Reject The Vote Of The People? - Even though I once observed a non-elected court overturn a vote of the people in Pinellas County (term limits on county officials), I can only imagine how the city vote of a small city could also be rejected by city councilmembers.
Belleair Beach.
It seems as though some city councilmembers would like to make sure an upcoming city vote to either retain the current police department or allow the Sheriff's Department to handle police duties would be upheld by the (then) elected city council. Yes, it is difficult to imagine elected officials rejecting the will of the people, but it can happen - we have seen it in Pinellas County.
If what many citizens in Belleair Beach are saying about switching police services to the Sheriff is true, then the next city vote on this mater could result in a change of police service. With potential financial savings to the city taxpayers of over $200,000 per year and the current Belleair Beach police interested in the switch, it is likely the referendum issue would pass.
But, at least one Belleair Beach councilmember wants to be assured that future city councilmembers would honor the upcoming vote of the people. Of course, this act causes one to wonder why the concern? Surely a group of elected representatives of the people would honor the vote of the people!
Indian Rocks Beach Alive And Happening - Good ole' Leo Coughlin had it right.
He warned Indian Rocks citizens about some strange things at Indian Rocks Beach City Hall.
Waste of city funds, etc.
It seems that Leo had the activities of the (then) city manager placed where readers merely had to connect the dots.
Some elected folks at Indian Rocks, however, refused to think about those problems while at least two elected officials connected the dots . . . and did not like what they saw. The more they complained, the more they were ridiculed by some other officials. Words such as "micromanagers" and "troublemakers" were used to describe the concerned elected officials probing strange activities at city hall.
The saga continues at Indian Rocks Beach to resolve some of the issues that Leo had been writing about for months.
Penny For Pinellas? - There is a tax in Pinellas County that has been conveniently referred to as simply "Penny For Pinellas." It is a tax local governments support. What was originally conceived to be a one-time tax has been renewed and, of course, Pinellas County officials would like to see this tax renewed again. Without this tax most city projects in Pinellas County would need to be revised or scraped. Thus, most every government in Pinellas County will soon be advertising the merits of the tax. And, yes, there are merits of the tax . . . negatives too.
How will Pinellas County voters feel about renewing this tax considering current Pinellas County property taxes and insurance homeowners problems? Time will tell, but it is likely to be a close vote.
In the near future the Gazette will present pros and cons of this tax. Pure facts, regardless of what some biased folks might say.
Michelle Wie To Try Again - Seventeen-year-old golfer Michelle Wie is a favorite of most LPGA and PGA tournament sponsors. Wie is a major attraction and helps to increase spectator attendance at golfing events; hence, more tournament revenues.
However, and to the detriment of Michelle Wie, Wie has not performed to the high level of golfing competitiveness required to play with the men on the PGA Tour. This has not gone well with most professional men golfers. Some outspoken professionals have stated that the tournament sponsors are clearly taking away a playing spot from an eligible young male pro who is trying to earn a living on the men's pro tour. "Not a good thing," say PGA touring professionals.
On the other hand, at seventeen years old, Wie is one of the best young American golfing talents on the LPGA Tour. Wie could become one of the best female players of all time before she finishes playing golf. Wie beating Tiger Woods? Please.
Golfing legends like Nancy Lopez believe that Wie should focus on the LPGA and forget playing in men tournaments. "She will not beat the men," said Lopez in encouraging Wie to rethink her golfing priorities and start trying to win LPGA tournaments.
Duke Players Still Under Legal Cloud - Three Duke lacrosse players are under a legal cloud due to (initial) allegations of rape by a stripper who once again changed her story about the alleged rape.
Latest reports from North Carolina reflect another change in the rape case against three Duke students. The latest story is that the victim does not think she was penetrated and one of the Duke students only watched. "He said he could not because he was getting married." The student charged, however, was not even engaged to be married. The story of alleged rapes by three Duke students keeps changing and the latest change has many people wondering about the credibility of any allegations by the stripper and lifelong damage to three families.
Why is the case still moving forward with so-called current allegations downgraded to kidnapping?
According to attorneys who have been following the case, the North Carolina Bar Association is investigating the manner in which the prosecutor handled evidence and other legal matters. Trouble for the prosecutor? Time will tell, but it does not look good for him. He recently resigned from the case.
Damage control.
Families of the accused have spent over a million dollars defending against the constantly changing rape allegations. Why was the prosecutor so interested in chasing a case that clearly lost its basis? Should he be disbarred?
McGwire, Sosa And Bonds - Is there anyone who questions whether Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds or Sammy Sosa used steroids (muscle enhancement drugs)?
Good, then people know why Mark McGwire was not recently elected to Baseball's Hall Of Fame. Steroid use was, the ways sports writers saw it, cheating. Cheating would not be accepted by voters to the Hall Of Fame; thus, McGwire was left out. Same could happen to Barry Bonds when he is eligible. However, there are those sports writers that say he would have been a Hall Of Famer regardless of alleged steroid use. Really? May I refer those people to Pete Rose and his "cheating the game." Barry Bonds in the Hall Of Fame and Pete Rose left out? It would be hard to believe.
How many home runs would Henry "Hank" Aaron have hit each year if he had used steroids? 75-100 a year? And, imagine, the homeruns that could have been hit by Babe Ruth! A bulked-up Ted Williams?
Pelosi's Surprise - Speaker Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco knows when to tell "little white lies."
Seems as though the ever-smiling Nancy Pelosi covered (protected) Starkist and Chicken of the Sea from her minimum wage bill. How much do the San Francisco companies pay their employees in American Samoa? $3.60 per hour. So much for Speaker Pelosi's integrity to increase minimum wages. How much in campaign funds did she receive from those major corporations? She's still smiling.