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© St. Petersburg Times, published October 2, 2000
Re: Arrogance, shoddy treatment, Sept. 21 letter.
James Donelon's statement, "It seems to me that logic and fairness would require this new (6 percent utility) tax to be subject to public scrutiny and approval before the resulting revenue was included in the (county) budget" speaks to what I have found to be the modus operandi of the Pinellas County Commission.
Residents around Taylor Lake Park in Largo and around the Omni Center in Ridgecrest have been treated with the same disregard.
On Sept. 28, 1999, the Pinellas County Commission voted to turn the empty playing field immediately south of Taylor Park at the Omni Center into a sports complex consisting of a 500-seat football stadium, four practice fields, a softball field, a swimming pool, a bath house, a row for concessions, high-intensity lighting, a speaker system and parking for 300 vehicles.
On Dec. 7, 1999, the Largo City Commission disapproved the 119th Street extension to 16th Avenue SW. It is apparent from the minutes that the Largo commissioners were not informed by the county of the existence or extent of the Omni Center project. They were justly concerned about the effect that the traffic congestion caused by the 119th Street extension would have on the residentsalong 16th Avenue SW.
Nor were the residents living near the Omni Center informed of the existence or extent of the Omni project. We were only told that the 119th Street extension would be an access route for emergency vehicles and would relieve congestion on 119th Street.
The county commissioners have approved the Omni Center project without doing impact studies regarding traffic congestion, property values, the environment of the Taylor Lake Park bird sanctuary, crime or the nuisance effects on the surrounding residents.
-- Christopher Dowling, Largo
Re: Largo Middle won't get drug dog after all, Aug. 25 story.
Some things gnaw at you and won't go away even after time. How could a plan so obviously beneficial be wiped out without any apparent legitimate reason? The concept of a dog, which children inherently love, providing a safer environment in their school by ferreting out drug pushers is brilliant.
Largo Middle School and the city of Largo are extremely fortunate to have a dedicated and thoughtful school resource officer, Paula Crosby. Let's build on that good fortune.
During the formative middle school years, children are highly susceptible to the influence of their surroundings. The association which could be developed by connecting something good (a dog) with something bad (drugs) would remain with them for a lifetime.
What is it about this that Largo City Manager Steve Stanton or police Capt. John Carroll don't understand? A large part of the cost of this would undoubtedly be covered by donations, and liability should not be an issue.
The city fathers can justify $344,000 for a skate park but can't adopt a dog?
Let's give the kids at Largo Middle a break.
-- Carl Hilton, Belleair Shore
No one seems to know where to build the new Largo Library at taxpayers' expense. My suggestion is to add a second or even a third floor to the existing library, with elevators and escalators.
This would avoid looking for land to build on, spending money for new construction, and taking away the centralized library that already exists.
I strongly believe that the Penny for Pinellas is being spent recklessly in the town of Largo. The mayor and the City Commission should start using their common sense, instead of The Pinellas Cent.
-- August F. Holderried, Indian Rocks Beach
Re: State revokes license of Tarpon Springs doctor, Sept. 21 story.
I have been going to Dr. Vincent Sundry since I moved to Florida in 1985; and I would and have recommended him to anyone, even my own parents, who also go to him. I was in a car accident more than five years ago, and I was in a lot of pain with my back and neck. I could not even turn my head to the side or look back, it hurt so bad. I knew if I went to a regular doctor, he would just fill me with pain pills, which I refused to take. But I went to Dr. Sundry for about one year, and he sent me for therapy. It took more than one year, but I am now free of pain in my back and neck.
I also had bronchitis when I was small; and now every time I get a cold, that is what it turns into. But I can go to Dr. Sundry; and he will give me a shot filled with antibiotics and a prescription for the best cough medicine I have ever had, and within days I am breathing better and on my feet. No other doctor has ever done this for me.
I don't know what I am going to do with flu season coming. If I get sick, I have nowhere to go anymore. The state medical board has seen to that, and I am sick about the whole thing.
My husband has back spasms. Dr. Sundry knows just what to do to relieve his pain by cracking his back and neck. He has even met my husband on Sunday at the office.
This man is a saint to most people. Here in Florida we do not make much money, and there should be someplace we can go to get good care. Dr. Sundry was our answer.
-- Paula and Steven Kotches, Palm Harbor