More Revenues For The Governments - Tax revenues are up in Pinellas County and all cities under said county government, Clearwater, Largo, Dunedin, Belleair, Belleair Beach, Belleair Bluffs, Belleair Shore, Indian Rocks Beach, and so forth, are enjoying a return of increased tax revenues due to increases in property values, etc.
More money to spend.
Funny thing about local taxes, they never seem to go down in good times. It seems as though there are always ways to spend increased tax dollars. No ad valorem tax increase is a tax increase when you consider increased tax revenues could be generated at the so-called "same" ad valorem tax increase rate as last year. When you hear the words "roll back" tax, then you might notice a tax bill the same as last year, considering any increase in property value. School tax increase, ad valorem tax, etc., all typically add-up to one thing; higher taxes for citizens than the year before,
With a strong economy, most folks could handle the tax increases; however, when the economy turns, like it has, all of this tax increase talk may become more important in 2006-2007.
Recent positive redevelopment has helped to generate more tax revenues for places like Clearwater and Largo, but then redevelopment slows, like it is doing, balancing the local city budget might become a tougher job than in the past few years.
Krispy Kreme Closes - Remember when Krispy Kreme opened its tasty donut shop on Gulf-to-Bay Blvd. in Clearwater?
If you do, then you recall the promotions performed by this new Krispy Kreme location - delicious donuts were given to local business owners to help promote the new store, etc. etc. People flocked to visit the new store. It appeared that the location was performing quite well.
However, and as a surprise to people who liked Krispy Kreme products, the store abruptly closed. In fact, the suddenness of the store closing surprised most people.
Problems at Krispy Kreme?
Doesn't look good at this time.
Party Line - One reader wrote to state that both major political parties are not constitutional. True, political parties are not mentioned as a part of the constitution of the United States. In fact, President George Washington cautioned people to avoid political parties. Good advice, most people would state.
However, our country is run by one or the other major political party. They have the money to advertise and to further help candidates win elections. Employee unions joined the political process even though founding leaders warned the union officials to avoid political parties and stick to worker issues, regardless of who might support worker issues. Issues, founding union fathers felt, were more important than politics.
Public corporations were placed at the other of the political process.
Thus in the early days, it became business needs versus worker rights.
Time of course has blurred the line between what is the platform of one political party versus the other. In the time of Lincoln, the Republican Party stood for things much different than today, same for early Democrat Party. It might be difficult for many WW-II era workers to support the modern Democrat Party due to a shift away from worker rights in favor of social issues. Thus, some unions have waffled over the real differences between Republicans and Democrats. In fact, there has been a steady movement for many voters to refer to themselves as "Independents." This movement reflects society's disenchantment with both major political parties.
In the 2006 election, it could be the one that "Independent" voters make the difference between who wins and who loses elections. Democrat loyalists and Republican loyalists are nearly evenly split in steadfast loyalties, regardless of the candidates. Pinellas County regularly reflects that party loyalty with county elections. (That is why some people change political parties to win elections.)
Me?
I'm a People's Party man. I support small business issues and rights of hard-working legal American workers. What about the major political parties? They run the election process. Voters must decide, at the end of the day, whether they support issues of the two major political parties, whether they like it or not. Social issues have become as important as financial issues. Thus, voters must decide when they vote for one party or the other whether they could accept the social change brought about by the winning party. Financial issues have clearly been avoided by both major political parties. Both have avoided securing social security for retiring workers, both parties have avoided healthcare issues, both parties have spent taxpayer funds like drunken sailors.
We will vote in upcoming elections for people that represent our social views and fiscal views.
Alligator Protection - The way I see it, it is time to pass laws that protect people and pets from alligators.
Any alligator over four feet in length should be moved to the swamps or killed. We have gone too far in the protection of these dinosaurs. The recent killing of a small pet dog by a large alligator proves the same gator would have taken a small child. It is simply crazy to allow gators larger than four feet to live where people live. We rule, not alligators. There are too many stories about gator attacks on pets, children, adults and other wild birds to allow uncontrolled alligator laws in Florida. Image the horror of the man who saw his small pet dog being swallowed by a large alligator while walking the dog in a park. (I thought parks were for the enjoyment of people not alligators.) Then again, what if the killing was a small child?
If the government allows gators to exist where people live then allow people to sue the government if "their" gators kill people or pets. I imagine a hundred lawsuits paying out millions of taxpayer dollars might cause some legal change in gator control. Is there anyone who thinks more of a large gator than children?
It is time for legal change on this "protect the gators" issue.
Me?
I say remove all gators reported to be over four feet or kill then. What about the gator species? Have you driven on Alligator Alley lately? If yes, then you know there are plenty of gators in our state swamps (where they can grow to 18 feet or more and eat anything they want.)
I'm serious about this issue. I'd like e-mails from you in support of writing law in Florida to remove all gators over four feet from areas where people reside. What about popular rivers and springs in Florida? Yes, any area where people live and should enjoy the waters without fear of getting eaten by a large gator on the prowl.
What if the gator population drops to a low point? Then allow the wildlife folks to better breed gators in our native swamplands. What if they become extinct? Won't happen.
What is it going to take to solve this growing problem of gator control in Florida? The death of an important politician's daughter to a gator?
People are afraid to swin in ponds due to gators. People are afraid to swim in springs due to gators. People are afraid to use public parks that have lakes due to gators. What the heck is going-on with our Florida legislators, is there fear of liberal "save everything but people and pets" environmental groups at election time?
The latest attack in Pinellas County should cause an outcry for change in the manner in which we protect alligators in Florida.