Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog

From the AP, and found at TBO.com - Scientists abuzz about 7 new bug repellants: 

Florida researchers have identified seven possibilities for the next generation of mosquito repellant…

… some chemicals [repel] mosquitoes for as long as 73 days…

Wow - Seventy Three Days!!  The stuff we use seems to last about 20 minutes.  Here in Florida, mosquitos are a way of life.  This stuff could be quite useful.

Now if only they could begin work on Fire Ants, Love Bugs, and Alligator repellant.

Back in the day, E-Systems produced electronic components for the defense and space industry at 1501 72nd St. N. in St. Pete. During the 1960’s, chemicals from the processing were deliberately disposed of in shallow pits. Raytheon now owns that property, and chemicals now showing up in nearby groundwater are products or byproducts of the work done by E-Systems.

The contamination was originally discovered at the plant in the early 1990s, while workers were building the Pinellas Trail recreation path. Residents west-southwest of the Tyrone Square mall area didn’t learn about the contaminated groundwater beneath their homes, parks and playgrounds until March 2008 from news reports. Since then, tests have shown eight homes near the Raytheon plant have contaminated irrigation wells.

Raytheon wants to be known as a good neighbor.  In fact, check the Raytheon Ethics page:

At Raytheon, all of our business relationships with customers, shareholders, employees, suppliers and host communities must rest on a foundation of integrity and trust. Our success is dependent on each individual’s commitment to these enduring values and no success is worth the expense of compromising ethical behavior.

So I’m sure they were up front about possible problems at the plant in St. Pete.  Or maybe not:

Both Raytheon and the state knew about the pollution for years, but did not warn homeowners about a spreading plume of industrial waste under their homes.

But wait!  They DID tell someone - back in 1995!:

Raytheon said in a news release Tuesday that it communicated as early as 1995, the year it bought the property, with two nearby apartment complexes.

I’m sure those apartment managers got right on that. So then what happened? Nothing. Nothing until 2005, when the Department of Environmental Protection decided they should remind some folks of contamination.

The Department of Environmental Protection began sending out notices of contamination in 2005 to two residential complexes: Brandywine Apartments and Stone’s Throw Condominiums. The agency also notified the city, but no homeowners.

Apartment complexes sure have more responsibility than I would have guessed.  And again, I’m sure those apartment managers got right on that. In addition, it turns out that DEP knew something was going on a little earlier than ’05:

A handwritten document from an Aug. 12, 1999, meeting between Department of Environmental Protection and Raytheon officials makes reference to chemicals, including 1,4-Dioxane, moving offsite to the west-southwest. By 2001, the pollution problem had concerned a Florida Department of Environmental Protection staff member enough that he prepared a letter for the agency’s district director, Deborah Getzoff. The 2001 letter instructed Raytheon Network Centric Systems, owner of the plant at 1501 72nd St. N., to reassess the risk to the public and to notify neighbors with irrigation wells. It was never sent.

Wait – the solution is to make Raytheon double-check and tell us what they find? Or put another way, “Hey Fox, are all the hens ok?” But all of that is in the past. Thanks to your local newspapers, the story came out, and all will be fixed, right?

Maybe not.

The state expects to receive a final assessment report from Raytheon on the extent of the groundwater pollution by May 30. A cleanup plan is due 90 days after that.

That’s right - Even with Gov. Crist demanding some action from his DEP staff, the DEP is still counting on Raytheon to police themselves on this matter.

I don’t think groundwater is the only thing contaminated in this mess.

According to a study released last week by Allstate Insurance Co., the top 10 cities with the highest teen driving death rates were Tampa/St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Fla.; Orlando/Kissimmee, Fla.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Nashville, Tenn.; Birmingham, Ala.; Phoenix; Kansas City; Atlanta; Charlotte, N.C.; and Louisville, Ky.

That’s right, Tampa/St. Pete is number 1, with two other Florida metro area right behind.

In an editorial this morning, the Tampa Tribune says More Must Be Done To Prevent Teen Deaths Behind The Wheel:

Speeding was a factor in 27 percent of the fatal crashes involving teens in the Bay area, the report shows. Alcohol was a factor in 7 percent, while drug use was cited in 4 percent.

