E-mail Charlie Crist

[havetofish]

Lets go directly to the governor and let him know how upset we are. If your not going to bother with local represntatives, then at least send something to him. Here is his e-mail address.

[e-mail]

[filletnrelease]

Already done. But then he's the one selling us out on the oil drilling, so I don't know if it will help but at least we can try.

[fishindad]

Remember folks. Charlie is from St Pete. He knows how valuable this pier is. Heck, he has probably fished off it. As crazy as it sounds there are people from around the world who visit this thing. To think they will shut it down totally in 10 years appx (yes that is correct) is unbelievable.

Fishindad

[montylfl]

Email send

[goindeep]

DONE

[pascosal]

done

[BigDawg71]

Email sent. It might not help but at least I can say I made some kind of effort. Now I can look my kids in the eye and say I did what I could to preserve our favorite fishing spot.

[mackman]

done but no replay yet

[montylfl]

Has anyone heard from uncle charlie?

[BigDawg71]

Why, were there pigs flying today?

[dlkpalmetto]

got this today
Cliff Sampson



Dear Mr. Sampson:



Governor Crist received your e-mail dated August 22, 2008, about the closure of the east Skyway fishing piers and asked me to respond to you. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and Environmental Protection (FDEP) agencies share in the maintenance of the Skyway fishing piers. We agree with you that the piers represent a tremendous value for the residents and visitors to the area. The safety of the public must be and will always be of utmost importance and for that reason, the Skyway east piers had to be closed permanently. FDOT and FDEP have been in communication about this issue as information was available and determined in the interest of public safety, this action was necessary. Both agencies are also working together to keep the west fishing piers open to the public.



The east Skyway fishing piers had to be closed because we can no longer guarantee they are strong enough to support vehicular or even pedestrian traffic. These piers are composed of concrete beams and piling that were designed and built with early 1950’s technology. After more than fifty years of service and exposure to saltwater conditions which accelerate deterioration of concrete, the east piers have simply exceeded their design life and can no longer benefit from short or long term maintenance. Extensive FDOT studies show that it would not be a good use of taxpayer’s monies to rehabilitate these piers, given other critical transportation needs, especially in tight budgetary times such as those we have been experiencing for several years.



Although FDOT has performed its share of maintenance on the piers, the east piers have reached a point in their service life where maintenance is not an option and thus no further repairs will be implemented. The 1970’s west piers and the crossovers and buildings that were built in the early 1990’s are safe for traffic and pedestrians alike and have been modified to accommodate two-way traffic and parking. The maintenance and replacement needs for these pier structures will also increase as they approach their 50th year of service and the related costs are well beyond available or projected funding. FDOT and FDEP are developing a plan to address those needs, the demolition of the closed piers and other measures that will maximize the use of this valuable recreational facility, which still will remain as the longest park and fishing piers in the world.



If you have any questions or additional comments, please contact Ms. Marian Scorza, District Public Information Officer at 813-975-6038 or [e-mail] at your convenience.



Sincerely,



Donald J. Skelton, P.E.

District Seven Secretary

Florida Department of Transportation

[BigDawg71]

Yeah I got the same crap today....blah blah blah..I would love to know what maintenence was done to the piers by the FDOT. My guess is that their idea of "its share" and mine are completely different.

[pascosal]

I got the same repsonse today too

[pascosal]

repsonse = response

[dlkpalmetto]

I sent this back to Donald Kkelton in Charlie Crist's office

Mr Skelton,
I for one and many others that I have shared your response with are having a very hard time believing what you have said, to be the facts as they are. I agree safety is first and foremost the most important factor in anything to do with the public but we find it extremely questionable that the status of the east side piers can go from having large motor homes and tractors and normal vehicles on it one day, to complete closure, not even allowing to foot traffic the next. As it were all e mails from Gov Crist and from the reps in government are shared among the people of interest that have concerns with the piers closing. We find all responses very cookie cutter, or rubber stamping if you don't mind me saying so. Everyone , including Governor Crist is passing the buck, saying nothing can be done, HORSE APPLES. We are Americans, we are resilient and being that we have the right to vote our representatives into office, including Governor Crijst, it appears that we all have put our faith in the WRONG person. There is no one more powerful in our state than Charlie Crist, being a former resident of St. Pete, it is assumed that he would take a little more interest in this issue than he has. I am speaking for my self and I am sure the same goes for many, that Mr Crist and the other government reps that haven't helped or stepped up to try work out a satisfactory solution for these closed sections of the Skyway Piers will NOT be getting as many VOTES as he has gotten in the past. Understandably so we all know that there is a shortage of funds but there would be ways to at least secure funding to make satisfactory repairs that would allow pedestrian traffic if not small vehicle traffic a freezable option
Cliff Sampson

[jab]

thats a good one right there.

[sctaz]

Another problem they will soon realize is that the revenue from the piers will be cut in half at times because of the reduction in vehicles allowed on the piers at one time. You guys with pickups can carry a truckload of fishermen and gear out from the rest area and save a bunch of money on vehicle passes.