Letters to the editor for December 18, 2010

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Letters to the editor for December 18, 2010

Opinions

Friday, 17 December 2010 09:41

Problems
To the editor:
The new reports came out the other day showing that one out of every four families in Osceola County has to use food stamps. That’s right, approximately 25 percent of the population.

The unemployment numbers came out showing that the unemployment rate in our county has dropped to 12 percent. This is an erroneous number. The real numbers are approximately 20 percent, if not higher, if you factor in the under-employed and the people who have exhausted their benefits. This County Commission is trying to save us a lot of money by firing Jo Thacker and Kathy Wall. They claim that it would save us about $350,000 per year.
The problem I have with the firing of these two ladies is that they were the ones who kept us on the straight and narrow path. They were actually protecting us. In my opinion, their firing was uncalled for. This commission just doesn’t get it. These firings, in my opinion, were personal. Personality problems or conflicts don’t belong in county business.
Look at the swampland called Tohoqua ($9.2 million and additional $3 million for upkeep). What about the new protocol office that will cost us more than what meets the eye? The choo-choo to nowhere is still on the table. The only place for that at this time is in the scrapyard. This commission doesn’t have a budget problem, it has a spending problem. Stop throwing our money away on useless projects.
Why doesn’t this commission look at the wasteful salaries that we have in the Economic Development Office? What a great place to start cutting. What has this department done in the last few years? The answer to that is, “Nothing.” What business or companies have they brought into our county? The answer is right outside your homes. Look at all the businesses that continue to close. Any and all departments should be productive.
These commissioners sit on the fourth floor as part-timers and collect a full-time salary and still continue to work their regular jobs. How many of us have that luxury? It wouldn’t be bad if they earned their keep, but they don’t! They are supposed to be working for us. Unfortunately, some of these commissioners are only concerned about their district, not for the whole county. So, with all the useless land purchases that they’ve voted for, who do they really work for?
I just hate being redundant, but we have the highest foreclosure rate in the state. We have families living in the streets. I can’t bear to see children not having a roof over their heads. Yet, this commission has blinders on and only see what they want. Our cry goes out to deaf ears.
Look at our schools. The free lunch program is growing on a daily basis. Right now, 80 percent of our children attending schools are on the free lunch program.
We talk about a lame duck Congress, but that’s only for a month. We have a lame duck commission.
Tony Ferentinos
Candidate for County Commission
District 2 Kissimmee

Healthier kids
To the editor:
This week, President Obama signed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act — the first major bipartisan bill enacted since the election by a deeply polarized congress. The act will replace junk food in school lunches and vending machines with more healthful options.
Several jurisdictions have taken similar action. The Hawaii, California, New York and Florida legislatures passed resolutions recommending vegan school options. Last year, the Baltimore city public school system became the first in the nation to offer its 80,000 students a weekly meat-free lunch. According to the School Nutrition Association, 65 percent of U.S. schools now offer vegetarian lunch options.
In the past, the United States Department of Agriculture has used the National School Lunch Program as a dumping ground for surplus meat and dairy commodities. Not surprisingly, 90 percent of American children consume excessive amounts of fat and only 15 percent eat the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables. These early dietary flaws become lifelong addictions, raising the risk of diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
Those who care about our children’s health should demand healthful, plant-based school meals, snacks and vending machine items. Additional information is available at healthyschoollunches.org, choiceusa.net and schoolnutrition.org.
Earl Prake
Kissimmee