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Today's Letters: Some Floridians barely hanging on

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published April 11, 2007

To those who own multiple homes, shame on you, crying in your fine wines and champagne glasses. You are feeling the pinch too, I think not. If it is getting too much, sell one. Fortunately you have the choice.

Those of us that have just one roof over our heads do not have that luxury. With heavy handed insurance companies and taxes, some are losing their homes. The rest, who, by the way, are too many, are just hanging on. I'm sure you are not even aware of the term, house poor. It is no wonder many are moving out of state.

Floridians running this state are not curbing any of the above problems. Apparently, they are wanting only millionaires putting their roots down here.

I am a retiree, but those who work here with children must have it extremely hard. The homeless situation is growing.

While you are deciding when or what home you want to spend time in, think of those who are wondering whether to put food on the table or get medicine because most of their money is being grabbed up because of greed.

You are the ones voting in Tallahassee. Where have you been? Were your heads in the sand on your beaches?

Carol A. Szech, Port Richey

Growth should pay for itself

This is in response to the lament the developers are singing to our County Commission. The commission has bent over backward to help developers get what they want. They are supposed to be our elected commissioners who act in the best interest of the residents of our county.

What good is it if you create jobs if people can't get to them without idling in traffic and polluting our air?

For years, the commission has seen fit to give concessions to the special interests, all disguised as "we are doing what is best for everyone." Well, now that real estate has taken a plunge and roads are needed to carry all this growth, the commissioners are finally singing the song that we as residents have pleaded for and that is that growth should pay for itself.

The old guard that are still on the commission should be very proud of this.

Aldo Boselli, New Port Richey

Tuesday's articles were enlightening

I enjoy reading your paper and find you do a good job of covering topics. Tuesday, April 10 was no exception.

Two articles really caught my attention. One in the Pasco section and one in the Business section.

The business section showed the CEO of Publix is making $439 per hour. WOW! Just think, every time he goes to the bathroom he is making more than $7 per minute! Yet they need to cut some employees pay by 25 cents an hour? How come?

The second item about doubling the road impact fee was super! Why not triple them? This would help slow down the rampant growth in Pasco. But I wonder what genius came up with the idea of raising the gasoline tax by 5 cents? We pay too much in gasoline tax now!

I am convinced that the commission has a group of people who dream up these ideas and say "Boy, that ought to frost them!"

It would be nice if they devoted as much time and effort to finding ways to live within the budget for a change.

Howard R. O'Neill New Port Richey

Redevelopment plan is negligent

The other night, my wife and I went out to dinner at the new Carrabba's Italian Grill on the other side of the Suncoast Parkway and noticed a new shopping development being built. Last weekend, we went to Outback in the Trinity area and again, a nice shopping development almost finished. Can you see what's happening here? I don't blame the owners of Turtle's Nest one bit for leaving downtown New Port Richey.

The city and it's council members have been negligent in their redevelopment planning. Is there a plan? I do applaud the city for the Hacienda purchase and for approving the Main Street Landing development, but it ends there.

It makes no sense that an agreement can't be made. I've seen what the developers did in Gainesville, and how it transformed that area. I was excited to hear that they decided to invest their time and money in our city. But it's odd that a squabble over $15,000 CDD review application helped shut down the project.

Of course, construction costs have gone up and the developers are at fault for not having reserves.

We have an opportunity to make a shift in our city's direction.

How is it possible, with this beautiful city we reside in, with a gorgeous waterfront, that our downtown is not a prosperous district? Is it because of the mind set of years and years of City Council members just maintaining the status quo, not wanting to apply forward thinking? A healthy, vibrant downtown core will bring more money to the city coffers, more money into the current business owners' (thank you for staying) pockets and a destination for all of us to enjoy.

Stefan Harris, New Port Richey

[Last modified April 10, 2007, 23:29:25]