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Pasco Letters to the Editor

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 2, 2008

A Bad Amendment

As most of you have read in the newspapers and watched on television, Amendment 1 was not all that was promised. I did not vote for this half-baked form of legislation for the various reasons I am about to explain.

I knew that with the economy on a downturn and the over-inflated housing market in the dump, this was not the time for such dramatic cuts.

Small cities such as Zephyrhills are being devastated by these reductions, and it will not be long before there would be cuts so deep that some employees will be let go or benefits will be cut. And raises will be nonexistent, especially in a time when we need them most.

Zephyrhills was prudent with its money, and now we are paying the price for fiscal restraint. The $200 you saved by adopting the amendment will be eaten up in increases in fees and the cost of your services. Did you honestly think that local and county governments would not increase these charges to offset losses?

The extra $25,000 in homestead exemption will mean nothing when the assessed value of your home triples in five years. We might as well live in California. People like me (native Floridians) will be leaving this state in droves. Seniors will be unable to retire here, for the price of property will be well out of reach of retirement budgets.

The first to take the hits are the services in the public safety sector. Less cops, more crime. Less firefighters, more structures and lives lost or threatened.

Then you have the services that most people do not think about when a government has to make cuts: the parks and recreation people who work hard to make your playgrounds and recreational facilities some of the best in the nation.

The increases in user fees are passed on to youth leagues and, in turn, are passed on to you.
Public pools will be shut down due to lack of funds. Libraries are charging for books you check out. Garbage, sewer and water charges will increase.

We will pay higher millage rates on property taxes to make up for shortfalls in budgets. We will start paying for services that used to be covered by taxes.

Folks, we live in a state that is funded by taxes, whether property, tourist or sales. Tax breaks are great when we can afford them.

When fuel prices are at all-time highs and the economy is at a standstill, people will not be coming in the numbers that we are accustomed to. Tourism, I predict, will be at an all-time low, and with no state income tax we are doomed.

The next time you see someone who voted yes on Amendment 1, see if they still think it was a good idea. If they do, tell them thousands of people who are now losing their jobs thank them.

If you did vote for it and you think it was a mistake, call the people you elected and ask them to revisit this debacle of legislation and tell them to re-think what they did. The phrase "we have to all make tough decisions" doesn't apply to most of them. They still have their jobs.

But I predict the next election might be disappointing to those who pushed it.

RALPH VELEZ

Zephyrhills

Hades Freezes Over

John Taylor, the self-announced write-in candidate for the District 1 Pasco County Commission seat, has made me eat my words.

At one time I said it would be a cold day in hell before I ever became a Republican. Well, it appears there is a frost in the air, because I just changed my party affiliation from Democrat to Republican.

Because of his potential ability to disenfranchise me by exploiting a loophole in election laws, I was possibly going to lose my ability to vote for my choice of county commissioner in the upcoming primary.

Soon after the primary on Aug. 26 I have every intention of reverting to the liberal, socialistic, tax-and-spend political organization that I loved. Until then, I hope to make the best of this short period of enlightenment.

If I can get the AM part of my car radio to work, I hope to find Rush Limbaugh and learn who I should hate this month. I will put FOX News (unfair and unbalanced) on my favorite list for my TV.

I might even cover up my "support diversity," WMNF and "coexist" bumper stickers.

If I had a gun, I could take it to work - if I worked.

It will be an educational experience that I have not had since I saw my parents vote for Eisenhower.

Of course, that commie, pinko party that I no longer belong to is now suing to challenge Taylor's right to say that he lives where he doesn't. If they work fast, I might be able to change back before the 29th of this month. But where's the fun in that?

"TRICKY" RICHARD RILEY

Trilby

Step Up, Dems

Regarding "Strip Write-In Candidates Of Power To Close Any One-Party Race," Monday:

In response to your opinion on Monday, it is not the fault of the Republican Party or the write-in candidate that non-Republican voters can't vote in a Republican primary.

Your biased column left out one important question: Why didn't Democrats step up to the plate and run? If Democrats want a voice in elections, then they should concentrate less on Republican primaries and more on producing worthwhile candidates for office.

They should follow the lead of citizens like John Nicolette, who is not a career politician but a career firefighter who qualified by petition to run for the Pasco County Commission.

KELSO TANNER

Riverview

Boxing Or Baseball?

The headlines and picture in the June 30 Tribune about the Rays-Red Sox series are disturbing. What are we going to be watching, a prize fight or a baseball game?

This is exactly what's wrong with the world today - aggression. Do you think the Trib could find a human interest story to run on the front page?

Let's not condone this kind of behavior. Our children look up to these players as role models. Which of these players would you like your child to be like?

BOB PELLERIN

Wesley Chapel

The writer is a captain with Zephyrhills Fire Rescue.

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