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© St. Petersburg Times, published October 22, 2001
Editor: Taxpayers should be enraged by the actions of Bernie McCabe and Mike Halkitis. And it's not the only case where we are wasting money. It goes on every day where power and politics take common sense out of the courtroom.
We used to think in the 1980s how people were getting away with murder, but now lawmakers and prosecutors will do anything to overcrowd jails and disregard rights of others for the sake of their own careers.
They disregard Camilla Deroo and other petitioners' belief or requests. The point system in place creates a kangaroo courtroom; it leaves no room for judges to use common sense.
If they are so determined to sentence a man, already sentenced to life in prison, to death, then think of what they are doing to everybody else they deal with.
-- William Oehlecker, New Port Richey
Editor: I am appalled by the fact that teachers in Pasco County got such a small raise this year along with a meager bonus. Is this the thanks Pasco County teachers get for working in less than ideal conditions? They have overcrowded classes, not enough supplies and disrespectful students. My mother is a teacher in this county and gets paid far less than what she deserves. It troubles me to know that my mother is an extremely hard worker, yet gets little for her hard work. What lesson does this teach me?
We lose good teachers and wonder why. It does not take a genius to figure this out. So much is expected of our teachers and so little is given to them. It is about time things balance out. Make rewarding teachers a priority and our society will benefit.
-- Maria Wasp, Hudson
Editor: On Oct. 4, the citizens of Pasco County lost a person who constantly supported Pasco County. She was a person who always wanted to make Pasco County a better place to live. Citizens and organizations who play bingo lost their biggest supporter, Josephine King, after a long struggle with cancer. No more tireless supporter of the little person and organization could be found. Even while she was very ill, she still refused to stop helping, caring and answering questions.
She continually fought to preserve bingo as a game to be played to help nonprofit and veterans organizations. Her fight took her to other counties and to Tallahassee, always for the purpose of protecting and advancing Pasco County's bingo ordinance. Her knowledge about bingo and her willingness to serve will be very hard to replace. Everyone will have to work harder to match what she has done.
-- Nick Paglione, Port Richey, President, Suncoast Bingo Council
Editor: At this time of turmoil in our country, our government needs total support from all citizens; this includes paying your fair share of federal taxes.
We all need to contribute to our government by adhering to all local and federal laws, but there are some that feel it is acceptable to violate laws by cheating and not paying required taxes. Pasco County requires an occupational license for anyone performing a self-employed service such as courier, law service, or home maintenance.
If you mow your neighbor's lawn and charge a fee, you need a license. This licensing information is then provided to the IRS to ensure that each licensed service provider pays his or her fair share of taxes Failure to seek the required license is not only a violation of law, but unfair to those licensed individuals that are trying to make a living and adhering to the law.
If you know anyone operating a service without a license, you should turn them in to Pasco County Code Compliance. If you believe someone is violating federal tax laws, contact the IRS at 1-800-829-0433.
-- Patricia Nichols, Hudson
Editor: I moved to Florida 21/2 years ago. I first moved to Pasco County and just recently to Citrus County. If you are considering moving up here and using the Suncoast Parkway, wake up. Using the toll road is very expensive.
My husband gets on at U.S. 98 and gets off by West Shore in Tampa. It costs him more than $4 each way per day. It takes about one hour and 15 minutes to go this way and about 15 minutes longer to go the back way.
There are not many perks to using the road. The commuter rate gives you a 10 percent discount if you use the road a certain amount of times per month.
Keep in mind that you will still have to work in either Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg or nearby. There are not too many jobs that pay very well in Citrus, Hernando, or northern Pasco counties, even with all the growth.
-- Jean Jones, Lecanto
Re: When in America, it's best to dress like most Americans, Oct. 16 letter.
Editor: I am positive, there are hundreds of people in agreement with the letter writer. His letter made reference to these people walking around with these strange looking turbans, beards, sheets over their heads. I agree, if you want to be American, then do as Americans do, and trash the foreign dress.
In addition, learn to speak English at least in public. As it has been said, "In Rome, do as the Romans do." In America, do as we Americans do.
-- J.J. Aspinall, New Port Richey
When in America, it's best to dress like most Americans, Oct. 16 letter.
Editor: As an atheist, I'm often (legitimately) accused of not respecting religions. However, I'd be hard-pressed to be as disrespectful as believers are to each other. Take the referenced letter for example.
Even if one ignores the absurdity of the premise that Americans dress alike (I've never worn short, baggy, rapper pants, bib overalls or assorted other decidedly American fashions); the statement that one of the world's largest religion's rules of dress are "just hyperbole" is far more insulting than any doubts I've ever expressed because the statement comes directly from God.
Well, okay, it's just from someone who's apparently died and returned, since he implies he's actually seen people who never wore more than a kerchief nestled in the crook of God's arm.
With demeaning and disrespectful attitudes like this expressed publicly in our country, it's no wonder many Muslims want to kill Christians en masse.
-- Brent Yaciw, Wesley Chapel
Editor: My wife purchased two American flags, 12 by 18, from Ace Hardware. They were made in China and cost $3.59 each. She also purchased red, white and blue decorative bows, 12 by 18, made in Wisconsin and costing $1.08. The workers in China that made the flags probably made $1 a day while the bow workers in Wisconsin probably made $6 or $7 an hour. What gives? Buy American.
-- Peter Nile, New Port Richey
Editor: Well, the New Port Richey City Council is at it again. Because of one man, the city is going to put another business in dire straits. This time the city's target is the dangerous and evil ice cream man.
He's terrorizing neighborhoods with his little ditty ice cream truck music. What's next? With Mr. Finn's supersonic hearing and Mr. Chittum who can hear across water (one of the best sound-carrying areas), what's next? Why don't they stop sports at the high school? I can hear cheering and band music well into the night on all the game nights. Just stop sports so no one will get upset.
One man, who has a personal problem with the ice cream man, got the City Council's attention. He admitted he couldn't find support with his neighbors. Why bother this man's livelihood? This is just another way to chase business out of our city.
They charge up to $4,000 per business for rain runoff, and there's no music, no banners, no signs, no flags and no rights. Am I the only one to see a pattern here.
We have no rights to have things voted on, yet one man's complaint can all but cause another man to lose his livelihood. We can have fees and taxes forced on us, but no say in where it is spent. Selective governing is illegal in the United States. To all residents, go to council meetings, write letters and let the city government know we've had enough.
-- John DiGiorgio, New Port Richey
Editor: I would like to address this to all those flag scalpers who sell the symbol of our country for three to four times the original price. They have the flags and sell them on the roads and in flea markets.
Why don't they put on a military uniform, go to a war zone and see what America is all about? They should hide their heads in shame.
-- Connie Greco, Port Richey
Editor: Wow! Channel 9 Weather on the Nines -- except when a Bucs game is over. There was a serious storm over west Pasco, and Channel 9 chose to file questions about the Tampa Bay Bucs losing a game.
We need a weather channel in west Pasco. Even if it's a strip at the bottom of the screen.
So, take down your "Weather on the 9's" billboard and a caption "unless we need to talk about the Bucs losing another game."
-- Scottie Morfit, New Port Richey
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