Letters to the Editor

Kudos for upbeat Hendrick’s story

Dear publisher and editors of the Winter Park-Maitland Observer,

We want to extend our congratulations to your guest reporter Kristy Vickery for the very nice article “The Shoe Fits” that she wrote for the Oct. 7 issue. It was such a heartwarming profile of Luther and Clare Shakarji, who owned and operated Hendrick’s Shoe Repair for 27 years and who will be sorely missed.

Upbeat and positive news stories like this one are so refreshing and reflect so positively on our lovely city.

Please pass along our special thank you to Ms. Vickery for such a fine story!

—Charles and Lisa Evans

Winter Park

Vote yes on 4

Stolen thrice, but still standing (I have replacements) is my starred sign with patriot’s colors: “Vote YES: 4. We Deserve a Vote!” After all the bulldozers, shady deals and lost forests; after the extirpated and cornered species, the de trop malls, corruption arrests and foreclosures, we deserve the chance to prove Jefferson’s dictum — “whenever things get so far wrong” the people can “set them to rights.”

In front of the Homebuilders Association stands a sign with balled fist, down-pointed thumb and words in red and black: “NO on 4!”, stentorian edict that you — the voter — relinquish input on your community’s future. Peaceful votes on land-use changes that affect our tax rates, home values, ecosystems, wildlife, water supply, neighborhood aesthetics and stability — our quality of life — are condemned by the “NO” camp as the direct threat to the American way since Marx and Engels.

Talk about a sledgehammer to a gnat. Just who does this “NO” sign represent? Not ordinary citizens. These blood and black colors fly for national building companies — Pulte Homes and Lennar Homes, e.g. — who took millions of taxpayer-funded bailouts and now use part of it to fight residents’ right to vote. Your claim to stable zoning and a decent living environment is not part of the motive behind that fist. If it were, these industry groups would not so fear you voting on land use. @@If@@ they cared about you and things that matter to you, they would not contort to prevent open referenda. Squelching you isn’t “for your own good”, but for the preservation of their interests.

These groups push “growth” on us as if there were no other goal to humankind but expanding its girth — and wealth from the construction business.

Amendment 4 founders would save some of Florida for tomorrow. They see beyond corporate enrichment as the sole symptom of a state’s “health” to deeper things — home, family, stewardship and pursuit of one’s happiness within the greater society, which should be allowed to voice consensus about its fate.

The red-blacks don’t want sprawl put to our vote. A-4 grants that vote. You can ask yourself which camp has more “American” roots. But rarely in our history has defending entrenched power blocks been the high path. After festering unrest, civic change can dawn from one lit candle.

Florida Hometown Democracy is non-partisan — it draws fans from across the spectrum. It offers true reform. The noir colors of “no” represent brute power fearing loss of that power.

Vote yes on Amendment 4.

—Rebecca Eagan

Winter Park

Vote no on 4

This November you will have a vote on Amendment 4, a proposed amendment of Florida’s constitution that would require taxpayer-funded referenda on all changes to local government comprehensive plans. This “vote on everything” amendment would force Floridians — not the representatives they elect — to decide hundreds of technical comprehensive plan changes each year, big or small. Whether it’s a new high-tech manufacturing plant, allowing a new school to be built or changing the land-use plan for a new fire station, citizens will be forced to vote on the change. The author of the amendment, attorney Lesley Blackner, was inspired by a California version of this amendment. For me, if it’s from California and it deals with real estate and growth management, it’s unworkable. High taxes, high real estate prices (could this be why some support this proposed amendment?) and long commutes due to restrictive growth laws make California a place that is not affordable for most people. Residents and businesses continue to flee California. Do we want that mess in Florida?

Another reason to oppose this measure, whether you agree with the current system of growth regulation or not, is the reality that this amendment will freeze job creation by putting Florida in a permanent, competitive disadvantage compared to other Sunbelt states that encourage growth. This proposal only discourages growth and its much-needed revenue. And if there is no growth, you know who will end up paying for the increased costs of public pensions, health care, schools and roads? You, me and our children. Taxes will increase as the jobs migrate to Texas and South Carolina and other more economically friendly states. Who will want to bother with Florida?

Finally, by forcing a taxpayer-funded election for every land-use change, this amendment removes the elected representatives from making the final decisions. Instead of elected leaders listening to both sides of the development argument, the decision will be made at the ballot box. This will inevitably create a political-style campaign to influence the voters in each one of these forced elections. Have you had enough campaigning or would you like year-round election cycles based on technically complex land-use laws? How much is it going to cost taxpayers for these exhausting elections and the accompanying material to inform voters? Who is going to pay for these campaigns? Is it fair that a majority will dictate a land-use change that may negatively impact a voter who lives near a land-use change? Isn’t that mob rule?

