Letters to the editor

+ Editor is ‘clueless’
Dear Editor:
Last week, you wrote under the title, “Government outside the margins!” an editorial tirade against pro-government “whiners,” coupled with a cry to “let them (Florida taxpayers) keep what they earn.”

You conveyed the estimate of Gov. Rick Scott that his proposed state budget reductions would cause 700,000 jobs to be created.

Notwithstanding the absence of a logical connection between the premise (budget cuts) and alleged results (job creation), you ignored a major premise of American economic and social success: investment.

You also neglected to affirm the role of government in investment, implying that government is of little or no use. Worse still, in your editorial page table, you appeared to commend the budget cuts of Gov. Scott in veterans affairs, justice, education, disabilities services and environmental affairs (the “budget losers”) and the budget increases in the governor’s office, management services, military affairs and health care administration (the “budget winners”).

Perhaps you should acknowledge that President Barack Obama, whom you disdained as “having no clue,” at least counter-balanced his fiscal 2012 federal budget cuts with selected investments for clearly stated economic and social purposes.

Alas, it seems that the governor of Florida is missing a clue. And so it seems are you.
Dr. Denton Crews
Longboat Key

The table was not meant to depict our view of which agencies should receive more or less money; it was only to provide context for which agencies the governor wishes to spend more or less. Government “investment” is a misnomer. It’s still the taking of your money (by force), and elected representatives deciding they know better than taxpayers how to spend other people’s money. Before government subsidized the builders of roads and railroad tracks, those two “investments” flourished under the private sector. — Ed.

+ License plate cameras would add to safety of the island
Dear Editor:
(Regarding) Longboat license plate cameras: Relax, Big Brother has been here a long time.

I and many of my friends and neighbors are in support of installing these cameras on each bridge. We do not consider them intrusive on our peaceful enjoyment of this beautiful city island. Rather, they would add to our safety. My understanding is that they have had success in other municipalities in identifying miscreants, or at least their motor vehicles. This a pretty safe place to live, in an increasingly less safe world. Let’s do what we can to keep it that way.
Blake Whitney
Longboat Key

+ Signs draw focus away from roadway
Dear Editor:
I am a bicyclist and a driver and have wondered what the bicycle signs posted along Gulf of Mexico Drive signify. They seem like misplaced exclamations. The signs say “bicycle lane,” but they are obviously not on the bicycle lane and couldn’t be without blocking the very lanes they announce.

As a bicyclist, these signs, planted on a landscaped swath along Gulf of Mexico Drive, cause me concern.
I really don’t want drivers looking at these signs and wondering what on earth they are referring to other than the grass. Isn’t it more important that the bicycle-lane figure be on the pavement and on the bicycle lane?

As a bicyclist, I find more comfort in these pavement markings that reaffirm an exclusive lane on the sides of the road designated for bicyclists.

As a driver who is looking at the paved roadway, I like to see the lane marked with bicycle figures and arrows, again reaffirming the use of this side lane for bicyclists. The road markings put my eye and my attention where they should be; the pole signs at the side of the road do just the opposite and place my attention where it shouldn’t be. The signs trying to describe the middle lanes and turning arrows are also distractions and detract from safety. The markings within the middle lanes are self-explanatory and obviate the need for the pole signs.

There are too many signs along Gulf of Mexico Drive signifying nothing other than perhaps a predilection among some to say too much fearing lawsuits, yet inadvertently in doing so make the roadway less safe. Gulf of Mexico Drive is challenging enough for bicyclists and drivers alike without the sideshow of signs that are like a parade of question marks.
Larry Grossman
Longboat Key

+ No-growth advocates win
Dear Editor:
We are not retirees. We are working weekenders who love coming here. And we care greatly about the future of Longboat Key.

Since 1994, our property taxes, along with our property values, have more than quadrupled. Yet, just this year we were advised of another increase in the millage rate by an additional 26%. Now you report that pension costs have more than tripled in only the last seven years. 

(By the way, as a pension and investment consultant, I suspect there are probably millions in cost and fee savings that could be recaptured. Similar to the $44 million I found for the city of Orlando’s then $650 million pensions.) 

Is there any correlation between these pension costs and unionization? Is there any correlation with unreasonable or unrealistic pension goals? Or with unrealistic market performance expectations? Or with the town manager’s doubling of salary? Or with the decimation of our tourist industry? Something to think about.

There have been at least two beach renourishments in the last 17 years. The last one resulted in the horrible, ugly, dark, hot, nearly-impossible-to-walk-on sand. Is that because we could not afford the sugar-white sand that attracted most of us? Would that have anything to do with the pension crisis’ effect on the budget? 

The number of hotel beds are decimated. Our retail shops are gone. The “no-growthers” have won. The big government types have won — not only on Longboat Key. Are we now “Detroit on the Gulf”? Just this morning, we discussed selling and leaving this once wonderful island. What a shame. Shame on the town government. 
Mitchell Levin, M.D., CWPP, CAPP
Financial Physician CEO and Managing Director Summit Wealth/Florida