The November 6 letters to the editor of The Gabber Newspaper.
Photo by June JohnsThe Gabber Newspaper‘s November 6 Letters to the EditorSmall Businesses
There’s a “mass blackout” campaign circulating, telling people not to shop or dine out during one of the most critical weeks of the year for small businesses.
A stunt like that wouldn’t punish corporations or hurt oligarchs. The big chains will be just fine. They have deep pockets, national marketing budgets, and endless backup plans. And if it gets really bad? They’ll just lay off people.
The ones who would take the hit? Local shops. Local restaurants. The family-run bakeries, the artists, the makers, the mom-and-pop cafés. A week without business could devastate them — some wouldn’t recover.
If you really care about our community, if you say you support local, don’t sit out. Show up. Shop local. Dine local. That’s how we protect the heart of our neighborhoods.
—Ester Venouziou
Editor’s note: Ester Venouziou freelances for The Gabber Newspaper.
Read the Oct. 23 Letters to the Editor.SNAP Benefits
As our nation continues to endure a government shutdown, it is imperative to recognize the devastating impact this crisis will have on our most vulnerable citizens, older adults who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to meet basic nutritional needs.
In the region served by the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas — the Area Agency on Aging and Aging & Disability Resource Center for Pasco and Pinellas Counties — more than 39,000 households with individuals aged 60 and older currently receive SNAP benefits. These benefits are not luxuries — they are lifelines.
In Pinellas County alone, 24,172 senior households depend on SNAP to put food on the table. In Pasco County, 15,283 senior households are affected. These numbers reflect real people—our neighbors, parents, grandparents—who are now at risk of going hungry.
As of Nov. 1, due to the government shutdown, these households will cease receiving their SNAP benefits, leaving thousands of older adults in our region without access to the food they need. This is not just a policy issue — it’s a moral one. We must urge our elected officials to prioritize the well-being of older Floridians and ensure that SNAP remains fully funded and uninterrupted.
In the meantime, community support is more critical than ever. If you would like to help older adults in our region through this crisis, please consider donating to Meals for Hungry Seniors, a program that provides nutritious meals to those in need. Visit agingcarefl.org to make a contribution.
Our seniors deserve better.
—Ann Marie Winter, St. Petersburg
Editor’s note: We ask for all letters to the editor to remain less than 250 words. Due to this, we have capped this letter at 250 words.
About Letters to the Editor
We want your letters! The Gabber Newspaper encourages letters (one per person, per month). Include your real name and city. Please keep it short – <250 words. We may edit letters for content, clarity, and length. We don’t print letters that incite violence or include attacks on private citizens. The Gabber Newspaper also doesn’t print letters that intentionally mislead people. Letters may appear online and/or in print. We may print comments that appear on The Gabber Newspaper’s website and social media. Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views of The Gabber Newspaper owners, advertisers, or staff. Send letters to news@thegabber.com or 2908-B Beach Blvd. S., Gulfport, FL, 33707.
Looking for more things to do in St. Petersburg, Gulfport, and the beaches? Check out The Gabber Newspaper’s full calendar of events.For more news, subscribe to our weekly newsletters. Make thegabber.com your homepage to stay up-to-date on all the news happening in Gulfport, South Pinellas, and the Beaches.The Gabber Newspaper? We Go There
In 1968, our founder, George Brann, started The Gabber Newspaper, then called the Gulfport Gabber, to hold Gulfport City Council accountable. Read more of our city council coverage, and learn about our policies on reporting, fact-checking, and funding.
Your donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. The Florida Community News Fund is a program administered by the Florida Press Foundation, tax ID #59-2449377, a 501 (C) (3) organization. All donations made at this link go to The Gabber Newspaper through the Florida Press Association, a 501(c)(3).
Please support local news and The Gabber Newspaper!