Letters to the Editors

Electricity study must continue

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 5, 2000

The city of Dunedin and the town of Belleair are studying the issue of taking over electric power distribution. This is a complicated issue but could potentially save the city and residents several million dollars a year.

The Dunedin Chamber of Commerce has recommended that the city of Dunedin terminate the study of Florida Power even though we do not yet have the facts. The issue of electric power distribution is being studied by a legal committee, a finance committee and a technical committee, and each is in the early stages of fact-finding.

In addition, the governor is establishing a study commission, the city of Casselberry has filed a lawsuit against Florida Power Corp., and the Florida League of Cities has scheduled a conference workshop, all directed to the deregulation of the electric utility monopoly. The objective of this effort is to introduce competition, reduce electric cost and improve service and aesthetics.

There are more than 30 municipal electric utilities in the state of Florida (e.g., Tallahassee, Orlando, Ocala, Mount Dora, Jacksonville, Vero Beach and Homestead). Nationwide there are approximately 2,000 municipal electric utilities that have lower power rates on average than private power companies.

At the same time the city is studying the issue of electric power distribution, it is also negotiating a franchise agreement renewal with Florida Power. To date, Florida Power Corp. has been unwilling to extend the franchise for five years, unwilling to continue the buyout provision that is in the current agreement and unwilling to accommodate other requests by the city. Therefore, it is very important that the city pursue all options in order to select and negotiate the best alternative for all residents of Dunedin.
-- Tom Anderson, Mayor, Dunedin

Publicly owned utilities would save people money

I'm a registered voter, and I fully support the proposal for city-owned public utilities in Dunedin. I called Mayor Tom Anderson, the city manager and all four city commissioners and urged them to proceed.

I also would oppose backing out in the face of opposition. The chamber opposes it chiefly because it involves government competition.

In Milwaukee, where municipal ownership of public utilities is practiced, it has saved money for the poor, the working class and senior citizens. I believe the same thing would happen here.
-- Allan B. Greene, Dunedin

Don't let mistrust stop downtown's development

After attending our Hillcrest neighborhood meeting on June 28 where George de Guardiola presented his visionary redevelopment plan for downtown Clearwater, I am very worried about this plan passing. Sadly, it's not because our neighborhood and other citizens don't like most of what he's proposing for downtown, but because our citizens don't trust our city officials.

It's ironic, though, that a lot of the mistrust for our current officials has been fueled by past members of our city government, who created the debt-ridden Harborview Center fiasco.

I owned a retail business in downtown Clearwater from 1983 to 1988 and at that time there was a lot of talk about developing downtown, but nothing has happened until now. There are only about three stores left of the ones operating when I was in business there. We have all closed due to lack of business.

In my opinion, these are the first qualified developers who really understand how a downtown should be developed, and if we don't vote for this plan, we'll have a dead downtown for many more years. They have a very comprehensive and well-thought-out plan that includes Cleveland Street, not just the bayfront.

So far the Save the Bayfront group has asked a lot of barbed questions and made a lot of misstatements about giving our land away but has yet to come up with solid alternative solutions for the future of our downtown.

It's time to put our desire for a thriving and beautiful downtown that everyone can enjoy ahead of the mistrust for our current city officials. We will have a new City Commission after next March, but our new downtown can be enjoyed for decades to come. Get out and vote July 11.
-- Sara Sanders, Clearwater

Anti-referendum leaders fueled by earlier failure

Recently I received a letter from the Save the Bayfront group trying to inform me of its interpretation of what is going to happen downtown. The pamphlet was full of comic exaggeration and scare tactics.

However, for the last 12 years I have been investing and working one block away from City Hall, so I know what really has been happening in City Hall. I address this to former commissioners (Sue) Berfield, (Fred) Thomas, (Arthur) Deegan, (Lee) Regulski and (Gabe) Cazares:

They are very worried about the status of the bayfront, yet while they held commission seats, they failed to do anything to save it. If anything, they should blame themselves for making the wrong decisions and contributing to the bayfront's current sad condition.

