LETTERS 10.10.12


  • By
  • | 4:00 a.m. October 10, 2012
  • Palm Coast Observer
  • Opinion
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This is the mentality of the Palm Coast driver

Dear Editor:

I live on a cut-through street between Old Kings Road and Palm Harbor Parkway, where the speed limit is 30 mph.

Between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and 2:30-6:30 p.m. and then the yard service companies during the day, it’s a drag strip. I recently asked the Sheriff’s Office if I could get one of those trailers that tell people their speed while they are driving on my street. I want to thank the department with how fast they responded to putting one out there. Didn’t last long, but they at least put one there.

What I found was that some slowed down, but that some would even speed up. I had some that came almost to a stop and then floored it to see how fast they could accelerate. The sign was there only three days. Now, we are back to normal. No one pays attention to the speed limit other than those that care.

This is the mentality of the Palm Coast driver.

I have noticed in our city that we have the young single and the young families who are always on the go. Kids have to go here and there and Mom or Dad also have other things to do, so speed limits and red lights are their enemy. Then you have the folks like me who are not on a set schedule. Some of us keep the pace with the young, some of us slow down, and then you have the ones who should not be behind the wheel of a car. We all need to be more aware of our speeds and surroundings. Stay off the phone.

The red light cameras are here for our safety, and so are the speed limits. If people would only follow them.

Ken Gistedt
Palm Coast

Colbert Lane sidewalks are too sandy and cluttered

Dear Editor:
I’m bringing to the fore an overlooked situation. I drive along Colbert Lane pretty often, and wonder why so many cyclists pedal along the main road and ignore the sidewalk. So one morning, I decided to leave my Seminole Woods neighborhood, which has no sidewalk, and use the Colbert Lane sidewalk.

A great portion of the sidewalk is covered with thick sand, and riding on that sand tends to steer your bike out of control, and also offer a lot of resistance. Also, you have to stay clear of the limbs and vines that are hanging over the sidewalk. I think if this facility is provided for our convenience it should be maintained and not force pedestrians into traffic.

Vincent Taylor
Palm Coast

Just say ‘No’ to all 11 state constitutional amendments

Some of these outrageous examples of legislative overreach (each of the 11 amendments was placed on the ballot by lawmakers, not citizens) aim at our fundamental rights, putting core democratic principles at risk. They jeopardize the balance of power, right to privacy and separation of church and state.

Amendment 5 (State Courts) seeks to undermine the intent of our nonpartisan judicial nominating system, tipping the balance of power in favor of political branches by giving them greater influence in the selection of judges appointed to Florida’s Supreme Court.

Amendment 6 (Prohibition on Public Funding of Abortions) would allow Florida politicians to intrude on personal medical decisions between a woman, her family and her doctor.

Amendment 8 (so-called Religious Freedom) would allow taxpayer funding of religious institutions. It will allow public money to be used for religious indoctrination. Saying “No” to this amendment will not jeopardize existing funding for important services offered through some religious groups’ social welfare programs

Neither these nor the other eight proposed amendments belong in our Florida Constitution, a document intended to be almost impossible to change and kept sacred for the purpose of defining the structure of our government.

As a Flagler County voter, I encourage readers of the Palm Coast Observer to take a good, long look at these confusing, complex, misleading, democracy threatening choices and then vote “No” across the board.

Mary Ann Clark
Flagler Beach

City of Palm Coast deserves praise for beautiful medians

Dear Editor:
It’s rare that public officials are ever lauded, but the city of Palm Coast deserves some praise, indeed. The job it has done with medians, particularly down Belle Terre, speaks of an elected and managerial group which actually cares about the character and nature (and long-term viability) of the place, as opposed to quick economic fixes. It increases home values across the board.

We need to appreciate that, in an era when there has been such decimation of nature.

As for the red-light cameras: How many have stopped to think of the effect not just on dangerous traffic violators but also criminals in general of these cameras? If you are set to rob a gas station, invade a home, or stick up a bank, having your getaway car photographed is not exactly convenient.

Michael H. Brown
Palm Coast

 

 

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