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© St. Petersburg Times, published August 16, 2000
Re: Treasure Island trapper, Aug. 9.
As a resident of Treasure Island, I was amazed that the mayor and some of the city commissioners did not have the foresight to realize some very important issues regarding State Trooper Jesus Lopez's actions with the young woman who did not pay her toll because of an outdated bridge decal.
Trooper Lopez's comment to the young girl that if she were responsible enough to drive a car, then she should also be responsible enough to remember to get a bridge decal was correct. These decals are purchased in December for the upcoming year. It is now August; therefore, her decal is eight months delinquent. Toll bridge decal rules and other laws in Treasure Island are for the safety and well-being of all our residents. Any visitor who may come into our city limits must obey the laws as all other Treasure Island residents do.
Trooper Lopez's explanation to the young woman was mature and professional, and volunteering his time for the betterment of our community is most commendable. Our Treasure Island Police Department is outstanding. On many occasions, our police officers just give out warnings, but maybe a few more "real" tickets would alert toll booth "runners" that they must abide by the city's laws. The running through this particular toll booth has been a problem for the city for many years.
I believe that responsibility is the real issue. I feel that we need to teach responsibility to our youth as well as each other. We need citizens in our community who love it enough to volunteer their precious time to keep it the outstanding city that it is.
The mayor of Treasure Island should have supported this vital issue. I believe that he did not help teach one of life's most important lessons. I would like to applaud Commissioner Mary Maloof for her "hooray" comment regarding Trooper Lopez's help, and I hope that his superiors commend him for his extraordinary commitment to his community.
-- Johnna R. Patterson, Treasure Island
Re: Treasure Island trapper, Aug. 9.
Please, please don't leave Treasure Island, Mr. Trapper, aka State Trooper Jesus Lopez. There are obviously some on Treasure Island, most notably our Mayor Leon Atkinson, who don't mind the critters running our streets, but I suggest that when the prevailing attitude (and how dare you call it a "Treasure Island Attitude," Mr. Mayor -- it's not my attitude nor that of my neighbors) is one of lax enforcement, you send the message that it's okay for the local rodents to run freely, and you send the message to all their neighbors and visiting squirrels that they can do likewise.
We've been shortchanged here on Treasure Island when it comes to good, dependable, objective and professional trappers for too many years. I say don't discourage good trappers from doing their work, but commend and encourage them. We need them here, just as everyone else in every other community needs and wants them . . . trappers who do what they're supposed to do (and I don't mean selectively) and rid us of the rats, or at least keep them manageable. If they're good trappers and we don't let them do their job, they'll go somewhere else where they're appreciated.
The only real ironic twist to this cat and mouse story are the ex-trappers who live amongst us and complain to high heaven of lax enforcement and then turn around and ask for professional courtesy when they themselves get caught knee-deep in the trap, but hey, that's another story altogether.
Back to Mr. Trapper -- sir, you're welcome in my neighborhood any day, any time.
-- John Hadsall, Treasure Island
If Treasure Island is not appreciative of Trooper Jesus Lopez, then ask him to patrol my neighborhood.
After asking the St. Petersburg police an average of once a year for 15 years to curb speeders, they have twice timed speeders but never ticketed any, some of which reach speeds of 70 miles per hour on our brick 35 mph Fifth Avenue S. Our avenue is used to avoid the street lights at First Avenue and 49th Street.
I have been passed many times on our avenue because of my slowness at 30 mph.
Welcome, welcome, welcome, Trooper Lopez.
-- S. Marshall, St. Petersburg
To the mayor of Treasure Island and the teenage driver who went through the toll booth without paying and to the driver's mother: Shame on you. No one likes to be stopped by a police officer.
What are we teaching our young people about responsibility? Here is another case of parents not admitting their children were wrong and teaching them that it is okay to not take responsibility for your actions.
Is it any wonder that those of us who pay our way and accept responsibility for our deeds and misdeeds are in the minority? My daughter would have been told she got what she deserved and that I hope she learned a powerful life lesson.
You have to obey the law and be respectful of it or we will all live in anarchy.
-- Donna L. Doucette, the Mainlands, Pinellas Park
Re: Treasure Island trapper, Aug. 9.
Kudos and thanks to Trooper Jesus Lopez, who cares enough about public safety to donate his own time giving tickets to speeders and people who don't pay at the toll booths.
Phooey on Mayor Leon Atkinson who defends these violators, presumably because they are the ones who have a "Treasure Island attitude." Why should public officials (and mothers) claim that scofflaws are behaving correctly? A real "Treasure Island attitude" leads to safe driving and paying legal tolls.
-- Barbara Smith, St. Petersburg
Re: Abandoned school's future in limbo, Aug. 2.
It is apparent that the Pinellas County school district, in order to "shed a potential liability," is willing to destroy one more of the few remaining symbols of St. Petersburg's black heritage. If, as the school district's director of property management Jim Miller reports, the district has "no desire to tear it (Jordan Park Elementary School) down," the only viable option left would be to completely renovate the building and maintain it as a historic site. Such action would provide a visible cultural link for present and future generations of Pinellas County's African-American community to connect with.
I stand four-square with Historic Preservation commissioner Virginia Littrell, who is farsighted enough to understand the great advantage of retaining the Jordan Park landmark. And, as she so wisely states, "Jordan Park needs to be left alone, not torn down, and then someone will come along with the wherewithal to deal with it."
It's happened before with other projects in other sections of the city and county. It can happen here in south St. Petersburg. Where there's a will, there's a way.
-- Perkins T. Shelton, St. Petersburg