Saturday, July 4, 2009

Letter about educator politically motivated

I felt compelled to respond to a letter to the editor published on June 29. The letter, authored by Sandra Downs, was penned for politically motivated reasons. My name is mentioned in this document several times, but I was not consulted to confirm any of the malicious allegations contained in the letter.

Christina McPherson's integrity is above reproach. The character assassination contained in this correspondence is defamatory, libelous and injurious to her reputation.

Christina McPherson is a trusted colleague, friend and a soul mate. It is difficult for me to imagine the vicious intent of the letter-writer, but I assure you, she doesn't know me and more importantly she doesn't know the heart of Christina McPherson.

John Welsh, principal

Key West High School

After years of waste, they ask for more taxes

After years of the County Commission wasting our money and dragging their feet to meet the state mandate to have the county connected to sewers and neglecting our infrastructure needs, they're now asking the citizens to bail them out with a hike in the gasoline tax and a sales tax. As citizens, we should be outraged!

Their logic is that tourists will pay half the taxes. The fact is that residents will be burdened year-round with those taxes. In case they haven't noticed, many of our residents are poor or working-class citizens who are already stretched to the limit trying to make ends meet. Those kind of taxes hit that group the hardest. Key West residents are already paying some of the highest gas prices in the country.

Besides, when will the powers that be realize that trying to find more ways to hustle tourists out of their hard-earned money is counterproductive to attracting more tourists? Killing the goose that laid the golden egg will come back to haunt them someday.

Had elected officials (county, city and the school district) not wasted our money over the years with needless lawsuits, irresponsible hiring practices, a never-ending series of public corruption scandals and institutionalizing the well-known bubba system, the money would be there.

If the commissioners are really interested in serving the public good, maybe it's time for them to think about taking a salary cut. Give up some of their perks and make it possible for the public to recall them from office when they're deemed not to be serving the public interest.

Al Vercellino

Stock Island

Consider this cure for high dropout rates

Here is an idea if you want to increase high school graduations and improve the quality of education in America. Recognizing that we are now suffering from an up to 50 percent high school dropout rate, all we need to do -- and it can be done by the state -- is to require a high school diploma as a prerequisite for a driver's license.

The complications and possible inequities can be worked out. But you can bet the ranch that graduations will zoom.

Reese Palley

Key West

State is just one storm away from catastrophe

The state has created an economically unsustainable property insurance program -- Citizens. We are one hurricane away from an economic catastrophe for the state and its taxpayers.

We need economically viable private competition to ensure sound insurance for property in Florida. House Bill 1171 will ensure that there is a true competitive market.

Citizens Insurance has failed many. All private insurance policies are "assessed" to pay for the insurance of other people who are enrolled in Citizens. This bill would end those assessments (a tax) and allow more private competition.

The governor should sign HB 1171.

Milagros Gartenmayer

Key West

Editor's note: The governor vetoed the bill on June 24.

Toxins and ethanol are agricultural evils

Mega-farms are the problem with our food supply. Toxic chemicals sprayed on our crops is the problem. Growing corn to make additives for gasoline is crazy. It drops the mileage you get, it wastes energy to produce and creates shortages in the food supply.

Wake up. Are you stupid or what?

Anthony Bartleson

Key West