Criticism unfounded
Ron Littlepage's recent column in the Times-Union attacking Councilman Robin Lumb is both unfair and misleading.

By continually referencing dioxin-polluted wastewater, Littlepage ignores the information readily available on the St. Johns Riverkeeper website, specifically a peer-reviewed document dated Feb. 2 by R.M. Hayes.

"Dioxin has not been detected since GP implemented chlorine-free bleaching."

As a result of a $200 million investment in effluent improvements, Georgia-Pacific no longer generates dioxin as a by-product of its production at the Palatka mill.

Further, Littlepage insists that the pipeline is designed to allow Georgia-Pacific to discharge polluted wastewater that could "you know, kill people."

Absolutely not!

The pipeline is mandated by a Florida state administrative order and merely bypasses Rice Creek.

Nothing else changes.

Published analysis of the discharge describe it as slightly off color with low quantities of salt. No dioxin.

Littlepage would serve the community more properly by focusing his energy on the real pollution culprits, fertilizer runoff and leaking septic systems.

J. T. King, retired chemical engineer,

Fernandina Beach


A long history
Regarding the statements that Palestinians are a recent and imagined people, my family and many others in Jacksonville can trace our history in Ramallah to around 1500.

This is not a figment of any imagination.

Also, as Christians, just like the first Christians 2,000 years ago, we are from Palestine.

And even Christians have had lands confiscated by the Israeli government.

Rest assured, we are not a made-up people, anymore than the American Indians are a made-up people.

Jim Bajalia,



Supporting the lone vote
Bravo for Councilman Matt Schellenberg for being so honest and forthright with us regarding his "no" vote against the mayor's reorganization proposal.

Do the majority of council members think only a few hours of study will get them an A on their next test?

The mayor is dead wrong to ignore the insight and wisdom of good people who have served our consolidated government well over the years.

Outside consultants might be able to gather generic solutions, but we need the specific experience from the front-line troops who know the government .

Art Costa,



Start cutting for real
It doesn't take too much computing technology to see that we are going to have to cut spending at all levels of government.

Taxing won't make up over $1 trillion at the federal level, and it's just not possible to raise property taxes and user fees enough to cover the shortfalls that states, cities and counties are facing all over the country.

We know cuts are coming.

We know services and benefits will be rolled back.

We know that there will be some adjusting and discomfort to those who have become accustomed to the benefit check every month.

Maybe the free cell phone program gets cut. Maybe it's a road or a study that gets defunded.

Maybe we slash reimbursement on Medicare and Medicaid.

No matter what's coming, if delivered to the country fairly and with a certain amount of explaining, we will get through this.

What the clueless, self-absorbed political classes at all levels of government fail to realize is this:

While asking the rest of us to cut back, why don't they lead the way?

How about budget cuts in Washington?

Roll back staff budgets.

Cut back on taxpayer-funded travel.

Reform insane pensions.

Take a 10 percent pay cut. Eliminate something.

Let us know they are in this with us as opposed to the current strategy. Governments at all levels are wild and loose with our money.

The first family has had so many lavish vacations in their first three years, one would think they are doing it on purpose.

I'm sick of seeing Congress spending money so lavishly on themselves.

If we all need to cut back to save our country and walk us back from our financial mess, they must lead the way.

Barry Kahn,

St. Johns


Deserves dismissal
Here we go, U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown has sounded!

Never mind the gravity of the scores of offenses of injured, maimed and now killed students at Florida A&M's band, let's focus on the proposed dismissal of the FAMU president.

As I see it, he is at least guilty of incompetence if he was unaware of the years of hazings.

He should be fired for not running a tighter ship.

As usual, we hear from Brown and ministers when a minority is involved.

Mike Bono,