Letters to the Editor

+ City Commission’s decision ignores the obvious problems
Dear Editor:
As a homeowner and taxpayer but not a citizen in the Sarasota area, I must say I am totally flabbergasted by the Sarasota city commissioners’ decision to install parking meters.

They ignore the obvious — falling numbers of visitors, which equals less revenue in shops, which will, in turn, fail. The net outcome is less business taxes, which will outweigh the revenue from meters.

Are the commissioners living in another world rather than the reality of today’s Sarasota? Do they know or care about the U.S. recession?

Downtown shopping will move to free parking in the various malls, and this will be another nail in the coffin of the shops and restaurants.

As to making staff pay for parking, this will A) reduce people prepared to pay to work and B) push business to other free-parking areas.

Wake up and smell the coffee before there is nowhere to get a cup!

Stephen Manley
Longboat Key

+ What are they thinking?
Dear Editor:
Another good reason for the city of Sarasota to put in parking meters: Chase more customers away!

What are these city leaders thinking?

Nelson Goldner
Longboat Key

+ Consider business values
Dear Editor:
Upon reading your editorial, “St. Armands Subterfuge,” I noticed your warning to “Remember that you are dealing with people’s property.”

You wrote at length about residential property but neglected to include the value of business property.

For instance, a 1,000-square-foot commercial property with a value of $200,000 could have a business tenant with a net income of $200,000 and a business value of $500,000. In this example, the business owner has a greater financial interest in the success of the business improvement district than the property owner.

The city of Sarasota has a history of discounting the value of business property (especially retail), and it is no wonder that in the first six months of 2009 we have lost 824 companies in Sarasota County.

Brian O’Connell
Sarasota

+ The statue is not kitsch
Dear Editor:
My husband and I are deeply saddened and disturbed that the Public Art Committee voted against “Unconditional Surrender.”

Also, the woman who thinks it’s “kitsch” should watch the excitement and joy on people’s faces when they see that statue for the first time and each time thereafter.

It is not “kitsch.” It is a tribute to every American man and woman who has ever fought in a war.

But the most wonderful thing about it, it is not about guns and fighting. It is about coming home to loved ones, the lucky ones who got to come home to loved ones and the memories of those who did not.

It is a shame if Sarasota loses this monument, not to war, but to peace.

Sharon Duffy
Sarasota

+ Thanks for ‘Nine fallacies’
Dear Editor:
Thank you so much for the Our View on the “Nine fallacies of Obamacare.”

Thank goodness I am able to understand in black and white and written in a manner that most anyone can understand what it is that is frightening to most of us in this country.

The daily newspapers are so liberal that we have to go to the Internet to get some degree of truth. I was beginning to think journalism was dead, but I am encouraged. I so enjoy your paper.

Keep up the excellent work.

Barbara Ball
Lakewood Ranch