Letters to the Editors

Water plan has become a disaster for county

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 18, 2001

Editor: Please don't put all of Pasco County residents in the same bag. It is not my fault or that of others that we cannot control politicians or government staff.

We did not come up with the master disaster water plan. We did not support it. We spoke against it on numerous occasions before it was passed, did you? I am not trying to pick a fight. I am saying that you should not start one with folks who have been damaged beyond belief, wanted the desal facility at Anclote and worked hard along with the water management district to have it placed there, and were not exactly pleased when the Big Bend location was chosen.

For a variety of reasons, I'd rather see a desal facility at Big Bend than a reservoir and/or an intake on the Alafia. I don't want to see any more groundwater pumping anywhere.

Have you ever been up to see what is left of Lake Stemper in northwest Hillsborough County? Well, there isn't much to see. That is the bottom of a chain of lakes that starts in Pasco County. We are in the same watershed. Like it or not we are hydrologically tied together like brothers and sisters.

We need to insist that Pinellas County quit wasting its reclaimed water and its surficial aquifer well water. They allow residents to water every day. We need to insist that they install a series of 4-million gallons per day brackish water desal wells along the Pinellas peninsula to help offset their reliance on our groundwater.

Working together we have a chance of accomplishing this, but drawing a battle line between our counties we have not a prayer.
-- Judy A. Williams, Lutz

Professor's praise is well-deserved

Editor: Commissioner Pat Mulieri leads a chorus of legions in her tribute to Professor Jim Hollingsworth.

Not only would there be an army of present and former students echoing this panegyric, but scores of other colleagues in the field of education and hosts of others in and out of government. I would be the last person who would want to subject Dr. Hollingsworth to any embarrassment for I know, as does any other of his former students, that his modesty is legend. However, I must, out of both gratitude and admiration, join the very considerate Dr. Mulieri as fulsome encomiast.
-- James A. O'Connor, Hudson

Argenziano should suffer consequences

Editor: For sending Associated Industries lobbyist Jodi Chase cow dung, state Rep. Nancy Argenziano, R-Crystal River, should be required to go out and pick up her mess, apologize, take an anger management course, do 100 hours of community service and be suspended without pay for at least three days.

After all, if you or I sent such mail with our names and job description on it, our employers would do just that, or outright fire us.

What makes politicians different? They are paid to do a job and behave in a certain manner just like everyone else who is employed. They say that if we don't want to live the life our employer paints for us, we can apply elsewhere.

The only thing is, what's good for the goose isn't just as good for the gander. If our lawmakers expect everyone to sign off life's choices when applying for a job, they should at least practice what they preach.

Argenziano does not have this kind of free speech rights, as far as I'm concerned. She agreed to work at a place that said she didn't. Is it fair? Probably not. But my momma always said, never sign anything without first reading it.
-- Ann Wilson, Spring Hill

Argenziano was giving of herself

Editor: Representative Nancy Argenziano is criticized for sending gift-wrapped cow manure to her adversary, Associated Industries lobbyist Jodi Chase. She should be applauded.

Unable to express in words her retaliatory feelings, she instead gave of herself to the lobbyist.
-- James A. Willan, Brooksville

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