Letters to the Editors

Losing your HMO? Contact candidates

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 16, 2000

Editor: Re: Patients face crisis in coverage, July 9 Times:

My heart goes out to all of you who are experiencing anxiety in the loss of your HMO coverage. I know. I have been there.

So what can you do?

I respectfully suggest you gather all your medical/prescription bills, make copies and forward these bills to your state and federal senators and congressmen and demand that these bills be paid from your tax dollars. Also, ask for enough tax reduction so that you can pay for medical/prescription increases coming soon.

This is an election year. Attend local debates/forums that are coming around soon. Give your problems to these candidates; that's their job.
-- Frank Aguele, Masaryktown

Stereotypes prevent disabled from getting help

Editor: The St. Petersburg Times ran an article about the 2000 Census and how it helps determine how much federal aid each county and state would receive. The following reasons explain why I, for one, refused to fill out the census:

On Feb. 6, I wrote to you about how the news media stereotyped disabled people as liars and cheats. Back in 1995, I tried to get help from state- and federal-funded agencies in Hernando County due to a problem I was having with Social Security. I contacted Jeff Stabins, my state representative at that time, and his office did not believe that I could not get any help in Hernando County.

Because I was having trouble with Social Security, I also contacted Congresswoman Karen Thurman, who sided with Social Security, and I have the letters to prove it. If I were a senior citizen, I would have had all the help I needed from Thurman; however, because I am disabled and stereotyped by the news media, I did not receive help from any agencies or anyone else for that matter. I was also denied help from the American Civil Liberties Union.

On Dec. 8, I sent a letter to Gov. Jeb Bush and also to Sen. Ginny Brown-Waite. I wanted to meet with, or at least talk to, one of them on the phone. To this day, I have not received a response from either. The questions I wanted to ask them I will now ask through your newspaper.

Why is it that a young man with long hair goes to the Highway Patrol office in Brooksville for a driver's license and is turned down several times for various reasons? Is it because he is failing the test? No, because he leaves Hernando County and goes to the driver's license bureau in Pasco County and passes the road test (on a real road, not a back parking lot) the very first time. I know because it happened to my son and some friends.

Why is it a person applies for food stamps in Hernando County and is denied only to be accepted in Tampa?

Our daughter and 2-year-old grandson live with us in Hernando County. Our daughter works in Pasco County. She applied for federal-funded housing in Hernando County and was turned down. Since she works in Pasco County, she applied for federal-funded housing there, and they will be moving into their own apartment soon.

In September 1999, I went to renew my license plates on Forest Oaks Boulevard. There were two disabled parking spaces in front. When I went back there on Jan. 14, 2000, one disabled parking sign was down and a new sign, "Out of state inspections only" was in its place.

What else are they going to take from the disabled people? I am glad senior citizens are getting help from county, state and federal agencies. Even senior discounts are given by different establishments, but people like me have to ask for help and receive very little. If you don't believe me, run a survey through your newspaper and ask the people the same questions I've asked you.

Because I was turned down for help so many times in Hernando County, I no longer ask for help.
-- George A. DiFranco, Spring Hill

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