The Orlando Sentinel from Orlando, Florida • A24

Orlando Sentinel: PRODUCT: OS DESK: EDP DATE: 06-23-2006 EDITION: FLA ZONE: FLA PAGE: A24.0 DEADLINE: 19.33 OP: kchan COMPOSETIME: 21.11 CMYK A24 Orlando Sentinel OPINION Orlando Sentinel FOUNDED 1876 rirvi I I I I 1 1 Jf WOW! IT MR QPE OF THE. fli Don't fall for it Our position: The latest bad idea for drilling doesn't protect Gulf or state say-so. Deputy chief: No racial profiling by OPD The offshore-drilling gang in Congress don't give up easily. Their latest gambit to plunder coastal waters could allow oil and natural gas rigs just 50 miles from Florida's environmentally sensitive and economically crucial coastline. The House Committee on Resources this week approved a proposal from Chairman Richard Pombo, a California Republican, that would establish a 50-mile buffer to drilling off U.S.

shores, including Florida's coast. Mr. Pombo's bill would torpedo federal protections that have kept most of the eastern Gulf of Mexico off-limits to oil and gas rigs. Lawmakers in Florida and other targeted states would have the authority to expand their own drilling buffer to 100 miles, but only if they acted within limited time frames to pass separate measures for oil and gas rigs, and renewed them every five years. And lawmakers also could vote to allow rigs closer than 50 miles from their shores.

Generally, it's a good idea to give Florida lawmakers control over drilling in the waters off the state. They understand better than members of Congress from other states how devastating an offshore oil spill could be to Florida's environment and $57-billion-a-year tourist industry. That's why we looked favorably on a proposal last year from Mr. Pombo that would have created a 125-mile coastal buffer to drilling and put state lawmakers in charge of maintaining it. sit back and ignore or tolerate it, is an attack on the very essence of who we are and what we stand for.

I recently spoke at the Seminole County Branch of the NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet. I gave a tribute to Lt. Richard A. Jones, Sgt. Otha Kelly and Officer Bel-vin Perry, who were the first black officers at OPD and hired in the 1950s.

I was so proud to honor their accomplishments that paved the way for our first black police chief and other men and women who dream of being great. I was reminded that our forefathers did not fight for us to be treated differently; they wanted us to be treated equally. In keeping with that DEMINGS My WORD FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 2006 know and have worked with many of the pastors and members of their churches. I believe my relationship with them, both professionally and personally, is one of mutual respect and trust. I do not doubt for one second that any one of them would not hesitate to pick up the phone and call me if they had an issue or complaint of racial profiling.

For years, church leaders and other members of the community have worked along with the Police Department to build the great working relationship we now enjoy. All city commissioners have played an active role in that process. To jeopardize that relationship over a traffic stop involving an inoperable headlight would be a tragedy. I made a promise to myself as I moved up through the ranks at OPD to always make decisions what would allow me to be able to look into the mirror and like and respect the person looking back. Today, I can still do that.

Yes, when law enforcement fails to do the "right thing," we should be held accountable. But all community leaders should be held accountable for their actions. The community deserves nothing less. Val Demings is the deputy chief of the Orlando Police Department. for Humanity organization committed to providing a safe place for women actively healing from addictions and abuse.

A unique partnership between custom home builder Homes by Carmen Dominguez and commercial builder WEL-BRO Construction is creating a new home for recovering women and their children in Seminole County. Generous financial and in-kind donations from a wide range of businesses and organizations in the Orlando area have helped provide hope for future residents as the home nears completion. These are just a few of the high-impact projects now spearheaded by builders in the area that will benefit thousands of families in the next few years. I salute the work that they are doing as well as the work of Habitat and other nonprofit organizations. Tico Perez is a member of Florida state university system's Board of Governors.

you juggle? water for each problem that comes your way and being told, "Don't drop a glass. You've got to juggle everything I hand you." You get a glass for the sales report your boss says is lacking, a glass for the your child brings home on his report card, a glass for your father getting bad news from a medical exam, a glass for the flat tire on your car this morning, a glass for forgetting your mother-in-law's birthday, a glass for oops! You dropped your glasses. None of those problems on its own is insurmountable, but piled on top of one another they can be overwhelming. When that happens, we urge people to call LifeLine of Central Florida at 407-425-2624. Wendy Perdue is the president and CEO of LifeLine of Central Florida.

More information is available at www.lifelinecentralflorida.org. KATHLEEN M. WALTZ Publisher and President News CHARLOTTE H. HALL Editor Opinion JANE E. HEALY Editorial Page Editor and Senior Vice President and Vice President MANNING PYNN Public Editor But the 50-mile buffer established in Mr.

Pombo's latest bill is too narrow. At that distance, powerful currents in the gulf could carry an oil spill ashore in a matter of hours, spoiling Florida's renowned sugar-sand beaches. Even the U.S. Interior Department, normally no ally of environmentalists, said it does not support drilling within 100 miles of Florida's coast. And the bill should not put the burden on lawmakers to expand the buffer to 100 miles.

The buffer should be at least that wide to start, with the onus on lawmakers if they want to narrow it. House members from Florida who support Mr. Pombo's bill are portraying it as the best deal the state can hope for, given the growing pressure to drill for oil and gas at home. Never mind the fact that the United States has only a small percentage of the world's reserves of those fuels. Congress could do more to solve the nation's energy crunch with stronger measures to conserve energy and promote the development and use of alternative fuels.

It doesn't have to imperil Florida's environment and economy. Florida's two U.S. senators, Democrat Bill Nelson and Republican Mel Martinez, say they are reserving the right to filibuster Mr. Pombo's measure if it reaches the Senate. But it needn't come to that.

