Letters to the Editor

Do your part

We are in such a state of confusion and upheaval in this world at this time. Do we, as humans, think that financial worries and concerns are all we should be taking notice of? If so, how very, very sad. We all need to do our part to help not only other people, but also all the animals that join us on this planet — the environment is crucial to all of well being. Please, think everyone, show concern and offer that helping hand. We all can make a difference!

—Pat Anderson

Orlando

More strings than an orchestra

Here is an economics test. I bet you get this right.

1. If I give you, interest free, $50,000 that you are to pay back is that:

a) a gift

b) a loan

1. Now, if you give me $250,000 and require that I forgive the loan and give you $50,000 annually for an undetermined amount of time is that:

a) a gift from you to me

b) a bad deal

If you answered B to each of the above, you are nobody's fool.

And if this loan/gift is made with other people's money, wouldn't this still be bad business? If those "other people" are the taxpayers of Maitland, a deal like this is a stinking deal.

Former Maitland Councilman Jeff Flowers has "offered" the city $250,000 for a pavilion for the orchestra he has led for several years (PAM). This might seem a generous gift on the surface, but this gift comes with strings attached — more strings than a whole orchestra.

First, Flowers wants to plop the structure on the shores of little Lake Lily, the city's centerpiece. He wants Maitland to forgive the $50,000 interest-free loan it made to PAM four years ago. He wants his orchestra to have unlimited use of the pavilion without charge, forever, while the city assumes all the liability. And the biggest string of all — Flowers wants the city to commit to funding PAM at least $50,000 every year indefinitely or forfeit the pavilion in the park.

In a little more than four years, the taxpayers will have paid more than the amount of the "gift" and will still be obligated to keep supporting the orchestra or they will lose a part of Lake Lily Park. Maitland will always carry all the liability for the pavilion. Smell bad? Like rotten eggs.

If you love music, but can see this is a bad deal, you might be a better steward of Maitland's limited tax dollars than some of the City Council members. Currently, three of the five commissioners became Maitland officials without receiving a single vote. And now they are poised to push a deal that commits the city to fund a private organization indefinitely. This is all about the strings attached. It is about the city's budget and ongoing debts for years to come. It is not a gift. It is a bad deal. And it just doesn't make any sense.

—Nancy Rudner Lugo

Maitland

Salary hike justified

Voting oneself a pay raise! In these times? What shocking behavior from our elected officials! I'm going out on a limb here — read the rest of this paper, other columns or letters. You'll likely see the outrage.

Afghanistan girls are nudged by the wayside to allow room for Afghanistan boys. Stay with me here. Does this deprive bright young men from the right to an education? Or, in the big picture, would this action be metaphorically withholding water from the seeds of half the population? Hint to my perspective: I have two girls.

OK, I'm shaking off the dust and crawling back into Winter Park. I want future leaders, mayors and commissioners, to make wise decisions, born out of intellect, command of the facts and thorough research. I want them to spend time talking to people, understanding the issues.

Now, to find these people.

Wanted: Bright, devoted, college-educated individual for about 30 hours per week. Must have courage and conviction, be willing to attend meetings sometimes late into the evening and a Teflon coating to resist mud is a must. Compensation: a mere fraction of what one's skills would demand. Starting salary: $2.31 per hour. Do you see what I see?

What perspective and what mix of leaders would be ideal? Drawing from the Afghanistan analogy above, I want a broad pool of talent. The mom on a budget, the young professional, the bright, well-read retiree with a ton of knowledge but not as many nickels. Broaden the pool!

Big picture again. So, what will this egregious increase from $2.31 an hour to $7.69 per hour cost our dear city? About 0.00038 of the city budget. To illustrate: spread $26 in pennies (2,600) on the floor — and grab one!

So you see, the sound bite and the big picture are worlds apart. The sound bite's the first paragraph, the rest is the big picture.

Allow me to close with this salient point: Decisions matter. Wise, forward-thinking decisions as to the future of Winter Park are important. Sound decisions can cost or save millions of dollars. Broaden the pool of our future leaders.

—John Skolfield

Winter Park