Letters to the editor

New zoning will destroy Avenue’s atmosphere

The Park Avenue zoning change is not good for Winter Park. We want shops along the Avenue that bring in consumers and tourists. Offices, salons and real estate agents can operate effectively in “off-avenue” locations. This change will destroy the atmosphere of Park Avenue. I question if our commissioners are trying to help Winter Park or just play to a few supporters.

— Don Thompson

Winter Park

Undergrounding not worth $83M

Your headline in the July 12 Observer (“Undergrounding nearly half done”) was factually correct, but misleading. From reading the headline you would think that the city had removed half of the overhead lines and installed underground lines. In fact, as stated in the article, the city has spent $14.5 million and has removed and installed 11 percent of the lines. It is a noble cause to have all of the lines underground, but is it worth in excess of $83 million more? The underground lines the city has installed have been lines on the street with little or no house services. On the back lot lines, you not only have trees, but the residence will have to convert their overhead services to underground. If the residence is not willing to convert, a pole will have to be set, and the underground line run up the pole. An alternative would be for the city to pay for the underground service conversion.

If the city wants to spend $83 million, I would rather spend it on expanding their waste water lines into residential areas for use in irrigating lawns. It will be a cold day in hell before they do that.

— Mr. Marion W. Gilliam

Winter Park

Congrats to mayor for MLK designation

I want thank Mayor Kenneth Bradley for the courage and commitment it took to see his vision to fruition (Re: “Park to be renamed after MLK” published June 13). I also thank you for the opportunity to serve on the (MLK) task force. The renaming of Lake Island Park to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park is in keeping with the city’s motto of creating “unity in the community.” The attitudes encountered during this process only keep communities divided and slow down progress. I congratulate you, Mayor Bradley, and will keep you and your family in my prayers.

— Rev. John D. Williams, Sr.

Via wmpobserver.com

Park renaming is mayor’s political move

Talk about pandering for the black vote (Re: Letters to the editor published July 3, “Thoughts on renaming Lake Island Park after Dr. King”). For goodness sake, be honest and show real leadership in Winter Park, not sycophantic voting. There are well-known and unknown heroes throughout our nation’s history that have made tremendous sacrifices of blood and treasure, and all of them have earned our respect and gratitude. But now, suddenly, in 2012, we are renaming a park based on the votes of a mere 275 people regardless of residency as if nobody has recognized Dr. King until this City Commission came along. Really? Who authorized the survey and why now? And this cost us how much money? I will be skipping the photo opp for the always self-aggrandizing Mayor Bradley a/k/a His Majesty the King and will continue calling this park Lake Island as I wait for true leadership in this city.

— Bonnie Jackson

Via wpmobserver.com