Why did they decide to spend more than $15-million (without a referendum) to renovate the Maas Brothers building into the Harborview Center? They told us it would be a cash cow for the city, yet we ended up subsidizing it $800,000 each year.

They sold the Atrium building for only $6.5-million, stating it was too expensive and too large for the city's needs, then later built the police station and municipal building, which cost more than $20-million, and are considered cramped by the city employees.

These commissioners spent millions in planning, surveying and polling, trying to find someone to redevelop downtown. I would like to remind them of when they hired Peter Gozza as the executive director of the Community Redevelopment Agency to bring developers downtown and failed to achieve anything.

It seems to me that these commissioners had their chance and wanted to see downtown redeveloped, but when they were not re-elected, suddenly they changed their opinion and are against the new administration achieving these goals. Obviously, the primary factor driving these former commissioners is jealousy and politics. I respect Mr. Thomas and Mr. Deegan because I know they made efforts to help downtown redevelopment.

What will happen if we vote yes to the referendum? We will have a bayfront we can be proud of for a change. The Harborview Center will pay real-estate taxes, and all other parcels will now be generating tax revenue for the city. If we let an opportunity like this pass us, Clearwater will continue to suffer. Vote yes, yes, yes on July 11.
-- Terry Tsafatinos, Clearwater

Parking lot attendants serve beachgoers well

Re: Good idea to eliminate beach parking attendants, letter, June 26.

I'm a parking lot attendant on Clearwater Beach, as are my co-workers, and we're proud of the way we handle our job.

We are not as slow as the people who have to go in the trunk of the car and get money, or the man sitting behind the wheel who has trouble reaching in his pockets.

Then you have the car that pulls up with four or five girls or guys in it, and the driver has to wait until each one donates his or her fair share. This should all be done before you reach our booth.

Also, the writer says to go back to the meters, which won't solve the problem. You show me one meter that can give the directions and information that we give out.

I don't know what is more rewarding -- knowing that we serve the people who come to our beaches well or knowing that we sent someone in the right direction. So give us a break, please.
-- Angelina Austin, Clearwater

There is good news about service clubs

Re: Clubs dwindle as times change, story, June 4.

The Kiwanis Club is a "service club," not civic. The 29,000-plus Rotary Clubs internationally are "service clubs," not civic clubs. It is unfortunate that your reporter chose to dwell on the negative rather than the positive. For instance, the Kiwanis Clubs in the Largo/Seminole area are involved with many, many projects including Every Child a Swimmer and its Horses for Handicapped children, along with its volunteer efforts at Bay Pines Hospital, just to name a few.

Perhaps if you had talked about the wonderful things they accomplish rather than dwelling on their loss of members, individuals reading the article may have been motivated to join and take part in the Kiwanis Clubs' efforts for the good of the community.

As for Rotary, your reporter probably should have interviewed District 6950's governor. Wilma Norton would then have been cognizant of the fact that District 6950 is now nine years old and growing. District 6950 encompasses Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties; we have 42 clubs and more than 2,035 active members. In 1991 we started with approximately 1,700 members. I would say Rotary has experienced growth in District 6950, wouldn't you?

Weekly meetings are part of being a Rotarian and keeping oneself fully educated on what is happening on a club, district and international level. Our district has clubs that meet in the morning, at lunchtime and occasionally for dinner. All this is explained before someone becomes a Rotarian. Attendance is not a "surprise" to any new member.

If your readers were better informed with more good news about the accomplishments of "civic" clubs, as you prefer to call us, then perhaps Rotary would be viewed not as just a "social" organization but for what we are. We are an organization of business and professional persons united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help build good will and peace in the world -- in short, "service above self."
-- Patricia Schmoranz, governor 1999-2000, Rotary International, District 6950, Seminole

Clearwater gives tourists priority, ignores residents

After vacationing in Clearwater for 10 years, I decided it was not only a beautiful place to visit but would be an ideal place to live.

But since moving here four years ago, I have come to realize that more emphasis is put on the tourists, and the people who live here don't seem to count.

City Manager Mike Roberto and most of the city commissioners have their values misplaced and seem to lack concern for the residents.
-- Cyndi Shay, Clearwater

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