TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Letters To The Editor

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 11, 2008

Transit System 'Crucial'

I agree whole-heartedly with the editorial "Smart Investing Will Boost Local Economy" (Our Opinion, Dec. 7). I moved to Florida from Portland, Oregon, where there was a comprehensive transit system that provided both bus and light-rail transportation. In the downtown core, buses and the train were free, allowing anyone to simply hop aboard to traverse from one end of downtown to the other, at will. This was especially appealing to tourists and business people from out-of-town who didn't want to grab a taxi or deal with parking.

Outside the city in dense residential areas, the buses ran every 10 minutes during peak hours. Every 10 minutes! Can you imagine the convenience of such a service? In fact, the tri-county metropolitan area, Tri-Met, was so committed to a healthy and comprehensive system that they literally drilled a hole through a mountain to lay light-rail tracks.

Tampa, being a port city, is geographically positioned to be a distribution and warehousing powerhouse with it's proximity to South America and Mexico, and could be a key hub for all of the South. Businesses look to modern and forward-thinking cities to locate their main offices and manufacturing facilities, and public transit is a crucial aspect of a city that operates smoothly.

I commend Mayor Pam Iorio for her leadership in seeking to implement an effective transit system.

PAUL FITZGERALD

Wesley Chapel

Citizen Lawmakers

Your "Speaker Sansom Feathers Nest ..." editorial (Dec. 5) caused me disappointment, exasperation and frustration.

I was disappointed that state House Speaker Ray Sansom did not see an ethical situation when he took on a $110,000 job at his alma mater and secured $25.5 million for that school. With his talent as a "fundraiser," maybe he is in the wrong business. It is not relevant that taxpayers do not pay his school salary, coming from a privately endowed fund. But we do pay him, as one of his legislative leadership duties, to overlook Florida's education system. There seems to be just a small conflict.

I was exasperated because this situation is not unusual. Your editorial presents other potential ethics problems by legislators who also piggyback jobs in education along with their legislative duties. And this is just in education. What about legislators with jobs in other industries and professions?

I am frustrated by the fact that this is not merely the fault of the Legislature, but taxpayers too. We are the fourth-largest state in the nation, soon to be third, yet we expect men and women to take on this part-time citizen legislator position. Many others I know, including those who want to run for office, need to make a living. This must be addressed.

LARRY QUIGLEY

Tampa

Cash In On Gambling

Will someone please explain to me what is wrong with the Florida Legislature? Why are they procrastinating on a deal with the Seminole Indians? This money could be used to replace lost tax monies. We are closing schools and cutting back on teachers, police and firemen and other services we desperately need.

You opened the door to gambling when you allowed the lottery. The door opened wider when you allowed casinos. Please tell me the difference between poker and blackjack. They are both card games where wagering is made. The Indian money being held in escrow would save jobs and guarantee that the youth of Florida receive a good education.

Wake up, elected officials, before the federal government steps in and Florida loses this tax money. Gov. Crist made the right decision. Get behind him.

ROCCO CAVALIERO

Dade City

Misguided Judges

Regarding "Let Gays Adopt" (Our Opinion, Dec. 8):

Seriously? Why not let bowling teams adopt, or Boy Scout troops? There are many groups of people that might make great adoptive parents.

The reason to bar gay adoptions is the same as the reason to bar gay marriage: Marriage between a man and a woman is a unique grouping in our society. The fact that gay activists have mounted a persuasive campaign, or that the appeals bench is overly loaded with judges who want to legislate from the bench, still offers no good reason to support gay adoption. The perceived shortage of qualified adoptive couples is compelling but not determinative.

Supporters of gay marriage and gay adoption can't win in the Legislature or at the ballot box. Their only hope is the unconstitutional decisions of misguided judges - and newspaper editors.

JIM PARKER

Lakeland

Emissions Plan Amiss

Would someone please tell Charlie (the RINO) Crist that what's good for California is not necessarily good for Florida? Tell Charlie that unlike Florida, California has mountains that contain the smog produced by all those evil cars and trucks. Explain to him that Florida is a peninsula and has air currents from both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Thus, our emissions are carried off by those air currents, and smog is not stagnant.

LES RAYBURN

Dade City

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT