- November 23, 2024
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+ Care facility in Grand Haven would be a welcome addition
I recently attended a meeting where Jim Cullis, president of Grand Haven Realty, presented a plan for a new continuous care facility called Grand Living. This proposed project would be a senior community where residents would have access to 200-plus condominium–style units, assisted living accommodations as well as a nursing facility. The proposed 20 acre site is located north of Wild Oaks and South of Blair Drive.
The advantages of having “Grand Living” are numerous:
1) The property is currently zoned for commercial usage, and Grand Living would result in more conservation of green areas.
2) The project would provide immediate construction jobs as well as 250-plus skilled jobs in the completed community.
3) Both the tax base and tax revenues for the county and Palm Coast would increase.
4) Senior residents would be able to stay in the community and enjoy peace of mind that their progressive health needs would be addressed.
For these reasons, I hope that our governmental agencies recognize that “Grand Living” is a win-win project for Palm Coast and they endorse this project.
Robert W. Greenberg
Hammock Dunes Resident
+ Use red-light camera revenue for smarter traffic lights
Dear Editor:
I don’t consciously or intentionally run red lights and, obviously, I don’t think anyone should. I would concede that cameras might have their place as a revenue source, as an enforcement tool, or because they might enhance safety.
What struck me about the recent article (“OK’d: nine red light cameras”), however, was the actual list of new locations. Being familiar with each of the locations and frequently experiencing them, I notice one thing in common: When driving in the direction of the camera facing, if one catches a red light, it is terribly long, even when there is no opposing traffic conflict or even no traffic at all!
Surely we have all experienced that. You pull up to a light, and there is no car coming or even in sight, or one car goes through the intersection but there you sit for what seems like an eternity, in broad daylight or at 2 a.m., when you’re exhausted and all you want to do is get home (and save $3.50 a gallon gas).
On some level, I believe this anticipated situation must be what many red light runners are thinking: Do I take a chance and push the limits to try to make the light or do I coast up to it knowing that I will sit there forever with no opposing traffic? This situation could be easily remedied with better, more sensible traffic control using sensors and computers to monitor and control flow. It is done in other places. Why not here?
And before the City Council says it would cost too much or they don’t have the money, let’s use the revenue from the tickets to start upgrading and modernizing traffic flow, unless it’s too good a resource to not use elsewhere.
Upgrading the traffic control flow so that lights change based on actual existing traffic would surely lessen the impulse to run the light and reduce the frustration on both sides of the discussion.
Don White
Flagler County
+ Political signs are worse than garage sale signs
Dear Editor:
I recently read the article about regulating garage sales in Palm Coast and found Mr. DeLorenzo’s ideas to be reasonable on the face of them. What intrigued me the most about the article was the discussion about the yard sale signs.
I have, on two occasions, observed a city employee riding around, pulling up yard sale signs and tossing them into the back of a pickup. I imagine most of these signs would have been up no more than two or three days. So why are the politicians so worried about open house and yard sale signs when the signs of those running for office are allowed to clutter our streets and intersections for months on end?
I think there should be regulations on size, quantity and time allowed to be displayed for these ads. Besides, I have talked to no one who voted for a particular candidate because they liked their sign, but I suppose no self-serving politician would ever vote for such a regulation.
Michael Cregar
Palm Coast
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RESPONSES TO 'RACE STUDY TARGETS FLAGLER'
+ Teachers are not to be blamed for student misbehavior
Dear Editor:
Teachers are not to be blamed for students of any nationality who refuse to abide by the school rules and regulations. The most overlooked problems are the parents, and there is no excuse for lack of home punishment.
Please, all you special interest groups, stop complaining and get your act together. The problems start at home and not in school.
I know many black families with outstanding children in our schools.
Walter Albano
Palm Coast
+ Race study distracts from real problems in education
Dear Editor:
Last I heard, 10% of the white students and 30% of black students do not graduate from high school. Those figures are astounding and unacceptable.
The result is a growing population of unemployables who look for other ways to make a living, either criminally or go on the dole — a growing malignancy to our way of life in the United States. Our nation deserves better and is capable of working together for a sound solution.
All that race study does is distract from the real problem. We need to thoroughly overhaul our education system.
It matters little if this report is unfair to Flagler County or not, but it speaks volumes to the dumbing down of education and the severe restrictions to discipline that have been imposed on the system over the past 20 years or more. Distractions will do no good whatsoever!
Like you say, now is the time to talk about it before it is too late.
Tom McMullin
Palm Coast
