TOP OF THE WEEK:

Most governmental bodies in our region try to “buy local” and it makes sense. Granted, we can’t afford to pay five thousand dollars apiece more for a vehicle by going local but a per cent or two extra on all but the biggest ticket items will be more than made up by the local jobs it creates or retains. Often it’s hard for local companies to compete with volume buys where several agencies combine their purchase to get an even better price on a common item - but particularly on unique items, it just makes sense to “buy local.” The one thing we absolutely need to avoid is what happened about ten years ago when a newly elected official made the outrageous statement, “I’ll buy everything on the internet, it’s cheaper” - this without even bothering to get bids from local companies. Amazingly, that individual still is in office.

Around the Bay –

1. We mentioned the great new look for Largo High last week. Two other schools of the same vintage are beginning to look awfully tired – Clearwater High and Northeast. When and if they are replaced, it looks like the school board has found an excellent prototype to follow.

2. A few facts the folks at Greenlight Pinellas fail to mention in their $800,000 taxpayer funded advertising blitz: if passed the measure will give Pinellas County the highest sales tax rate in the state; and the folks who will be most harmed by this new regressive tax would be the very people in the income brackets that ride the buses.

3. In a related note, congratulations to the City Council of Seminole for not following the lemmings over the cliff and voting not to support the ill-advised Greenlight initiative.

4. “Helpful tip” from Bay News 9 last week - leave your purse or cell phone in the back seat of your car so you won’t forget your child or grandchild is back there. Thanks guys. I’ve forgotten my cell phone dozens of times, but damned if I ever forgot my granddaughter was in the back seat.

5. In Pinellas County’s District 4 County Commission race, seven Republican candidates are vying for the opportunity to take on an unopposed Democrat in the November general election. My, that could get messy.

The Diamond, the Media and Other Stuff –

6. Our Man of the Week is Michael Dean of UCLA’s Herb Alpert School of Music. Among many other accomplishments, Dean trains people how to sing (and sing well) the National Anthem. Dozens of celebrities have used him to try to bring grace and dignity to that revered piece of music. In fact, wouldn’t it be nice to have major events require a piece of paper from Mr. Dean asserting that such and such celebrity can actually sing the piece?

7. Item: about a month ago, the Washington Post asked 10 writers to nominate something we as a people would be better off without. Only a couple made sense – like status updates on Facebook or whatever, a few were just stupid – like abolishing the U.S. Air Force, AP classes and President’s Day. Remember these were all writers. We imagine if you ask ten moderately intelligent people who were not writers what we could easily do without, at least one would name the Washington Post.

8. You had to wonder how things were at the Vatican last week when Pope Francis’ Argentina team played Pope Emeritus Benedict’s German team for the World Cup. Word is the current pope is a much bigger sports fan than his predecessor.

9. Our Rants and Raves focus group (comprised of three old, cranky people) doesn’t think the carnival the MLB All Star game has become is what Chicago sportswriter Arch Ward had in mind when he fostered its birth some eighty years ago. Margin of error: plus or minus fifty percent.

10. A couple All-Star notes: Hopefully with the exit of Bud “Light” Selig, we’ll also see the end of the ridiculous idea of having the outcome determine home field advantage in the World Series, particularly if you put any stock in Adam Wainwright’s suggestion that he grooved a couple pitches to Derek Jeter who scored the first run of the game (Early Wynn would have buzzed Jeter). Lastly, great idea by Michael Wilbon of PTI that there be a 3-4 minute remembrance every year of former All-Stars we lost the previous 12 months like Gwynn, Kiner, Fregosi and Zim to name just four.

IN CLOSING:

The recent tragic accident that killed a retired Clearwater police officer at the intersection of Gulf-to-Bay and Belcher brings two issues into focus. This very intersection was one targeted with the cash cow red light cameras to improve safety. When will our cities admit it’s simply about the money? Now a study is proposed to find out how to cure this dangerous intersection – apparently the red light cameras are not the answer (duh!). Secondly, the driver accused in the tragedy was carrying pot – the same thing we are asking our Florida voters to approve this fall. Aren’t our roads dangerous enough without a bunch of “certified patients” out there driving and smoking dope?