Belleair Beach - There are several upcoming changes in Belleair Beach, such as a new provider of police services, a new and smaller design for the city hall building and a review of how the city spends taxpayer money.
Other changes?
One Belleair Beach citizen who has many years of experience in city code enforcement stated that "code enforcement duties in Belleair Beach do not require a fulltime city employee, those services could be professionally performed by a part-time person... resulting in a savings to the city budget." Further, and as another Belleair Beach resident said, "it is time to revisit the city marina project where additional boat slip rentals could be added that results in annual city income to help offset taxes."
Unnecessary city expenditures.
Does Belleair Beach need a full-time city manager when there are only a handful of city employees? Spend over $100,000 a year of taxpayer funds on a job that could be performed by a part-time person at half the expense?
Property tax revenues have climbed every year for Pinellas County beach communities. Belleair Beach has shared in that tax revenue growth every year. Yes, it is time for city planners to revisit city budget items that favor taxpayers.
Should be interesting times at Belleair Beach city hall...
Largo Officials Should Not Be Forgotten - When you reflect upon how the mayor of Largo handled the Steve Stanton matter it makes you wonder how she could ever get re-elected by Largo citizens.
Pat Gerard is proudly a far-left liberal who might better satisfy citizens of San Francisco than a family-oriented town such as Largo, Florida.
Gerard's grandstand comments to the media about her gender as an elected official in Largo was baseless and tasteless. The good people in Largo are not bigots and any attempts by Gerard to infer such a fact was, and is, without merit. Pat Gerard, with support by Rodney Woods, should not be forgotten by Largo voters in the next city election. Gerard used her gender to win support for Steve Stanton. Commissioner Rodney Woods used his race to try and win support-- both were wrong.
Next city election in Largo might be interesting.
Countryside Annual Soccer Tournament - I can remember when the Countryside Lightning Soccer Club was formed. Many good people donated money and an enormous amount of time to help build this successful soccer program for young soccer players. Clearwater had the seasoned Clearwater Chargers Soccer Club, a very successful soccer club, and as Countryside grew in size, the youngsters from Countryside had an equally good youth soccer program. Teams from those two soccer clubs have had youth soccer representation in many regional and national soccer titles. There are many places around the country that know about the high level of competitive soccer played at Clearwater, Florida. Yes, many college soccer scouts have recruited Division I soccer players from Clearwater and will continue to do so for years to come.
Now comes the bad news.
The annual Countryside Easter Soccer Tournament was held at several Clearwater soccer fields, including the soccer fields at Eddie C. Moore (near McMullen Booth Road). Suffice to say that those youth soccer fields have not received much city maintenance the past years. The fields are crying for assistance.
With some city funding the youth soccer fields could be enlarged by 20 yards in length and width and some trees and bushes cleared around the fields. Not much reworking and certainly not a large city expense.
When one drives past the new youth fields created near Court Street, you wonder why Eddie C. Moore soccer fields have not been reworked and enlarged for competitive soccer games.
Money?
Why not spend some city funds for a youth program that is clearly successful and well-run?
Youth soccer in Clearwater is one of the areas best programs-- it deserves refurbished soccer fields.
v
Both Clearwater soccer programs would benefit, from refurbished soccer fields.
The Sun Has Set In England - There was perhaps a time when one could have said the sun never set on the English Empire. Of course, that time was long ago and Iran recently proved that England is a mere shadow of her former glory.
To think that a small Iranian Coast Guard vessel might pull in front of a large English Navy vessel and take English soldiers they, the Iranian soldiers, felt were in Iranian water space, is a military embarrassment to England. Not a shot was fired by the large English vessel to help fellow soldiers escape capture and, yes, the English soldiers were taken back to Iran and imprisoned.
Last Wednesday the Iranians stated they pardoned the English prisoners and awarded medals of honor to the Iranian soldiers who captured the English soldiers in international waters. Adding insult to injury, the Iranians asked why any country (England) would allow a pregnant woman to serve in the military, such as the lone English woman soldier captured. (I guess asking women to strap on a bomb and blow themselves to smithereens is no problem.) More embarrassment for Great Britain.
The military event reflected the lack of will by the British to confront Iran in any military action. Thus, and if there would ever be a military conflict in Iran, the U.S. might be the only military force that would confront this rebel nation.
Yes, the sun did set on England many years ago. However, England was, and hopefully remains, an ally to the United States.
Negotiate With Terrorist/Kidnapper? - Thanks to a reader from Sand Key, here is a reason not to become a terrorist in Japan.
A kidnapper held a young boy near a window seeking ransom for the boy's release. The kidnapper held the young boy near a high-rise window as he demanded terms of the ransom.
As the Japanese police discussed the ransom with the kidnapper a policeman moved closer from one window to the next to see the kidnapper and talk to him.
In a moment there was no more talking and the police officer pointed and shot the kidnapper while leaning from a window. Discussions were ended, there was never going to be a compromise with a terrorist.
The message to terrorists thinking of Japan?
No mercy.
Montebello High School, California - This might be hard to believe for people that have not followed illegal immigration issues in America, but in California a high school recently hosted a protest of America. Yes, a protest of America in favor of Mexico.
The Mexican students took down the American flag and raised the Mexican flag with the American flag underneath and upside down . . . on school property.
Did you read about this shocking protest in your newspaper?
Probably not.
Illegal immigration, and issues related to illegal immigration, are huge problems for politicians to resolve. Have you noticed either Democrats or Republicans moving to resolve this problem?
No. They would rather cut funding to American soldiers.
Democrats Play Politics With American Soldiers - President Bush warned Democrats in Congress that they should send a Bill to the president that he could sign supporting funds for U.S. troops serving in Iraq... with no strings attached.
Democrats in Congress, led by San Francisco's Nancy Pelosi, refuse to send a Bill supporting U.S. military funding without a timetable to pull the troops out of Iraq by mid 2008 (just prior to the next presidential election in November.)
Pure partisan politics, said President Bush last Tuesday. "The war should be run by Generals and not politicians."
If Democrats in charge of Congress refuse to support funding of American soldiers who are serving overseas, this message to radical terrorists should alarm most Americans. It is a sign of weakness by the American Congress to play politics with war funds.
Politics.
That is what is happening in Washington D.C. by newly elected liberal leaders who are now the majority in the U.S. Congress. Talk about a reversal of campaign pledges ….
Cut funding to the U.S. military?
You tell me if that sends the right message to enemies of America?.
