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The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 1, 2009

Putting Rail On Map

More than a year ago, the question was asked: "Why can't Tampa do this?" A rail line from Tampa Palms along Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, west along Fowler Avenue, south along Nebraska to downtown Tampa, and west along Kennedy Boulevard, then northwest on Memorial Highway frontage road to Tampa International Airport.

Then in January of this year, Mayor Pam Iorio made an impassioned pitch for a "Tampa-Centric Rail Plan" to TBARTA, the region's transportation authority, saying the system's first leg could be built in five or six years if approved by voters in 2010.

The question to ask now is: When can Tampa do this?

Mayor Pam should immediately move ahead with a request for proposal. She could then present the findings to augment her case to the voting public of Hillsborough for a one-cent sales tax to fund the project.

On approval of the penny sales tax, a consortium with the best counter-proposal would then be selected for negotiation to proceed with the project. If per chance the CSX downtown corridor were to remain available, a good bet would be to use it to expand the trolley system, with potential to extend it to serve the Gandy area. It would put Tampa-Centric Rail on the map.

LANNEY WENN

Dade City

Reform Insurance Now

Our governor needs to stop "campaigning" for the U.S. Senate and get back to delivering on his promises. The Florida property insurance situation can definitely be referred to as catastrophic. We're left with taxpayer-owned Citizens and small companies with minimum reserves and no capacity to respond to even a moderately severe hurricane.

The bottom line is that each claimant will pay a substantial hurricane deductible, and all Florida residents will be liable for claims in excess of insurer reserves - probably billions. Traditional insurers are abandoning catastrophic coverages, including hurricanes, sinkholes and earthquakes - the latter of which could, technically, affect any state in the country.

Now is the time for Gov. Crist to meet with the National Governors Association to create a co-op entity to combine coverage for hurricanes, floods, sinkholes, earthquakes and tornados under one catastrophic occurrence policy to offer coverage to every household in every state interested in participating. Remove those coverages from current policy forms, and those premiums would drop significantly - maybe enough to almost cover the cost of the new plan if participation is high enough.

THOMAS PETERSON

Riverview

Sen. Crist? Maybe Not

Other than enjoying the look of a politician as imagined by film directors of a bygone era, it is not clear that Gov. Crist should be rewarded with higher electoral office. He brings little to the table besides likeability, but that trait wears thin after a very short while if nothing else is accomplished.

As with his "Republican" counterpart in California, he lacks fiscal discipline, any semblance of actual policy knowledge and an actual vision of the role of government that is not based on his being at its political core.

As with his fellow liberals, he is blessed with an inability to see any danger in the European-style socialism now being force-fed to us by Hollywood and Wall Street plutocrats acting in cynical alliance with the "thugocracy" wing of the Democratic Party. Unlike more serious politicians, he cannot see any peril lurking in unbridled resort to the printing press as a mechanism for creating wealth.

JEFFREY P. MEYER

Clearwater

Maintain Sovereignty

So the state budget is in trouble because our spending can no longer be supported by revenues and the governor's plan is to take largess from Washington and expand spending even further, effectively turning Florida into a subsidiary of the federal bureaucracy.

Why in the world would we want our state to become an indentured servant to Obama or anyone else's administration? Congress already wants to tell banks and automakers how to run their businesses, and it'll be no different for the states. Every time "you take the king's shilling, you do the king's bidding." We should just say no to the "stimulus" and retain what little sovereignty we have left.

I suggest that since we're going to come up about 4.5 percent short this year, we cut every line item in the budget by that amount. No favorites. No lobbying. No wailing and gnashing of teeth. It'll hurt for a while, but it's better to stand on one's feet in pain than to live on one's knees in comfort.

JOHN S.V. WEISS

Spring Hill

On-Air Equality

It looks like the far right has got itself in a wad over the remote possibility of bringing back the Fairness Doctrine, which used to require equal time for opposing political views on the radio. Apparently, it's OK for righty talkers to spew hours and hours of delusional paranoia to millions of dutiful followers every day, but any other opinion should not be heard. The culture of resentment cannot abide a dissenting point of view.

We are just not talking about people presenting a "conservative" viewpoint over the radio. We are talking about Rush Limbaugh openly rooting for Obama, and America, to fail, and statements like "the Democrats want more of our soldiers to die," which I heard him utter three years ago during the depths of the Iraq occupation.

Why can't we have a basic requirement that a station that wants to use our public airwaves be held accountable for airing differing views?

SCOTT COCHRAN

Tampa

Stop Spreading Dirt

Carol Carter, the Hillsborough GOP official who forwarded the controversial e-mail, needs to understand the ramifications of sending stereotypical and insulting material to anyone.

This election year I received e-mails daily that insulted my intelligence. Not only did I not forward them on, I replied to the sender explaining why the material and subsequent message was nothing more than a propaganda campaign of distortion and lies. These e-mails targeted both Democrats and Republicans, and nearly all were ridiculous in their claims.

It is time we say enough is enough when it comes to spreading lies and innuendo that make us all look like idiots in the eyes of the world.

JIM HARVEY

Tampa

Status Quo Sufficient

Regarding "Show Us War's Costs" (Leonard Pitts, Views, Feb. 21):

An expression of revolt to Pitts' column on allowing the media to record the arrival of military remains is indeed an understatement. I believe we can express our opposition or support for the wars without invading the sacred privacy of the remains of loved ones who volunteered for the military. To see the numbers so prominently displayed by the media as a rejection of the war policy of this nation seems sufficient.

To follow Pitts' line of thought, the next request will be to open coffins to determine the extent of death-causing injuries. Most of the country is aware there are Americans risking their lives. Should their lives be sacrificed for what they believed in, let us celebrate the spirit that has created this nation "under God" and leave the curiosity of the media to such things as Hollywood personalities who relish the idolatry.

PETER WING

Valrico

Sherman Was Right

Regarding "Show Us War's Costs":

For God's sake people, all wars are costly! I'll key in on the one I was involved in: the Korean war. Even today, some of us still refer to this bloody conflict as the "police action" or "The Forgotten War." Forgotten, my backside. Tell this to the relatives, friends, etc., and the thousands of men and women who never came back.

To quote our famous Civil War Union general, William Tecumseh Sherman: "War is hell."

JOSEPH P. CORELL

Clearwater

Cash For Blood

Due to thousands of job layoffs Florida Blood Service is very short of donations. Have they considered offering cash incentives to get people to give blood?

With people who are out of work and seeking work, as well as those still-employed potential donors, what better marketing incentive than cash?

If cash payments violate a legal or ethical principle regarding donations of blood, then what about a $25 gift card to a grocery store or a similar denomination gas card?

Lives can be saved. Donors can have a tiny direct stimulus for food or travel expenses.

MICHAEL M. CASTLE

Tampa

Model Businesses

To those who have flown Southwest Airlines or shopped at Publix it is obvious that the majority of employees are well trained, happy and the best at customer service.

Both companies are doing well even in these difficult times.

Publix stores are always clean and well stocked. Their employees are sincerely interested in giving great service. Likewise with Southwest. Good prices and great service.

Wouldn't you think that other businesses would catch on?

FRANK FERRERI

New Port Richey

JOIN DISCUSSION

The Tribune welcomes letters and e-mails from readers. The text should be original and no longer than 150 words. By making a submission, you agree the Tribune may edit the letter for length and clarity, and publish it in any medium.

Please include your name, address and daytime phone number. Mail to: P.O. Box 191, Tampa, FL 33601-0191. Or e-mail without attachments: tribletters@tampatrib.com.

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