PUBLISHER
ROBERT A. VEDDER
PHONE: (941) 207-1000
8A
WEDNESDAY
JUNE 7, 2006
nwww venirceondnlipr com


Venice Gondolier Sun




OPINION


 EDITOR
 BOB MUDGE
 PHONE: (941) 207-1101
 FAX: (941) 484-8460
bmudge@venicegondolier.com


 OURVIl




When is a drought not a drought?


Question: When will Sarasota County get
 serious about cracking down on water-
 ing-restriction violators?
 Answer: When watering laws grow some
teeth.
 Everybody knows this spring has been an
exceedingly dry one; roughly 75 percent drier
than average. Until very recently, we had had
only about 2 inches of rain over three
months. And that apparently is the problem.
 Though paltry, 2 inches of rain over three
months doesn't "officially" qualify as a
drought.
 While the county's Web site threatens
repeat offenders with fines of up to $500, it
fails to mention one unfortunate fact: These
fines apply only during state-declared
droughts. If we're not in an "official" drought,
what's to stop the violators?
 Says County Administrator Jim Ley of the
current watering law: "It's toothless."


 The situation is serious. During this "non-
drought," wells across the county have dried
up to the point that the county water utility
has welcomed around 25 new customers -
each week.
 Sarasota County's toothless, once-a-week
restrictions are still in effect. New lawns and
plantings can be watered daily for 60 days.
No watering is allowed between 10 a.m. and
4 p.m. Addresses ending in even numbers
may water on Tuesdays and odd-number
addresses get Sunday.
 Speaking of Sunday, here's another prob-
lem we think deserves attention. And teeth.
 With so many workers off on the weekend,
particularly Sunday, the opportunity for
water use is obviously much higher as more
people are home to wash their cars, run extra
loads of laundry, hose down their decks,
lanais, driveways, sidewalks you name it.
 Factor in all those people watering their


lawns and gardens as well, and you've got
much heavier water use than you'd have on,
say, Thursday.
 Why not change the day?
 Horticulture consultant Mike Holsinger
recently told county commissioners chang-
ing Sunday to Thursday would make a huge
difference, pointing out the problem as an
issue of water pressure and a case of public
safety.
 Theresa Connor, the county general man-
ager for water resources planning, believes a
comprehensive public education program
ought to accompany the change, along with
a focused effort to foster drought-tolerant
landscaping.
 By the way, there are some exceptions to
the general once-a-week watering rules.
Flower beds, vegetable gardens and other
non-lawn areas may be irrigated as needed
using a hose with a shut-off nozzle.


 These areas may also be watered using so-
called micro-irrigation and other forms of
low-volume irrigation, on any day of the
week.
 For more information about watering
restrictions or to report watering violations,
contact the Sarasota County Call Center at
861-5000 and ask for Utilities Customer
Service.
 Remember, just because we're not in an
"official," state-declared drought doesn't
mean the current water restrictions are to be
ignored.
 In fact, we believe they must be obeyed, or
else.
 And let's not stop there. Until we get better
laws, give the restrictions sharper teeth.
 Change the classification of a drought.
 Pass a tougher ordinance.
 Mandate stricter fines.
 Enforce them!


A clean shave



for Hammett?


ED MARTIN
-COLUMNIST


 Of the several members of
city council, I cannot think of
one I think less likely to have a
real commitment to imple-
menting John Nolen's vision-
ary plan for Venice than Fred
Hammett.
 Hammett, endorsed by his
fellow city council members
to serve as mayor until No-
vember, is going to use the
period to consider a run for a
one-year term as mayor and
then, possibly, additional
three-year terms.
 In his recent speech on
Nolen and Venice's future,
sponsored by the Venice Area
Historical Society, architect
Charles D. Warren, suggested
that Venice would need "civic
activism" to preserve its
unique characteristics as the
prime example of Nolen's
vision and genius.
 Hammett did not take a
message about height away
from Warren's remarks, as he
told me. However, in a con-
versation with me after the
speech, Warren advised about
new growth, "Do it without
going up."
 Our citizen activists will
need to organize, grow in
numbers and become active
monitors of government, to
say nothing of voting, to pre-
serve the city from politicians
who lean toward growth on
every possible occasion.
Hammett appears to me to be
in that mold.
 Nolen's model is what
 made most of us move here
 after viewing the city, even
 though his broad vistas of
 beach and limited height
 buildings have been eroded
 by economic conditions that
 forced the original founders
 to sell.
 Earlier leaders have allow-
 ed the desecration of Nolen's
 plan by permitting high
 buildings along the gulf and
 the Intracoastal Waterway.
 Fortunately, the charm of the
 downtown business district,
 the preserved nearby homes
 from the '20s, and statelyWest
 Venice Avenue have been
 saved.
 'Libertarian'
 In a brief exchange with


