Letters to the Editor

Avoiding 'Minefields'

As an owner of two beagles, I was very pleased to see the editorial about the importance of picking up a dog's mess.

I live in the Box Factory in Ybor City. Even with a doggie station, there are still some who refuse to clean up after their pets. The usual excuse is their dog is too small or they forgot, etc. My wife and I like to take walks up to 7th Avenue with our beagles, but we have to avoid the 'minefields' of selfish dog owners. Many times it is like having a horse in the neighborhood, the piles are so big. It is time these owners are shamed into removing their dog's waste.

For those who think this is such a minor issue and is not worth writing about and that there are much more important issues, I say this: Consideration is the bedrock of a civilized society. What seems like such a minor issue manifests itself into behaviors that affect society in a broad sense.

GREG ELLIOTT

Tampa

Club Fueling The Noise

Regarding 'Ybor Nightclub Wins 2 Noise Suits' (Metro, July 6):

Isn't the issuance of violation one and two enough warning? There has been plenty of notification regarding the noise ordinance. Nearly every other club on 7th Avenue has taken steps to reduce noise through soundproofing or reduction in amplification equipment. Club Fuel has no excuse and continues to break the law.

The club and its clientele aren't good neighbors. Fuel management blames the new condos and lofts for their problems; however, they fail to remember there have been people living in Ybor City for 100 years, and residents had been complaining about noise long before Fuel opened.

Neighbors will not let up until Club Fuel is a distant memory in Ybor City.

TONY LaCOLLA

Tampa

Handicapped Parking

As a new holder of a handicapped placard for parking, I now have a different viewpoint on something that many people do without realizing its impact.

People park in a handicapped spot but have someone sit in the car in order to move it if the police come by. Well that doesn't help when a person legitimately wants to park there. What are we supposed to do, get out, walk over and ask them to move so we can park?

I assume that people really do not think they are doing anything wrong, as I previously didn't. Please walk a little further for those of us who can't.

PAT ORBAN

Wesley Chapel

Where Does It Go?

Regarding 'Tampa's Irresponsible Dog Owners Need To Clean Up Their Messy Act' (Our Opinion, July 7):

I agree that dog owners need to be responsible for cleaning up after their pets. Your editorial offered, among other things, facts that animal waste contributes up to 95 percent of the fecal coliform bacteria in urban stormwater and that two or three days worth of droppings from just 100 dogs in a 20-square-mile watershed could contribute enough bacteria to close a coastal bay to swimming and shellfishing.

My question is: What becomes of the animal waste that has been disposed of properly in trash receptacles? How do I know that it still won't make it into our urban stormwater?

SUE BOE

Odessa

Still Breaking The Law

Regarding 'Immigration Debate Has Human Cost' (Metro, July 6):

Elvi Ojeda came here legally to help her sick child. Her visa allowed her to stay until the child's health was better. Regrettably she lost her child due to complications from the illness. I'm very sad for her. But then she chose to overstay the terms of her visa - breaking the law - and now we are given her sad story and expected to give her a pass?

I'm glad she volunteered her time. That's great and I'm sure she is a very nice person. It does not change the fact that she is here illegally.

We do not want to grant amnesty yet again. We don't want more excuses. We are tired of the delays. We want our laws to be enforced.

Come here legally and be welcome. But come here illegally and don't expect open arms. 'We the people' have grown tired of the burden.

JOSEPH RICHTER JR.

Dover

Fault Of Presidents

When I read your article 'Immigration Debate Has Human Cost,' my first reaction was that maybe there was a loophole in the law so that we could send Felipe, Susana and Nestor Ojeda back to Bolivia and keep Elvi Ojeda. She seems to have the American spirit.

Any man that I would want to call an American would, under these conditions, return to his native Bolivia with his wife and carve out a life with his family.

This tragedy is not the fault of the American people or the failure of the recent immigration reform. It belongs to Presidents Reagan, the current Bush and those in between for not enforcing the existing immigration laws.

BILL MCQUARRIE

Wimauma