Thanks to the helpers

Lightning honors electric company workers in the first game delayed by the hurricane | October 15

Congratulations to the Tampa Bay Lightning for honoring the Vancouver, Canada Repair Team in the October 15 game. We at Leighton Drive in the Egypt Lake area have our own team to thank. My neighbor’s 50 foot oak tree fell, thankfully missing houses or cars, but blocking our cul-de-sac. A Hillsborough County sheriff’s deputy was here Saturday morning after the storm and said he had a team of people who would cut down the tree. I thought he was referring to a trusty team of vagabond landscapers traveling around looking for business. But within a half hour, a team of five Brevard County sheriff’s deputies from the marine and canine divisions showed up. Within half an hour they cleared the street and refused the few hundred dollars we had raised for them. True heroes.

David Lubin, tampa

Do not support

The Times editorial board made no presidential recommendation. Here’s why. | Editorial, October 28

A sad and regrettable decision. He may regret not having publicly declared against fascism and in favor of press freedom when it mattered most.

Cameron Dilleychicago

It makes sense

The Times editorial board made no presidential recommendation. Here’s why. | Editorial, October 28

The explanation of how and why the editorial board makes recommendations was perfect. Their recommendations are always helpful when making voting decisions.

James GillespieSaint Petersburg

weak argument

The Times editorial board made no presidential recommendation. Here’s why. | Editorial, October 28

Sometimes bravery is saying the obvious, like “the emperor has no clothes” or endorsing an intelligent and moral presidential candidate. Failure to do so is weakness, as evidenced by the Times editorial board’s feeble attempt to backtrack on a presidential recommendation when it is most needed. I never thought I would see a candidate openly promote the worst in us and receive support for doing so. This is not the country I grew up in and it is certainly not the one millions have died for.

If we all humiliate ourselves before fascism, then what is democracy for? When respected media have their voices silenced, what have we become? As I unsubscribe, I am saddened by these discoveries and hope that we, as a nation, have the courage to vote against hatred, intolerance and the renunciation of freedoms. God help us all on November 5th and beyond.

Carolyn Faysecurity port

show some courage

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

I agree that the Editorial Board’s recommendations for candidates in local-level elections are more valuable to readers than those for national-level offices. I also understand that you have to make difficult decisions in the face of dwindling resources. But we’re talking about two races that are also incredibly consequential: the presidency and the United States Senate.

Two of the candidates, former President Donald Trump and Senator Rick Scott, are well-known public figures and presumably well vetted by their editorial board in previous election cycles. That leaves two candidates, Kamala Harris and Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, who would require more of his time. You did your readers a disservice by not doing that work.

Sherman ZentGulf

Renew the IRS

Hillsborough needs to renew the Community Investment Tax. Here’s why | Column, October 25

As young professionals, we have high expectations about 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, that was the draw to the Tampa Bay community and the reason we continue to stay here.

Renewing the Community Investment Tax means continued funding for vital projects that all Hillsborough County residents benefit from. These are not just abstract concepts; They directly impact our daily lives. These projects include recreational and entertainment investments 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.

The CIT renewal also includes an investment in transportation infrastructure improvements to help relieve congestion and promote intersection safety, which means less travel time and more time for personal and professional growth.

The renewal of this critical funding stream that we all benefit from is just that: a renewal of an existing half-percent sales tax. Voting to renew the CWI is more than a powerful statement of our commitment to a prosperous and sustainable future. It is an opportunity to shape the landscape in which we live and work. Your vote matters. Let’s use it to invest in a better tomorrow by voting to renew the ISR.

Chris Yanes, tampa

The writer is an associate at Baker Barrios and vice president of Tampa Bay Emerging Leaders.

not so fast

Hillsborough needs to renew the Community Investment Tax. Here’s why | Column, October 25

The recent op-ed by Hillsborough Sheriff Chad Chronister and County Commissioner Harry Cohen attempts to make a strong case for the benefit of the Community Investment Tax, mentioning that “…it is neither a new tax nor a tax increase.” However, what the column didn’t mention was that the percentage of the tax that would go to the school district was reduced from 25% to 5% because some county commissioners had a fit of teenage rage after the school board had the temerity to to request a separate tax. referendum to increase the salary of school staff.

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

Tim WoodallValrico