Iorio sparked nonprofit's move | Jan. 8
Mentor program poised to grow
There has never been a more exciting time for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay. Not only is January National Mentoring Month, it's also the kickoff to our "Bridge the Bay" campaign, as Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pinellas County Inc. and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay Inc. celebrate our Jan. 1 merger.
The goal of this merger is simple: to serve more youth with a big brother or big sister in our seven-county region: Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk, Pasco, Hernando, Citrus and Sumter. We are ready for volunteers to step forward and experience the satisfaction of mentoring a child and seeing the results of their work firsthand over the next several months.
Last year, we provided 3,100 children in our region with a quality, one-to-one, professionally supported mentoring relationship. Thanks to this merger, we are positioned to increase that number to over 3,500 in 2015, and already have approximately 1,000 youth waiting for their big brother or big sister to step forward to volunteer.
We are also excited that Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Inc., our national organization, is relocating its headquarters to Tampa. Pam Iorio launched the Mayor's Mentoring Program through our local agency during her tenure as mayor of Tampa. Now she is national CEO for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, and we look forward to collaborating with her once again in her new role.
Throughout these exciting times, there is one constant: We wouldn't be able to do what we do without the passion and commitment of our thousands of volunteers and donors. Thank you.
Stephen A. Koch, president, BBBS Tampa Bay, Tampa
Gunmen killed in Paris raids | Jan. 10
Political power play
Radical Islamists are causing pain and suffering for millions as they pursue a violent agenda of power and control. They have a hostile interpretation of Islam that parallels a hostile interpretation of Christianity that flourished for hundreds of years during the Dark Ages.
Popes and kings decreed that anyone not adhering to their particular interpretation of the Bible was guilty of blasphemy and must be put to death. The result was a number of inquisitions that killed millions of Jews, Muslims, Protestant Christians and other groups that would not repent and convert.
The premise that religion justifies terrorism is really about political power and control. Nothing in either the Koran or New Testament of the Bible demands any hostile action against those who mock or criticize the religion. It is intolerant and control-obsessed clergy and despots who promote these views to their followers.
The ray of hope in this tragic situation is that concerted and sustained effort by those who value democracy and freedom, and who have a loving, forgiving and tolerant interpretation of their religion can change attitudes over time.
Robert H. More, Riverview
Scott's inaugural focus: jobs | Jan. 8
Too many left behind
In Gov. Rick Scott's inaugural speech, he spoke of the "incredible journey" Florida is going to take. Most assume this journey will be a continuation of the journey he took in his first term: cut taxes and regulations for special interests and keep trying to lure companies from Democratic states by giving them enough money to move to Florida.
A United Way of Florida report released in November found that 45 percent of all households in Florida are struggling to make ends meet. Why can't this incredible journey include those Floridians? Why can't this incredible journey include the 800,000 uninsured Floridians being denied Medicaid expansion?
Tom Meyers, Tampa
Obama to propose free 2-year college education | Jan. 9
Obama's freebies aren't free
The traveling show known as the Barack Obama White House has another hit on its hands. He wowed his audience with the announcement of two years of community college for "free." How does he do it? Easy: He does it with hard-earned tax money from someone else.
Free is when you or I, out of the kindness of our hearts, give goods and/or services to someone in need. When the government gives away anything, it is taking it from someone else. Rent subsidies, food stamps, welfare checks, tax credits (tax refunds given to people who never even paid taxes) are all taken from working people's taxes. Nothing free here.
The rich and the big corporations — demonized as greedy — pay 90 percent of the taxes eventually given to others, not as charity, but as government demands. The decreasing percentage of eligible workers who actually work have to support everything that is portrayed as our wonderful government "freebies." There is no free lunch.
Don Niemann, Seminole
Without a raise for years | Jan. 8, letter
Poor pay for substitutes
The substitute teachers in Pasco County should consider themselves lucky. They make $5 more than Pinellas County substitutes. It's even worse for long-term subs. I make an extra $20 a day as a long-term sub. I am responsible for everything a classroom teacher does, including planning, teaching, assessing student progress, collecting data, posting report card grades, and attending staff meetings and parent conferences. I put in eight hours in school and two to three hours at home every day. All this for $90 a day before taxes. In Sarasota County, substitute teachers make twice as much as Pinellas substitutes: $127.50 per diem.
This week, Pinellas County schools posted four long-term substitute positions. They average one to three such requests every week. I am well qualified for many of these positions, having a master's degree, 34 years of teaching experience and certifications in K-6 and reading K-12. I will not take another long-term sub job in Pinellas County due to the extremely poor pay.
Jan Demers, Clearwater