Buckhorn set to build on successful first term | Jan. 18, editorial
Future looks bright for city, mayor
This Times editorial spells out in succinct fashion what the future holds for Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn. Buckhorn has ably built on the foundation his predecessor Pam Iorio developed — an excellent team of professional staffers. Rather than casting out the old and coming in with the new, which successor administrations often do, he used the base to enhance the future.
Buckhorn hit the ground running after a stint as the aide to a former mayor and time on the City Council. And after knocking on perhaps every door in Tampa during his campaign, he brought a special sense of knowledge to the job. He is a quick learner, motivator and persuasive speaker, with a tad of Jeff Vinik — all factors that will make Tampa one of the top cities in the nation.
So thanks to the Times for calling attention to the mayor, and my crystal ball says in 2018 it will be Gov. Bob Buckhorn.
John Osterweil, Tampa
Relief from 'range' anxiety | Jan. 18
Hybrid and electric vehicles
Congratulations to the Times for reporting on the coming generation of longer-range electric vehicles. However, your article perpetuates the common confusion between electric vehicles and hybrids. They are not the same. In the terminology used by the auto industry, electrified vehicles include hybrids (e.g., Toyota Prius), plug-in hybrids or PHEVs (e.g., Chevrolet Volt) and pure electric vehicles or EVs (e.g., Nissan LEAF, Tesla Model S).
It's true that annual sales of electrified vehicles (including hybrids) fell by 8.8 percent in 2014. However, sales of plug-in vehicles (PHEVs and EVs) grew 23 percent, and sales of pure electric vehicles grew 57 percent.
Charlie Morris, Treasure Island
City brings in drinking water after oil spill Jan. 20
Major pollution risk
I am very disappointed in how the editors at the Tampa Bay Times chose to report on the need for Glendive, Mont., to bring in truckloads of drinking water due to a 50,000-gallon oil spill in a pipeline accident this past weekend.
Considering that the current Republican-dominated Congress will almost definitely vote on the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline this term, this spill should not have been reported in a one-paragraph story buried in the middle of the last page of Section A in Monday's paper.
The Keystone pipeline is scheduled to cross a major aquifer in the central United States. Therefore, a leak in the Keystone pipeline such as this one could feasibly pollute the drinking water of millions of Americans.
Joan Zawlocki, Seffner
Toddler killed by family's two dogs | Jan. 20
How to stop a dog attack
In the wake of yet another child killed by dogs, I feel it necessary to once again remind the readers the correct way to handle that situation. Unfortunately, the grandfather tried to pull the dogs off the boy, which was the wrong thing to do as this will only cause the dog to tighten its grip and in the process tear the victim's flesh.
The first thing one should do is grab a handful of the loose skin behind the dog's neck with one hand and in the same motion with the other hand grab the animal's windpipe and squeeze hard. This will immediately cause the dog's jaws to pop open and release the bite without any further damage.
This emergency procedure is used by canine units worldwide, both civilian and military, and will cause no lasting harm to the animal.
John Waitman, Palm Harbor
Romney talks of future focus | Jan. 17
Put statement in context
Although Mitt Romney has only dipped a toe in the water of the 2016 presidential campaign, he has already been engulfed by a tidal wave of criticism, some of it tinged by typical media bias.
For instance, a Times story by an Associated Press writer contained the usual lack-of-context report on what Romney said at a 2012 Florida fund-raiser: "that he doesn't worry about 47 percent of Americans who 'believe they are victims' and 'pay no income tax.' "
While it is impossible to defend the inelegant way that Romney worded that statement, it is easy to defend it on two other counts:
First, Romney was speaking politically to potential campaign donors who needed to understand that the candidate would never crack the large group of government dependents who are locked in to voting Democrat. It would be no different than Barack Obama saying that Democrats "needn't worry" about the 20 (or whatever) percent of rural Republicans who will never vote for him.
Second, anyone familiar with Mitt Romney the politician or person understands that he cares deeply about the plight of the less fortunate in our society and that he has acted accordingly and often to assist those victims.
It would be refreshing if media sources so intent on maligning Romney would, just once, provide balanced reporting free of the usual liberal bias.
Larry Shores, Treasure Island
Bill offers tax break to solar producers Jan. 21
Step forward on solar
State Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, just took a big step toward removing a key barrier to solar in the Sunshine State. He filed a measure that would end burdensome taxes on solar power. He wants the Legislature to include the tax abatement on the 2016 ballot. It's a great idea whose time has come. It's refreshing to see a lawmaker stand up for the citizens over the monopoly power companies.
The tax is one key piece of the solar puzzle. The other is ending the law against the third-party sale of electricity. Florida is one of only five states that doesn't allow competition in energy choices. State policymakers have refused to stand up to the big monopoly utilities that contribute to campaigns. End these two barriers and watch solar fly.
Susan Glickman, Florida director, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, Belleair Beach