shortages we are experiencing.

And, of course, there would be additional benefits to the eventual elimination of lawns. Best would be the demise of the ugly, noisy, air-polluting lawn mower. Think of those nice, quiet weekend mornings when one could relax on his porch or patio without the endless drone of mowers, edgers, trimmers and blowers. We could also vastly reduce the amount of water and ground-polluting chemicals we continually pour into our good earth in our constant battle to make the grass grow faster, so we can cut it more often.

Some sod farmers and, perhaps, some lawn-care enterprises will be forced to pursue alternate means of providing service to the public. While there may be some inconvenience, or even hardship to a few, many, many more people will benefit from a change in our perception of what is best for Florida landscaping and citizens.
-- Joe Bruckner, Safety Harbor

Clearwater deserves professional approach

I would like to give my opinion that our Clearwater city leaders are doing a wonderful job. I watch them on cable television and they seem like they are being very sensible. You can tell they really care about the city and know when they need to hire consultants and get outside opinions. They can't be experts on everything.

But I want my city run in a very professional and businesslike manner. We are not some little Podunk town but a good-sized city.
-- Amy S. Spurr, Clearwater

Island Estates proposal would be good for area

Re: Island Estates Civic Association invites fox to guard chickens, letter, April 21.

Contrary to the misleading comments contained in the referenced letter, the petition drive is to initiate the process to form a Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District on Island Estates. Overlay means exactly that. It is a means to strengthen our present deed restrictions, which vary from street to street and are not enforceable without litigation.

Once we receive 60 percent approval from the property owners, this petition will be submitted to the City Commission. The commissioners will appoint a study committee of seven people (our neighbors) to act as a Neighborhood Conservation Study Committee for the Island Estates area. Then a 90-day special area planning process begins. During this period, at least four public hearings will be held to allow Island Estates residents to express their opinions to the changes requested by the study committee.

Nothing is passed until the public hearings are held and the residents heard. The study committee will then approve a special area plan including the goals, policies and objectives for the proposed Neighborhood Conservation District and submit it to the city. The city will hold at least two additional public hearings.

It is important to note that the requested changes and additions to the city code specific to the Island Estates neighborhood have been formulated by Island Estates residents. We want to ensure that super-condos mentioned in the letter will not be built on Island Estates.

It is a sad state of affairs when we become so jaded to think that anything associated with government is inherently not in the public's best interest. The civic association has open meetings every second Monday of the month for all residents to express their viewpoints and suggestions for improving our neighborhood.
-- Dan Molino and Jim Steenson, Clearwater

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