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The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 5, 2009

Jobs Needed, Not Parks

Regarding "Foreclosure May Provide Opportunity," March 3:

We are in one of our country's worst economic downturns since the Great Depression. The worst unemployment rates in over 15 years. Cities and states around our country are in a fiscal crisis. Experts say that job creation is crucial to get us back on track.

Yet Mayor Pam Iorio wishes to build a park (on land owned by Bank of America.)

I had to read this article twice to ensure that what I was reading was accurate. Mayor Iorio needs to join most of Tampa, the state and the United States in understanding that our community needs jobs, not parks, at this moment.

The Georgetown Apartments property is most likely one of the most significant pieces of property available in all of Tampa due to the fact that it is 160 acres already parceled. The outcome of this property needs to be well thought out and include input from business and community leaders alike. But at the center of this discussion needs to be job creation, not park creation.

The Florida Minority Community Reinvestment Coalition will oppose any federal funds being used for a park project.

AL PINA

Tampa

Deport Illegal Residents
It's nice to say that illegals are not responsible for additional crimes once they illegally cross our borders. They are, however, criminals. Their illegal behavior should not be rewarded with food stamps, free medical treatment, bank accounts or any other services.

Their children should not be rewarded with citizenship. Two illegals cannot and should not make a legal. No other country in the world allows this.

It is discriminatory to cater to illegals and promise benefits and lower fees. My wife didn't ask Americans to learn Russian when she immigrated, nor did she ask for lower fees. One set of immigration rules should be honored by all.

Respect our laws and you are welcome. Disrespect and you are not. Every illegal and their children should be deported back to whatever country they came from.

GREG STEINMULLER

Plant City

Visitor Rescued

Friday night, I was driving from Sarasota to Tampa to stay at one of your hotels and jog the Gasparilla 15K the next day. At about 5 p.m. my car stopped completely in the middle Ashley Street exit lane. Two lanes of heavy traffic were rushing on either side of me.

I put on my flashers and called 911. A kind young woman came and offered to help. Later, a man in a pickup came and he and a young Hispanic man pushed my car onto the shoulder of the road. A road ranger arrived shortly thereafter. What could have been a terrible accident was averted due to the kindness of these people in Tampa. I would only hope that under similar circumstances Sarasota residents would be just as kind. Thank you Tampa Bay!

RITA KRAMER

Sarasota

Opinion Is Not News

The Tampa Tribune distinguished itself from other newspapers in two ways during the 2008 election cycle. First, it had the courage to endorse John McCain in the face of immense pressure to endorse Barack Obama. Second, it maintained the separateness of its news and editorial pages. Many media outlets were so in thrall to Sen. Obama that their endorsements were clear not just from their editorials but from their news pages as well.

Organizations such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times and The Associated Press were so invested in the goal of achieving victory for Obama that they erased the distinction between editorial commentary and journalism. It is therefore disappointing to see in your news pages March 2 a purported news article from an Obama partisan employed by Associated Press admonishing Republicans to self-censor their criticisms of Obama.

JEFFREY P. MEYER

Clearwater

Tent City No Solution

I totally disagree with your article (March 2) on the newly proposed tent city. We do not see this as a solution. Nor are we anti-homeless. I volunteer with HCSO, my wife has been in the mental health field for 10 years and volunteers for Metropolitan Ministries, and we both do Paint Your Heart Out Tampa.

The Pinellas tent city should be the model for this new project which has failed miserably. The success rate to get the homeless employed is less than 15 percent. They should be housed in permanent buildings, not tents. And three meals should be guaranteed.

All of your opinions are based on what Catholic Charities has told you, and no research was done on your part. Come to our next meeting at East Lake Park and be educated to the facts.

FRED JIMENEZ

Tampa

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.

Also, read and participate in the Tribune editorial board's blog, "Thinking Out Loud," at www.tboblogs.com/index.php/thinkoutloud/categories....

The writer is chairman of the FMCRC.

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