See how Hillsborough, Tampa could fund Rays’ billion-dollar public ask | April 14

A recent Wall Street Journal editorial about the possible move of the Chicago Bears football team to Hammond, Indiana, mentions that the state is offering about $1 billion in public funds to subsidize the move, similar to what the Tampa Bay Rays management has asked Tampa and Hillsborough County to cough up for the new stadium.

The last paragraph in the editorial states that a 2022 review of decades of research finds that “Nearly all empirical studies find little to no tangible impacts of sports teams and facilities on local economic activity.” It also stated, “The level of venue subsidies typically provided far exceeds any observed economic benefit.”

So, taxpayers of Tampa and Hillsborough County, let’s ignore the history and years of academic research. Go ahead and fund the new stadium, and expect to come out poorer at the end. The politicians and billionaire team owners are sure to spin it as a major success.

Gregory J. Kuebler, Dunedin

Hillsborough schools have a class size problem | April 12

The schools in Florida are having trouble because our illustrious politicians in Tallahassee lied to us about the lottery money, which was to go to the school system. Not only that, but now their giving money to private and religious schools. Shame on them!

James Dina, Dunedin

Back in the baseball business | April 5

The Tampa Bay Times may have fewer pages and fewer writers than before, but there are still some excellent reporters who deserve some praise. Colleen Wright wrote an article in the April 5 edition that gave a detailed, gripping account of how Tropicana Field was repaired and restored in record time, despite the many obstacles thrown in its path. The article was so well written, with interviews and quotes from many people involved in the process, that it actually kept me in suspense, reading about each step along the way. Thank you to Wright and to the Times and their team of excellent reporters.

Susan Harper, St. Petersburg

Offensive hyperbole | Letters, April 15

A letter writer decries guest columnist Daniel Ruth’s “offensive hyperbole” but applauds every slur from his president hero. “Wipe out an entire civilization tonight”, anyone?

Can’t the letter writer tolerate Ruth having a little fun? He dislikes Ruth’s mockery, missing the fact that mockery and slander are his heroes’ only game. He assails Ruth’s “reliance on exaggeration.” Is this irony? Is he trolling us?

The letter writer decries Ruth’s “personal attacks.” The writer has absurdly higher standards for a local columnist than for his patently demented, verbally violent failure of a president, who calls his suddenly incensed one-time supporters “stupid” and worse.

Former congressman Barney Frank once refused to engage with a heckler, saying it’d be like debating with a dining table. No one is obliged to argue with dining tables.

Steve Douglas, St. Petersburg

Primary elections are coming this summer. More candidates jump in | April 4

Most Hillsborough County voters move confidently through their ballots until they reach the section for circuit court judge. The names are unfamiliar; the races receive little attention, and the information available to the public is minimal. Faced with that uncertainty, many voters simply retain the incumbent. That pattern repeats every cycle, not because voters have evaluated judicial performance, but because the system gives them almost nothing to evaluate.

As a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil and Family Mediator, I see how much authority circuit court judges hold. Their decisions affect families in crisis, victims of crime, businesses in dispute and children in dependency cases. These are life-changing outcomes. Yet judicial candidates cannot campaign on issues or promise results, leaving voters with little more than a résumé and a headshot.

One way to improve public understanding is to highlight candidates whose qualifications are easier for voters to assess. I hope the Tampa Bay Times will consider offering more reporting on these judicial elections, because voters benefit when trusted local media help explain the qualifications and responsibilities of these important positions.

Now is the time to help voters make informed choices.

Tom Feaster, Tampa

Support the orchestra

Nikita Kucherov! Mike Evans! Yandy Diaz! Michael Francis! Chelsea Gallo! All are superstars in the Tampa Bay area. The first three you might recognize from the Lightning, Bucs, and Rays, but who are Francis and Gallo, you may ask? They are the conductors of The Florida Orchestra, one of the gems that brings so much joy to its audiences. Never been, you say? You are missing out on a great experience. Go to any of their concerts, and you’ll come away a much happier person. You can’t always say that about a Bucs, Bolts or Rays game, can you? We need to support these top-tier organizations that are here to entertain and enlighten us. So, go! You won’t be sorry that you did!

Dave Harding, St. Petersburg

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Submit letters at www.tampabay.com/opinion/submit-letter/. Letters are edited for clarity and length.