Florida's House delegation, and other members in that chamber who support an environmentally and economically sensible energy policy, need to kill this bill. constant in both cases is a contentious elected body with a history of bickering and a mayor known for abrasive manner. The discord seems to have contributed to the managers' abrupt departures. Mr. Pavlis complained a lack of support, and the commission was intensely divided over Mr.

Stampfler's performance before he resigned. The instability could stall progress on important projects such as proposed town-center development that is to include townhous-es, restaurants and shops, sprucing up the U.S. Highway 17-92 corridor in the city. Until elected officials figure out how to work together civilly to improve Casselberry, any manager who tries to lead the staff there is going to be stymied and so is the city. goal U.S.

team to advance to the quarterfinal round, if not beyond. A 2-1 loss to Ghana quashed those expectations. No excuses. This U.S. squad was an experienced group, ranked fifth in the world.

U.S. soccer fans will continue to revel in the passionate spirit of the World Cup. It's just too bad they will have to wait four more years to root for the home team. "Lofty words cannot of philosophy, the mission of the members of the OPD, regardless of ethnicity, is to enforce the laws of the land, and protect and serve, the citizens of Orlando, regardless of race, creed, or color. If any citizen or public official questions our ability to do that, they can check our records.

The black churches (one of which I am a member) have served as a constant voice for what's right and what's wrong in a community throughout history. I personally beyond Habitat ea. Central Florida builders are involved in a number of highly beneficial projects in the area. Besides Habitat for Humanity, other examples of local projects include: KB Home Harbor No way to run a city Our position: Contentious commission, erratic leadership could stall Casselberry projects. As the highest-ranking African-American member of the Orlando Police Department, I have read and heard quite enough about the suggestions of racism, racial profiling and the like.

I have been with OPD for 22 years. I served as my academy class president, and have moved through every rank with the exception of being the chief of police. I have served as the internal affairs commander. I have supervised, managed, worked on community-service projects with, and gone in dark and dangerous places with the men and women, of all races, of the Orlando Police Department. I have witnessed our department operate from the bottom up and now from the top down.

So, my perspective is based on what I have witnessed, not what I believe or even want to believe. Like any large organization, civic, non-profit, religious, or otherwise, we have our issues. We, like others, are not perfect. But for anyone to suggest that racial profiling is an active part of our operation and suggest that I and other black officers, supervisors, and managers at OPD would Help goes far I read last week's editorial about the contributions of certain homebuil-ders in our community with great interest. I couldn't agree more that builders and all businesses should give back to our community.

With the expansive growth in Central Florida, our economic base is strengthening in record proportions, and there is no better time to give back to the community. I applaud the work done by Habitat for Humanity, one of many nonprofit agencies doing exceptional work to fill the needs of our community. However, we can't forget that the obligation to give back does not fall on one specific industry, rather the business community as a whole. Many of our local businesses are participating in projects in our community ranging from partnerships with local schools to the contributions of other prominent builders in our ar- How many I understood Jeanette Roenfanz's feelings about the failure of a suicide preventioneducation bill during the recently ended legislative session. In a letter to the editor last week, Roen-fanz, who lost a son to suicide, lamented the fanfare over passage of the "doggy dining" bill while the suicide education bill failed to make it out of a Senate committee.

Many people around our state undoubtedly share her grief since the number of suicide deaths outnumber deaths by murder in Florida. We challenge legislators to take that into account when they meet next year. Roenfanz also was concerned about the lack of resources for suicidal people. LifeLine of Central Florida is our community's crisis hot line. Professional phone counselors staff construct an alliance or maintain it; only concrete deeds VAL TICO WENDY can My WORD PEREZ Maybe Casselberry ought to attach a revolving door to the city manager's office.

There have been three city managers in as many months, and regionally prominent city projects stand to suffer from the inconsistency. Gene Miller is the newest interim city manager. He is replacing John Pavlis, who was interim city manager only a few weeks before complaining that he didn't have enough support and wanted to leave the position. And Mr. Pavlis was filling in for City Manager Michael Stampfler, who resigned after about five months on the job amid complaints about his management style.

Perhaps Mr. Stampfler could have been more personable and Mr. Pavlis could have toughed it out a little longer. But the main Missed his of the House: Orange County Center Against Domestic Violence. Harbor House is a private nonprofit organization and the sole certified provider of comprehensive services for domestic-violence victims in Orange County.

With the support of more than 30 vendors and community partners, KB Home is building a new facility that will accommodate up to 50 additional women and children, doubling the current capacity. Every year, more than 8,000 acts of domestic violence are reported in Orange County alone. Homes by Carmen Dominguez: The Lisa Merlin House was established in 1992 as a private, nonprofit glasses of water can our lines 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This line is for anyone in any kind of crisis not just someone feeling suicidal. Counselors answer about 20,000 calls a year from people who are overwhelmed by life circumstances fi nancial concerns, family problems, substance-abuse struggles anything that can impinge on somebody's ability to cope.

We all feel overwhelmed My WORD PERDUE Our position: The elimination of U.S. team from World Cup will put passions on hold 4 years. U.S. soccer fans today must be lamenting the great marketing opportunity that was lost Thursday with the elimination of the nation's team from the 2006 World Cup. It deflated the momentum that was building to bring futbol into the mainstream sports smorgasbord of this country.

Americans love the big buzz of an international stage, and the strongest way for the sport to grow beyond niche recognition was for the by problems at some point in our lives. Most of us never reach out for help because we're taught to "handle it," so we continue to wear our masks that say, "Yes, I'm fine, thank you." It's important that people know they have somewhere to turn when life's problems (large and small) become too much to keep inside. Consider being handed a glass of do that." JOHN F. KENNEDY, U.S. PRESIDENT A Matter Opinion.