Reminder: Live Chat Here Today, Noon - 1 P.M.

If it's Tuesday, it must be live chat day here on TroxBlog. From noon to 1 p.m. today I'll be here responding to reader questions and comments about current events in Florida and the Tampa Bay area. There's plenty to talk about, too, even if you didn't like my Sunday column about hexagons on Saturn -- which, I admit, was a little bit off the usual beat.

To take part in or observe today's chat, just come back here at noon and look for a new announcement with the headline, "The June 26 Chat Is Open." Click on the "Comments" link of that item to read what folks are saying or to post your own comment or question. Keep updating the comments page to see the latest.

If you can't be here for the live chat, feel free to "pre-file" a comment or question in the comments to THIS item. And you can always come back later to read what folks had to say. Otherwise, I hope to see you here at noon...

Comments

[Lucia]

What a grand time for Charlie Crist to sign his boneheaded "paper trail" bill! Poor people trying to enjoy nature will pay more at Fort De Soto, others will lose their jobs, but we're spending millions locally and at the state level to take us back to the past to vote on paper! And what about that dopey Pinellas airport spending millions to refurbish a place no one uses! I hope County Administrator Spratt can justify that one while he lays off a guy who cleans the restrooms at a park!

[Pablo]

What's the latest on Angelo Cappelli? One brief announcement, then no follow-up.

[Lorraine Margeson]

Great column today, BTW, Howard! And the Deputy Mayor comment was pricelss..........WHY DO WE NEED THEM??? Maybe one in case Rick gets sick or something;.......BUT THREE?? Tish Elston really does most of the work....Goliath Davis and Metzger should both go (especially in light of some of Metzger's recent bone-headed jusdegment calls like the tent slashing party), are not needed and make a HUGE amount of bucks. Cut those two and you are indeed cutting some FAT from the St. Pete budget! Prolly can't join your chat, but enjoy!!

Hope the Charter Amendment to Preserve the Preserves comes up. Here's the citizen proposed language, in case you're interested......this ONLY applies to environmental lands...parks would require a separate charter amendment which we have not yet written, pending the County's final call on ordinance or going for the charter idea.....

http://rbdigital.biz/charter_amendment/PINELLAS_COUNTY_CHARTER_AMENDMENT_FOR_PRESERVATION_LAND_USE_AND_DISPOSITION.pdf

I prolly can't pop in for the chat, work 'ya know.......but I'll try to peek in at discussion........

[20/20]

You can’t put a price on validating “The Peoples’” trust in the very process our Democracy is built upon; the open and fee election of our leaders. We have young American men and women dying around the world to spread this democracy ideal, and protect it here at home.

Citizens of Pinellas already pay their entrance fee to our parks via our tax contributions to the budget. Increase and/or add fees for those coming from outside our county to enjoy what our citizens have paid to create.

The expansion of St. Pete/Clearwater International Airport is a good thing from an economic perspective. However, a hidden goal is to increase passenger traffic so that we can build the “Airport-to-Beach elevated rail for tourists. A boondoggle at best.

Not one iota or service nor one job needs to be cut due to fiscal responsibility being demanded of our government by the people. There is a tremendous amount of tax dollars spent in Pinellas on pork projects, unnecessary consultants, and multi-levels of unnecessary and high-paid management that can be trimmed. In fact, doing so would cut even more waste and result in no impact to employees and services whatsoever. But don’t forget that many of those in Tallahassee sat on the local councils and commissions that allowed it to happen in the first place. They do not deserve praise for “doing something about it”… now.

Garbage in… garbage out!

[Tom]

Howard,
Last week 20/20 posted an article involving a private hunting lodge located on Pinellas County taxpayer owned land, and it read like a bombshell going off. It involved Pick Talley and others. Has anyone at the Times looked into this? If not, why not???

Also, the week before you indicated that you would have a look into the infamous desal plant boondoggle. Have you turned up anything on that?

Thanks!

[Lawrence]

Howard, welcome back. First of all, stay after those scoundrels up in Tallahassee who are wasting the taxpayer's money on their summer travels. I really do wish the voters of this great state would pay more attention to what is going on supposedly on their behalf and show it at the polls.

Secondly, the old salt mill water plant is in the news again today. I know you looked into it last month, but Howard, really, when is enough going to be enough? They can't get it working. That's another example of the great government officials we have leading the way in Florida.