Responsible management is so much more than creating public policy that throws tax revenues at experimental ideas. Wise stewardship of the environment should also concern itself with the impact on people, one of earth’s most valuable resources.

Widening sidewalks is a nice gesture, but removing lanes from Main Street and University Avenue will create many problems and safety issues. Decreasing traffic flow and reinforcing the use of public transportation seem like good ideas, except where are the options for drivers who need to get to work using these major arteries? The commissioners’ plans neglect to compensate for displaced traffic that results from lowering road capacity. The result: greater traffic congestion with longer commute times and higher carbon emissions. Drivers cutting through residential areas will create safety issues for children walking and riding bicycles to school.

Last year, Gainesville Regional Utilities’ profits were down as residents consumed less power. Rather than tightening up on their own wasteful practices commissioners compensated by voting in a rate increase to balance the city budget. I propose that Gainesville residents should be rewarded for conserving energy and our leaders need to search for alternate means to balance the city budget.

A legitimate environmental issue is the Koppers Superfund site which has been largely ignored by our Commissioners for decades. Citizen outrage has reached an all time high. Even though all of our Commissioners have held office for years they recently have decided to express “frustration” with how long the clean up process is taking.

Where is the leadership on environmental issues?

Robert Krames
Gainesville

As a part owner of GRU I feel that I am entitled to have a few additional line items added to my monthly bill/statement. How much of the money I am paying will result in profit for the company, and how much of that profit is transferred to the city general fund. As a part owner of this large business I think it is only fair for me to be kept in the loop.

On November 2^nd the Gainesville Sun ran another letter from a Gainesville resident who felt that he did not need to be kept in the loop(2). Why anyone would feel the unction to write a letter that basically says they don’t want to know how their personal money is being spent is beyond my ability to comprehend, but I digress… If this person or anyone else does not wish to know how GRU is spending their money, they can easily choose to not look at those line items on their statement.

I hope that you agree with me that GRU should keep its investors more in the loop on how it is spending your capitol and you will continue to urge your Commissioners and Mayor in this direction. [Click here for their contact info]

I would like to thank Ron Cunningham, for quickly running my rebuttal letter on November 5^th(3).

–Robert Krames
Gainesville Resident

Sources:

(1)   http://www.gainesville.com/article/20091030/OPINION02/910299933/-1/OPINION?Title=Letters-to-the-Editor-Oct-30

(2)   http://www.gainesville.com/article/20091102/OPINION02/910309868/-1/OPINION?Title=Letters-to-the-Editor-Nov-2

(3)   http://www.gainesville.com/article/20091105/OPINION02/911049912/-1/OPINION?Title=Letters-to-the-Editor-Nov-5