Letters to the Editors

Don Connolly appears to be in need of shaming

Re: View for Sale: $30,000, May 14.

Something is morally wrong here. When the "needs" of a purely capitalist shark like Don Connolly are justified above and beyond the needs and desires of decent citizens of our community to be comfortable in their own homes, how can we look at ourselves in the mirror and deny that as a society we have become morally bankrupt.

There may be no legal standing for the neighbors who are suffering the intrusion of this parasite, but more than legal action can be taken to thwart and punish the lack of common decency exhibited by Connolly. I hope Connolly can hear very loudly and clearly the collective "Shame on you!" from all around the bay area. And shame is something you cannot take to the bank.
-- Mike Ferlita, Tampa

Give property owners first option to buy

I believe that Don Connolly did nothing wrong legally with purchasing the 4.7 acres of land, which included a lake behind 15 homeowners' property in Tarpon Woods subdivision. I believe that it was a smart move for him as an entrepreneur to buy such land at a discounted price because the developer simply could not or would not pay taxes on this property. It is his legal right to sell such property at any cost he feels is reasonable. Simply put: It is now in his possession fair and square.

However, I do take issue with how much he is charging homeowners -- some of whom have lived there for 17 years or more. I believe it is morally wrong to extort these homeowners into paying some $30,000 each just to keep the land as they have always known it. While Connolly was not wrong legally to place a fence on his property (blocking the view of many residences), it does seem rather extreme. He is making a point that it is his property to do with as he pleases until each homeowner agrees to pay him what he wants.

I believe that because of this situation, a law should be put into effect preventing any future similar occurrences. This law should state: When a developer is behind on the taxes of community property (in the development he/she established), the homeowners should be given the first opportunity to purchase the property corporately. If the homeowners corporately disagree about purchasing this community property in their subdivision, it can/will be auctioned off to the public. The bottom line is that residents should be given the chance to purchase such "community properties" in their subdivision as a whole before any further sales are made.
-- Amy Elkins, Tampa

What is legal versus what is right

Re: View for sale: $30,000.

This is yet another sign of the difference between what is legal and what is right. Don Connolly's tactics should be investigated and this sort of scheme should not be allowed to stand. In the old days, shenanigans such as this would have had Connolly ridden out of town on a rail after being tarred and feathered -- and deservedly so.
-- Andrew Remsen, St. Petersburg

County is at fault

Re: Who has rights to submerged lands? May 15.

This story paints Don Connolly as nothing more than a "good ol' capitalist pig" in my opinion. Capitalist pigs are an honored part of our society.

The problem here is the people running our government, especially our county government. The greed for more taxes by county fathers/mothers by taxing 10-foot strips of land/water adjacent to homes is the real problem. The commissioners and other county officials responsible for this stupidity should have to pay Connolly a fair price out of their own own collective pockets for being so stupid! The mere fact that homeowners weren't notified that said property was for sale at a tax auction is criminal negligence on the county's part. For shame! For shame!
-- Harold Teague, Madeira Beach

Share the feeling of being excluded

I grew up in Pinellas County and as a young boy my friends and I spent hours exploring woods and beaches, fishing from seawalls and enjoying the outdoors.

Slowly at first, and then rapidly, these lands were closed to public access. No longer available were the beaches, trees, swimming holes and forests that we had enjoyed so much. They were lost to all but those who can afford to live behind the bars of gated communities.

What Don Connolly is doing may be unscrupulous, but now maybe these homeowners will know what it feels like to be denied the use of land and waterfront.
-- E. Allen Folsom, Gulfport

Extortion more than speculation

Why do you continue to refer to Don Connolly as a "real estate speculator"? His actions are more like those of an extortionist than a speculator. I will grant that his actions are clever, but that is the only aspect that is decent.
-- Robert Moore, New Port Richey

He's operating within the law

I neither know Don Connolly nor the homeowners involved in the situation at hand, but I do have some questions? Why is Connolly considered by Pinellas County Commissioner Ken Welch to be "an opportunistic miscreant"? Was not Connolly following the laws written by our elected officials to legally purchase land at tax sales conducted by our government officials? One definition miscreant, according to Webster's Ninth Collegiate Dictionary, is: one who behaves criminally or viciously.

Has following the laws, enacted and instituted by our elected officials, made Connolly a "miscreant"? Also, Commissioner Welch states, "It appears to be a perfectly legal transaction, but it's unethical, to be sure." How are legal transactions turned into unethical transactions?