The biggest common denominator was the lack of seat belt use - cited in nearly 41 percent of fatal crashes. This is somewhat surprising, considering the state’s emphasis on seat belt safety, including the “Click It or Ticket” enforcement program and a three-year-old law mandating that drivers and occupants under 18 buckle up.

Officers have the power to stop a vehicle when occupants and drivers under 18 aren’t wearing seat belts - and for safety’s sake, they should do so. Perhaps enforcement will motivate young people to strap themselves in.

So they want cops to do more to help. But that’s not all.

Driver’s education requirements also need to be reevaluated. As it stands, a 15-year-old can obtain a learner’s permit and start driving under supervision - without ever taking a course that provides behind-the-wheel training. All a teenager must do is complete an online course, have proper identification and obtain a parent’s written consent.

…Some Bay area lawmakers, including state Sen. Victor Crist of Tampa, worked to make driver’s education courses - taught by professionals - mandatory this past legislative session, but were unsuccessful.

…Requiring teens to take full-fledged driver’s education programs could save lives. It’s that simple.

So they want schools to do more, too.

But what of the mothers and fathers of these teens? Do they have a role in driving lessons? Nope - they get a free pass so they can keep an eye on American Idol.

Counting on parents to teach their teens to drive, as state law encourages, may not be the best approach…

If a child dies behind the wheel, his or her parents are the ones who suffer most. You could say they have a vested interest in their teen’s driving habits, and should do all they can to show those kids the way.

Victor Crist and the Tribune want to give parents another place to point fingers, and another reason to be less interested in their children’s lives. This sort of thinking makes me wonder if they feel parents should bother with anything beyond conception.

Here’s a nicely written story about the stress and strain put on you when caring for your aging parents.

It seems that nothing could prepare you for this. A strong family, and perhaps a strong faith might help get you through it, but the writer sure sounds weary.

Reader Karan contacted us to let us know that Forbes Magazine says Tampa ranks #8 in best cities for clean water according to Forbes.  Most cities have high levels of some contaminants and low levels of most.  It sounds like the drinking water in Tampa Bay includes average numbers of all contaminants:

While this sunny spot came in eighth on our list, none of the individual contaminant levels examined were low enough to make it in the top 10. The Tampa-St. Petersburg- Clearwater area was only among the top 15 for its haloacetic acid and lead levels, and its bacteria level was well above average among the cities on our list.

Forbes.com found that the cleanest water can be found in Des Moines, Iowa, and Miami came in 4th cleanest.  Pittsburgh is 9th.

Here you go, TJ:

Last week we discussed Tampa Bay’s top ten problems, according to Wayne Garcia:

1. Suburban sprawl
2. Urban density (lacking)
3. Transportation
4. Environment (weak protections)
5. Living green
6. Diversity (racial, ethnic, class)
7. Professional sports (over-subsidized and over-idolized)
8. Media consolidation (lack of independent voices)
9. GLBT Rights
10. Save our young (with economic opportunity)

We asked if you thought the list was comprehensive, but Chaaalie suggested we add education, economics, taxes, and cost of living. Besides these being vague, I assume Garcia left them off his list since those are essentially statewide issues.

But we can certainly do our part here in Tampa Bay to bring about change, so I have added them, and combined a couple of the issues above in a new poll to find out where you think we ought to get started. Pick your top three issues that should be worked on FIRST:

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What makes a park a park?

As you know, Mayor Pam Iorio wants the area currently known as Curtis Hixon Park to be Tampa’s signature park. Iorio remains insistent in putting $15 Million into redesigning the already functioning green space.

And what do we get for $15 MILLION?

The city hired New York landscape architect Thomas Balsley to design the project.

“It’s been very carefully conceived to be a very active park,” Balsley said.

The park would be built in two phases. The first phase, which carries a $15 million price tag, would include features such as a visitors’ center, cafe kiosk, play area, dog run, fountain on Ashley and a shade trellis at a future pavilion building.

The second phase would include the glass towers, a mist fountain, the pavilion building, a garden and a restaurant. The second phase could cost an additional $5 million to $10 million.

Good grief.. why hire a guy from New York? How about giving a local guy the chance to make a signature piece? It’s easy to google tampa landscape architect. Allow a local firm to put this project on their resume, and perhaps the City of New York will one day hire a Tampa based firm.

