Palm Coast Observer
Opinion

Dear Editor:

It seems like the city of Palm Coast is contemplating rezoning a property, allowing for the addition of low-income rental housing. In my opinion, that represents a grave and irreversible mistake.

As anyone who has ever lived in a large urban environment knows, the concentration of low-income residents into any community brings with it a host of problems which become a permanent fixture — problems such as drug trafficking, gun violence, gang affiliations and a whole host of crime, which destroys quality of life, property value and wreaks havoc on the surrounding community.

The warehousing of low-income residents into apartment complexes is a failed experiment that has brought irreversible blight not just into the complexes themselves but into the surrounding area as well.

Palm Coast should learn from these mistakes and not even consider bringing that in.

Lets take a look at an example, the Gardens of Daytona apartments, which, according to a 2015 Daytona Beach News-Journal article, receives approximately $2 million per year in rent subsidies as well as close to $400,000 in annual utility subsidies. From January 2012 through June 2016, 5,000 police calls were made to the development to cover a multitude of crimes such as armed robbery, carjacking, narcotics, gun shootings, disturbances, assault, etc.

I can't think of anyone who would want to live in such an environment or anywhere near it. Nobody builds dilapidated and run-down "ghetto" housing, but that is what they become when you concentrate low-income residents.

As for businesses not wanting to locate in Palm Coast because we lack so-called affordable housing, I simply cannot fathom any such business unless you are talking about for-profit private prisons.

For those who complain about the lack of affordable housing, I believe you live where you can afford. I personally would love to live in a beautiful house on the beach, but I can't afford it, so I live where I can afford.

Granted, we do have people in need and who should receive assistance, but these programs have created a cycle of dependency which is continually perpetuated.

A good education and a job work wonders for lifting people out of poverty and into the mainstream of American society.

People move into Palm Coast for its beauty, good schools and quality of life. Let us keep it that way and as far as any elected official who is in favor of low-income developments, build them in your back yard but keep it out of mine!

Jose Vasquez

Palm Coast

Town Center is the ideal place for multifamily housing

Dear Editor:

There are almost always resident concerns when large development plans involve one's neighborhood. It is easy to understand why the residents have opposition.

The ideal location for such housing need seems to be Town Center. It is sectioned off by State Road 100, Interstate 95, drainage canal with FPL main power lines, and Belle Terre. Along the perimeter are commercial properties, a high school, hospital and so on. What better way to build the Town Center concept than with multifamily housing?

Tom A. Gailliot

Palm Coast

Challenges remain for the working poor

Dear Editor:

One of the primary goals of CareerSource Flagler Volusia is to increase the prosperity of all workers and all employers in the region. While we continuously measure the outcomes of our services, we also pay close attention to external indicators to assess our effectiveness. One of these indicators is United Way’s ALICE (Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed) report.

In February, United Way of Florida released the updated ALICE report, detailing the plight of the working poor. The rates of households within the poverty and ALICE thresholds in Flagler and Volusia counties were unchanged and in some cases improved. But the challenges remain for those struggling to provide for their families.

The ALICE Report is designed to call attention to these families that make more than the federal poverty guidelines, but less than enough to survive. One way to help stabilize these families is to provide them with educational opportunities in managing and maintaining a budget.

Programs like the United Way’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) or free financial education courses help to equip individuals with financial literacy skills. Last year, the VITA free tax preparation sites saved Flagler and Volusia residents over $1.5 million in tax prep fees. Studies show that there is over $28 million in unclaimed tax credits in our two-county area alone.

The United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties is focused on solving these community challenges by supporting education, financial stability, and health programs across the two-county area. Together, we can change the course of our community and help families become more financially stable.

Robin King

President and CEO

CareerSource Flagler Volusia

Pedestrians need to be responsible

I almost hit two young men on bicycles

Dear Editor:

Last night at about 8 p.m. on our way home from church services, I came very close to hitting two young men on bicycles on our street. As I approached our house and was going very slowly, my husband yelled, “stop!”

I stopped at our driveway, and there were two young men on bicycles at the entrance to our driveway clinging to the mailbox. They were dressed in black and I never saw them until I stopped and surely would have hit them. This could have been another bicycle tragedy in Palm Coast.

We live on Frontier Drive, which has no sidewalks or street lights, no bike lanes or even an area to pull over if needed, and although it is posted as 30 mph, drivers routinely speed between 40 to 60 in front of our house.

Many of these bicycle and pedestrian accidents are preventable if drivers slow down, residential areas have sidewalks and streetlights, and if bicyclists and walkers are proactive by wearing reflective/light clothing and have lights and reflectors on their bikes.

Ronaele Bowman

Palm Coast

Before lighting up the city, let’s be responsible as pedestrians

Dear Editor:

Recently, a friend of mine was driving me home after dark on Bird of Paradise. I was in the passenger seat. At night, I always look for deer, and I suddenly saw two figures walking on the right side of the road, side by side, with their backs to us and dressed in dark clothing. The driver did not see them.

I grabbed the steering wheel with one hand and steered the car around them and to the left. They never knew that I had just saved their lives. Should an oncoming car had been close to our car, it might not have ended that way.

A campaign should be started to educate our adults and children. Let's start saving people's lives by educating them to walk on the left hand side of the road, facing the traffic, not walking ahead of it.

You must always face the traffic. When you see cars coming, step off the road. Although they should not do it, drivers often are on the phone or texting and are not paying attention to you. Also, wear light-colored clothes and carry a flashlight at night.

Thank you, Palm Coast, for our walking paths, but a lot of our citizens still use our roads for exercising and for going from one place to the other.

It should be the responsibility of schools, churches, the Sheriff’s Office, the Fire Department, newspapers, radio and all of our many organizations to get this message out to the population at large and especially to the children.

We have to be responsible for ourselves. We don't need to light up the whole city of Palm Coast.

Eugene P. Yavorski

Palm Coast

Vacation rental legislation must be stopped

Dear Editor:

Sen. Travis Hutson, my wife and I voted for you, in large part, because of your 2014 position on allowing for local communities to regulate short-term vacation rentals. This year’s Senate Bill 188 would take home rule away, but as chairman of the Regulated Industries Committee, you can stop the bill by not placing it on the agenda. I strongly urge you to do so.

In 2011, the Florida Legislature created a totally unregulated short-term rental industry. We saw 8-plus bedroom houses built as short-term rentals without the minimum safety and fire standards required in commercial lodging facilities. The local government could not oversee the short-term rentals, and the state would not.

While Sen. Greg Steube wishes to return to this era, he uses emotional arguments not based upon fact. Since local rule was established, travel and tourism have flourished in our communities, while the property rights of all Floridians have been preserved.

Flagler County's top legislative priority the last two years was short-term rentals. This bill is an attack on home rule. The current political climate mandates local control of local issues, not state control. Please stop this legislation from moving forward.

Warren Hodges

Palm Coast

City’s goals are full of garbage buzzwords

Dear Editor:

Just had to comment on the March 16 article, “Palm Coast officials consider city goals.” And first the caveat that this is in no way intended to “dis” the author of the article, News Editor Jonathan Simmons; after all, he was just reporting. But truly, this article was full of enough undefined “buzz words” to clog a garbage disposal! Let’s review.

First, the City Council had to work on a “vision statement.” Now, I don’t know about you, but I don’t have a clue what is meant by that. Tarot cards? Here are the components of the “vision”:

No. 1: Building a diverse, sustainable economic base to support innovation while providing necessary infrastructure and services

Whoa, doggies! That sounds very important, until you put Drano in the clogged buzz words. You know, diverse can mean anything; the sustainable economic base has always been the retirees; innovation can mean anything; and providing necessary infrastructure and services is simply about taxes. So, basically, when you unclog the drain of buzz words you’re left with sustainable economic base and taxes.