This proposed amendment does not solve any current problems. Increased taxes, probable job losses and unworkable elections may excite some, but I think we’ve suffered enough from some of these problems in the last two years. Florida used to be a low-tax, business and retiree-friendly state that attracted people from all over the globe. During a time when businesses are struggling to stay open, why in the world would people support such an anti-business, job killing and tax raising amendment?

Vote no on Amendment 4 to save jobs. Vote @@no@@ to keep taxes low. And vote @@no@@ to keep Florida competitive with other states. Visit Florida2010.org for more information on this dangerous amendment.

And if you’d like a Vote no on 4 sign, please call me at 407-247-9715. I will deliver one to you.

—Pitt Warner

Winter Park

Paw park fees the right move

Mayor and City Commissioners and citizens of Winter Park,

Thank you for taking the responsibility to manage the city’s financial affairs. This marks a high water mark and a bold step to put the city of Winter Park in a more manageable financial position with the citizens’ park property (Fleet Peeples Park). Far too long we have been bullied by outsiders who were encouraged by politically motivated operatives espousing friendship but acting as an occupational force. Real friends do not attempt to privatize public property for singular special purposes.

The city of Winter Park has not treated this park any differently than the soccer fields, baseball fields, tennis courts, lake boat access, the golf course and civic center — all charge fees; pay to play. I think with future years of revenue shortfall, the city will need to continue looking for more revenue on a pay-to-play basis.

Now the Friends of Fleet People Park can get on with the more important task at hand, now that they are relieved of the fundraising to support our city park. They should now support the city and discontinue their constant attacks on city officials and operating as a political action committee or lobby group. Many areas of our region need and want dog parks. More dog parks supported by fees in Orlando, Maitland, Oviedo, Apopka, College Park and Orange County would not only locate dog parks where dog owners live but reduce the wear and tear on one centrally located dog park.

I would also suggest allowing corporate sponsorship and privately owned dog parks to aid cities and the county to speed up this process. This has been a successful approach in Houston. Most cities and counties are experiencing large revenue shortfalls that will effect basic services or greatly increase their costs. There are billions of dollars in shortfalls from unfunded pension plans nationwide and some shortfall in pension funding here in Winter Park.

We cannot, as some have suggested, borrow more money to close the gap and kick the can down the road.

Now is truly the time for everyone to ask not what my community can do for me, but rather what can I do for my community.

—Herbert Weiss

Winter Park

Healthcare reform may sicken Democrats’ re-election prospects

With Election Day just around the corner, the midterm campaign season is heating up. Several Democratic senators are fighting for political survival. A new CNN poll shows 83 percent of respondents said that health care was “extremely” or “very important” to how they would vote this November.

A majority of voters — 55 percent, according to the latest Rasmussen poll — still support repealing the measure. Prominent incumbents may regret their full-throated support for Obamacare.

The people of Nevada might keep Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid home for the first time in a quarter century. A recent Rasmussen poll put him in a dead heat with Republican Sharron Angle. More than half of Nevadans have an unfavorable opinion of the majority leader and most oppose Obamacare’s requirement that they purchase health insurance. Neither is a good sign for Reid.

For Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold the passage of Obamacare could represent a costly victory. Several polls show him neck-and-neck with Republican Ron Johnson. With 55 percent of state voters favoring repeal of the health reform plan, Feingold may not survive.

Some politicians have already lost. Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley was famously upended earlier this year by Republican Scott Brown in what amounted to a referendum on Obamacare.

Americans don’t appreciate being told how to spend their money. The individual mandate — forcing every American to buy health insurance — remains the most unpopular part of Obamacare.

The highest penalty for not carrying insurance will be $173 a month or 2.5 percent of family income. Insurance is often more expensive than the penalty, so individuals may decide to just pay the fine.

Obamacare represents the biggest tax increase in our country’s history — $569 billion over the next decade. Many folks will face a new 3.8 percent Medicare tax on “unearned” income, such as interest, capital gains, annuities, royalties, rents and dividends. This tax doesn’t apply only to the wealthy — a retiree selling her home to move to a rental in warmer climes could get walloped by the levy too.

As the recession continues, people will grow more skeptical of measures like Obamacare. A full two-thirds of voters oppose another government stimulus package — they’re fed up with the level of spending by Washington politicians.

The political fallout from Obamacare has already evidenced itself in places such as Massachusetts. Many other Democrats may soon fall victim to this radioactive reform measure.

—Sally C. Pipes

President & CEO of the Pacific Research Institute. Her latest book, “The Truth About Obamacare”, was just released.