The readers, part III: evolution and other topics

Here's a letter in response to my Sunday column (Apples, oranges, creation, evolution). The first writer argues that fossil evidence has failed to provide "missing links" between widely different species. Maybe species have evolved somewhat within themselves, she and others argue, but this does not mean early reptiles transformed into birds, etc. --

[A] bird is still a bird, a dinosaur still a dinosaur, a ape is still an ape, an Neanderthal is still a human being - the blatant misuse, abuse and omission regards scientific evidence is unfortunately rampant in the "Scientific" community, each one building on the previous pattern of faulty reasoning, mistakes and conclusions. -- Johanna Boomsmam, St. Petersburg

But most readers agreed there is a distinction between scientific theory and religious belief:

IMHO, religious beliefs should only be taught in public schools in the context of  comparative religions. In my public school up north, we had several months in fourth grade where we studied the various major world religions. And that was all.... Let the yahoos send their kids to religious schools to get religion. Public schools in Florida have a national reputation for being lousy anyway. Three guesses why that is. -- Holly Hand

I only disagree with one statement. " They are entirely separate matters ."  I believe they are intertwined.  You seem to say this also when you state,"I am figuring that God could have made the world any way that He wanted." -- Kalen Gebler

Now, letters on a couple other topics, the first related to baseball in St. Petersburg:

Will you please publish the specific steps which must be taken to recall the St. Petersburg mayor, the oodles of deputy mayors, and the city commission? Also, as a public service, may I tell you how we, the citizens of St. Petersburg, can prevent the building of any new structure which we, the people, do not want.  Simply pass an ordinance preventing the placement of any plaque, sign, notice, or any other writing on the proposed structure, which contains the name(s) of any elected official. -- Doug Sattler

Hah! I love the suggestion about no names on plaques. As for recall elections, you can't recall deputy mayors -- only their boss, the elected mayor. The provisions for recall are found in Florida Statutes 100.361. A recall election is called via petition drive. Here's the link to the statute.

And lastly, this question about the Pinellas Juvenile Welfare Board:

Will you refer this to one of the Times investigative reporters. Have them ck into the County Juvvi Welfare Board,  They consume 22.3% of my property taxes and yet, no one hears about them. For once I'd like to see how much they receive, salaries pd and where all this money goes. It'd make a hellava story I'm betting. -- Tom Vath, S. Pasadena

I've always been uncomfortable with the JWB's ability to levy property taxes directly, despite being an unelected body -- the old "taxation without representation" thing, you know. This has nothing to do with the fact that they use the tax dollars to support a lot of good causes. You can get the complete rundown on the board's budget, the agencies that get the money, tax returns and so forth at the board's web site, www.jwbpinellas.org

These are just a fraction of the e-mails... I have tried to acknowledge as many as possible, but can't keep up with them some weeks... thanks to everyone who took the trouble to write!