Old bridge, new idea; Vero Beach traffic; trash issues; Cleveland Clinic; reef | Letters
Here's how Alma Lee Loy Bridge situation can be win-win
Finally, a consensus in a divided world: No one is happy about the plan to reconstruct the 17th Street (Alma Lee Loy) Bridge.
If you live south of the bridge, it’s going to mean years of inconvenience, and the increase in traffic on the Barber Bridge will affect everyone who lives on the island. There are also serious life safety issues and the loss of an evacuation route.
Someone said that building a new bridge would take two years, but reconstructing the existing could take 4½. Larry Reisman, in his July 7 column, called this a no-win situation.
Is it?
I have a suggestion, or maybe I’m just "dreaming in technicolor." Do build a new bridge?
It seems like there is nowhere to put a new one without demolishing the old, but after staring at Google Earth, it looks like that there could be a beautiful new curved bridge just north of the current bridge.
Don’t demolish the existing bridge. Re-purpose it as a linear parkway tied into the new Three Corners venue. It would be one of the great park spaces in Florida, and make Three Corners even more exciting.
This isn’t a new concept; it’s been done all over the world and the results are fabulous. And how about a restaurant at the top of the span? The views would be spectacular.
This may not be feasible, but it’s a direction that at least should be explored. Obviously, it will cost more, but the quality-of-life benefits the park would bring to the city are immeasurable. Can we step back and consider this option? I would hate to see it tabled because the Florida Department of Transportation has already signed a contract.
I bet Alma Lee Loy would be much happier to have a wonderful park named after her than a four-lane bridge.
Richard Bialosky, Vero Beach\
Historical preservation, planning projects make summer good in Indian River County
Here’s to finding some relief and gratitude amid the summer's heat, heavy humidity and too much rain.
Try reflecting on these new happenings to make the weather feel milder and seem better:
Two of my favorites you may have missed were the Sexton Ranch’s receiving its historic property marker, an event celebrated with barbeque and poetry, and the Jones Pier conservation area’s opening to the public in May.
The efforts made to “brand“ Waldo Sexton’s emblematic pioneer cattle farm as historic, as well as recognition of the much-diluted essence of the Jungle Trail’s mystique (that still lingered on at the Jones Pier), are two great successes that should make our summer sweating here seem less miserable.
Our Vero Beach community can likewise take pride in the informed early steps being put in place at the Three Corners project, as well as our downtown’s identity and streetscapes being carefully reconfigured by the best and brightest placemaking professionals in the world today.
Lucky us! Their unparalleled experience and recommendations are being met by an enthusiastic, balanced City Council ready to facilitate all of the best ideas. It's a rare time with local political anxiety and its deliberate drama productions blissfully absent. Nice! We could get used to this.
Let the good things, the right things, continue to happen and let the community here learn to trust again and enjoy the lasting results of these wisely chosen associations.
Lets savor this summer for all its worth.
Debra Anne Atwell, Vero Beach
History shows slowing State Road 60 traffic to hurt residential neighborhoods
My perspective on the Twin Pairs is as one who owns a business on 15th Avenue in the “downtown” area of Vero Beach. In addition, my home is located on Victory Boulevard, adjacent to Moody Park, which for many is an alternative roadway to the beach.
Let me make certain you understand what will happen if traffic becomes slowed in almost any manner by doing away with three lanes of traffic through “downtown.”
Before the current configuration, we had a steady stream coming from State Road 60 (20th Street), swinging over to Victory Boulevard and then hitting what becomes 23rd Street. 23rd Street is a fairly direct shot to the beachside. We get considerable traffic through this residential neighborhood. It's uncomfortable and dangerous to people walking in the neighborhood and using the park. I fear, with years of observation, there will be a marked change for the worse by slowing traffic on State Road 60.
Even without the comments regarding dangerous increases in traffic by diverting traffic through the McAnsh Park neighborhood, which is bad enough as it is, there is the real question of what “downtown” is trying to be protected. I would enjoy walking in the “downtown” I remember from 30 to 40 years ago, but that downtown is gone. And folks, sadly, it ain’t coming back.
Too often new residents will move into a town and bring with them all the great ideas from whence they come. They ignore the history of the town to which they move and make horrible mistakes based on their disregard of the knowledge of those who have been in the area for many years.
What those of us who have been around for a while know to be true is slowing traffic on this major thoroughfare is a very bad idea.
Chester Clem, Vero Beach
Beware: Vero Beach council has history of long-lasting bad decisions
Indian River County Administrator John Tikanich's comments regarding growth in the county should be required reading for all Vero Beach City Council members. The projected county population growth figures and the speed of the growth is staggering.
The study for reducing State Road 60 Twin Pairs lanes must give consideration to this unprecedented growth projection for our county. Reducing the number of travel lanes through town will affect not only downtown Vero Beach, but also all of the unincorporated areas adjoining Vero Beach. Those living outside of Vero will not have a vote in this decision, but they must be considered, as well as the welfare of the city.
Here are a few well-intended, but not so wise decisions by former council members:
1. The decision to purchase the Dodger complex without a long-term lease agreement with the Dodgers organization. I think the Dodgers pulled out two years later, leaving the city, county and citizens with tremendous debt.
2. The unwillingness/delay to execute the sale of Vero Beach's electric power even after a referendum vote to sell.
3. The costly agreement with the Orlando Utilities Commission to be part of a group of cities buying electric power from various providers. It cost something like $50 million for the city to exit this agreement to make the sale to Florida Power & Light Co.
