Thanks to the helpers

Lightning honors power company workers as hurricane-delayed opening | October 15

Congratulations to the Tampa Bay Lightning for honoring the Vancouver, Canada repair team during the October 15 game. We on Leighton Drive in the Egypt Lake area have our own team to thank. My neighbor’s 50 foot oak tree fell, fortunately without houses or cars, but blocked our dead end. A Hillsborough County sheriff’s deputy was here the Saturday morning after the storm and said he had a crew of guys who would cut down the tree. I thought he was talking about a reliable crew of wandering landscapers traveling all over looking for business. But less than a half hour later, a five-person crew of Brevard County sheriff’s deputies from the marine and canine divisions arrived. Within half an hour they cleared the street and refused the few hundred dollars we had collected for them. Real heroes.

David Lubin, Tampa

Failure to approve

The Times editorial board did not make a presidential recommendation. Here’s why. | Editorial, October 28

A sad and sorry decision. You might regret not speaking out publicly against fascism and for press freedom when it mattered most.

Cameron DilleyChicago

It’s logical

The Times editorial board did not make a presidential recommendation. Here’s why. | Editorial, October 28

The explanation of how and why the editorial board makes recommendations was spot on. Your recommendations are always helpful in making voting decisions.

James GillespieSt. Petersburg

Weak argument

The Times editorial board did not make a presidential recommendation. Here’s why. | Editorial, October 28

Sometimes courage is stating the obvious, like “the emperor has no clothes” or supporting an intelligent, moral candidate for president. Failure to do so is a weakness, as evidenced by the Times editorial board’s feeble attempt to reverse a presidential recommendation when it is most needed. I never imagined seeing a candidate openly promoting the worst in us and being supported for doing so. This is not the country I grew up in and it is certainly not the one millions died for.

If we are all crawling under fascism, then what is the point of democracy? When respected media outlets have their voices silenced, what have we become? As I cancel my subscription, I am saddened by these realizations and hope that we, as a nation, will have the courage to vote against hatred, intolerance and the surrender of freedoms. May God help us all on November 5 and beyond.

Carolyn FayeSecurity port

Show a little courage

The Times editorial board did not make a presidential recommendation. Here’s why. | Editorial, October 28

I agree that the editorial board’s recommendations of candidates in local-level races are more valuable to readers than those of national-level offices. I also understand that you have to make difficult choices in the face of reduced resources. But we’re talking about two races that are also incredibly consequential: the presidency and the U.S. Senate.

Two of the candidates, former President Donald Trump and Senator Rick Scott, are well-known public figures and have likely been the subject of extensive investigations by your editorial board in previous election cycles. That leaves two candidates – Kamala Harris and Debbie Mucarsel-Powell – who would require more of your time. You have hurt your readers by not doing this work.

Sherman ZentGulfport

Renew the CIT

Hillsborough must renew the community investment tax. Here’s why | Chronicle, October 25

As young professionals, we have high expectations for the quality of life in our communities. We seek vibrant neighborhoods with access to parks, cultural amenities and safe public spaces, all of which contribute to a fulfilling lifestyle. For many of us, this is what attracted the Tampa Bay community and why we continue to stay here.

Renewing the Community Investment Levy means continued funding for vital projects that benefit all Hillsborough County residents. These are not just abstract concepts; they directly impact our daily lives. These projects include investments in recreation and entertainment throughout the county – from Apollo Beach to North Brandon, from Westshore to Carrollwood. It also includes projects that improve our public safety by investing in nine additional fire stations in parts of Hillsborough County, where our population has grown exponentially.

CIT renewal also includes an investment in transportation infrastructure improvements to help reduce congestion and promote safety at intersections, meaning less travel time and more time for personal and professional growth.

The renewal of this essential funding stream that we all benefit from is just that: the renewal of an existing 0.5% sales tax. Voting to renew the CIT is more than a powerful statement of our commitment to a prosperous and sustainable future. This is an opportunity to shape the landscape in which we live and work. Your vote counts. Let’s use it to invest in a better future by voting for the renewal of the CIT.

Chris Yanes, Tampa

The writer is a partner at Baker Barrios and vice president of Emerging Leaders of Tampa Bay.

Not so fast

Hillsborough must renew the community investment tax. Here’s why | Chronicle, October 25

The recent opinion piece from Hillsborough Sheriff Chad Chronister and County Commissioner Harry Cohen attempts to make a strong case for the community investment tax and mentions that it is “…not about a new tax or a tax increase. However, what the column fails to mention is that the percentage of the tax that would go to the school district was reduced from 25 percent to 5 percent because some county commissioners had a teenage meltdown after the board school had the temerity to ask for a separate tax. referendum to increase the salaries of school staff.

Voters should be aware of this “bait and switch” and vote no on the CIT and force the county commission to put the CIT questions on a future ballot with the same 25% for schools as approved by voters in 1996.

Tim WoodallValrico