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The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 15, 2008

Veterans Are A Priority

I appreciated the recognition in the June 11 editorial "New VA Clinic Would Make A Difference," but I think it is important to note that the Brandon VA clinic would not be on the verge of reality if it weren't for the combined efforts of the East Hillsborough congressional delegation, especially Gus Bilirakis who is a member of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs. His leadership on this - and all issues related to veterans - deserves recognition.

On matters relating to veterans, the Florida delegation has a long history of working well together, and our veterans deserve no less.

ADAM H. PUTNAM

Bartow

A Bill To Veto

I hope the public will examine yet another intrusion into local comprehensive plans that further limits citizen rights to voice opinions on permit extensions and, above all, adds yet another traffic concurrency loophole. This is sadly being done to supposedly "stimulate the economy."

CS/SB 1706 demonstrates the ability of the development lobby to always find additional ways to benefit those seeking more favors for an industry that has done so much to congest our roads, overcrowd our schools and disrupt the quality of life. And this comes when we and DCA Secretary Pelham have tried valiantly to convince the Legislature that this is the very kind of thing that will ensure a victory for the Hometown Democracy movement that we do not support. This is why the "citizen planning bill of rights" could not pass while this favor to developers sailed through.

Please look at CS/SB 1706 and see why 1000 Friends of Florida, the Florida League of Cities and the Florida Association of Counties are calling on Governor Crist to veto this bill.

CHARLES PATTISON

Tallahassee

The Reality Of Florida

I am constantly amused to read letters to the editor from people complaining about one thing or another. I guess these people are new here and just don't get it.

This is Florida. It's different here. It's not like the upper 49.

The rules of the road are different here. What passes for headline news here is the latest daily saga of Nick Bollea. Honest and unbiased government? Not here. Destruction of the fragile environment is OK here as long as you want to build more single-family homes to further stress the infrastructure. Those constitutional rights the other states enjoy such as the belief that a person is innocent until proven guilty? Forget that; this is Florida. Educate your children to be informed, intelligent, productive members of society?

This is not a condemnation of Florida, but merely a reminder to those people who moved here from other places and don't know the rules yet. Dorothy was right. We're not in Kansas anymore or even in America. Get used to it.

ALBERT ROBERTO

Valrico

Nature's Beauty Sheared

Due to early rains, Tampa was glorified with unexpected spring wildflower panorama. The flowers endured drought. Then they were mowed. Why? So that mowing schedules and contracts could be kept? There was nothing to mow. Pink, red and coral phlox dotting the side of Morris Bridge Road and Fowler Avenue were trampled and cut; they never returned. Sunset-colored gaillardias sprang up in medians. On Harney Road, they bloomed just beneath an osprey nest. The baby overlooked a rolling blanket of color. Then that was sheared.

These flowers are often difficult to cultivate. The cost to replace a typical spread of wildflowers erased like this might be $900, with more for maintenance. Multiply this across the bay area and our shortsightedness becomes obvious. Some communities, such as Leon and Sarasota counties, purposely prepare and seed highway beds of wildflowers. It is wasteful indeed to not have a plan to at least leave be what comes.

LOUISE RATERMAN

Temple Terrace

Gone Much Too Soon

Regarding "Brief Lives Leave Bundle of Memories" (front page, June 10):

This could not have been more poignant or timely. Two years ago, my 5-month-old granddaughter, Kate, died of hyperthermia after having been forgotten in an overheated vehicle. She lived in North Dakota, and though I had pictures of her, I never had the opportunity to see her, to hold her or to touch her.

The first time I saw Kate was at her funeral, dressed in a white blouse with pink trim and a blue denim jumper, wearing a delicate bracelet on her wrist and lying in her tiny, white casket. With permission from my son and daughter-in-law, I photographed my granddaughter, knowing that these would be the last tangible, touchable memories of Kate's short life.

My son and daughter-in-law are not yet ready to view those last pictures of Kate, but they know that I have them in safekeeping. If or when they ever need them to help bring complete closure, they know they will just need to ask.

SUE BOE

Odessa

Support Groups Exist

The death of your child is the worst grief to bear. In March 2005, we lost my precious granddaughter Caylee. It is a heartbreak we live with every day. I cannot thank the doctors and nurses at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital enough for their care and compassion and for giving my daughter a copy of Caylee's footprints and handprints.

After losing Caylee, I was encouraged to become a part of two groups, Bereaved Parents and AGAST (Alliance of Grandparents, A Support in Tragedy). These groups have been my lifeline, and I hope others who are living with this terrible loss will find their way to these wonderful people.

SANDRA BOEHNING

Tampa

The writer is U.S. representative for Florida's 12th District. The writer is executive director of 1000 Friends of Florida.

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