Re-directing the downtown library – good idea, just 15 years late

Clearwater city council member Doreen DiPolito recently floated a good idea – taking the structure that houses Clearwater’s downtown library and turning it into a combination of restaurants and retail. This made sense to a few city council members 15 years ago – at least the part of not putting a public building on one of the most valuable parcels in the city, but they could not overcome a vocal minority that insisted the library remain on the bluff even though other sites made more sense. We wish her well in her apparent one council member drive to put a referendum on the ballot to make this happen. But history has proven that many Clearwater residents, at least those who vote, resist the highest and best use of valuable tracts like the library site.

Around the bay:

1. Cooler heads prevailed last week and the Clearwater city council shut down any talk of a building moratorium along US 19. Good for them, but the question remains why did the council let staff get so far out in front of this issue when there was no support for such a move among our policy makers? Behind closed doors, certain city staffers should be reminded who makes policy for the city.

2. In another city note, it appears there are some options for the city and the Clearwater Historical Society to work out a costly storm water fee issue that threatens the group’s use of South Ward Elementary as a museum. Let’s hope so, as the marriage of the society and one of the city’s revered schools makes way too much sense.

3. Eric Seidel, who did a long stint as a consumer reporter at Channel 13, has entered politics. Media personalities tend to do well in politics but usually run for governing body-type seats. Seidel has chosen a rather crowded field for Hillsborough clerk of court – quite a challenge for a political newcomer.

4. Oh, about that new Mexican restaurant opening in the Clearwater Marina in May? Not quite, but we do have new signs out warning bikers and skateboarders to stay off the marina’s sidewalks. Oh, still no replacement for the popular Marina Diner which more people want than an upscale Taco Bell.

5. (Inspired by a recent post by George Miller, the keeper of the flame for “You know you grew up in old Clearwater” – a great site). You’ve lived in Clearwater a long time if you ate at either of the Morrison’s Cafeteria locations in downtown Clearwater. Incredible egg custard pie!

The diamond, the media and other stuff:

6. Quote of the week (sort of): “The gulf between employers and the employed is constantly widening and classes are rapidly forming, one comprising the very rich and powerful, while in another are the toiling poor”. From last week’s paper - not exactly, from Democratic President Grover Cleveland’s annual message to Congress in 1888.

7. Lester Holt will become the permanent chair on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams being offered some other job at the network. With Holt in command, the network continues to lead the network news race although ABC has won a few weeks (both before and after William’s departure) in the 25-54 demographic. For NBC it was a necessary move and it is, by no means, a downgrade.

8. Factoid: Last Sunday the Pittsburgh Pirates were 6½ games out of the Central Division lead in the NL, yet they would have been in first place in every division of the American League.

9. If we were a betting person, our money would be on one or two rogue employees, not very far up the food chain, in the St. Louis Cardinal front office being responsible for the Houston hacking.

10 Our crack sports prognosticator Achmed Walled (pronounced wall-ED) hasn’t been to the payoff window too often lately – predicting no Triple Crown and a quick exit for the Lightning in the playoffs. But Achmed redeemed himself when his NBA playoff pick, the Warriors, took the checkers.

Bud Black’s firing: you could see it coming

At the first of the year (Rants, January 4), we commented on the very uncomfortable position San Diego Padre manager Bud Black was occupying. The team spent tons of money, unwisely, in the offseason bringing in three designated hitters to play a cavernous outfield in Kemp, Myers and Upton. They later added B.J. Upton who has hit .198 over the last two seasons but at least can catch the ball in the outfield along with baseball’s top reliever Craig Kimbrel – the price Atlanta had to pay to dump a terrible contract. Despite playing in a very pitcher-friendly park, they have only one starter with an ERA under four. They are, in a few words, a badly constructed team. And inevitably when that happens, it’s a good manager like Bud Black who takes the fall. Black will be back in a dugout if he so chooses. A.J. Preller, the Padres’ general manager, is enjoying a honeymoon – for now – but his maiden voyage as GM has been anything but smooth and he needs to right the ship quickly.