Changes turning area into circus

We've been in Florida about a month of our three-month stay and we're enjoying the beach and the beautiful weather. I know Floridians think it's cold; but for a couple of old snowbirds, it's great.

We have also been reading the local papers. I think it's time to invite Carl Hiaasen and Dave Barry to move up from Miami (where things probably can't get any worse) and come to the Tampa Bay area. They would have endless material for their books and columns.

First you have your roundabout, a colossal joke if I ever saw one. Can't wait till spring break!

Then you have your city fathers, in their infinite wisdom, condemning existing buildings and giving taxpayer money to developers to destroy the north beach, one of the last beautiful public beaches where you are not hemmed in by high-rise condos.

Then you have this business about Coachman Park and the bluff. I see the same people who helped plan the monument to auto-body repair shops (the roundabout) is involved in that project, too. Perhaps we could build three roundabouts and ask Ringling to put on a circus.

Of course, maybe everyone will be scared off by the war between Bob Minton and the Scientologists. I wonder if anything could make downtown Clearwater more spooky.

And how about the guy in Dunedin who got permission to build a fence and then the powers-that-be decided they didn't like it, so they just changed the law?

Oh, I almost forgot! Next year, Super Bowl and Gasparilla at the same time!

So, come on up, Carl and Dave. There is endless madness -- pathetic but funny -- and the weather is great!

-- Pat Smith, Hector, N.Y.

http://www.sptimes.com/News/022200/NorthPinellas/Going_round_and_round.shtml