Don’t let the arts die in St. Pete | Column, March 1

Thank you very much to guest columnist Dexter Fabian for his recent insightful comments on the status of the arts in St. Pete. I am the president of the board for the Francis Wilson Playhouse in Clearwater, and while his comments were directed at St. Pete, they could have easily been describing Clearwater.

Our wonderful community theater, now in its 96th season, is facing the same challenges as those described in the column. Our board, employees, and volunteers are working hard to strengthen our place in the community we have served for almost a century, so we can continue for another century. The cuts in government funding in support of the arts are hurting everyone, and sadly, local governments that do not recognize the value the arts bring not only to their residents, but to the local economy can be seen all around us.

Building more luxury condominiums does nothing to enhance the lives of those who rely on non-profit organizations like affordable community theaters for enrichment. The items listed in Fabian’s “What can we do” recommendations are right on target: Go see a show and bring friends, donate, volunteer, invest in your community’s future. Do not let the arts die. Keep St. Pete’s (and Clearwater’s) soul alive!

Lee Catalfomo, Clearwater

Florida teachers plan to wear black today. Here’s why | March 2

Florida does not have a teacher shortage. Florida has a compensation shortage.

We expand mandates, increase reporting requirements, raise standards, and publicly criticize outcomes. Teachers manage larger classes, escalating behavior issues and constant paperwork. Yet we pay them at levels that are financially unsustainable in one of the fastest-rising cost-of-living states in the nation. You cannot demand premium performance while paying discount wages.

Florida ranks near the bottom nationally in average teacher pay. More than 30% of teachers statewide have fewer than four years of experience, and uncertified or out-of-field hires have nearly doubled in five years — clear indicators of retention failure tied to compensation.

In 2020, starting teacher pay was raised to $47,500. Adjusted for roughly 24% cumulative inflation since then, that equals nearly $59,000 today. But many new teachers earn far below that inflation-adjusted benchmark while housing, insurance, and property costs surge.

Meanwhile, state budgets consistently fund corporate incentives, favored initiatives and administrative growth. Even within education, bureaucracy expands while classroom teachers stretch every dollar.

This is not complicated. It is math. If Florida expects higher standards and stronger outcomes, compensation must match expectations. Dedication is not a substitute for sustainable pay.

Horace Webster, Tallahassee

How will the Rays use Hillsborough College’s land for a stadium? | Feb. 20

A short parable:

Recently, my neighbor from across the street knocked on my door and said he had a proposition for me. I invited him in, and he proceeded to tell me he thought our beautiful backyard needed some enhancements, such as a gazebo. It could be used for fireside get-togethers and some music. He said he would be willing to cover 50% of the gazebo’s cost. As far as the other 50%, he mentioned my rich uncle, who could be tapped, and some other relatives, and my kids could do a lemonade stand, too.

He said he and his family would be using the gazebo for about half of the year, but the rest of the time would be ours.

After I got over my jaw-dropping astonishment, I politely invited my neighbor to build a gazebo in his own backyard and put up 100% of the financing if he thought our neighborhood needed a new gazebo so badly,

Then I invited my neighbor to consider the newly refurbished gazebo already in his own backyard, the one that had been badly damaged by a hurricane. The fix-up of that structure seems to have gone quite well, restoring it to its pre-hurricane perfection.

Then I politely asked him to go back home and reconsider his values.

John J. Paulhus, Sun City Center

Big counties pitted vs. small in tax fight | Column, March 1

After reading today’s edition of the Tampa Bay Times, I felt compelled to comment — not only on Viewpoints Editor Graham Brink’s thoughtful piece, “Big counties pitted vs. small in tax fight,” but also on the buffet of other headlines competing for our collective blood pressure.

We have the U.S. and Israel attacking Iran (because that has never escalated anything before), breathless coverage of Skydance Media’s rise to overtake Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. (nothing says “free market” like consolidation), and renewed war powers debates — as if President Donald Trump has ever been one to wait around for congressional permission. And credit where it’s due: Even columnist Mary Anna Mancuso managed an opinion I can support — cursive writing should return to schools. We may need it to properly sign away our tax dollars.

Which brings me to Brink’s column. He is absolutely right. Large counties are once again cast as villains for daring to generate revenue, while smaller counties object to funding formulas that somehow keep their lights on. This is hardly new for the Republican Party’s MAGA wing. Voting against one’s own fiscal interests has become less a quirk and more a governing philosophy. If denying benefits to people or businesses they dislike means going without themselves, so be it. Principle over potholes. Across the country, blue regions subsidize red ones — a reality inconvenient enough to require selective amnesia. But consistency has never been the point. Outrage is.

David Burg, Tampa

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