Nobody asked me, but --
. . .One local elected official, all caught up in the excitment of involvement in a statewide organization (non-governmental, non-official), is driving her colleagues nuts by papering them with all the information on having apparently discovered the wheel and its many uses.
. . .Turnabout fair play? Maybe Belleair Beach and Belleair Shore residents ought to strongly lobby the Indian Rocks Beach commission and get a green light for the proposed Publix market in IRB. A lady of our acqauintance points out how it was IRB residents who persuaded the Belleair Beach council to fork over $20,000 to the YMCA, a private outfit.
. . .Plaudits to Tamara Green, the woman who tells of a similar experience with Dr. Bill Cosby who has been more recently accused of unwelcome advances on a young woman.
. . .Indications are that one local political figure may have some very serious problems with alcohol.
. . .In case the proposed changes in Social Security confuse you, here is President Bush's explanation of what it is all about made during his Tampa visit February 4 -- "Because the -- all which is on the table begins to address the big cost drivers. For example, how benefits are calculate, for example, is on the table; whether or not benefits rise based upon wage increases or price increases. There's a series of parts of the formula that are being considered. And when you couple that, those different cost drivers, affecting those—changing those with personal accounts, the idea is to get what has been promised more likely to be—or closer delivered to what has been promised. Does that make any sense to you? It's kind of muddled. Look, there's a series of things that cause the—like, for example, benefits are calculated based upon the increase of wages, as opposed to the increase of prices. Some have suggested that we calculate—the benefits will rise based upon inflation, as opposed to wage increases. There is a reform that would help solve the red if that were put into effect. In other words, how fast benefits grow, how fast the promised benefits grow, if those—if that growth is affected, it will help on the red." All clear now?
. . .Whatever became of Bob Dini?
. . .One piece of business recently passed by a local governing body was so replete with falseness and duplicity it was pointless to report same. All of it not surprising, of course, considering the source.
. . .Clearwater's new mayor, Frank Hibbard, young and full of vigor, has lots of good ideas to move the city forward. More on this will be forthcoming.
. . .No wonder Belleair Beach folks are up in arms over giving $20,000 a year to a private organization, the YMCA. Quarterly figures, insisted on by some wise city officials, show that only a total of four residents of the city participated in any Y activities in the first quarter of FY 2005. Pretty expensive at $1,250 a head.
. . .Largo pays more than $103,000 a year for a part time city attorney (plus the extras directed to his law firm). Clearwater has a full-time city attorney at about $130,000 a year. Part time work is paying well, hey?
. . .Some old timers in one local burg irk current lawmakers over nit-picking and "wiser heads know better" approach. Bottom line -- it's a free country and all have their opportunity for input, regardless of status.