Letters to the editor

Dead trees do pose risk

I am in total agreement with Commissioner Carolyn Cooper and City Manager Randy Knight (quoted in the Sept. 20 article “Winter Park copes with tree deaths”) that something has to be done about all of the dead trees in Winter Park that are creating a hazard for our citizens, not to mention our cars and homes. There are so many dead trees that I will not risk walking my dogs whenever it is windy for fear of being crushed by a tree or giant branch. Three cars in my neighborhood have been damaged/crushed by falling trees. When we contacted the city a couple of years ago to check on one of our trees, we were told that it was fine. Of course, soon afterwards, a huge branch (the size of a tree!) fell and crushed someone’s car. We then paid someone to come out and look at that same tree and were told that it was dead. Which brings me to my next point. It is very, very expensive to homeowners to have to pay the huge expense of cutting down dead trees that are owned by the city. I have a feeling that it is going to take someone getting killed for something to be done. And, if and when that occurs, expensive won’t even begin to describe the ensuing litigation.

Lastly, it is a really poor reflection on our city to see Mayor Ken Bradley address a city commissioner (Cooper) so rudely and sarcastically. That is not the image of Winter Park government that people want to have. His rudeness has been a constant thread throughout his tenure. Winter Park is classier than that. I would also add that, in response to his questioning the need for the city to spend more money on trees, I would argue that it is certainly a more worthwhile investment than hiring outside consultants for union-busting or PR advice. The best public relations for our city would be to show how its government takes care of its citizens by protecting their safety and by spending their money wisely.

— Lori Pearson-Wise

Winter Park

Chris Jepson’s war on reality

Chris Jepson suggests that Republicans are waging war on gays, blacks and women. Perhaps, like other lock-stepping leftists, he’s waging war on reality.

What matters to Americans — regardless of demographics — is the economy. Social issues are important but pale when you have no job. Unless the presidential race stays focused on the economy, we’ll continue spiraling downward, weakening everyone’s standard of living, weakening our leadership in the free world, weakening our moral fiber.

Three hysterical women addressed the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Charlotte: Elizabeth Warren, who behaved like a prison matron berating inmates, is the Native American running for Ted Kennedy’s old seat. Jennifer Granholm started out on “The Dating Game,” then moved to politics and the governorship of Michigan, which teetered on bankruptcy during her watch. Lastly, there was Sandra Fluke, poster child of nincompoops.

What woman buys this phony sexist twaddle? Women are worried about the economy, their families, the future their children will inherit.

President Barack Obama says little about the fiscal cliff we’re facing; it’s incidental to his noble agenda. He ignores the $16 trillion debt or the $5 trillion he’s contributed. Instead he creates diversions to distract from his policy blunders.

The media’s biased treatment of the two presidential candidates is disappointing though predictable. A Republican president performing as poorly as Obama would face a media firestorm of criticism.

Throughout American history, recessions come and go. Yet this one keeps going. Obama’s policies have created the kind of uncertainty that stifles growth. Reagan “inherited” a recession. He lowered taxes and got government out of the way. The crisis ended so fast we hardly remember it.

How can President Obama, who’s so bad at leading, dupe so many? Why does his adoring press never ask tough questions? The press swallowed the White House spin that an anti-Islamic film caused spontaneous rioting throughout the Middle East and led to horrific murders of four Americans, including our ambassador. In Charlotte last month, DNC loyalists proudly chanted, “Obama killed Osama.” Islamic mobs raged back, “We’re all Osamas.” Doesn’t anyone connect the dots?

Chris Jepson says he’s socially liberal. Good for him. He’s fiscally conservative, yet he’s OK with Obama’s lavish spending. He respects diversity of thought, yet he belittles others who don’t get with the leftist mindset. In Chris Jepson’s muddled universe, diversity of thought means conformity. Stale platitudes like hope and change still resonate with his left even after they’ve lost all meaning.

— Kathryn Grammer

Winter Park