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The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 8, 2009

Tampa As Cuban Gateway

It is not a question of if the United States will allow Americans unrestricted travel to Cuba; it is a question of when the United States will grant all Americans this right. When our laws change, Tampa International Airport and the Tampa Port Authority should become the primary U.S. gateways to Cuba. We need to be ready before other cities grab this opportunity. Miami, Los Angeles and New York are the only cities in the United States that currently offer nonstop flights to Cuba.

I commend Rep. Kathy Castor for attempting to add Tampa to this list of gateway cities, and I encourage Tampa International Airport and the Tampa Port Authority to continue to position Tampa to become the gateway to Cuba.

Imagine the impact! A tourist in Phoenix, Denver, Dallas, Cleveland or Boston could fly nonstop to Tampa, spend a few days here, and proceed by cruise ship or jet to Havana. This would be a win for the entire Tampa Bay area.

Let's not miss the boat here.

RUDY FERNANDEZ

Tampa

Unwanted Speed Humps

The Hillsborough County Commission has done it again. With no input from the residents or fire department, it has installed traffic-calming humps throughout the Carrollwood area. I am told the contract for this unwanted action was $2.3 million. Do you suppose this could be a conflict of interest?

ROBERT C. GUAY

Tampa

New Scare From FDIC

In Thursday's Tampa Tribune, on page six of the sports page or page two of the business section (depending on the way you look at it), there was a small article at the bottom of the page saying the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) has warned that the fund insuring your bank deposits could be wiped out this year unless they are able to get new fees from banks and thrifts. Should this not have been front-page news? How scary is the fact that the banks could just wipe out our savings?

VONNIE DE RICO

Sun City Center

Revive Republican Party

If there ever was a time for change in the Republican Party, that time is now. From Palm Beach to Laguna Beach, I hear the frustration of Republicans who want the party to reflect a new agenda, new image and new names and faces.

I am young. I am black. I am a Republican. I don't fit the typical image of the GOP, but I represent the new voice, new vision and new direction of the GOP. America's message to us is that they were willing to raise millions of dollars, vote in record numbers, vote early and cross racial barriers in order to kick us out of office. It's time for the Republican Party to change course and, if necessary, initiate a complete makeover.

I have watched local, state and national Republicans on national TV talking about the mess President Barack Obama has inherited. We have to take ownership of the problem we left behind and be responsible enough to offer real solutions to clean it up. Who is leading the party and commanding the ship? Nobody! In recent weeks we've heard a lot of controversy from national Republicans, but not much else. We have members of the Republican Party making statements that are generating buzz and headlines, but not helping the party win back voters. I wonder if certain GOP supporters who have access to the national airwaves are more interested in promoting themselves and their show at the expense of the Republican Party. Every time they say and do something controversial, their ratings go up and our standing with the American people goes down.

We can't offer rhetoric and GOP politics as usual. These are serious times that require serious leadership.

RODNEY DEAN TIMS

Tampa

Windmill Would Excite Us

With the availability of federal funds, it's disturbing to read about the same old investments in infrastructure that drag our economy down.

Think beyond to the future. Where are our windmills? Here in Hernando County's Ridge Manor, where county dollars never come, one windmill would provide electricity for our community or about 250 homes. The wind here never stops.

The last great building project we had was the new jail. How sad. In Ridge Manor, State Road 50 doesn't even get new tar, let alone a safe entrance to our community. When it comes to water, it's drill, drill, drill, instead of planning desalinization projects. Our lakes are empty, the ground level of water is down and electric bills are up. We are too far for sewer.

Give us wind power. Get projects that inspire, not the same old tired projects.

RON TOSI

Ridge Manor

Helping Madoff Talk

I wonder how many people who lost their life savings to Bernie Madoff would now be in favor of using waterboarding to make him tell where their money is?

Just wondering.

DON STEPHENS

Lakeland

Banks Won't Sell

I have to agree with the Feb. 27 letter by William Simmons about banks. We are looking for a home in Michigan. We are told by Realtors to stay away from short sales as the banks are sitting on them and in no hurry to unload them.

The banks were giving money to people who couldn't afford the mortgage. They take the property back and won't sell to people who can afford it.

I am paying cash, and that doesn't matter to them. They were given stimulus money to stay in business. Why don't they sell the homes that they have? Are they holding on to them hoping the values will go up?

The government needs to look at this before giving them any more money.

DONALD A. HENDERSON

Sun City Center

No Tears For Brooks

I just can't take the tears of Tampa Bay any more since the release of Derrick Brooks. Obviously, I was as disappointed as everyone was with the loss of an old friend. We all know he's a pillar of the community and has been a mentor to many.

But come on! Does everyone realize that he was actually paid money to play football for the Bucs? Believe it or not, he was paid very well for his services.

I know many people who have lost their jobs lately. I'm more concerned about the millions across the country with no jobs struggling just to keep the lights on and feed the kids. These are the people we should be feeling angry about. Innocent people thrown under the bus by our government and leading companies. These people don't have millions in the bank to lean on after getting their pink slips. I agree that the Bucs organization should have handled DB in a more politically correct manner, but enough already with "poor" Derrick Brooks.

TIM BROWN

Valrico

Meatless Makes Sense

A family's decision to become vegetarians reflects skyrocketing interest in meatless eating, whether for health or ethical reasons ("Go Quietly With That Vegetarian Lifestyle," Tampa Tribune, Feb. 24).

Many people make similar choices because they want to be healthier and because choosing vegetarian can help prevent an enormous amount of animal cruelty. Most of the animals we raise for food today suffer immensely on factory farms, where they can endure painful mutilations and a lifetime of extreme confinement. Each of us can help prevent animal cruelty and protect ourselves - every time we sit down to eat.

PAUL SHAPIRO

Washington

Give Everyone A Job

Able-bodied workers who find themselves unable to keep or find employment in the private sector should no longer receive unemployment checks or welfare payments. They instead should be provided a meaningful job with a living-wage paycheck, thereby restoring a workable level of full employment.

From that point the private sector will regain its lost self-confidence and maintain that positive mindset so long as the government continues to fill the unemployment gap as the economy goes up and down.

JOHN B. HUBER

Sebring

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/C930.

The writer is a former Tampa City Council member. The writer is senior director of the Humane Society's factory farming campaign.

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