All we want is a little pork in our barrel

To briefly explain the situations that have prompted some comments that I have frequently made on the community, it lays with some experiences since moving to Spring Hill in July 2005. I was introduced to a scam artist, local drug users and an unstable individual, also on drugs, who delivered to me my first and, hopefully, only encounter with a one-two punch to my face. I was a little stunned and my glasses were temporarily bent out of shape. It wasn't a good experience but maybe I justly deserved it?

The only lingering affects from these confrontations are of an educational nature. I view them as necessary experiences of acknowledge of the realities of a community that grew too fast with poor planning.

It appears that when Spring Hill sprung into existence in the early ‘90s, the youth were left with few diversions to keep them from experimenting adverse means of occupying their idle times; the lack of parental supervision perpetuated the problems. I imagine it all began with the use of the vegetative mind-altering weed and has brought about the use of heroin and cocaine-laced solids, liquids and crystals.

In my mid-50s, it continues to be a shocking reality how pervasive the use of these drugs is in the County. Perhaps it’s an occurrence in other counties and states but Hernando County is where I have been confronted with the true-to-life existence of the seriousness of the matter. I’m not suggesting there is much that can be done do to bring a halt to the situation. Just as Hernando County Sheriff Nugent has done the best he can to bring justice to drug users, it is by far an evil force of society that is impossible to constrain.

I know I keep harping about drugs, but I have discussed the situation with a couple of young adults who have moved from areas south of here, hoping to escape those ill effects of socialized abuse of prescription medications and told it is as bad here, if not worse, and easier to get! No wonder the county jail is in need of expansion but that doesn’t solve the problem. However long these users are incarcerated, they make use of their time by expanding their network of other users.

I would like to see our state and federal representative to give consideration of providing guidance in resolving the limited employment opportunities in the County. Until the citizenry is more affluent with cash to spare on other entertainment than drugs, there will be little hope to see a change of habits. There’s a definite limit of constructive after-hours activities available to young adults, particularly teens and twenty-somethings. A couple of bowling alleys and an over abundance of bars just don’t make it an attractive environment to placate the needs of the young and restless. No wonder drugs play a key role in their activities.

There is much to do in providing a balance of employment opportunities and it appears to be quite a challenge to offset what appears to have put the County in the trappings of being an alternative to living in the denser areas of Tampa.

Since moving to Hernando County, I have found it to bring me a calmer, peaceful place to call home. I intend to live here for the foreseeable future and would like to see a change in habits. I think providing alternative job opportunities other than retail and construction would give young adults an incentive to take steps to become productive members of the community. I don’t claim there aren’t already many who are taking steps to build a life of prosperity. But, can they accomplish their goals here?

I am well aware of the study done by the Haas Center for Business Research and Economic Development that forecasts solid job growth in the health care, professional and technical fields over the next few years but, other than health care, is the County prepared to offer solid employment opportunities within its boundaries?

My hopes are that you implant pig ear tags for Hernando County, avoid using pig rings so they can root through the lands, and throw some of that juicy pork in the County’s barrel!
Perhaps the euphemism is cute, but you get the point.

There has to be a means to broaden the scope of prosperity given the fact that Tampa is so near and that I-75 and the Suncoast Highway ought to provide incentives to draw other businesses for a more diverse tax base. The road paths from metro-Tampa northward have put Hernando in the unbelievable position of being bypassed for growing the business environment.

If elected officials can’t, or won’t, partner with companies to take steps in investing in our community's future, all is lost to retail and construction revenues.