I recently had the pleasure of spending a few days in Minneapolis, and besides "Minnesota nice," the most welcoming aspect was the ease of transportation.
Metro Transit provides a combination of light rail with bus service. The rail line I used ran from the Mall of America to downtown, including two stops at the airport, with buses connecting at each rail station. Transfers were free. It was an easy system to use, and wait times were under 10 minutes for both rail and bus. Friends who live there and commute to the state Capitol were thrilled with the recent expansion to St. Paul, and a new line to the southwest suburbs had just been approved. Metro Transit continues to exceed all passenger projections.
It's worth noting that libertarian champion Jesse Ventura was the governor who gave light rail its final, successful push. Groundbreaking was in 2001, and the first phase of the rail line opened in 2004. While it was a pleasure to use, it was also sad to reflect how far behind we are here in Tampa Bay.
There is something very hospitable about arriving in an area with clean, convenient and economical transit. If we wish to remain a tourist destination, it's something we must pursue. Of course, residents and businesses will also enjoy the benefits daily. We are now the largest U.S. metropolitan area without mass transit, and have a lot of catching up to do. Voting for Greenlight Pinellas is a first step we must take in November.
Bonnie Agan, St. Petersburg
Early childhood education
Dividends of conversation
One of the earliest indicators of a child's future success is the number of words he or she hears before reaching kindergarten. Also important to language development is the frequency and richness of natural conversation in a child's first years. The interplay of words between the parent and child, through both reading and conversation, helps nurture vocabulary.
An at-risk 5-year-old who lacks these early interactions often enters kindergarten with an 18-month vocabulary gap. As the child ages, the gap widens, and the child risks falling so far behind that it is difficult to catch up with his or her peers.
What could be more fun than engaging a young child in conversation? For the parents or caregivers, it means taking time to talk, read, sing and play with children from birth. These dynamic exchanges lead to enhanced brain, social and emotional development and a great vocabulary.
We can further bolster vocabulary development by complementing parents' efforts through investments in early childhood education. It is one of the best things Florida can do to improve education, health and economic outcomes.
As an advocate for high-quality early childhood education over the past 10 years, we understand the benefits it provides at-risk children and their families — it helps build a solid foundation for the future of this region and is a significant driver of our economic success. When children experience a holistic environment supporting their learning at home and at school, they are more likely to graduate and do well over time.
To help advance this issue, however, more public and private entities need to step up their advocacy and provide resources so we have future generations that will secure America's economic future and competitiveness.
Joe Meterchick, regional president, PNC Bank, Orlando
Five reasons to vote against Amendment 2 Sept. 10, commentary
Rebuttal to former justices
The seven former Florida Supreme Court justices who opined on why they believe that voters should reject medical marijuana as outlined in Amendment 2 are misinterpreting some very important information.
First they claim that the amendment is too broadly written. The amendment is a framework. The Department of Health will be writing the regulations that will ultimately flesh out the rules.
They claim to have studied the impact of the amendment. Since this has not yet even been voted on, there has been no impact to study.
As for the claim that the amendment will allow for the use of medical marijuana for virtually any condition, patients will need to get a recommendation from a licensed physician in order to obtain the necessary proof that they are eligible to obtain their medicine. It is true that there will be no prescriptions, but this is because there is no prescription process for marijuana as it is not an FDA medication.
Amendment 2 does not have an age requirement because there are instances where children receiving chemotherapy or who have other conditions will benefit from marijuana medicine, but this does not mean that all children will have access to it. They too will need a doctor's recommendation, which would mean that parental intervention would be a part of that process. Minor children cannot go to the doctor without a parent.
As for the caregiver reference, once again, the amendment is merely a beginning. The Department of Health will decide the requirements for that position, will determine who can be a caregiver, and whether or not there will be background checks or training.
Medical marijuana is now legal in 23 states as well as in our nation's capital. All indications are that it's been a win-win. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, deaths from overdoses of opiate drugs in medical marijuana states has dropped by nearly 25 percent. Traffic fatalities are down, in part it's believed, because alcohol consumption in general is also decreased and binge drinking is reduced.
Medical decisions need to be made by a patient and a physician, not by Tallahassee politicians or by seven former justices.
Karen Goldstein, director, NORML of Florida, West Park
Presidential failure on immigration Sept. 9, editorial
Politics over sound policy
I wasn't shocked when I read that President Barack Obama chose partisan politics over sound public policy. I tried to recall a single instance when Obama chose the nation's best interests over partisan politics. I couldn't come up with one.
As to "millions of undocumented immigrants in the shadows," let's recognize what they, in fact, are. They are illegal aliens who broke our laws to enter our country. They did not follow our immigration laws by applying for citizenship as the many thousands who are waiting in line have done. They have no right to be here and should not receive special treatment.
Your editors opt to ignore the Constitution, which does not give the president the power to act in direct contravention of our laws.
As the liberal media constantly states that our immigration system is broken, I wonder how it worked so well for years. Could it be that it is not the system that is broken but the enforcement of our laws? We have always been a nation of laws. Apparently, this no longer holds true.
Obama is a community organizer from Chicago who got elected twice by an uniformed electorate. Hope and change. He has never had experience in the private sector and is surrounded by advisers who share this background.
Sadly, the rest of us have to pay for the ignorance of those who voted for him.
Mike Lyons, Apollo Beach
Install spike strips on exit ramps Sept. 10, letter
Unreasonable expense
Spike strips — really? At what cost to taxpayers? The letter correctly pointed out that they wouldn't even have had an effect on the latest wrong-way crash — just like seat belts won't save people who don't wear them. "If it saves just one person" isn't enough reason to spend millions on spikes for every Florida exit ramp. It would probably be more beneficial if people would just turn off their cellphones and pay attention while driving.
Peter Ford, St. Petersburg
Charter schools squander tax dollars Sept. 9, John Romano column
Charter questions
There are two things I have never understood about our legislators' rapt devotion to charter schools. First, if the alternative curriculum and teaching styles of charter schools are so much better for student achievement, why aren't all public schools given the leeway to perform this way? Second, why are the high-stakes test scores and letter grades of charter schools not given the same attention as the public schools?
Stephen Micklo, Clearwater
Attack by Great Dane leaves 6-year-old with face, neck injuries | Sept. 9
How to handle a dog attack
In this situation, you must never attempt to pull the animal off the person; that will only tear the flesh. The first thing to do is grab a handful of loose flesh behind the dog's neck and hold tight. With the other hand, reach for the dog's windpipe and squeeze hard. The dog's jaws will pop open and the victim can be removed. This is the method I learned as a dog handler in the Air Force. It works.
John Waitman, Palm Harbor