Didn't homeowners in the affected subdivisions actually know what they were or weren't buying? At least Connolly researched his purchases before buying them legally, and, I think, knew what he was buying. Isn't he just following our American capitalistic way of life? In other words, make a profit with the talents we are given.

If trying to sell one's own property for a profit is called "strong-arm" or "extortion" tactics, we're all at risk of being accused of the same if we choose to sell our property for as large a profit as possible.

By the way, no one has to buy the property offered for sale by Connolly.
-- Garret Maunula, Spring Hill

Try a taxing tactic

Tell the county and the homeowners to quit worrying about defeating Don Connolly over ownership of the lake property. He has outsmarted himself by establishing the value of it for tax purposes.

He says it's worth $30,000 per lot? The county should simply accept that value and tax him accordingly. Bums like to take while giving nothing. Take some taxes from him and he'll be gone in short order.
-- Howard C. Batt, Clearwater

Photo flap is a nonissue

Re: The president's photo op-portunism, May 16.

The column by Maureen Dowd is a perfect example of how desperate the Democrats are for some issue on which to disparage President Bush. But just like their attempts to blame the president for the recession and the Enron collapse, this ruse will also fail because there is no substance to it.

Asserting that the photo of President Bush talking on the phone is exploiting the war on terrorism and dividing the country is a huge stretch. I believe that most rational people will agree that the use of this photo is well within any reasonable ethical and moral limits for political fundraising. All the breast-beating and ranting by liberals cannot elevate this nonissue to anything near the level of the fundraising abuses of the Clinton-Gore era -- no matter how hard they try.

Dowd's contempt for President Bush does not serve her purposes well. She comes across as petty and mean-spirited, acting for all the world like a spoiled and jealous brat who didn't get what she wanted. Dowd and her ilk need to get over their rage -- Gore lost in 2000 and it was a very good thing for America that he did.

I'm thankful we have a president who has the courage and the fortitude to do the right thing. He is a man guided by deep moral convictions and spiritual strength -- a president of character and integrity of whom we can be justly proud. Judging from his unprecedented approval ratings, most Americans share these feelings.
-- B.F. Bryan, Seminole

Bush is doing nothing new

Re: Bush Sept. 11 photo.

I really don't know what all the fuss is about. President Bush has been using the events of Sept. 11 for political gains for quite some time. Ever notice that whenever his numbers start to slide he gets the "war talk" back on the front burners and in the news.

He will go to any length to try to legitimize his appointment. He not only wants to finally be elected president, he craves a mandate. He is the one that stated things were going to change in Washington.

Oh, how I long for the days of "why did she keep the blue dress?"
-- Gilbert A. Sullivan, St. Petersburg

Our veterans are in need

Re: Thousands of veterans must wait for health care, May 15.

What a sad commentary on the priorities of this nation when we read stories about veterans literally waiting for people to die before they can be admitted for treatment. The story about the 80-year-old disabled veteran who flew 69 missions over Europe as a World War II tail gunner being rejected by an outpatient clinic that isn't taking new patients brings shame to every American.

How quickly we, as a nation, embrace the "feel good" stories of the Greatest Generation but turn our collective backs on the obligations that we, as Americans, owe those veterans who are in such dire need and are being treated as though they don't exist.

Wake up, America. Don't let the last of the Greatest Generation or any American veteran of any war fade from the scene with such a total lack of dignity and caring.

I have requested Tom Brokaw who so brilliantly told one side of the story of the Greatest Generation to take a look at the not-so-pleasant side of that story.
-- Francis A. Cerio, Palm Harbor

Take care of our own first

Re: Thousands of Veterans must wait for health care.

Shame! Veterans are not being treated at a VA hospital because there are not enough funds. There is money given to other countries and money that is wasted but not enough money for our men and women who served without question and shed their blood when asked.

Wake up, America, and take care of our own first.
-- George Isaac, Tarpon Springs

Share your opinions

We invite readers to write to us. Letters for publication should be addressed to Letters to the Editor, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731.

They can be sent by fax to 893-8675 or by e-mail to letters@sptimes.com (no attachments, please).

They should be brief and must include the writer's name, address and phone number. Please include a handwritten signature when possible.

Letters may be edited for clarity, taste and length. We regret that not all letters can be published.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright