Nobody is scaring birds with fireworks | Editorial, July 16
Leave fireworks
to the professionals
The situation with fireworks has gotten completely out of control. I was at Curtis Hixon Park on the Fourth of July, and numerous people were exploding very powerful fireworks in the midst of the gathered crowd. These were not simple firecrackers — they were powerful commercial grade, the kind you see at sponsored events. Some of the fireworks were skittering across the ground in random fashion before exploding close to people. This was a very dangerous situation with no law enforcement intervention. When you go to a public park to enjoy the evening, you have a reasonable expectation of safety. This was certainly not the case on the Fourth of July.
Robert George, Tampa
DeSantis appears to be gaining | July 15
Stay out of state politics
I am an avid supporter of President Donald Trump and fully agree with nearly everything he is trying to do — except to dictate who should be elected to Florida state offices such as governor, senator and others. I have always been against people from other states and federal government officials meddling in Florida elections through direct campaigning and/or financial support. We as Floridians should be able to elect the candidates of our choice with no outside influence.
Willard Ottman, Apollo Beach
Helsinki summit
Time to learn Russian
After hearing President Donald Trump's equivocating replies to reporters' questions regarding Russian meddling in the 2016 general election, how can individuals like White House Chief of Staff John Kelly and Defense Secretary James Mattis, both former four-star Marine generals, continue to serve in his administration in good conscience? But should they and other supposedly patriotic Republicans continue to defend Trump despite his pro-Putin proclivity, perhaps it's time we need to start Russian language classes.
Fred Kalhammer, Sun City Center
Putin minions indicted | July 14
Prepare for cyber war
When the announcement was made about the Russian cyber attack, two questions came to mind. First, what will the United States do as a proportional response? And second, if cyber attacks by global adversaries are the war of the future, then why focus so much defense spending on conventional weaponry like aircraft and ground weapons? If defense spending was truly focused on cyber war, then could this event been mitigated or actually have occurred.
Darryl David, St. Petersburg
A smart vote for preserving waterfront parks by council | Editorial, July 14
A short, expensive life
About the proposed aerial sculptures by Janet Echelman for the Pier District or any other location in St. Petersburg: I can see spending $2.8 million for a sculpture that should last a hundred years or so, but this one won't. What were they thinking?
Tom Duncan, Palm Harbor
Scott backpedals on beach law | July 14
An election year beachhead
So Gov. Rick Scott changes his mind and will now allow Floridians access to Florida beaches? Thank goodness for election years.
Travis Sherman, St. Petersburg