Published: Friday, Oct. 23, 2009

Updated: Friday, Oct. 23, 2009

Kudos plus advice for city police

I want to say thank you to the Bradenton Police Department for the terrific response time that they make on reports and 911 calls.

However, I would feel a lot safer if there were more Spanish-speaking officers on the force to ensure proper facts are related by witnesses of Manatee’s growing Latino population.

Manatee Community College has the right Spanish course for everyone; so study to be safe for yourselves, as well as others.

Again, kudos for your excellence in response times.

Sophia J. Gibbons

Bradenton

Victims of red-light runners more important than fine

Bradenton Police Chief Michael Radzilowski, you have decided the red-light fines are too costly for the citizens to bear during these economic times.

Well, why don’t you go around the whole state and see if the people who have been injured in accidents caused by red-light runners agree with you?

While you are at it, you can ask if the families of the ones who died at the hands of red-light runners agree with you.

You said, “The purpose of issuing citations is to change the driver’s behavior in order to prevent accidents.” It should be obvious to everyone that status quo pertaining to red-light running has only encouraged more red-light running.

The time to increase penalties is long overdue. How do we know the red-light runner isn’t drunk or fleeing from a crime?

Here is a real “duh.” There are no citations issued if people don’t run red lights. No citation, no fine. People don’t get fined for running a green light.

If the fine is stiff enough, fewer people will run red lights, and that will give you and your officers more time to pursue what you consider important lawbreakers.

Chief, the lawbreakers are your concern, and the lawmakers are the concern of us civilians.

Mike Herman

Ellenton

ELC board: Consider firing director, find new attorney

An open letter to the board of the Early Learning Coalition:

In light of the information provided by the Bradenton Herald concerning ELC executive director Paul Sharff, you may want to consider exercising your right to terminate his contract with cause.

His actions have had an adverse effect on the reputation of the ELC, as I am sure that you have heard in the community.

You also may want to consider finding another attorney to represent the ELC in this matter and in the future.

While you have signed the waiver to allow your attorney to represent both you and Mr. Sharff, in light of these current developments, you may want to consider alternate representation, which will have the best interest of the ELC in mind rather than its other client.

The question which must be asked is how much did your current attorney know concerning what has recently transpired since you hired him and signed the waivers?

I would encourage you to exercise the ”with cause” termination clause in your agreement and to seek alternate legal counsel in order to help you determine the best course of action for ELC to take.

We look forward to hearing your deliberation of this matter in a publicly noticed board meeting soon.

Antone Drillon

Bradenton

McCain too decent for GOP; Obama deserves a chance

This letter is in reference to Mr. Mike McLeod’s opinion that “Sen. McCain has to go.” And I do agree with him.

Sen. McCain is too decent and too intelligent of a human being to belong to a political party that has trashed him for so long.

McCain is looking not only after the wellbeing of the United States but of this place called Earth.

Unfortunately, his ideals do not parallel the ideals of his political party, whose only purpose for existence is taking care of big business welfare.

In reference to the present administration being the worst administration ever, we are barely into the first year of it.

And although it’s going to take more than one presidential term to repair the damage done by the past administration, not only to the country but to the world, you and me and nobody else can deny that this present administration is made up of a higher quality of human beings and ideals.

The administration represents the great ideals of Presidents Carter, Clinton and Vice President Al Gore, while the past administration is represented by Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh.

Do you see the difference in the quality of human beings?

Let’s give it time and we shall see the body bag industry going bankrupt.

Grimaldo Urlich

Bradenton