Two sides
First let me congratulate you on finally having the guts to say something bad about Mears Transportation `“Cab fight.” May 8`. The Orlando Sentinel never has anything but praise for both Mears and Disney.
Your article was very good, and also informative, but it is only touching the surface. There are deeper issues involved here that threaten the very transportation infrastructure that took so many years to build.
I worked for Mears both as a cab driver and a starter at Orlando International Airport. I will be the first to admit that there is no love lost and that I am a strong opponent of Mears. But like every story there are two sides.
Keep up the good work and remember this: Thomas Jefferson said, “If I had to choose between government without newspapers, and newspapers without government, I wouldn’t hesitate to choose the latter.”
Zaatara, via the Internet
FedEx does it too
Just wanted to let you know that I really enjoyed your article re the cab situation in Orlando `“Cab fight,” May 8`. It seems to be a situation for the drivers similar to what FedEx does, hiring employees as independent contractors and requiring them to bear the burden of the vehicle expenses, netting drivers less than competitors.
Alex Kaplan, via the Internet
Rumors of their demise
In your recent restaurant review of Orchid Thai restaurant `Food & Drink, May 8`, your reviewer stated that in their current location, no restaurant has ever survived, they all “bit the dust.” I am the owner of one of the dust-eating restaurants mentioned, the Bistro on Park Avenue, and I assure you we have survived and flourished.
We are now located directly across the street in the old Maison de Crepes location and are now serving breakfast, lunch and dinner to many loyal customers from our previous location. It would only seem fair and logical that information used in a review or article in your publication would be researched or at least looked at by a member of the editorial staff before being published. I would appreciate it if a correction and or retraction were published so our customers who have not had the chance to visit our new location, and read your publication, would at least be given the correct information.
Randy Parsons, Winter Park
Circus animals are happy
You have got to be kidding! I have to agree that years ago animals in the circus were mistreated, but today there are many animal lovers in the business and the animals are very well taken care of `Letters, April 10`. Why don’t you `mention` the lab animals locked up in cages? Or why don’t you target Sea World? They should be on your list too.
At least these animals are fed and cared for and saved from, in some cases, being prey out in the wild or euthanized in animal shelters.
Sue Goed, Orlando
Let them eat cake
So people who can’t afford to eat healthy foods now and must buy cheaper processed foods would be better off if they couldn’t afford any food at all `“Fat of the land,” May 1`? It’s worth noting that the average American spends less than 10 percent of their income on food, whereas Europe and Japan spend 30 percent plus. Food (especially crap food) is underpriced in this country because of farm subsidies and cheap transport.
If the government doesn’t want to drop farm subsidies, it could heavily tax processed foods and put the money into the food stamp program. This would push everyone towards eating better and provide the money needed for the poor to afford the increased food prices.
via www.orlandoweekly.com
Corrections Department
Our story on Mears Transportation `“Cab fight,” May 8` incorrectly stated that Tony Ortiz and Belinda Ortiz received campaign contributions from Mears in 2006. Those contributions were actually recorded in 2008.
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