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Readers
In regard to the Real Estate column "Entertaining Shoppers" [FT, December 1996], I agree with Bayside's Raul Tercilla that Florida can sustain many urban entertainment centers if "each can understand its marketing niche and focus on it."
I regret that developers are facing such "painful financial challenges," as the article says, and that their tenants must pay higher rents. I posit that "jaded shoppers," frustrated developers, loan officers and investors, and even consultants and analysts can find happiness and exciting, new, non-traditional, urban entertainment and shopping centers in a most traditional venue - Florida's downtowns, revitalized by Florida Main Street.
Just look at your examples of "the hottest type of retail real estate project." It's clear what they are seeking to emulate. But the real thing is cheaper to invest in and the rents are lower; the venue is authentic and unique - and paid for. For a pleasurable and educational experience, try: Downtown Dade City, Main Street Perry, DeLand, Quincy, Eustis, Stuart, Fort Pierce, Venice, Marianna, Winter Haven and the rest of the 47 Florida Main Street cities.
Bob Trescott
Florida Main Street Coordinator
Tallahassee
Big Sugar
In "Sugar Coating" [John Berry's Close-Up, December 1996], wording such as "Big Sugar" and maligning the sugar industry as an ugly "Big Business" is poor journalism.
For nearly 15 years, I have been working in south Florida and take a pro-environment stance on natural resource management. No debate; the environment is important. It is also important and I am pleased that a large agricultural area adjacent to the Everglades is complying to the strictest environmental standards in the world. To be fair, Big Sugar and Big Green (the environmental movement) are both big business, but how do they compare? Big Sugar generates taxes and economic stimulus, employs many, produces tangible products and is shrinking in size. Roughly 40,000 acres of sugarcane farmland will be used for treatment marches. Big Green uses large public tax funds, employs few, produces nothing and is growing in area. Public lands (federal, state and private) dominate 58% of south Florida (5,279,948 acres in a 12-county area). How much is needed for environmental purposes? How well can government maintain and sustain the quality of their current ownings?
Based on your editorial, close to $5 billion is being sought to improve, restore and enhance the south Florida environment. Imagine how $5 billion could enhance education and other social needs.
Rational balance is needed. This is not a one-take-all issue. Let's consider sustaining south Florida and the Everglades.
David L. Anderson, Professor
University of Florida
Everglades Research and Education Center
Belle Glade
Voters agreed that Sugar's fair share of Everglades restoration was not to exceed $322 million paid over 20 years. To Big Sugar, fairness means that price supports and import quotas will continue, keeping the cost of domestic sugar far above world market prices. Growers get subsidies so generous as to be termed egregious by the U.S. General Accounting Office. In 1992, $186 million was paid to the largest growers of cane sugar: The Fanjul family's Flo-Sun got $64 million while U.S. Sugar settled for $55 million.
But for the property owners in the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), fair share means a special Everglades Construction assessment of 0.1 mil has been attached to their tax bills. This was passed without referendum, is now in its third year and will probably go on forever.
The voters who defeated the sugar tax also ordained that polluters must pay. Sounds reasonable, but what about non-polluters? The SFWMD's budget and ad valorem tax rate are far higher than any other district in the state, mostly to pay for restoration projects for the Kissimmee River, Florida Bay, Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades. One may agree that all property owners are responsible for these costs, but what about the additional 0.1 mil Everglades Assessment? The assumption is that all property owners are polluters.
But consider the Upper Kissimmee Basin, the headwaters of the district's entire system. It delivers huge quantities of good water to the Kissimmee River for distribution downstream. The area needs its own ad valorem rate, and residents should not be forced to pay the 0.1 mil assessment, which is costing local taxpayers more than $2 million a year.
Sam Dower
St. Cloud
Not Entitled
In the December issue of Florida Trend, Peggy Smith commented on a John Berry column about entitlements [Close-Up, April 1996]. I take issue with her rationale and conclusions. Regarding the "Social Contract" (Social Security) with the American people, Social Security was designed as a supplement for retirees. It was never intended to be a 100% source of retirement income for persons who whistled past the graveyard for their working careers, without a thought about retirement. Social Security was not designed to support and prop up drunks, drug addicts and chronic problem children added to the mix of eager recipients by vote-buying, vested politicians whose only interests extended to the next election. The Great Society experiments cited by Ms. Smith gave us huge, rotting public housing failures, rife with crime, drugs and unemployment.
I take greatest issue with Ms. Smith in her conclusion that the Reagan/Bush tax cuts caused the growth of our great country's debt. On the contrary, there were more total receipts of tax dollars, due to increased economic opportunity, expansion and movement of capital, than at any prior time in our country's history. The growth in the national debt was caused by huge spending increases by the Democratically controlled Congress.
Ms. Smith speaks of the challenges for babyboomers to be parents, hold down jobs and pay a mortgage. But raising taxes and stagnating capital formation and job creation to punish successful individuals is not an answer, but a jealous reaction. Kids who wish to go to college can: Work (novel concept) for a portion of the expense; avail themselves of scholarships and grants for serious students; or get assistance from mom and dad in the form of home equity loans (interest fully deductible). Teach our children to be successful achievers, not excuse-making, jealous whiners. Our country should strive for equality of access and opportunity. There are no guarantees of success in these United States.
Kenneth P. Saundry Jr.
Melbourne