me one day, Hammett de-
scribed himself as a libertari-
an. While libertarians express
belief in freedom for individ-
uals, they often see any gov-
ernment interference with
property rights, in some cases
even zoning, as unnecessarily
restrictive.
 Obviously, individuals dif-
fer in orientation within this
philosophy, and whether
Hammett actually belongs to
the Libertarian Party, a de-
servedly fringe group of about
200,000 out of 300 million
Americans, would be for him
to say.
 My recollections of his
actions as a planning com-
missioner and council mem-
ber do not include any signif-
icant moves to rein in devel-
opment, oppose height or the
like.
 I first discovered his name
among the maximum ($500)
contributors to the develop-
ment-dominated political
action committee, Citizens
for Quality Government.
There in the midst of other
top donors, all of whom have
wanted various development
approvals or leases from the
city that would benefit them
financially, was Hammett.
 I asked him if he, like they,
had any economic interests
that would be favored by city
actions. He said "no" and I
have no reason, to suspect
that is incorrect.
 He did, however, succeed
in being appointed to the
planning commission and
then to fill a vacated position
on city council, demonstrat-
ing once again the tie be-
tween the development inter-
ests, the CQG and destructive
growth in Venice.
 As a planning commis-
sioner, Hammett voted to al-
low the 105-foot towers that
Michael Miller is building
along the Waterway-- towers
that everyone I have spoken
with thinks detract from the
beauty of the city and spoil its
entrance. The area was zoned
for 35 feet and the remainder
was granted by special excep-
tion from the planning com-
mission. -.
 Hammett and others
speak of economic benefits to
downtown from the condos
and from another Miller pro-
ject that, in its first proposed
version, included another
seven-story building. That
plan may change as Miller
judges the political climate
may not favor buildings more
than 35 or 45 feet on the
island.
 City council voted 4-3 to
 grant Miller approval of a

 Please see MARTIN, 9A


 GiawrVDOR 0uv |


L iE TERS FROM C s


Marina wrong for several reasons


Editor:
 Sue Lang speaks for hundreds, perhaps thousands of Venice
residents who have a myriad of very good reasons to oppose
any further development along our shorelines.
 Over the 12 years we've resided in South Venice, we've
noticed an enormous increase in the number of jets flying in
and out of that airport. A dozen years ago, we cannot recall ever
being bothered by a jet inVenice. That's why we picked Venice,
a quiet, charming little town.
 Any changes along the shoreline damage our fragile coast-
line. We saw that with Hurricane Katrina in Mississippi and
Louisiana, where canal construction and river diversion creat-
ed a virtual holocaust along the northern gulf. Our coastline
should be left alone, or Sarasota County will become another
NOLA.
 As for the airport, when we moved here, we could clean our
window ledges once a year and still not collect any dust. Now,
with the A.C. off and windows open, we must use a degreaser
once. a week, removing plenty of tar-like dirt. Where is that
coming from? (We reside near Shamrock Park, nowhere near
the trail).
 If expansion of the airport is in the forecast, we need to
move that facility east of the interstate. We cannot believe
Venetians wish to wait at the bridges for passing boats any
more than we do now.
 Our founding fathers would not be happy with what big
business is in the midst of doing to this lovely city.
 Marvin and Ann Zimmerman
 Venice


Just pick a different beach
Editor:
 Don't annex Caspersen
Beach!
 Many of us like this beach
just the way it is. If one
notices "lewd" behavior and
the act is against the law, then
call the Sarasota County sher-
iff.
 I recently saw an entire
family with thong bathing
suits on, so I assumed they
were European, not lewd. Are
those suits against the law of
Sarasota County beaches? If
so, report it. If not, don't take
your grandchildren to that
beach anymore. Take them to
Venice Beach.
 I doubt the city of Venice


would want Caspersen any-
way, since all it seems to
annex lately is areas with new,
expensive developments and
big tax revenue.
 Debbie Allison
 Venice
There's a Rove
in the woodpile
Editor:
 The June 2 Gondolier Sun
brought another letter to the
editor from Lillian Iannarone.
They seem to come as regu-
larly as a full moon (which I
suspect inspires and informs
them). This one was a quaint
and incoherent apologia for
the now totally discredited


pretexts for invading Iraq.
 For some time now I have
puzzled over these letters of
Ms. Iannarone's; they are so
exquisitely misinformed,
hectoring and self-righteous.
But are they really from
someone named Lillian Ian-
narone is there really such
a dedicated correspondent of
the right?
 I have concluded, after
much study and reflection on
Republican campaign tactics
and strategy, that Ms. Ian-
narone is the figment of the
protean imagination of Karl
Rove or his minions. She is,
like Betty Crocker or Aunt
Jemima, a device, a trade-
mark.
 The letters sent over her
name are vehicles for pub-
lishing wild accusations and
smears that no one who loves
kids, dogs and NASCAR
would be willing to own up to.
Come on Karl, 'fess up.
 Stephen Jones
 Venice
Willing to pay
price for security
Editor:
 I wonder how many of our
citizens know that Sen. Mel
Martinez voted against an
amendment that would have
ensured border control be-
fore amnesty. I think most
Americans would rather see
border control first, then de-
cide what to do about existing
illegals.
 As it stands, the Senate bill
is granting amnesty to mil-
lions of illegals, which will
allow additional millions of
illegals to enter this country
in the next few years. I will not
support Martinez's re-elec-


tion.
 The answer to the illegal
problem is simple: enforce
existing laws. Have the
Immigration Department in
Homeland Security create
and monitor, possibly
through private firms, a non-
counterfeitable ID card to be
issued to all alien workers;
require cardholders to apply
for citizenship and learn
English or return to their
country of origin, taking their
children with them (deporta-
tion).
 Those who want to return
to this country can apply for
re-entry, but limit the number
of immigrants from each
such country; create a guest-
worker program to handle
harvesting, etc., on a tempo-
rary basis; render substantial
fines to employers hiring
workers without this card.
 Citizens, be prepared to
pay more for services and
goods, at least temporarily. It
is worth it.
 Emil J. Partak
 Venice

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