And the 50 foot Glass Towers spelling out T.A.M.P.A? That alone will cost well over a half million. Seriously, where do you think you are?

Thankfully, some in City Council are not too impressed. Dingfelder even had a go-round with Pammy at a meeting. But Iorio was steadfast. She knows she has supporters, too.

In a Sunday Editorial ripping the City Council, the St. Pete Times says “There is no greater need downtown than a signature, functional park.” No greater need? Seriously? Not a grocery store? Not dependable mass transit? Not a single, specific vision?

And speaking of the Tampa Downtown Partnership, they chime in on their HiLife Tampa website:

Curtis Hixon Park: The City of Tampa has contracted with Thomas Balsley & Associates of New York City to redesign and develop Curtis Hixon Park into a true urban green space. Once completed the park will offer unique features that will draw people into it and connect to the Tampa Riverwalk.

Oh, come on… Do we really need another “destination” place downtown? How many things have to be built at public expense that are going to “draw people?” Remember, Downtown Tampa already draws thousands, we just want them to stay a little longer.

Downtown Tampa doesn’t need a “better” park. If you want to invigorate downtown, then the first step is to make better use of the existing amenities.

Curtis Hixon is already a nice open green space with views of the riverfront. Downtown residents already use Curtis Hixon as it is. The reason more people don’t use the park is because nothing happens there. Here’s an idea. Take some of this money, and FIX THE LIGHTS IN THE PARK. The park is downright scary after dark. Those thousands who visit the TBPAC at sundown are not going to go into the darkness of Curtis Hixon.

But that’s simply not good enough for Pammy.

You see, the Riverwalk is Pam’s Legacy. A $15 million redesigned Curtis Hixon will simply add to the extravagance of Pam’s Legacy.

I asked “What makes a park a park?” It is people, not fountains. People, not glass towers. People, not New York architecture. If you spend money on those things, people will continue to stay away in droves.

It’s time to put a stop to this nonsense. Even if downtown Tampa needs a “signature park,” it doesn’t need to be this spot, and it certainly doesn’t need to be done during this time of significant budget cutbacks.

Sticks of Fire reader Taylor sent this to us recently:

A group of Tampa residents headed by Mimi Conneely are pushing for a crosswalk at the north end of Bayshore. Currently there is no safe accommodation of foot, bike or wheelchair traffic to or from Davis Islands, leaving S.O.L. anybody without a car who needs to get to or from Tampa General Hospital, or any Davis Islands public or private amenity. Not to mention kids who live on Davis Islands and go to Gorrie, Wilson or Plant. Website is very preliminary for now, there is a petition going…

Actually, there is a footbridge to cross Bayshore, as part of the automobile bridge to DI. But then we heard from Mimi, who says that bridge is only accessible by stairs.

To Parents and Tax payers,

My name is Mimi Conneely, I have seen people in wheelchairs negotiating Bayshore to go from Davis Island to Publix and some who just want to wheel up and down Bayshore. There is no safe access from Publix to Bayshore or vise versa, until Howard. There is, however, an overpass for the ambulatory on the Davis Island bridge leaving the island.

We need support when we present to the Mayor. Please sign petition at, http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/bayshoreforall/

For more information, including pictures of light locations, go to www.bayshoreforall.com.

For pedestrians, just jump up those steps, scoot across the Bayshore, and head north. The walk from Tampa General to Publix is almost half a mile. But there is no way for wheelchair-bound folks to get up on that bridge; they must use crosswalks.

Going south of the DI bridges, the next crosswalk is the new one they installed at Howard Av., about two miles away, making a round trip better than 3.7 miles. So the obvious route is north. But in addition to the lack of crosswalk on Bayshore, there is no way to cross Platt without going all the way to Franklin. On the north side of Platt, there is no way to cross Ashley without going to Brorein. Yeah - it’s confusing, that’s why I made a map. You can clearly see the most direct wheelchair route is more than a mile, making a round trip 2.3 miles.

And don’t think this is just about shopping at Publix. From the residential side, wheelchair users must currently go at least 5 blocks out of the way just to get a good look at the bay.