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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 11, 2007

Writer Is Misinformed

Regarding Vivienne Handy's letter 'Feral Cats Pose Threat' (Oct. 6):

Handy is misinformed that feral cats prey on native wildlife. Ferals reside in urban areas where food is readily available from dumpsters. Rarely do ferals need to kill for food and if they do, they eat mice, rats, lizards and other prey abundant in urban areas. Ferals rarely hunt and if they do they don't hunt birds or other animals difficult to catch and kill.

TNR (trap, neuter, return) is the most effective, humane and cost-effective solution. It costs less to spay or neuter than it does to euthanize. It has been proven elsewhere that when a community supports TNR programs, cat colonies eventually dissipate. It took a community to create this homeless pet problem and will take a community to fix it.

Handy needs to start working with TNR volunteers to learn more.

MARK J. MIRABELLA

Tampa

No Threat To Wildlife
Feral cats have been part of urban wildlife going back to pre-medieval times, so they're not a new threat to wildlife. However to get rid of them has been done before to dire consequences.

Remember, the plague was a direct result of getting rid of the feral cat population. And a similar thing happened in my area of Tampa a few years ago when feline AIDS wiped out all the feral cats. The result was a huge jump in the rat population, which only came under control when the feral cat population recovered.

So remember, those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.

DAVID HARDINGHAM

Tampa

The Green Solution

Your recent articles about coal gas, ethanol, methanol, carbon dioxide sequestration, solar, wind and natural gas are good. But it does not drive home the point that just uttering the 'green' mantra will not solve anything.

As you point out, solar and wind can only supplement and the rest, if calculated properly, will only show that you cannot get something for nothing and oil still tops the list as the best for extractable energy per unit mass. The only true green solution is nuclear and, along the lines of not getting something for nothing, the nuclear waste issue will have to be sorted out sensibly.

But when all's said and done, nuclear is the only 'green' solution, and I wonder if that is what Charlie Crist may be leading toward by being instrumental in TECO canceling the three coal power plants for Florida.

RAMA IYER

Plant City

Shills For Industry

Regarding 'Pesticide OK'd Despite Risks' (Nation/World, Oct. 6):

Perhaps Congress or the president should consider a bill transferring responsibility for the salaries and budgets of the EPA, FDA, USDA and CPSC over to the collective industries they regulate.

After all, if they're going to act like industry shills, they might as well be paid as industry shills, instead of from our taxes.

By the way, what domestic or foreign organizations would you recommend for unbiased opinions and research on the food, chemical and consumer products industries?

B. COFFMAN

Brandon

A Zero-Sum Game

Regarding 'Taxpayers Still Indulge Pro Teams' by Joseph H. Brown (Commentary, Oct 7):

Although he wanted to make the opposite point, Brown does not need to give any more ideas to the Glazers. With that column in hand, they will go to the city and county to ask for even more privileges and concessions.

With the USF Bulls selling out the stadium, it is not going to be long before they will ask to increase the cap on the profits from concession and parking from non-Bucs events. Several reasons can be given - the turf has to be replaced more often as the fans celebrate on the field, the seats are fading faster as they get up more often to cheer their winning team, etc.

Just like in 1996, I am sure the rich folks of Tampa will not blink an eye while lobbying for another sales tax increase, especially in light of lower consumer spending lowering CIT estimates, rising property taxes and homeowner insurance premiums.

Time and again, economists have shown that sport teams do not bring economic fortune to a city. It is almost a zero-sum game.

AUTAR KAW

Tampa

Unappreciative Residents

My wife and I attended last Thursday evening's 'Opening Night' performance of the Florida Orchestra at the TBPAC and I must admit that we were extremely disappointed. No, we did not find the orchestra's marvelous symphonic dialogues to be disdainful, nor were we dismayed by guest pianist Louis Lortie's magnificent rendition of Grieg's 1st Piano Concerto. Neither were we disenchanted with the orchestra's ensuing presentation of Gustav Mahler's 1st Symphony, and we both agree that the two standing ovations they received from the enthralled audience were well deserved.

The reason for our disappointment was the vast number of empty seats that permeated the auditorium - especially in the section where we have held season tickets for the past 20 years. This lack of attendance speaks volumes for a city of Tampa's supposed stature in the arts.

Once again, the Florida Orchestra must rely upon our area's philanthropists to bail out the orchestra because our residents prefer to feast on garbage at the Ford Amphitheatre rather than caviar at the TBPAC.

EDWARD C. PRANGE

Tampa

Correction

The 2000 Summer Olympic Games were held in Sydney, Australia. An editorial Wednesday misidentified the site.

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