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Letters to the EditorsCommissioner's words ripple through Clearwater
© St. Petersburg Times, Re: Comment develops into end-of-meeting sniping, story, June 9. Kudos to Clearwater Mayor Brian Aungst for recognizing the importance of sticking up for the staff and the commissioners of the city government against unfounded and unwarranted attacks. Commissioner Ed Hart has now brought the practice of staff bashing, begun by former Commissioners Art Deegan and Fred Thomas, to an all-time low level. Hart has become the master of "outrageous statements," as the mayor put it, directed at both the staff and his fellow commissioners. He never provides any proof or support to back up these inflammatory statements, and, worst of all, he never offers a reasonable solution to any issue. Instead, Hart just criticizes and objects. Commissioner Hoyt Hamilton said it best at the recent City Commission meeting when he suggested that there were maybe 12 citizens in the city that he could attribute such a statement to, but was surprised that a commissioner would say such a thing. Don't be surprised, commissioner. You and Commissioners Whitney Gray and Bill Jonson should get used to it. It seems that with Commissioner Hart, you are either on his side or you must be corrupt.
Official's comments touched raw nerve among colleaguesRe: Comment develops into end-of-meeting sniping, story, June 9. Obviously, Commissioner Ed Hart struck very sensitive nerves with the other commissioners, and especially with the mayor of Clearwater, regarding who is controlling the decisions being made by this august group. The most logical comment that I heard was by Commissioner Whitney Gray, who pointed out that an estimated 50,000 cars go to Clearwater Beach each day, and if 25,000 are going to their homes, where do the other 25,000 find parking? The new Pier 60 parking garage is advertised to accommodate approximately 400 parking spaces -- at best, only a Band-Aid.
Thought commission turmoil ended after last manager leftRe: Comment develops into end-of-meeting sniping, story, June 9. Why tell a newspaper reporter you are dissatisfied with a staff decision without first relating those concerns to the staff so they can try to come up with something you do agree with? Yet, when Commissioner Ed Hart was questioned about his comments to the reporter, he said his concerns and comments were taken out of context. But in his next and final statement, he said he stands by what he said. So which is it: He told them he was not satisfied with the board's decision, or the paper took it out of context? It can't be both ways. I would think that undermining your staff members would not make for a very pleasant workplace. Also, how do you undermine the staff without making yourself look bad? What's the purpose of all this turmoil lately and to whose benefit? Any honest and upright person can see right through dirty politics, and one would think, living in a small town, we wouldn't have to worry about such things like they do in big-city governments. I thought we had enough mud-slinging when former City Manager Mike Roberto was here. I was hoping that after Mayor Brian Aungst had the gumption to ask Roberto to leave, calm would be restored on the commission. I guess I was wrong, as it seems every two to three weeks lately, another storm erupts between Hart and his co-workers. It's quite awhile until the next election, so why try to undermine the others? I have to give Mayor Aungst credit -- he stands up for his staff when they are right, but he also admonishes them when they undermine the work of the rest of the staff. I think our City Commission proved its allegiance to the community when it refused to let developers close off part of a Clearwater Beach street just to help the hotel owners line their own pockets. Here's hoping if Mr. Hart has any tangible proof, he either brings it forward or leaves the mud-slinging to the ditch diggers.
Need more leaders like Hart who voice their opinionsRe: Comment develops into end-of-meeting sniping, story, June 9. What thinking person would not construe the Clearwater City Commission's attitude as leaning toward developers after the recent votes taken to allow building that was and is definitely not favored by a substantial number of citizens? Who do these elected officials think they are? Commissioner Ed Hart has a right to his opinion and a right to voice it, even though it may be contrary to the rubber-stamp attitude of the majority of the other commissioners. When did free speech become non-acceptable, and why should such trivia be any part of a public meeting? In my opinion, we need a few more true representatives like Commissioner Hart.
Public thinks Clearwater being run for benefit of developersRe: Comment develops into end-of-meeting sniping, story, June 9. Assuming the story is accurate, we are profoundly disturbed by our mayor and commissioners' rebuke of Commissioner Ed Hart. Commissioner Hart's comment, if correctly reported, was neither inflammatory nor "outrageous." With all due respect, if our commission had truly been listening, it would be aware that many residents, not just Commissioner Hart, feel very strongly that this city is being run for the benefit of the developers rather than the citizens. This may possibly not be true, but that impression is very strong among the public, and commission actions have done little to dispel it recently. Commissioner Hart should not have been castigated or accused of "inflammatory, divisive garbage." It is unfortunate that Mayor Brian Aungst and several other commissioners were offended by his words. Your responses to them were at least equally offensive. Divisiveness is the alternative to a rubber-stamp commission, and is a priceless part of democracy. For the record, we support Commissioner Hart and strongly agree with his position on giving part of a city road to Marriott, and "68 condos on top of the garage." We are not for that either.
Largo commissioners, seniors thanked for role in bus purchaseRe: Largo staff offers cuts, commission says 'whoa,' story, June 7. We are writing in regards to the purchase of the bus which we are all hoping to enjoy soon. This bus is not only for the use of seniors, but of the outreach program, etc. The news item failed to mention that these same seniors of Largo's Community Center -- these many volunteers -- have earned a considerable amount of money to be included in the purchase of said bus. This was done by a lot of hard work: crafts, dances, rummage sales, etc. It is an ongoing project. Our hats are off to the commissioners who have seen our efforts and a special thank you to Commissioner Marty Shelby for taking this time to attend our recent meeting of the senior advisory board.
Palm Harbor post office needs later pickup hoursWhy do Palm Harbor residents have to drive all the way to Clearwater after 4:30 p.m. to get a letter out that day? Clearwater has a late afternoon pickup and also a middle of the night pickup. You can help by writing Michael Jordan, Manager Postal Service, 2203 N Lois Ave., Tampa, FL 33607. It is easy for the postal system to raise our rates, but when you ask for some decent pickup hours, they turn a deaf ear.
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