Letters to the Editors

Blue Jays deal not in best interests of city taxpayers

© St. Petersburg Times,
published November 7, 2001

Re: Dunedin ponders new ideas to keep Jays, story, Nov. 3.

My family and I are 15-year residents of Dunedin. We love Dunedin. We would not want to live anywhere else. We have always felt that the City Commission had the best interests of the city at heart and did a fine job.

Not anymore! In recent months we have heard they were taking gifts from the Toronto Blue Jays, but that it never affected their decisions concerning the city and the team. Sure! I never feel kindly toward people who give me gifts, either.

Then we are told that they are not going to accept those gifts any longer and they are going to stand firm in their decision to make the Blue Jays live up to their contractual agreement. Sounded good, but that did not last long. The threats and extortion by the Blue Jays are not over and, alas, the commissioners again are entertaining the thought of giving in to the Blue Jays, with our money.

Now, you cannot blame the Blue Jays. The new European owners are in business to make money and that is what good business people do. That is why the team stays in motels in Clearwater. As far as I can ascertain, they always have -- not in Dunedin where the money would go back into the coffers of those that feed them. They wheel and deal for the best for them, not caring if Dunedin makes a dime. I only wish Dunedin did business the same way.

And if I hear about how they eat at Iris' restaurant again, I think I will scream. This apparently is the only place they spend money. I would love to see all the business owners in the city make of list of how much they make off these players and those who come to see them in a spring training season. Ybor City, the large malls, the car dealers -- none of these that they patronize are in Dunedin. Early bird specials are not going to make us profitable.

This team, now owned by Europeans, is worth millions and millions. We are a country at war, and it will be a long war. We are making cuts everywhere to save money, people are losing their jobs and now the commissioners are going to borrow money from the Blue Jays, with interest, to pay the Blue Jays' share of the improvements on their training facilities? Are we out of our ever-loving minds?

I say that for our city commissioners and the Blue Jays to ask this of us now, with our country under attack, is unspeakably insensitive. We need to look long term. The facilities they have now will do fine.

So go ahead, Blue Jays, leave if you so desire. Head north and see what city will beg for you to suck them dry too as they worry about what tomorrow will bring.
-- Mary E. Horrell, Dunedin

SPARCS to vacate Clearwater thrift store by Jan. 1

SPARCS (Special People Aiding Retarded Citizens) would like to welcome back all of our northern residents. We thank you and our local customers for your patronage over the past 30 years. It has meant the survival of our organization.

We inform you now that the SPARCS thrift store in Clearwater has to vacate its building by Jan. 1. A future home has not been found, but we are still looking.
-- Marguerite Boss, Clearwater

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