4. The overpriced purchase of the boat storage building and adjoining property at the city marina, then saddling the marina with the debt, changing a former profit center to a financial liability.
5. Not addressing zoning and planning of the area around City Hall and the downtown area, resulting in being blindsided by a monstrous storage building on one of our busiest city streets.
These were all well intended by the council members at the time, but had long-term effects. Reducing the Twin Pairs lanes will have a different negative effect and will be with our community for a very long time.
Bob Grice, Vero Beach
Want to limit landfill size? Charge folks for waste they produce
While studying abroad this summer, I was able to visit Vauban, Germany. What caught my attention when I was walking around were the waste bins outside of the homes.
I decided to research how their waste management worked and I was surprised to find out how successful it has been. Since 1988, waste levels have been reduced by almost two-thirds. This is a huge achievement and is a result of multiple different policies.
Part of the reason the city was able to do this is through the variety of bins, including a composting bin and often separate recycle bins for things like paper and glass. However, there is also an important policy that is at work, but isn’t as obvious as the waste-sorting policy. It is known as the pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) system.
I think this PAYT system would be beneficial to bring to my hometown of Stuart. Currently, citizens can set out an unlimited amount of trash cans. This lets people throw away as much as they want without any repercussions. In addition, there is no financial incentive to put in the extra effort to recycle since citizens are not rewarded with reduced waste fees as they would be in a PAYT system.
This is an important benefit of the PAYT system. It not only encourages you to reduce your waste directly, but it also incentivizes recycling, since it decreases the amount of waste that goes into the trash can. Implementing a system like this means that citizens are confronted with the concept that processing waste costs money and that they must decide on whether they are willing to pay to produce the amount of waste they do currently. Or they can save money and therefore must take actions to reduce their waste.
Amanda Sills, Newberry, is a student at the University of Florida.
What do Cleveland Clinic, England's National Health Service have in common?
The July 16 edition of The New York Times featured a front-page analysis of the problems facing England's National Health Service as it celebrates its 75th anniversary. Here's a quote:
"Indeed, jaundiced observers say the National Health Service is in perpetual crisis. The problems are compounded by a breakdown in primary care which has made it all but impossible for many people to get an appointment with their family doctor. With a shortage of general practitioners and nowhere else to turn, the emergency room has become the first stop for millions of sick Britains".
Sound familiar?
Have you tried recently to get an appointment with a family care physician at Cleveland Clinic Hospital? I recently had a minor medical situation and tried to see my doctor. No appointment was available for more than two months. The doctor's helpful solution? Go to the emergency room.
And it's not just family care. My wife last week tried to make an appointment with her cardiologist, again at Cleveland Clinic. The next availability was in January, six months away!
England's health care system is run totally by the government, so bureaucracy, mismanagement and incompetence are to be expected. But why are we experiencing similar problems here at home, with a private entity that enjoys an enviable reputation? What's Cleveland Clinic's excuse?
Bob Hyde, Vero Beach
'Environmentalists' locally, worldwide, really helping planet?
Gee, it is amazing how many new Realtors have converged on Vero Beach. They really must be concerned about our future and well-being, right? Why else would they congregate here?
All this time, you have been recycling aluminum cans of all kinds. No more tossing them overboard from your boat. No more directing them to our ever-growing mountains of trash and household waste. This is the right thing to do. The generation of salts and oxides of aluminum in the ocean waters has certainly been derailed. Right?
However, the Fort PIerce Sportfishing Club has joined hands with Marine Cleanup Initiative to submerge a 127-foot aluminum-hulled vessel 15 miles off our shore. No problem, it will form the newest aluminum reef in our waters. Oh, no one labeled it an "aluminum reef"?
Pardon me. Stay calm. It should not be an immediate problem for us and the sea life, for at least the next couple of years. Maybe the next generation will extract it, anyway.
John Kerry is our voice and leading man in the universe's struggle against global warming. So serious and goal-driven in this matter is he. His worldwide private jet roamings confirm his dedication to this major calamity. Carbon footprint be ignored. His time is extremely valuable and cannot be wasted with commercial airline travel, as he must meet his tightly filled schedule.
Just look at the impact he has made on this issue so far, and in particular with China. Right?
Just a small look around at current goings-on. Maybe you are paying attention, too. Can't hurt. Right?
Ray Grochowski, Vero Beach
How is Marxism applicable to modern-day Democrats?
I am a retired professor of sociology. In that role, for many years, I taught both graduate and undergraduate courses on social theory.
One of the people covered was Karl Marx, a major figure in the history of social thought. I say all of this by way of preface to a question I wish to pose: Given the current characterization of Democrats as Marxists, cultural Marxists and communists, I'm honestly puzzled as to exactly what these things mean.
I know a lot of Democrats, and I don't think any of them believe these terms apply to them. But the terms are in vogue among political conservatives so, please, could someone explain in what ways they are applicable?
William Falk, Stuart
Why won't immigrant advocates carry American flags?
On July 3, your newspaper had a picture of a number of Mexican protesters opposing our so-called anti-immigration laws.
I assume they were Mexicans because they carried Mexican flags. Why weren't they at least carrying one American flag? After all, these immigrants like to come to the good, old United States and take our jobs, use our hospitals, educate their children.
They should at least carry one American flag. We are a very generous country. We give 1 million legal immigrants citizenship every year.
Tom Tomlinson, Palm City
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Vero Beach traffic, bridge; trash; Cleveland Clinic; Marxism | Letters
