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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 2, 2008

They Don't Own Streets

I thought Gasparilla was for everybody to enjoy and not just the "chosen few." Why is it that the parking on Davis Islands or the side streets between MacDill Avenue and Bayshore Boulevard gets so restricted that one has to pay to park or not go to the event?

Just because the more affluent people on Davis Islands or Bayshore do not like all the people down there does not mean they own the public ways. The streets are public and not private.

The next time I go there and park on a public street and someone threatens to have my car towed, I want them to do it. People on Davis Islands or Bayshore do not own the street.

K. MIRANDA

Tampa

An Abuse Of Power
Violence against innocent bystanders, harassment of minors and verbal assault are behaviors that should not be tolerated at the Gasparilla parade or anywhere else.

Unfortunately for the citizens of Tampa, all of these behaviors did take place last Saturday by the city's finest dressed in blue. The Tampa Police Department should be ashamed of their behavior, and taxpayers should not tolerate it.

Most police officers in our city are hardworking men and women who do an admirable job protecting our community. The actions of a few have tarnished the reputation and credibility of the whole department. Unfortunately, during the few fights that I witnessed, there were no police to be found. TPD did, however, take it upon themselves to harass the high school students congregating on Willow Avenue and Bayshore.

Many will argue that this use of force is necessary to curb the rampant underage drinking that occurs at Gasparilla. There were 79 misdemeanor arrests at the parade. Only 23 of them were for underage drinking. Most were for charges such as "disturbing the peace" and "opposing an officer."

Since when is Gasparilla peaceful, and what exactly is "opposing an officer?" Police officers pledge to "protect and serve," not "harass and intimidate." This abuse of power is most disturbing because it was against high school students unaware of their rights.

For many years I never understood why this generation of kids hates the police so much. After Saturday, I completely understand. It's sick and sad that grown men and women have such big egos and have let their power get to their head.

Maybe the people who pay their salary - the taxpayers - should remind the police who they work for.

ALI PEEK

Tampa

Won't Be Coming Back

I took my son to the parade last Saturday afternoon; what a mistake. He is almost 12, and I thought I was taking him to family-oriented event, not drunks dressed up as pirates kissing young girls to give them beads. I wonder what the founders of the parade would think about this.

Women smoking cigars and drinking beer - that's real family entertainment, I tell you. And why (for the love of money, it must be) did they make one Bayshore side only available as reservations charging $28.95 per person? Bad enough we had to watch the drunks, but to have to have our children deal with them directly is even more upsetting.

My son told me to never take him back to that parade again. As the saying goes, from a child's mouth comes the truth.

If this is the best Tampa can do for a parade, why don't we change it?

I will not take my son back ever, and there are a lot of parents who likely feel the way I do.

RODGER BRYANT

St. Petersburg

Change Parade Route

You would think the people who map out the parade route for Gasparilla would have a little common sense, wouldn't you?

It would make much more sense to bring the parade all the way down Channelside Drive past the aquarium and end it toward Ybor City instead of dumping off at Marion Street.

If it was done this way, you would help all the businesses in the Channel District, move people toward Ybor to eat and party and it could potentially help all the new condo complexes in that area. It would be a huge selling point to say that the parade goes right in front of any of those Channelside condos.

But as usual, the city planners and the mayor never try to tie any of Tampa together. They never finish anything. And now the mayor is pushing the Riverwalk. How is that going to work? If people won't go to Channelside, why would they go to the Riverwalk?

KRISTINA CHUTZ

Tampa

Where Is The Pride?

Regarding the post-Gasparilla trash cleanup, it is really a shame that in the year 2008 people have still not evolved enough to know how to dispose of trash properly. I see it just about every day as garbage is tossed out of car windows.

The saddest part is I see a lot of children doing it while their parents sit by and watch totally oblivious.

Being an apartment dweller, I also get to see it in my very own "yard." Apparently I did not receive the memo that the breezeways and parking lots make very nice ashtrays and garbage cans.

If we can't even think enough to put trash in its place, how can we ever get a handle on anything else? Where is the pride?

CHRISTINA FLETCHER

Tampa

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