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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 18, 2007

Deputies Deserve Raise

Regarding 'Sheriff Should Hold Line On Raises' (Our Opinion, Oct. 10):

The editorial states, 'Most businesses set upper salary limits for certain positions. Public agencies should be no different.'

I wonder if any of these business people would lay down their very life answering a 'felony in progress' call multiple times a shift.

Who could make a split-second decision then defend it to those who have had days to study that same decision?

Who could tell a parent that his or her child has been killed in an automobile accident, shooting, brutal rape or murder?

Who could be shot at, spit on, cursed at and bled on, then deal with some 'druggie' intent on beating him - then get up and do all over again the next shift?

Police work today is a rougher road, and the streets are meaner. These deputies do not get the pay they deserve - not even close. If I have to pay higher taxes, then so be it. At least I know these agencies are there for my protection - and yours.

SHARON A. DRAGNEFF

Tampa

Time To Give Back

The taxpaying residents of Hillsborough County have given the Buccaneers a new stadium, money for a training facility and, on top of that, the Tampa Sports Authority gave them a sweetheart of a stadium lease which ensures them income from other stadium events they have nothing to do with.

This has resulted in the sellout crowds for University of South Florida Bulls' football and those attending the Blake vs. Middleton high school football game putting money into the Buccaneers' coffers without them having done anything to earn it.

Now is the time for the Buccaneers and the Glazers to show that they support USF, the Bulls football team and our local schools by returning that extra income to USF and Hillsborough County schools.

In the face of budget cuts, it is the least they could do.

JEFFREY MAY

Tampa

Unfairly Criticized

Championship Park was attacked more because it was Jim Norman's idea than it was a bad idea. If so, then youth, college and amateur sports were the losers. Not Commissioner Norman.

Evidently the opposition doesn't have children or forgot the days when their own beamed with pride and joy at their successful punt, kick, pass, run, hit or cheer. Or the life's lessons learned having to play fair on a team.

Coach and Commissioner Norman is Hillsborough County youth sports and does more for our young athletes than most will in two lifetimes. Sure, roads need fixing and such, but start cutting back on youth and amateur sports and support, then be prepared for the problems that come with idled young people.

The opposition would rather another county or city benefit from sports tourism instead of us. Thanks for trying, Coach Norman. Maybe in the next round.

GENE WELLS

Tampa

Bad News For Gibsonton

Regarding 'Bracing For Boom, Bridges On Alafia' (Metro, Oct. 8):

I was shocked to read this. This is not good news for Gibsonton. The proposed new bridge and four-lane north-south highway would destroy our little community.

If you asked a planner to pick the worst possible location for a new bridge and road, this would be it. The bridge will go through the only remaining natural salt marsh habitat on the river.

Gibsonton Drive will certainly become a 'failed' roadway. Heaven help all the little school kids having to cross this monster to get to Gibsonton Elementary School! Pristine Bullfrog Creek will have a new bridge and another bottleneck to back up water during floods.

Not counting destroying our little community, it makes no sense to spend hundreds of million dollars to build a new highway that's less than a half mile from existing four-lane U.S. Highway 41 and barely a mile from six-lane Interstate 75.

BOB MINTHORN

Gibsonton

Thanks For Nothing

On the first day that mandatory PIP insurance sunset, I eagerly called my insurance company to drop this redundant coverage.

The other day the bill arrived for my six-month renewal. The result: My premiums dropped by $430. Unfortunately, thanks to the Legislature, this savings will disappear when PIP again becomes mandatory in January.

First, their promise of savings on home owners insurance never materializes and now when there was a chance for significant savings on auto insurance they dropped the ball on that too. Thanks for the help, guys.

ROY GARCIA

Valrico

They Can Afford It

Regarding 'It's Trying Time For Plaintiffs In Tribal Court' (Business, Oct. 13):

The Seminole Tribe no more needs extended gambling laws than Florida needs another casino. They paid nearly $1 billion for the casino buyout; it doesn't appear they are going broke.

At a time when people are so bad at math, (proven daily with the increase of home foreclosures across this nation), the last thing any society needs is to empower an addiction like gambling to completely destroy the family unit with promises that won't come true.

The tribe has enough ways to leverage a person's money. Florida lawmakers needn't blindly offer new weapons with which to wage war against the huddled masses.

LANE JARSONBECK

Tampa

Sovereign Tribal Land?

There should be signs prior to the Hard Rock Casino: 'WARNING: Enter at your own risk. This is sovereign tribal land and our courts do not have jurisdiction,' or words to that effect. Perhaps if their pocketbooks are affected, they may treat their customers' grievances with more consideration.

LARRY SPITZER

Tampa

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