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Letter to the Editor

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 25, 2009

Withhold Funding

Hamas kidnapped Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Staff Sgt. Gilad Shalit when he was 19. That was 1,000 days ago. The U.S. should not support Gaza until Hamas releases Gilad back to his parents.

Withholding funds is the only way to get his release, apparently. Money speaks.

As a mother of three sons and a daughter, my heart goes out to Gilad's parents.

BARBARA DIX

Spring Hill

Oppressive Debt

Many people in the Tampa area and throughout the state of Florida are wondering when there will be some investigative reporting by the Tribune of the smothering costs that are being borne by residents of deed-restrictive communities burdened by unfair bulk billing and oppressive bad debt.

People in these communities are being forced to bear the burden of increasing numbers who either simply cannot or will not pay the fees necessary to keep their communities viable.

Bulk cable billing is working to the detriment of those who pay their fees on time, every time. People are being forced to make the choice to either stay and face foreclosure or simply abandon their property.

EARL A. MYERS JR.

Tampa

Expand Hatchery Work

The March 22 article "Hatchery Needs Upgrade" by Yvette Hammett reports the two sides of a serious community issue.

Through the 21 years of its operation, the hatchery has quietly proven that its redfish work is a useful method of restocking the local waters. The hatchery has served the needs of the citizens and should continue such work with other saltwater species, such as snook.

Hillsborough County and the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission now have a great opportunity to keep the fish hatchery in a location convenient to Tampa Bay.

With such a proven track record, the hatchery should be encouraged to expand its work in another necessary restoration field: seagrass farming.

A combined fish and seagrass research facility would put this side of Florida on the cutting edge of education and environmental needs for the foreseeable future.

A search of the Tampa Bay shores should be undertaken immediately. If there is another acceptable site, great. However, if there is no available property to be found, the ELAPP property cited will have to be condemned for the good of the community.

CHARLIE FELDSCHAU

Sun City Center

FCAT Negativity

Regarding "The Horrors of FCAT" (Letters, March 22):

Junior year of high school and my last year of FCAT. This year I took on the responsibility of doing my best on the science FCAT even though it does nothing to benefit or hurt me academically. However, not everyone took on the same responsibility as I did.

When our administrators told us that the science portion of the FCAT only counted to grade our school, several students decided they weren't going to bother showing up. Several more did show up but only because their parents required them; however, they in no way took the test seriously but instead "Christmas treed" it. With these negative factors, why would they still enforce this method of grading our school system?

I feel that this affects me directly, as my school could possibly have a lower grade for my college to look at, and indirectly, through the cost that the state pays to administer these tests.

MARISSA SHEARER

Tampa

Government Lost Its Way

Regarding "A Solution For Economy," (Letters, March 22):

Although I agree with some of Steve Toner's thoughts on the decline of the real estate market, I disagree that this is the "source of the current economic crisis." I pray that the American people wake up to the fact that the current economic crisis was caused by our corrupt government pandering to special interest groups such as ACORN, various lobbyists, and PACs to provide homes to everyone in America whether or not they could afford one.

Our government lost its way years ago, and the current administration is the blind leading the blind into oblivion. Who's really at fault? Why, we are.

LAWSON STEVENSON

Bartow

Reporter Failures

Regarding Leonard Pitts "You Will Miss Us" column (Views, March22): I find myself in gentle agreement but harsh disagreement.

I would miss the local accountability provided by the paper in my driveway seven days a week. However, print reporters across the country have let us down as we find ourselves in the worst situation our country has known in a very long time. This all happened while you were supposed to be standing guard. The stories are there, but the Woodwards and Bernsteins apparently are not.

The newspapers used to protect the citizenry from those who would do us harm. Now they seem more interested in being friends with our leaders so as to get the half-truth spin that press secretaries dole out to those who write only pleasantries. Do your job and put value in my driveway, and I will keep reading, or don't.

STEVE OTT

Valrico

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....

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