... And A Few Other Things

* Looks like the Pinellas County Commission is going ahead with a plan to allow denser hotel development. This is a major policy decision about the county's future, being made more or less by default. It's a version of the same debate that's being fought across Florida. In the end, we won't and can't say no to the tourism dollars. I wonder what this debate would be like if there were going to be a countywide referendum on it?

* It's hard to be overwhelmed with sympathy for people who move into an fast-developing downtown and then complain about the fact there's urban noise there.

* Here's a nod to the state House Republican leadership for at least trying to come up with a plan to keep "no-fault" auto insurance instead of letting it expire on Oct. 1. The gist of the idea is that there ought to be cost controls on Personal Injury Protection, instead of just letting "providers" (that's chiropractors, clinics and so forth) more or less automatically use up the $10,000 that everybody carries. There are cost controls on health insurance, why not auto injury coverage?

The trouble is that the providers will fight it all the way, making it unlikely that the Senate will go along (or even that the idea will pass the full House). This is the same deadlock the Legislature has been facing for years. Interesting that opponents to cost controls would rather let the whole thing expire than settle for any kind of compromise.

Bottom line: If no-fault expires on Oct. 1 as scheduled, folks who carry their own injury coverage will be OK, but there will be more lawsuits, more uninsured motorists and more suffering for everybody else.

Comments

[20/20]

From my perspective; The developer-owned politicians in Pinellas intentionally created the shortfall in hotel rooms in order to effect the change in the land use ordinance and density factors. By allowing the uncontrolled conversion of hotels space into speculation-priced condos, that now sit empty and un-sellable – and by forcing mom-and-pops to sell their property to developers for said condos by using the Highest and Best Use (or Speculation Taxation) structure… they knowing created the shortfall in hotel space. It was the only way to be able to jump Mandalay and build directly on public beaches.

Spratt was hired, in part, to specifically effect the conversion of Pinellas into Miami-Dade West-Central… because we all know that tourists can’t wait to visit a different pile of concrete.

Harris’ comments are insulting. To wit: “What we're trying to become is what we were and that's the No. 1 tourist destination on the coast,"

By “what we were” do you mean you recognized the plan and it’s impact, and intentionally failed to prevent it. What we “were”… Mr. Harris… was a county that needed vision and leadership, not the current lot of development-controlled commissioners that allowed their “$500 club” of bundling campaign contributors to treat our county like their own personal Monopoly Board.

Sorry for the indignant rant, but this group is clearly out of hand, and lacks principles and compunction.

No one allowed the uncontrolled conversion of hotels space into speculation-priced condos, that now sit empty and un-sellable – It was always allowed and the market went there because it was the most profitable redevelopment option. This proposal doesn't allow structures or density where building with heights and densities were previously prohibited. It does try to influence, with a density bonus, the decision making of the developers so that condo conversions are not the only profitable redevelopment option. It is an incentive to build hotels instead of condos. Plain and simple.

[Jennifer W]

I agree with that silly complaint about the noise downtown from the people who live downtown. I read that this morning shaking my head. You move into the downtown of a major city and expect peace and quiet? Duh.

[Virginia]

It is a disservice to citizens when reporters do pieces like the noise article and do not do the background research.

The article rightly points to residents who should accomodate and even like the interesting noise generated within a vibrant, urban downtown, but totally misses the point that within the urban environment there are some who hide beneath the banner of "vibrant urban environment" while they violate the noise ordiance with disregard and distain for others. This is not within the realm of interesting urban noise.

OF COURSE you should not move downtown and expect it to be quiet and I believe that most residents understand and agree with that. Residents do, however, have the right to complain when noise is generated far above the urban environment - which is what Fresco's has done.

If organizations like Jack Bodziak's Jannus Landing Concerts can operate well within the limits of the ordinance and still provide a great time for concert goers, then everyone else should be able to.

Fresco's was not given the right to infringe on downtown residents when it signed a contract with the city and their violations are enough to warrent eviction. Let's get someone in there who can provide good food and waterside entertainment that adds to a vibrant urban noise, not overwhelms it.

The desirable location is a goldmine for someone who is willing to be mindful of the city's laws and respectful of the city's residents. They would probably enjoy an increased business from the downtown residents who might be currently avoiding the location.

As for ambulance complainers - get over it! - the next one might be coming for you and you might just be thankful they can reach you quickly.

[Winston]

A phrase I remember from the 60-70s: "What if they gave a war, and nobody came?"

I'll paraphrase this: "What if Florida gives a beach, and nobody comes?"

John D McDonald, in one of his many novels, mentioned a mountaintop where people would congregate for the view. It was so popular, that it was bought, and the top was leveled to accomodate more people.

Since the Mountain was decreased in height, less people came to appreciate the views. In order to attract people, the owners put in rides for a carnival-like affair.

This in turn attracted people, but not the ones that came for the view. This was a parody, written by a great author who saw where Florida was headed, back in the 60's.

The people that came to Florida to ride the carnival are disillusioned, and some are leaving. It just takes a hurricane, and the added insurance this necessitates, to make people see reality.

Florida is a wonderful state, but the citizens and the government need to have a clear-cut vision of where they want the state to be. Unfortunately, they are diametrically opposed at the moment.

Long live developers has too long been the anthem.