SIXTY OUT OF 250,000 PEOPLE IS NOT MAJORITY
There is only one way to know what the majority in Sarasota feel about corporate welfare for corporate baseball: Put it on the ballot as a referendum and let the people vote (and count those votes accurately and in the open, something the county has also opposed via court hearings in the past challenging the SAFE amendment).
I hate to be the one to point out that even if 200 people had shown up to speak to the county commission last month, this would not be a representative sample large enough to give an accurate reflection of the community. But I leave explaining the "why" to people smarter and better qualified than I am. And certainly 60 members of the chamber of commerce and former Reds/future Orioles staff aren’t representative of the whole.
But let’s assume for a minute that Jon Krotec’s statistics (March 4 edition) are accurate (and ignore that a majority of Sarasota city residents didn’t reject a deal very similar to this in 2007). It has always been the actions of a vocal, determined and morally sound minority that has produced the greatest and most beautiful changes in our nation. Those who know me understand that I am one who is committed to leaving this world a better place than I found it.
But let’s assume that 60/1 of the Sarasota populace supports the Orioles spring training deal. Let’s assume they have never seen the economic studies that clearly prove that baseball has no effect on the local economy that can be measured. Let’s assume the majority are supportive of this deal, that they love to throw public resources at wealthy corporations with no measurable benefit to the community, and that they think these people should be able to make backroom deals in secrecy. Then I am proud to be part of the minority.
I offered to settle with the county if it held a referendum and asked the voters. However, the commissioners made a poor decision (in secrecy and illegally) to sign a contract that gives them no out, so even if all 250,000 of the voters called and spoke with them and said very loudly NO, the county has tied its hands and made a poor agreement on behalf of the community, and the commissioners would have to uphold their legally binding contractual agreement.
That is why the recent meeting was a farce. They had to come to the same conclusion or the Orioles could and probably would sue them.
I didn’t get into this to make friends. I got into it to make change and to work to leave this world a better place than I found it. I invite the majority to join me in standing up to our government handing out corporate welfare. Let’s start right here in our community. But if I have to stand alone, I am glad to do so.
Anthony Lorenzo
Citizens for Sunshine
Gainesville, FL 32601
CFRG BASEBALL SUIT NOT A CHARADE
In response to John Krotec’s letter (Pelican Press, March 4, 2010):
You are absolutely wrong in stating that CFRG (Citizens for Responsible Government) prospered one bit from a lawsuit settled in Venice. CFRG was in no way involved in that suit. A statement purposely made, not based on any fact, is how rumors start. Someone who has not followed the situation from the beginning could very well believe such a statement.
From the very beginning CFRG presented data and voiced their opinion that stadium funding is not an economic generator. A professor of economics was, in my opinion, treated very poorly by one commissioner. The professor’s numbers had very different results from the numbers that the commissioners paid for. TTD’s would be better off spent on other endeavors such as a North County Sports Facility or Benderson Rowing Facility. The commissioners’ minds were made up from the beginning and anything other than let’s play ball fell on deaf ears.
Another statement made in the letter is that two projects are in jeopardy as a result of the Sunshine lawsuit. Benderson Rowing Facility is not at stake in any way. That project has nothing to do with the lawsuit.
"I was beginning to wonder how irresponsible they were to drag all of us away from our livelihoods to reaffirm a vote..." you asked. CFRG believed this meeting was a charade. Our voices would fall on the same deaf ears as in all past commission meetings dealing with the stadium. I do not include Commissioner Thaxton in this mix. We did feel strongly enough that many of us put our livelihood on hold. We did show up at the county building. You may have missed the big inflatable rat on Ringling Boulevard That was us, voicing our opinion about the proceedings going on inside.
You have a right to believe the lawsuit a charade. You say that a citizen that will stand up and hold a politician responsible for their actions is "disrespecting the populace." I call it accountability.
Carolann Cahill
TESTING ON ANIMALS WASTES BILLIONS
President Obama promised to eliminate wasteful government spending; funding for animal research is one area that is overdue for reform. As billions flow into this waste, 44 million Americans lack adequate healthcare coverage.
Each year, millions of cats, dogs, non-human primates and other animals suffer and die in research laboratories. Please do not advertise to sell your pets in the paper.
World Week for Animals in Laboratories (April 17-24) exposes their plight and the broken federal research funding system that perpetuates outdated animal experiments at the expense of modern and more humane technologies.
Animal research is not necessary to promote human health despite claims from vested interests.
Recent published studies document that an old boys network in the federal grant award process keeps "aging cash cows" afloat while leaving younger, innovative investigators struggling.
The result: antiquated, unnecessary and ridiculous experiments like those identified recently by In Defense of Animals, including studies of cocaine-addicted quail, nipple preference in nursing infant monkeys, toy preference in young monkeys, and effect of high-fat diets on mice (it made them fat and sleepy).
As billions flow into this waste, 44 million Americans lack adequate healthcare coverage.
Gundl Bhutani
July 22nd 2010 - 6:47AM