No. 2: Providing exceptional amenities and standards that support a high quality lifestyle.

Well, unless you’ve been in a coma, this all translates to taxes; and high quality lifestyle doesn’t comport with proposed Section 8 development housing, does it?

No. 3: Protecting the environment and beauty of Palm Coast while conserving natural resources.

Umm, have I lost my facility with the English language, or is this blatantly redundant?

Shirley Carter

Palm Coast

Blame the owner, or the dog?

I agree: Let’s ban pit bulls

Dear Editor:

In reference to the letter from Mr. Doug Glover in the March 16 edition, concerning a banning of pit bull dogs, I find myself in full agreement.

Perhaps our fellow citizens will convey their support for such a rule to members of our city government.

Thank you, Mr. Glover!

Andrew Kozer

Palm Coast

Pit bulls owners are to blame, not pit bulls

Dear Editor:

Pit bulls make great family companions when in the right hands and living situation. They require intelligent, responsible and dedicated ownership as does any large breed. Unfortunately, too many people obtain these dogs for the wrong reasons and have little understanding of the inherent traits this breed possesses.

Pit bulls are now America’s most abused dog, not only tortured in dog fighting rings but frequently chained outside and neglected by lowlifes who want nothing more than a scary looking guard dog.

Unlike the myth propagated by the media, human aggression is not a problem specific to the pit bull breed. In fact pit bulls tend to do better than average in temperament tests, having a current passing score of 82.3%, which makes them one of the top most stable breeds in the country.

Pit bull owners must be educated about proper and responsible ownership. Every negative incident involving a bully breed adds to the breed’s reputation and jeopardizes our right to own these great dogs. It is up to the owner to keep their dog out of trouble.

It was a pit bull that stood guard over dead and wounded soldier at Gettysburg; she is immortalized in a Civil War monument in Pennsylvania. The most decorated dog in World War I was a pit bull who served in 17 battles. The American pit bull may have a bad reputation, but under all that muscle is a heart of gold.

Of the 51 dogs seized from Michael Vick’s dog fighting ring, 47 were adopted by loving families.

Pit bulls are wonderful animals that deserve a chance to have a good life like any other dog. They are a little more of everything a dog can be.

Any poorly trained dog can become aggressive. Recently a friend was bitten in the face by a retriever, requiring numerous sutures, and not one word was publicized.

No child should ever be left unsupervised with any dog. If people were responsible owners these horrible unfortunate incidences could be prevented. The bottom line is its the irresponsible owners that need to be banned not a breed of dog!!

Elizabeth Souza

Palm Coast

Don’t ban dogs based on appearance

Dear Editor:

It is with great sadness that we read the letter in last week's Observer regarding pit bulls.

First of all, there is no actual "pit bull" breed. The term is loosely used to describe a dog with a squared head and a muscular build. So how would one go about defining who gets to stay and who is banished? One cannot arbitrarily ban an animal based solely on appearance. They're not all pit bulls. That reeks of a racist attitude. Change the terms regarding “dog” and substitute “human.” Not humanely or socially acceptable.

Secondly, the author seems to confuse the issues of dogs with abortions, leading to a puzzle as to the purpose of his letter. Are we condemning dogs or abortions? They are not interchangeable, nor do they somehow go together.

The author makes a point as to seeing children maimed or injured. Thus he wants to banish the dog. Using his logic, let's ban guns because some guns kill. Oh, the outcry!

One of us has been involved in animal rescue for 18 years. In all those years, which included pit bulls, she has been bitten once. And it was a cocker spaniel! Do we thus cry to banish all cocker spaniels? Not.

Why don't we use some common sense here and judge each case on its own merit? Are there some dogs that should not be allowed in public? Certainly. But to banish an entire race based on the few seems hardly justifiable.

Donna DiAngelo and Eleanor Fella

Palm Coast