U.N. global goals
Tampa helps to set world agenda
A little over a year ago, residents of Tampa answered a call from U.S. leaders and the United Nations to help shape a plan to address the world's biggest problems. This fall, many of our ideas were realized. With the benefit of an unprecedented consultation of U.S. citizens and communities — 50 across the country including Tampa — 193 world leaders came together at the U.N. General Assembly and committed to 17 global goals.
These goals are a road map to achieve three extraordinary things in the next 15 years: end extreme poverty; fight inequality and injustice; and fix climate change. The global goals are an ambitious set of targets for a world that's in need of ambitious solutions, and Tampa should be proud it played a leading role in arriving at them. From specific targets like hunger and poverty alleviation, to transparency in governance, access to safe drinking water and improved education, these goals are reflective of top American values. In fact, the goals reflect long-standing, bipartisan foreign policy and development priorities that Congress and Republican and Democratic administrations have championed.
The goals are not part of any legally binding treaty, and they are not U.S. law. Nonetheless, they are a call to action in the loudest possible terms, and the world will be watching to see how the United States leads.
Of course, Americans do not need to support or agree with every goal to appreciate the vital contribution these objectives can make. However, sustained U.S. leadership in supporting the goals will ensure that we can maximize American generosity by leveraging our resources and expertise with the private sector, governments, faith-based organizations and nonprofits to build a better and safer world for generations to come. In that, Tampa residents can feel true pride in ownership.
Mark Amen, Tampa
New platforms for music
Creators deserve fair share
Last week I met with Rep. Richard Nugent's office to encourage him to support the songwriters, performers and producers in our community. Specifically, I requested he co-sponsor the bipartisan Fair Play Fair Pay Act (HR 1733), which ensures that music creators receive fair compensation from those who earn billions of dollars selling our music.
While satellite radio and new digital music platforms like YouTube, Spotify and Pandora have increased access to music and allowed for the discovery of new artists, their business models undervalue music. Additionally, there's no performance right on radio. Radio stations pay nothing to creators for the product they put on the air, making it the only industry nationwide that doesn't pay to use copyrighted material for its own gain. Nearly worldwide, creators are paid when their music airs on the radio. In fact, the only countries besides the United States without a radio performance right are China, Iran and North Korea.
I've worked with music creators for 32 years to promote, market and package their recordings and themselves, and have seen the various ways we've been impacted. Changes in our industry have made making a living in music more challenging with every passing year. Those who are creating content and enriching the culture of millions of people are often struggling with how to protect their livelihood.
The Fair Play Fair Pay Act would level the playing field for all creators and allow us to be compensated fairly for the products we create — and that millions of Americans enjoy every day. I thank Rep. Nugent, R-Spring Hill, for his support and urge the Florida delegation to follow suit.
Regina Kelland, Board of Governors, Florida Chapter, the Recording Academy, Spring Hill
Nevada shuts down fantasy sports sites Oct. 16
What is Florida doing?
The state of Nevada has banned Fanduel.com and Draftkings.com from doing business there after determining that these are gambling sites that do not have a gaming license. Other states that have bans are Iowa, Louisiana, Montana and Washington state.
What is our state attorney general doing about enforcing the laws against gambling? I have written letters to her office but have received no response, not even acknowledgement of receipt.
Thomas Stuve, Wesley Chapel
Council urges sewer repair | Oct. 16
Repairs, not pet projects
Kudos to St. Petersburg City Council members Charlie Gerdes and Karl Nurse on recognizing the real and dangerous practice St. Petersburg engaged in by dumping raw sewage into Tampa Bay and Clam Bayou. Boca Ciega Bay and Gulfport Beach were closed to swimming on and off for two months.
This crisis presents a perfect opportunity to spend the BP money to help correct our pollution of the bays — not on some unrelated pet projects.
Bill Carroll, St. Petersburg
Rising waters
Under the mayor's spending plan, we can take the ferry, ride the bikes and use the USF marine research vessel to keep our feet dry from the next untreated wastewater dump.
Mike Walker, St. Petersburg
Democratic debate
Sanders shined
The clear winner in the Democratic debate was Bernie Sanders. Not only did he forcefully present his view of the problems facing America, he detailed how he would propose to fix and pay for them. Another clear indicator of his win is that all the other candidates altered their positions to harmonize with his more progressive policies.
Sanders knows that, in order to make significant change, millions more registered voters must make their votes count. Without them, big money will win again.
Kurt Steinmann, Belleair