Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Key West terms still favor Historic Tours of America

[In Sunday's editorial], The Citizen suggested that the city [of Key West] "delay" a new sightseeing ordinance. The city has had well over five years since it lost the Duck [Tours Seafari] lawsuit, in which to act. We first approached the city seven months ago. Since that time, we have proposed several options to the city, attended and spoke at several commission meetings, met with city officials and have probably worn out two of Shawn Smith's cell phones. We are, only now, getting to the point where something is finally on the table. The point is, we don't need more delays -- there have been five and a half years of delays already.

The second major problem with a delay is that until competition is allowed on the streets of Key West, [Historic Tours of America] (HTA) is still running its monopoly under full protection of the city. It is illegal, was adjudged so by the 3rd District Court of Appeal, and therefore should not continue.

We have asked the city for a fair deal similar to HTA's franchise agreements. This is what they are offering:

• HTA gets a 150-foot buffer zone around its depots in which no one else can operate. CityView must share all stops.

• HTA has a minimum payment, which works out to about $3,900 per vehicle. CityView must pay $10,000 per vehicle, more than two and a half times what HTA pays.

• CityView must cap its number of vehicles. HTA can run unlimited vehicles.

• HTA's contracts grant it an immediate discount on its fees as soon as any competition begins. CityView has no such clause, and will probably end up paying four or five times the minimum HTA has to pay.

• The city manager is granted the right to create and move trolley stops used by CityView. He has no such control in HTA's contracts.

• HTA has never paid an application fee to the city. (I don't believe there are application fees for any licenses in Key West.) The city wants CityView to pay a $7,000 application fee.

These are just a few of the problems. Honestly, does this look like a "level playing field?"

Greg Wythe, vice president

CityView Trolley Tours

Headline was offensive to court retiree's family

While my family and I appreciate the majority of the content presented in The Citizen's recent article about my mother, Sharyn Ramirez, we are certainly disappointed by the headline, "Brain tumor overshadows retirement." My mother has given 37 years of service to Monroe County and the 16th Judicial Circuit. Her retirement is an amazing accomplishment and gift to the community that is not overshadowed by any other factors.

Although it is true that my mother is battling a brain tumor, her illness is not the focus of her life. The Citizen's insensitive and completely false headline only served to sensationalize what is a truly wonderful celebration of service.

My family and I would appreciate an apology to my mother and her friends who spoke so highly of her in the article. I am sure that it was never their intent to participate in interviews that would lead to such a hurtful, front-page headline. It should be noted that none of those interviewed mentioned her illness when speaking of her. I am saddened that a wonderful tribute to her was "overshadowed" by such a false statement of her retirement.

Marisa Ramirez Stukey

Gainesville

Murderer's sentence was far too lenient

[Curtis Vance] follows Anne Pressly home for diabolical gratification and theft of her property. In the commitment of these acts she is beaten beyond recognition, her young life full of the good things yet to happen is extinguished through her crushed beautiful face.

The legal system says Vance had bad parents, they abused him. So Curtis is given a free get-out-of-death card because his childhood was difficult. This is brain-dead stupidity. This man should die as grotesque a death as society can legally administer.

What ... is going on within our government, and with so many citizens living in an ACLU world of stupidity. People wake ... up! Evil is not good -- it is bad. Do you no longer understand truth, honor, justice and freedom? Are all of you taking ExtenZe, Viagra and all the sex drugs constantly advertised on TV and boating magazines? Tom Cruise said in "Top Gun," you're living life between your legs. People, wake up; the whole of what is good, true and honorable is about to be sacrificed to bull malacka. Too bad Curtis didn't have good parents so society could kill his despicable [butt].

Arthur J. Gandolfi

Sugarloaf Key