TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Letters To The Editor

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 4, 2008

Supports Firefighters

Regarding "City Council That Won't Say No Falls Over Self To Spend Even More" (Our Opinion, Aug. 27):

I have to wonder what the editorial board would think if their homes were on fire or they were in a bad accident or were being attacked and the fire department and police officers were not able to show up in time to help them. One thing you can bet on is they would be looking for an attorney really fast.

To say firefighters do not deserve to have the raise they got, even in a time when the budget is tight, is totally wrong. These people put their lives on the line just like police officers every single day for all of us, and they deserve every penny they get.

I would rather see my tax dollars used on firefighters and police officers who are going to help protect my home and my life, than see it spent on stupid things like beautifying the city for a Super Bowl.

These pay raises are no financial burden to us taxpayers, but what is appalling is the way the city council wastes our money on so many really stupid projects.

LIZABETH CANTOS

Tampa

Council Can't Say No

I want to express my dissatisfaction with the decision by Tampa City Council for not backing the mayor regarding the Tampa firefighters union.

Please understand that I have every bit of respect for each and every firefighter within the city. I have called on them myself and know the quality of work they do for the citizens of Tampa. It should not be a question that all citizens or the city council feel the same way that I do; it is a question of economics and timing. That lack of support for the mayor's proposal will and does diminish the bargaining powers that this administration has.

The mood has changed. Now that we have a mayor who is looking out for the financial interests of the city and its neighborhoods, there is no backing by City Council. I guess we will have to wait till the next mayor comes into office to see if we go back to building a streetcar system that does not correct any kind of traffic problems, or an entertainment venue in Ybor that falls on its face with the city picking up the tab.

PETE D. JOHNSON

Temple Terrace

It's Only Our Money

Regarding "Union Seeks More Take-Home Vehicles" (Metro, Aug. 30):

Oh those poor city workers who are on call, the union wants them to drive a city vehicle home so they don't have to drive their own vehicles to where the service trucks are located. Maybe we should give all our military men and women one also because they are on call 24 hours a day, and I'm sure they make a lot less than some of those city workers. The fact is there are already too many people driving home city vehicles. After all, it's only us taxpayers' money, and I'm sure the union could care less about that.

BOBBY DAVIS

Valrico

Biased Coverage

While standing in the halls of the supervisor of elections office last Tuesday night, I couldn't help but feel a tiny bit of anger toward Phyllis Busansky. On an election night when the supervisor of elections is trying to do his job, she saw fit to parade around the building with local media and whines about the "slow" results.

I have no problem with waiting a few hours just to make sure that we have accurate results. At the end of the day, no votes were lost, and we knew who won by 11 p.m.

KELSO TANNER

Riverview

TGH Still An Asset

Regarding "The Deadly Mess At Tampa General" (Our Opinion, Aug. 25):

You are really being too harsh on TGH. It is still one of the premier medical facilities in the state. The problem is that neither you nor the state regulators have had to personally take care of difficult psychiatric patients. What you didn't explore in your editorial are the regulations that prevent facilities from effectively controlling violent or suicidal patients.

Patients have rights. They can't be restrained (other than briefly). They can't be over-sedated. They have some right to privacy.

Individuals who really want to kill themselves frequently do. It happens in homes, on the road, in the post office, in jails and in hospitals. You can't prevent it without one-on-one sitters who are with them 100 percent of the time. No one has the resources for that.

If procedures weren't followed, that needs investigating, but don't crucify the hospital.

MARTIN BEATTIE

Tampa

Litigation Is Merited

Regarding the recent sorrowful plea to the community for forgiveness by Tampa General Hospital CEO Ron Hytoff (Letters, Aug. 22) due to his dysfunctional psychiatric department - I question his sincerity.

I am litigating the deaths of eight premature infants who died at TGH over 18 months. The first case culminated in a $12 million jury verdict last June. In trial, it was established that TGH's Neonatal Unit was not functioning as a Level III (highest level available). This deficiency caused multiple deaths because babies never saw specialized physicians. Hytoff was aware of these deaths and the underlying facts supporting the multiple lawsuits filed against his hospital.

Where is the apology to these families who put their trust and faith in TGH, who now sit at home with broken hearts and empty cribs?

TRIPP SEBRING

Tampa

The writer is a physician. The writer is an attorney.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT