Letters to the Editor: June 24

Letter of the Day: Let's see some action

Editor, Daily News:

Weekdays, normally at 7 a.m. and 5:45 p.m., I find myself becoming more incensed at what I see.

It's common to see as many as four to six vehicles, mostly pickups, dump trucks and work vans, running lights turning onto Pine Ridge Road well after their signal has turned red.

(I know because mine has already turned green.)

This is every day!

These intersections I am referring to are northbound Santa Barbara Boulevard onto westbound Pine Ridge in the morning and southbound Livingston Road onto eastbound onto Pine Ridge in the late afternoon, the same intersection in which there was a fatal accident a few months ago when a woman in her prime was killed by a red-light-running truck.

The other day I witnessed this issue escalate even further! A Collier County school bus was the last of five vehicles to run through a red light at approximately 8:10 a.m.

Collier County Sheriff Don Hunter speaks to budget constraints and resource allocation, realignments and reorganizations. So I ask, what about the obvious, the basics? What are the priorities?

Is it more productive to respond to accidents or to deter them? Are fatalities, injuries and property damage deterred by parking police vehicles unattended in parking lots overnight or by positioning and manning them at busy intersections?

There have been many letters submitted to this newspaper regarding this but nothing seems to change.

Maybe Sheriff Hunter and his senior command are more focused on headlines than substance.

Also, why is it that whenever there is a police vehicle stopped at these intersections for the traffic light beside me, they never respond to these infractions?

Todd Hoffman , Naples

Letter: Daily News won't print my letter

Editor, Daily News:

Responsible journalism? Last week I tried to place a letter to the editor on our worse nightmare yet to come — depleted uranium use in our two never-ending wars — and I say worse for what the outcome will be for America's good will around the world and what it will do for all the service people that will have served in these wars.

Because my letter contained over 250 words I was denied, yet cutting it back to 250 words was an insult and a danger in not getting out all the known facts.

I asked if it were just possible to do away with one of Jack Tymann's Pelican Bay letters, or an article on one of your reporter's romance and marriage, to put the letter in its entirety in the newspaper? Nope, can't do it.

So I ask, where is responsible journalism that these domestic issues come before our country and our children's future?

Richard Fraer , Naples

Letter: Project Help needs help

Editor, Daily News:

In response to Monday's article, "Charitable giving nears record level," I would like to acknowledge all those who also give their time and skills by volunteering in our community.

As the new hotline coordinator for Project Help Inc., I am in awe — specifically, at the tremendous impact our volunteers have every day and night by working our 24-hour Crisis and Referral Hotline. These individuals contribute in ways that money cannot replace.

Regardless of the hour or day, our volunteers field domestic violence, rape, suicide, crime and depression-related calls. By listening to and empowering callers, they help victims start on their road to healing. It takes a special kind of person to embrace those responsibilities, and I feel very blessed to work with the volunteers who are currently involved with our organization.

That being said, we at Project Help are experiencing a volunteer crisis and are in need of additional volunteers to join our ranks. We provide all the necessary training and have even developed a program that allows volunteers to work from their own homes.

For more information, please contact me at Project Help, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., (239) 649-1404.

Monday's article claimed that as a nation "when there is a very significant need, when people are clearly aware of that need, they respond." I would like to challenge Naples and the rest of Collier County to follow this model.

Please donate the greatest gift that you have — your hearts and your time.

Maria T. LaRocco, Hotline coordinator, Project Help Inc.

Letter: Democrats are consistent

Editor, Daily News:

The latest cut-and-run mantra of Democrats concerning our war with terrorists in Iraq is not new. They have a history of cut-and-run that is consistent with their tax-and-spend mantra.

In China they cut off supplies to Chiang Kai-shek and allowed the Communists to take over. Now we have an enemy nuclear power that threatens us. In Korea they did not support Gen. Douglas MacArthur's idea to move into North Korea. Now we have an enemy nuclear power that threatens us.

In Vietnam they ran the war from the White House. They opposed the Contras in Nicaragua. They opposed the Shah of Iran who was replaced by the Ayatollah Khomeini, the nation that now is looking for nuclear weapons. Conservatives have constantly been right in their positions but never get credit when history proves them right.

They called Mao Zedung and Fidel Castro communists, while the media and Democrats called them agrarian reformers. Conservatives opposed helping North Korea with nuclear products.

Just think, if the voters had listened to conservatives rather than Democrats, we would have allies in China and in Cuba. If voters had paid attention to conservatives, Iran would be a monarchy and not an enemy.

Not to break an unbroken record, Democrats are wrong again by not helping defeat this most dangerous enemy — radical Muslims.

Tom Macchia , Naples

Letter: Time for change

Editor, Daily News:

Imagine that you have just interviewed and hired an employee thinking that he was just right for the job. He had convinced you that he would do the best job for you; but as soon as he settled into his position, he acted like you had no right to expect him to do what you wanted him to do. Frustrating?

But the description above is that of both houses of Congress. The members have been there so long that they have acquired more money and power than most of us "just" citizens could ever hope for. Some of this would have been acquired through dubious ways (graft, bribes, you scratch my back, etc.).

We still have the representatives with the cold cash legislating for us. You can't get them out. Can you believe that?

As Americans, we need an attitudinal adjustment in Washington (senators, representatives, judges, executives). Our employees need to wake up to the fact that we "just" citizens pay their salaries and can remove them from their plush jobs. They all need to know that a regime change is just an election away.

Can 2006 or 2008 bring us a resolution to the problems of immigration, national debt levels, crime level and Iraq?

I hope so! Don't you?

Elizabeth M. Jenkins , Naples

Letter: Panthers on the prowl

Editor, Daily News:

My husband and I happened to be in Naples for a short trip, and I saw your article headlined "Cat habitat cost confuses county" and I wanted to respond.

I don't know what the total cost will be to widen Santa Barbara Boulevard, or how much money Collier County has received in impact fees from the number of people and businesses that have moved into the area, but I suspect the $270,000 that has been assessed for this panther protection is rather a small percent.

Also, no one may have seen a panther on Santa Barbara in a while, but many residents in Naples Heritage (Davis Boulevard) have seen a panther(s) this past winter; and my husband and I have heard at least one on several nights this past winter. So, they are around.

I'm not amused at the editorial-type comments made in an information piece on the front page of the June 19 edition. Florida appears to be walking a fine line on its environmental-protection issues.

As a relative newcomer, it doesn't appear that Florida is too much concerned at all about preserving the environment and its native habitat. Perhaps a little more research would have been useful?

Mary E. Uhl , Naples and Michigan

Letter: "Rose" will grow on you

Editor, Daily News:

I have read with interest about your search for a temporary comic replacement for "The Boondocks." This is not a suggestion for a temporary replacement for that strip, but a recommendation for "Rose is Rose."

Maybe, if used as a temporary replacement, since "Rose" will take readers a little while to get used to, it would allow a head start to appreciation of "Rose." "Rose"" is definitely a family strip.

As a very young child I had trouble learning to read. Through the comics of the time, I finally learned to enjoy and appreciate the written word. How about giving this strip a trial run? I am sure those of us who have read "Rose" over the last 20 years would applaud your decision.

Ronald Bright , Naples

Letter: Re-examining Clinton on Iraq

Editor, Daily News:

In a letter to the editor, a writer labeling himself as a retired Air Force colonel listed several points which require clarification and correction.

I never voted for Bill Clinton and found his administration faulty on many accounts, but not for the same reasons as the colonel. I believe it is imperative to tell the truth and set the record straight and not present the propaganda of any political party.

After campaigning that Clinton had weakened the defense budget, the first thing President Bush did was to submit Clinton's 2000 defense budget exactly as Clinton had proposed. Bush did not recommend an increase in the defense budget.

The Clinton administration is accused of a pitiful response to the attack on the USS Cole. The attack on the USS Cole was responded to when evidence was secured as to who the guilty parties were.

Reference was made to the Iraq Liberation Act of 1998 signed by Clinton in October 1998. The act recommended the application of United Nations resolutions on Iraq and economic sanctions against Iraq. It provided financial support for the opposition parties in Iraq.

A few months later, Clinton sent bombers over Iraq with the intent of knocking out nuclear or chemical weapons. Clinton has frequently stated that the invasion of Iraq by the Bush administration was a mistake.

H.H. Herman , Naples

Letter: Cartoon denigrated teachers

Editor, Daily News:

I'm very disappointed at the "School's out" cartoon you printed in the June 13 editorial page.

To imply that students in this county and elsewhere throughout the United States "don't have to learn anything in school" is an insult to all of the hard-working and dedicated teachers who spend a great deal of time and effort during the school year to deliver the best possible education to their students.

If you or any of your staff would ever take the time to visit the local schools and see what is taking place, I'm sure you would regret publishing such a negative cartoon.

I was an elementary school principal for 32 years in Connecticut, and at the end of each school year I made a concerted effort to thank all of my staff and volunteers for the great job they did with the children all year long.

It is unfortunate that your editorial staff didn't choose to recognize the teachers of the Collier County schools in a similar fashion for all they've done for the pupils this past year.

Michael Magrone , Naples

Letter: Keep "Fuzzy"

Editor, Daily News:

Poor Thomas A. Benedik. He doesn't seem to get it — and as a result, he is totally missing out on the brilliant and humorous writing of Darby Conley, creator of the comic strip "Get Fuzzy."

Please, please keep this wonderful comic strip in the Daily News for years to come.

My day is not complete without my morning chuckle over the latest events in the lives of Rob, Satchel and the conniving Bucky.

Thank you, Daily News. I love my daily "fix" of "Get Fuzzy."

Jody Tiffany , Naples

Letter: Investigation required

Editor, Daily News:

Several months ago, our city manager spoke up at a council meeting and stated that a group of Marco Island citizens may have planted evidence of asbestos contamination. Those comments were repeated in this paper not long ago.

In addition, Marco City Councilman Glenn Tucker made note of photographic evidence of the same allegation in a following council meeting, but he did seem to question his own judgment even while he spoke.

Since that time, I have wondered about the veracity of this allegation. I have written the city and the council repeatedly and have never received a response. I know that others have done so as well. It is time for the city to show us the proof. I am not an attorney, but if the allegation cannot be substantiated, has not the city libeled the citizens?

Do the citizens not have the right to investigate the evidence under the Freedom of Information Act? If evidence does exist, those citizens need to be brought to justice. Think of the expense created by their actions. If it doesn't exist, we are all owed a sincere public apology, at least.

I am forever curious as to why neither of our local papers have ever investigated this issue. One would think that it would be delicious reading and sell lots of newsprint. If a citizen were to claim photographic evidence of a councilman taking a bribe from a developer, I would bet that the paper would take notice.

John Putnam , Marco Island