Letters to the Editors

Who are the 'bums' of Williams Park?

Re: Williams Park downtown is not a pretty sight, letter, Feb. 3.

The writer is complaining about the homeless in downtown St. Petersburg. Who are the "bums" of Williams Park? They are our fathers and brothers, sisters and mothers, sons and daughters, neighbors and friends. They are young and old. They are the working poor, the underemployed, the addicted, the disabled and the mentally ill. They are our honored veterans, college graduates, high school dropouts. They are victims of crime and abuse and neglect and worse; they are victims of name-calling and misunderstanding.

Homelessness is rarely a choice. It is more often the result of a lack of choices. We are building high-rises and beach and waterfront communities. Where are we building affordable housing for people on low incomes, not just for the elderly on fixed incomes? There are not enough housing facilities for the estimated 3,000-plus homeless people in Pinellas County.

The governor recently announced $700-million in cuts for social service programs in our state. That means even more cuts in the limited services that the homeless already receive.

The "bums" of Williams Park include the rapidly growing number of elderly who are unable to afford housing after the death of a spouse and loss of that income. To that, add the cost of medications, often life-sustaining, and the limits of medical coverage.

Look at the growing number of single families who live in shelters or on the street. The list for services is growing while the services diminish. The gentrification of downtown St. Petersburg adds to more homelessness with the tearing down of homes to make way for more businesses. The current recession will only increase the number of "bums" all over this country, not only in Florida.

The closing of state hospitals that housed the mentally ill will put more on the streets. Some have been placed with family members; others have no family to care for them. They will be on a street somewhere.

I would like to address this to the critics of the "bums" of Williams Park: Next time you are driving in a climate-controlled car, think of the man who is walking without any shoes. When you have a nice meal of your choosing, think of the people who eat what is either thrown out or served at a soup kitchen. Think of your nice warm bed and then think about the thousands who sleep at night on stone pillows.

Change the attitude that punishes poverty and mental illness. Write to our leaders (and spenders), and complain about the human condition, not the human clutter.
-- Kathleen McCoy, St. Petersburg

Concerts are a breath of fresh air

One of the pleasures of our winter months in Florida is attending the Sunshine City Band Sunday concerts, under the direction of Chris Styles, in Williams Park. Thank you, city of St. Petersburg and the Musicians' Union, for your sponsorship of these events.

What could be more delightful than spending an hour enjoying these excellent performances in the beautiful Florida sunshine?
-- Stanley and Lorna Macdonald, Largo and Toronto

Yeshitela's rhetoric is disturbing

Re: Rhetoric about race, crime threatens hope, by Omali Yeshitela, Feb. 17.

It seems to me the rhetoric from Mr. Uhuru is more disturbing than the Times reporter's own rhetoric. As a resident of this city and loyal American, I support all efforts to build economic prosperity on the south side of St. Petersburg, and I am encouraged by the progress being made. But residents of this sector of the city are American, I would argue, not African.

If Africans are being chased down by police for crimes committed, I would hope their visas would be revoked and that they would be immediately deported upon satisfying the appropriate punishment rendered through our judicial system. If Americans are being chased down by police, then the same thing should occur, minus the deportation and visa revocation.

Police brutality is certainly unacceptable, but so is throwing dangerous explosives at the police or running from them. Gang-dominated neighborhoods and drug-infested streets are also unacceptable. Even more unacceptable is the rhetoric of Mr. Yeshitela and his de facto establishment of the south side as an African colony. The south side, like the north, east and west sides of our city are all part of America, and the legal residents are all Americans. Some may be African-American, Asian-American and Irish-American, but we are all Americans and Mr. Yeshitela should acknowledge this or move out of this country to a place where he can truly be African.
-- Andrew C. Orr, St. Petersburg

Camper won't pay Ticketmaster charge

Re: Campers' new detour: Ticketmaster, Jan. 31.

If this agreement is the "best," imagine some of the worst we don't know about.

As a camper, I will now take my chances and not make a reservation rather than fill the coffers of Ticketmaster and take additional funds away from the state.

John Baust (director of operational services for the state parks) should be put in a position where he is no longer able to influence the state or have the power to make decisions. He is a loser for the taxpayers of Florida.
-- Alice Anderson, Dunedin

Heritage Village staff has high standards

Re: A cherished antique needs polishing, and skilled new director probably will, editorial, Feb. 3.

How can anyone slander so many people -- staffers and volunteers, who work diligently and consistently to maintain the high standards of Heritage Village? The editorial was written by someone with obviously limited, if any, knowledge of the inner workings involved to maintain this smooth-running museum.

So many people would not make endless trips back and always rave about Heritage Village and the people who work there. To them, it is an enjoyable, educational and fun place to be.

The yearly festivals and the classes would not be as well attended as they are and would not be growing bigger each year.

Ellen Babb is the professional museum curator of the education department at the village and has worked ceaselessly over and above what is required of her.

The volunteers, who all have an interest in history, are extensively trained by Mrs. Babb, and questions are always answered. She and all the staff maintain the high morale and happy atmosphere of the village.

I, as a volunteer, feel like I was slapped in the face for the work and enjoyment I get from Heritage Village. It's a shame more unbiased research wasn't done before the editorial was written. As you claim, the policy of your paper is to tell the truth. Too bad you don't look for the whole truth.
-- Ruth Rowe, volunteer, Heritage Village, Largo

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