Letters: Please, organizers, take Ironman elsewhere

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As a citizen of Pinellas County, I want you people at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship to know that your event is not welcome here. Why? Simply because none of your athletes or sponsors seem to care about anything but their own agenda and have absolutely no regard for the major inconvenience that your event is causing the people of this county.

I assure you that, other than those who stand to make a quick buck from your event (and they account for a very small percentage of the overall population), the overwhelming majority of the people who live, vote and spend money in this county couldn't care less about your event. What does the average Pinellas County citizen stand to gain? Nothing. What price do we pay? Hours of countywide traffic and all of the associated inconvenience.

I would venture to say that the total disruption caused by this event ends up being responsible for quite a bit of lost revenue for many local businesses — businesses here to serve their customers year round.

Once again, I call upon the county commissioners to put the needs and wishes of the citizens and merchants of Pinellas County above those who merely wish to use us, at great inconvenience, for one day's pleasure/profit. Please see to it that 2008 is the last year that the Ironman event is allowed to happen in this county.

Ever since the hours at the Countryside Library were shortened, I am no longer bothered by the constant drone of "tutors" right behind me, more than likely earning their keep in their home offices (which are the library tables to the right as you walk in).

I am also not sorry the computers have been shut down after one hour of use, and somehow I see more people reading newspapers and books — a good sign.

Next time up, we need to ensure that libraries, which are wonderful and precious resources, are used as libraries.

A recent letter to the editor bemoaned the loss of public library hours for students. Pardon me, students have libraries at their schools and quite good ones. What does the letter writer mean exactly? Again, Amendment 1 passed overwhelmingly. I did not vote for it because it did not go far enough. Next time, I will.

The referendum to pay more to the teachers was not on my list to vote for either, nor will I ever. Teachers I know and like love their profession. Teachers who do not like teaching need to find something else to do. It is too important a job and many are in it for the money and summers. Starting out at $37,500 plus benefits of $13,000 with an undergraduate degree in a non-income tax state is not chump change.

Police, firefighters and teachers all earn their keep, but the property owner is tired, really tired, of funding everything. Do away with property tax, eliminate tax exemptions across the board, then institute a sales tax.

It is outrageous to let the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections Office conduct an election in a partisan way that favors the Republicans. Limiting access to only three sites in Pinellas County for early voting was undemocratic in every way and should have been stopped.

The elections office argues that early voting's impact on overall turnout can't justify the costs involved, but $250,000 for a countywide election is ludicrous. How much of the taxpayers' money has the county blown by bailing out the county Property Appraiser's Office and other fiascos?

Mail-in voting is great, but how many times have we had elections in Florida where the votes were "lost"?

Florida has had so many problems with voting since 2000, I think it was unconscionable for Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections Deborah Clark to only provide three early voting sites throughout the county.

It isn't the 42-cent stamp for mail-in voting that bothers me. I just want to be sure that my vote counts.

>>your voice counts

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Comments on this article

by Sigmund	Nov 9, 2008 11:31 AM
If you people in Clearwater and North Pinellas like the Ironman so much, keep it in YOUR city and out of S.Pinellas.International exposure? All of 45 viewers on ESPN three months from now is more like it.

by Jen	Nov 9, 2008 11:31 AM
Dang, you must have a heck of a social life to be SO inconvenienced for this race??

by Marie	Nov 9, 2008 11:31 AM
With all the emphasis by Clearwater Parks & Rec not providing services to non-residents--why are they allowed to inconvenience non-residents for their event? Keep it in Clearwater limits, and by the way this event costs the City & County much money!

by Not Old & GRUMPY	Nov 7, 2008 8:35 PM
What are you people talking about...You sound like a bunch of babies!! Not even 8 hours of inconvenience for international exposure for our area? If you don't like tourism and the things that go with it, do us all a favor and move back up North!!

by bob	Nov 7, 2008 8:35 PM
Yall know who owns the Ironman right??? Dr Gills- developer and longtime friend of all the local politicians.

by Eileen	Nov 7, 2008 8:32 PM
I guess you could say I get trapped in my house every year for the Ironman. So what? I grab a bottle of water and go out on McMullen Booth and cheer them on! It is a great event and only a couple of hours out of your life. Just plan!

by Bob	Nov 7, 2008 8:30 PM
Toby, did you know that Ironman is based in this area? How would you feel about higher taxes? That's what you'll get without money from events like these.

by phil	Nov 7, 2008 8:29 PM
Toby, put down your cigarette and take a breath. It is one day a year- plan to be out of town that day if it is so inconvenient. I doubt the 10's of thousands who watch agree with you. Go Ironmen( and Women)!!!

by Healthier Than You	Nov 7, 2008 8:24 PM
WAAAAA! The Ironman is inconvenient. WAAAAA! I might have to think and plan one day a year around this event. WAAAAA! I'm a little girl who likes to write letters to the editor an make myself sound important. WAAAAA! Support the Ironman!!

by Toby	Nov 7, 2008 8:19 PM
Thank you, St. Pete Times, for publishing my letter. I encourage all of you who feel as I do to share your feelings with the County Commissioners (especially you local merchants).

by Mike	Nov 7, 2008 5:05 PM
Why don't the use the Pinellas Trail?

by Melissa	Nov 7, 2008 12:14 PM
I enjoy watching the Ironman (and I live right on the bike path). Is it really worth getting that upset over a little extra inconvenience one Saturday during the whole year? It seems like there are more pressing issues facing the county than this.

by Lisa	Nov 7, 2008 12:02 PM
Toby and Harriet; your grouchy, selfish attitudes are pitiful. Toby is so important, he can't sacrifice 8 hrs out his year so his community can host a World Class event. Harriet is a library fascist who doesn't know school libraries close at night.

by Will	Nov 7, 2008 11:52 AM
The problem with the Ironman is the bike route. Wandering all over North Pinellas disrupts the maximum number of people. Why organizer don't use the waterfront corridors of Alt.19 and/or Gulf Blvd is a mystery. Minimal disruption, great viewing.

by Charles	Nov 7, 2008 11:47 AM
Re: Ironman. Traffic choked Pinellas county is no place for the Ironman contest. Clearwater officials, who are toadies for the developers, have killed the beach with condos and sprawl. Now they desperately try to improve tourism with the Ironman?

by Mike	Nov 7, 2008 11:11 AM
If getting to one of those site is too inconvenient for you, here's an idea: walk down the street to your local polling place on election day. I can guarantee you there will be a shorter line!