Open Letter to Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners

----- Original Message -----
From: Pride Tampa Bay
To: Rose Ferlita Dist 1 ; Mark Sharpe Dist 7 ; Kevin White Dist 3 ; Kevin Beckner Dist 6 ; Jim Norman Dist 5 ; Al Higginbotham Dist 4 ; Ken Hagan Dist 2
Sent: Friday, January 23, 2009 5:50 PM
Subject: Open Letter to Hillsborough County Commissioners


Dear Honorable Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners

It's obvious that all Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners, except for two, refuse to move forward toward acceptance of the diversity of it's citizens. Your smoke screen of "it's the economy stupid" and "irresponsible to look at spending money now", which I find this offensive to the intelligence of the residents of Hillsborough County. And from the people I spoke with at the meeting, the consensus is this was a blatant excuse to hide your true personal beliefs or bias. As well as to avoid the true intentions of the proposal that was up for vote. Which was "not to spend more money now" in these trouble economic times. But, only to give each county commissioners the power to investigate the costs and feasibility of providing health benefits to employees domestic partners in the future. The majority of which would have been heterosexual and not homosexual couples. I find it sad and telling, that you would put less value in the dedication of county employee's and their families, as you do for those who have a marriage license. It comes down to valuing all county employee's and their families equally. Just as the City of Tampa, Orlando, Broward County, Miami-Dade County, Miami Beach, Key West, West Palm Beach, other cities and counties in Florida. As well as those of cities and counties around the country do. Commissioner Norman, was the only one of you to declare his religious beliefs dictate his decision making. He was honest, however to Mr. Norman, you weren't elected to enforce your religious beliefs on others, but, to serve all residents equally, shame on you.

The majority of BOCC seem to prefer to isolate us from the people around the country, investors, Fortune 500 companies and businesses who embrace inclusiveness and refuse to live in an environment of exclusion, intolerance and hostility. We so desperately need them to relocate to Hillsborough county to boast our extremely hard hit economy. By choosing to represent only the residents, who share your personnel beliefs, others who don't suffer, as does our economy. If you continue on this misguided and destructive path, I fear you will be forced to either find a way to raise taxes to the point some residents will lose their homes, cut valuable services even further, and hundreds more county employee's will lose their jobs.

When you will get it, stop the bickering and playing the homosexual issue card. By treating all county citizens and employee's equally, your sending a message to people around the country and businesses as well. Hillsborough County is not an intolerant discriminatory place to live and work. It's inviting, welcoming, accepting place for all and we want them to be apart of our community.

We put out trust and faith in you, to be fair, open-minded and represent the best interests of "all the citizens of Hillsborough County", not just some. To do less in order to advance your own personal or religious agenda and only those who support it, is a dishonor to the oath of office you swore to and disservice to the residents of the county.

Richard Zeke Fread
Tampa, Florida