Readers: enough Hulk, not enough voters

Happy Wednesday, Nov. 28. Happy presidential debate day. Happy baseball-stadium-unveiling day. Here are a couple of excerpts from current reader comments and questions:

I just have to ask you, as one of the stalwarts of real issues (and some whimsical ones) why is the Times so hung up on this whole ‘Hulk Hogan’ affair? I know that times are tough with newspapers, but stooping to celebrity pandering is so far beneath what the Times stands for. -- Charles Brennan

The Hulkster’s troubles have not been up my alley for column-writing, at least so far. But the “news” is a mix of what’s important and what’s interesting, and for sure lots of folks find celebrity lives interesting if not important. Look, I get complaints all the time about us having a section for Bucs coverage, too many personal stories, etc... why do we devote attention to these non-essential matters,  with all the Important Issues in the world? But come on, it's a general-interest newspaper. We want readers of all tastes, so that -- please don't be shocked -- we can CHARGE OUR ADVERTISERS MONEY. That way we can keep printin' the paper and occasionally sneak in the Important Stuff too. [I suppose I also could argue there's some social utility in the Hogan story -- don't let your kids drive fast, don't be like these folks -- but that argument rings hollow.]

Now, if you are giving a thumbs-down to the Hogan coverage, can I assume you are giving a thumbs-up to our months-long investigation of the tax-gunslingers-for-hire industry that Sydney Freedberg and Connie Humburg had in Sunday’s paper? Or the award-winning satellite-aided project by which Matt Waite and Craig Pittman demonstrated the destruction of Florida wetlands? Or the uncovering of the Pinellas County land scandal, prompting a grand jury investigation? I hope you can try to find a little satisfaction in the fact that some of the dough we spent on that stuff came from folks who were only readin’ about Britney Spears.

Next, here's one out of what I'm sure will be many comments to come on the baseball stadium issue in St. Petersburg:

the citizens are getting exactly what they deserve when they don't vote. Only 14000 citizen voted in the last election and that is under 5% of the population , need I say more. Of that 5% how many blindly voted for the party of their choice instead of on the issues. voters now treat elections like some big athletic event my team is better than yours. with this kind of voter ignorance a candidate could win if his relatives and a few close friends could win the election. no Mr Troxler when the citizens of St Petersburg stayed home the current city officials celebrated . Now they can expect more of the same , higher taxes , more spending on a new stadium more dog parks and corporate give away – Bill Reid

Of course, you're right in bemoaning sorry voter turnout. But let me repeat my claim that had the voters been AWARE about the city’s Big Secret Plans, which the city had known about since March but didn’t bother sharing with the taxpayers, that maybe this City Council election would have seemed a little more significant and produced more voter interest. If you treat the voters like mushrooms (keeping 'em in the dark and feeding 'em manure), then you're gonna drive down voter turnout.

Comments

[jackie]

He is correct, voters in pinellas county and most areas of Florida are apathetic. They don't vote or educate themselves on issues. They approach issues for immediate gratification and do not, cannot or care to visualize long term ramifications of issues. Florida is in a mess and voters are to blame and don't care.

[ed]

its a disgrace we have to have significant issues on the ballot to stimulate voter interest-don't have "rose-colored glasses" but we citizens have a DUTY to vote--but instead we have weak excuses as to why we didn't vote!!!!

[Larry]

Howard, after seeing the pitch this afternoon, methinks the snake oil salesmen are in town. The concept is magnificent, but the practicality is missing. Where do 35,000 fans park along Beach Drive, First Street, two hospitals, and a university community. And who wants to park at the Trop and ride the bus? Little Al Lang Stadium was fine and dandy for Spring Training, but that area could never support 35,000 baseball fans, even if the team could attract them. Well, it's been awhile since the last major city boondoggle (The Trop), I guess it's time for another. Sigh! Where is the ballot box?