Sorry Tampa, \u2018mixed use\u2019 doesn\u2019t reverse the poor economics of sports venues | Column, April 26<\/p>\n
The guest columnist\u2019s points are well researched, valid and compelling. Yet somehow, they miss the point.<\/p>\n
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The decision of whether or not to contribute public funds to a sports stadium is not an algebraic equation. Focusing only on the dollars misses much of the significance of the decision.<\/p>\n
The value of a major sports franchise to a metropolitan area cannot easily be quantified. Show me the city that has lost a major sports franchise and, years later, thinks it has been a civic benefit, and I\u2019m all ears.<\/p>\n
No other form of business carries the civic clout of a professional sports franchise among the four major team sports in America. Even within this relatively small group, I submit that Major League Baseball reigns supreme. Sure, the NFL is the most popular and valuable. But if you examine the cities that host any of the four major professional sports, baseball emerges as clearly the most elite.<\/p>\n
Steve Allison, Tampa<\/p>\n
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High school seniors weigh in on AI\u2019s future | April 4<\/p>\n
High schooler Rohan Morgan has stated the most articulate piece that I have read on AI. He was specific in stating the pros and cons of using this tool. It is a tool to be used carefully. I appreciate this young man\u2019s perspective. I think he has a bright future ahead. Thank you, Tampa Bay Times, for highlighting and rewarding these students.<\/p>\n
Rita Nelson, Hudson<\/p>\n
Africa\u2019s cellphone towers are turning to solar as diesel costs surge due to Iran war | May 3<\/p>\n
If African nations can run cellular towers on solar, why can\u2019t we do the same here? Surely less reliance on the electric grid would ensure more reliable coverage in times of weather incidents, to say nothing of reducing risk in terms of cyberattacks against the grid.<\/p>\n
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Willi Rudowsky, St. Petersburg<\/p>\n
Florida finally frees churches to start schools without burdensome rules | Column, May 1<\/p>\n
Pastor Joshua C. Robertson makes an impassioned plea for using tax money to fund religious education. I\u2019d like to point out that he and his denomination are free to open any school they want, but they are not free to use my tax money to pay for it. Use your own money, like the rest of us.<\/p>\n
Jim Barrens, St. Petersburg<\/p>\n
Florida House rejects added school vaccine exemptions, AI rules | April 29<\/p>\n
As a parent of three fully vaccinated boys, now grown men, I remain deeply grateful for preventive healthcare that supported their healthy growth and development. Today, each contributes meaningfully to society: one is an engineer, one a photojournalist, and one serves as a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. Their outcomes reflect not only individual effort but also the foundational protection offered by immunization.<\/p>\n
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Vaccine\u2011preventable diseases can significantly impair childhood growth through decreased food intake during illness, reduced nutrient absorption, direct nutrient losses, and increased metabolic demands as the body diverts energy from growth to fighting infection. For example, rotavirus causes severe dehydrating diarrhea, and recurrent infections are associated with delayed nutritional recovery. Serious infections such as bacterial meningitis and encephalitis may lead to seizures, hearing loss, and an increased risk of an IQ below 70.<\/p>\n
The benefits of vaccination extend beyond physical health. In India, fully vaccinated children scored 4 to 6 percentage points higher in reading, writing, and mathematics than unvaccinated peers, representing relative gains of 6% to 12%. The American Academy of Pediatrics underscores that school immunization requirements help create safe learning environments that support attendance and social development. Ultimately, vaccination promotes long\u2011term educational attainment, productivity and economic stability while preventing the financial devastation associated with Vaccine\u2011preventable diseases.<\/p>\n
Frances L Gilliland, DNP, CPNP-AC\/PC, Tarpon Springs<\/p>\n
U.S. destroys 7 Iranian boats in the Strait of Hormuz | May 5<\/p>\n
Political la la land<\/p>\n
In a March 22 appearance on Fox News, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., compared taking Kharg Island in Iran to the Battle of Iwo Jima, saying, \u201cWe did Iwo Jima, we can do this \u2014 my money is always on the Marines.\u201d<\/p>\n
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What he failed to mention is the true cost of Iwo Jima: 6,821 American service members killed and more than 19,000 wounded. That\u2019s not just history \u2014 it\u2019s a reminder of the human price of war. Those numbers represent real people, real families, and lives forever changed.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s easy for politicians to invoke past victories, but far harder to acknowledge the sacrifices behind them. Many Americans \u2014 especially young families \u2014 may be the ones who ultimately bear the burden if history repeats itself in another prolonged conflict, as it did during the Vietnam War.<\/p>\n
President Donald Trump entered this situation without a clear plan and still lacks a defined path forward. Statements like Graham\u2019s strike some as detached from the reality faced by those who serve.<\/p>\n
As voters head to the polls this fall, it\u2019s worth reflecting on what leadership, accountability, and care for American families truly mean \u2014 and choosing representatives who align with those values.<\/p>\n
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Joseph Lipa, Seminole<\/p>\n
As Tampa enters another election cycle, the debate over growth is no longer just about zoning maps or development incentives. It\u2019s about whether residents\u2019 lived experience is given equal weight in shaping the city\u2019s future. For decades, development interests and the political networks around them have driven much of Tampa\u2019s expansion. That momentum has brought investment, but it has also pushed our infrastructure to its limits.<\/p>\n
As a Tampa resident since 1975 and a long-time neighborhood and infrastructure advocate, I\u2019ve watched the same concerns surface year after year: sidewalks that disappear mid-block, traffic that overwhelms neighborhood streets, parking pressures in older communities, and stormwater systems that fail during routine rainstorms. These issues are not abstract; they affect safety, mobility, and quality of life across South Tampa, Seminole Heights, Tampa Heights, Hyde Park, Davis Islands, West Tampa, and Beach Park.<\/p>\n
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In my work as a Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator, I\u2019ve learned that durable solutions come from balancing competing interests, not ignoring one side of the table. Tampa needs that same balance now. As major candidates present their visions, voters deserve clarity on how each intends to align growth with the lived realities of our neighborhoods.<\/p>\n
Tom Feaster, Tampa<\/p>\n
\u2022 \u2022 \u2022<\/p>\n